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 Your cat’s need to scratch is about more
than sharpening claws. Scratching serves
many purposes, and the more you understand
the innate behavior, the better you can
create acceptable options for scratching
instead of watching your sofa get shredded.
Instant manicure. One reason a cat
scratches is to remove the outer dead sheath
of the nail and expose the new growth
beneath. This is important for healthy
growth of the nail.
Survival instinct. Scratching is an
important marking behavior. In the outdoors,
a cat may scratch on a surface to visually
leave a mark. This allows an approaching cat
to see the mark from a distance, thus
potentially avoiding a physical
confrontation. When a cat visually marks
with her claws, she also leaves a scent mark
through glands in her paw pads.
Body conditioning. When your cat
reaches up and scratches, she gets a full
stretch and unkinks muscles. If you notice
how tightly curled up a kitty can sleep, and
how fast and flexible she is when playing,
you can appreciate the desire for a full
stretch.
Emotional release. Cats often use
scratching as a displacement behavior or as
a way to express emotions. That emotional
release is an important part of being a cat.
Scratching is instinctual. You
understandably don’t want your cat ruining
your furniture, but the key to training is
to provide appealing scratching options.
Reprimanding or chasing your cat doesn’t
eliminate the innate need to scratch – it
only temporarily stops the problem and
elevates your cat’s frustration.
For more information refer to the book
Think
Like a Cat.
© 2009 Cat Behavior Associates, LLC
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