WHY IS MY CAT SCRATCHING?

Every cat owner has wondered at some point, "Why is my cat scratching?" The reality is that cats need to scratch. It's not only instinctual, but it's also important for their physical and mental health. However, if a cat is stressed, the scratching might become destructive. Your goal should never be to stop the scratching but simply redirect the scratching in a healthy way if necessary.

But what are the positive reasons a cat scratches in the first place?

For the Health of Their Claws

Cats have retractable claws, which means there is a sheath within their paws that the claws retract into. Cats need to regularly shed these sheaths so new claws can grow, which is one of the reasons that scratching is necessary.1

To Claim Their Turf

Cats have an urge to scratch because of the scent glands located in their paw pads. When they scratch an object, they are essentially identifying it as their personal property.

For Exercise and Stretching

Scratching provides necessary exercise for a cat's paws, and it also gives them a much-needed full-body stretch. They can arch their back and extend their legs fully—a movement that really feels good to a cat.2

So not all cat scratching is destructive, but there are a few things you can do to redirect the impulse positively.

Scratching Posts

One of the best ways to keep your cat from scratching everything in sight is to provide him with a scratching post. Place the post near your cat's bed if possible, because cats love a good stretch when they first wake up. A scratching post can provide both a stretch and some scratching for your kitty. Most cats will make multiple visits every day to their scratching posts.