Scientists Discover How to Stop Cats From Scratching Furniture

Is your precious furniture getting an unwanted feline manicure? The conundrum of cats considering our plush couches and accent rugs their personal sharpening and scratching posts is an experience shared by cat owners everywhere.

But what if you could redirect your cat’s urge to scratch your furniture to more suitable outlets?

Cats scratch the surface

Dr. Yasemin Salgirli Demirbas, a veterinary researcher at Ankara University, along with a team of international experts, decided to take a closer look at the scratching habits of our feline friends.

Their findings shed light on a question that has plagued cat owners for centuries: Why do cats scratch furniture, and how can we redirect this behavior?

Factors Explaining Cat Scratching Behavior

Through an in-depth survey of over 1,200 cat owners in France, the research team discovered surprising factors that influence your feline’s scratching behavior.

Demirbas and his team discovered a clear link between your cat’s environment, its personality traits and its increased scratching behavior.

“Here we show that certain factors – such as the presence of children in the home, the cats’ personality traits and their activity level – have a significant impact on the extent of scratching behavior,” Demi̇rbas said.

“Our findings can help caregivers manage and redirect scratching to appropriate materials, which could promote a more harmonious living environment for cats and their caregivers.”

Stress Causes Unwanted Scratching in Cats

The authors found that stress is one of the main risk factors for unwanted scratching in cats. When cats engage in prolonged play sessions, they may experience high levels of stress due to continuous stimulation and excitement.

This increased stress can manifest itself in excessive scratching behavior. It turns out that play, while generally beneficial, can have a downside, leading to a flurry of feline scratches on your beloved furniture.

“We see a clear link between certain environmental and behavioral factors and increased scratching behavior in cats,” explained Salgirli Demirbas.

“Specifically, the presence of children in the household as well as high levels of play and nighttime activity significantly contributed to increased scratching. Cats described as aggressive or disruptive also had higher levels of scratching.”

Understanding this can help cat owners better manage their pets’ playtime and stress levels in order to protect their furniture.

Place scratching posts and pheromones

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Researchers suggest a few practical changes that can dramatically alter where and why your cat scratches.

Creating an engaging and stimulating environment is essential to feline well-being and can play an important role in managing scratching behavior.

To start, place scratching posts in areas your cat frequently visits. Place them near his favorite resting spot.

Make sure the scratching posts are sturdy and tall enough for your cat to fully extend. This will make the posts more attractive to your cat.

Using specific feline pheromones can create a calming environment. These pheromones can deter your furry friend from scratching your couch.

Additionally, it may be helpful to trim your cat’s claws regularly. Providing a variety of textures for scratching can further reduce unwanted scratching behaviors.

“Understanding the underlying emotional motivations for scratching behavior, such as frustration, which appear to be linked to personality traits and environmental factors, allows caregivers to address these issues directly,” Demirbas said.

Hunting games

The key to a happier, scratch-free home lies in modeling successful hunting scenarios through several short play sessions.

These moments not only pique your cat’s interest, but also help reduce stress. Plus, they serve to strengthen the bond between you and your feline companion.

Additionally, immediately redirecting your cat’s attention when he scratches inappropriately can teach him the boundaries of acceptable behavior.

Training not only helps manage scratching habits, but also strengthens the bond between you and your cat, promoting a harmonious living environment.

Although the study relied on data provided by owners, it still provides valuable information. It provides insights into feline scratching behavior. This knowledge paves the way for more effective management strategies in the future.

So here’s to a future of peaceful cohabitation, with happier cats and scratch-free sofas.

The study is published in the journal Frontiers of veterinary science.

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