High Peaks Cat Shelter: Inappropriate Scratching

Feline Behavior: Inappropriate Scratching

Scratching objects is natural for all cats and has several reasons. First, by scratching a rough surface, your cat loses the outer sheath of the nail in a shedding process necessary for keeping the claws sharp and healthy.

Scratching also serves as a means to mark territory. Cats have special glands on their paws that secrete individual scent marks. We cannot smell those, but for other cats they serve as a clear warning to stay away; they are essentially saying, ‘this is my territory now....’

Scent marks are accentuated by the visual scratch marks, making a scratching post the feline equivalent of a personal signature.

Another important function that scratching serves is to let the cat release pent-up energy or emotional stress. However, there are people that get their cat’s claws surgically removed usually due to their cat clawing and ruining furniture. We do not advocate de-clawing as an option for curing a cat’s unacceptable scratching behavior. Finding a better, more humane way to let your cat do what comes natural, such as several different scratching posts strategically placed throughout the house, both carpet or rope (we have found that the rope type is a real winner!) is truly the better way to go!!! There are also many fine products on the market, such as sprays, sticky tape, etc...that help to deter your cat from scratching inappropriate areas.