True Reason Cats Like to Scratch Furniture Is All Their Humans' Fault

A new survey hints at why cats like to scratch furniture and surprise: it's all their humans' fault.

On August 17, 2024, Science Alert shared the results of a new survey study that explains why our cats like to scratch up our furniture. It looks like we need to take a hard look at ourselves. Here's what the study shows.

Veterinary researcher Yasemin Salgirli Demi̇rbas from Ankara University in Türkiye wanted to find out more about why cats scratch up our furniture, and there were some interesting findings.

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To learn more, Salgirli Demi̇rbas and colleagues from Canada, France, and Portugal surveyed over 1,200 cat parents who only have one cat. With the survey, the research team hoped to learn more about why cats scratch.

The survey asked questions of cat parents to learn more about the daily routine of their cats, their environment, behavior, social interactions, and temperament.

The survey also asked questions to learn more about the "intensity of undesirable scratching behavior in cats ." All those results were evaluated based on a weighted scale, and there was one common denominator.

Stress appears to be the leading cause of why cats scratch "excessively."

"We see a clear link between certain environmental and behavioral factors and increased scratching behavior in cats," Salgirli Demirbas said, according to Scimex.

But beyond that, a particular type of stress appeared to lead to more excessive scratching, and we have our kids to thank for that.

"Specifically, the presence of children in the home, as well as high levels of play and nocturnal activity, significantly contribute to increased scratching," Salgirli Demirba continued. "Cats described as aggressive or disruptive also exhibited higher levels of scratching."

The study also seems to answer the question of how we can reduce our cats' stress to help control their excessive scratching. And it makes a big difference.

"The location of scratching posts emerged as a significant factor, with posts placed in areas frequented by the cat being more effective in redirecting scratching behavior," the study writes.

However, according to the lead researcher, there are active things cat parents can do as well to reduce stress in the home, which in turn will help reduce the excessive scratching of furniture .

"Providing safe hiding places, elevated observation spots, and ample play opportunities can help alleviate stress and engage the cat in more constructive activities," Salgirli Demirba shared.

The researchers also saw that cats who played for long durations tended to scratch more. Their explanation: potential overstimulation from too-long play duration.

"The key is to establish multiple short play sessions that mimic successful hunting scenarios," the researchers said. "These play sessions are more likely to sustain cats’ interest and reduce stress, which ultimately can reduce excessive scratching on furniture. They can also foster the bond between cats and their caretakers."

It's Important for Cats to Have Somewhere to Scratch

According to Just Cats Clinic , scratching is important for your cat's health for several reasons.

"When your cat scratches, they remove the outer husks and dead nail fragments that can snag on fabrics and cause painful breakage," the site explains. "Scratching also sharpens your cat’s claws and helps keep them at a manageable length." Scratching allows them to maintain some nail health, and it's also a way cats claim territory, which helps reduce their stress.

"When a cat scratches or rubs their face against a scratching post, they are also depositing chemicals that impart a great deal of information."

If you want your cat to reduce its scratching, make sure you have several scratching post options in various locations of the home. Also, reduce stress wherever you can.