August 7, 2024, 6:36 am | Read time: 6 minutes

A cat scratching the furniture is incredibly frustrating for many owners. It is not uncommon for them to react by screaming or even punishing their cat without knowing the complex reasons behind this behavior. A study has now analyzed this and provides initial results on what helps combat this unwanted behavior.

This is often interpreted by owners as misbehavior and is often associated with unpleasant consequences for the cat. A scientific study has now analyzed the reasons for this behavior and made recommendations on what can be done to reduce the frequency with which cats scratch furniture and walls.

Scratching furniture strains the relationship between humans and cats

Scientists from institutions in Canada, Portugal, France, and Turkey have joined forces to find out why some cats develop the habit of scratching furniture. First author Yasemin Salgirli Demirbas from Ankara University and her team published an analysis of 1211 cats in the journal “Frontiers in Veterinary Science”.

They examined data sets describing the unwanted behavior and obtained background information. The cat owners answered online questionnaires about their demographic data and living conditions. The researchers then asked about the cats’ usual daily routine, their character, and common behaviors. Finally, in a third section, a “combined scratching index” from 0 to 6 was derived, which scored the frequency and intensity of scratching against each other.

With the help of this data, the researchers were able to identify possible risk factors for the development of the behavior and develop recommendations for actions owners can take. They identified unwanted scratching of furniture as a “significant threat to the welfare of cats”. Owners are often frustrated because the scratching behavior destroys their living space. This can increase the stress level in cats and even intensify it in the event of punishment. In the worst case, this can lead to owners having their cats’ claws removed (which is fortunately prohibited in many countries), giving them away, or even having them put down.

Why cats need to scratch

However, many owners know in theory that their cat’s scratching is a natural behavior and provide it with appropriate furniture. In many cases, this is a scratching post, a scratching board, or even a cheap carpet if the cat does not accept any other options.

When scratching, cats spread scent on strategic areas and mark them as safe places for themselves. This also sharpens their front claws and shortens them. In this way, they themselves ensure that their claws are usable for the rest of their lives.

Scratching is also used for social interaction. Cats look for places where they can best place their scent mark to say to other cats, “I’m here! This is my area.” This behavior is also often seen when living with humans. Some cats deliberately present themselves, then scratch in locations where they can be easily seen, and others often pass by.

Risk factors that encourage cats to scratch furniture

In their study, Salgirli Demirbas and her colleagues were able to identify a number of risk factors that can lead to increased scratching of objects not intended for cats, such as furniture. These include, for example:

• the presence of a child in the household
• average duration of play
• playfulness
• nocturnal activity
• aggressiveness
• restlessness
• Location of scratching posts

The positioning of scratching posts in particular showed that behavior improved as soon as they were placed in areas that the cat uses more frequently and where social interaction with humans takes place. Another result was the influence of children on scratching behavior. It appears that children contribute to increased stress levels, which can lead to more frequent and intense scratching episodes.

Previous studies have already identified children as a frequent reason for pet abandonment. However, further research is needed to understand whether the arrival of a baby or living with children in general puts cats under stress.

The influence of play and character on scratching behavior

It was also remarkable that no correlations were found between bred cats and cats not assigned to a particular breed. Gender, neutering status, health rating, or weight also played no role in the scratching index. Instead, the character traits of the cats were identified as a factor in behavior. These were:

• disruptive,
• lethargic,
• anxious,
• lively,
• impetuous,
• social
• and calm.

It was found that characteristics such as “disruptive” were based more on aggressive and destructive behavior. This factor, together with lively and impetuous behavior, had the greatest influence on the scratching of the cats studied. However, it was also shown that play behavior was of great importance. In particular, the average duration of playtime, as well as whether a cat generally liked to play and whether it made itself heard loudly at night, showed a connection.

Is incorrect play responsible for cats scratching furniture?

One possible explanation for the link is inappropriate play. This includes, for example, hours of play that really stimulate the cat, as well as the unsatisfactory hunt for a laser pointer. According to the researchers, the interplay between increased activity and increased scratching is a sustained sympathetic excitation of the neural pathways, which can be associated with alertness and stress. This reinforces the marking and scratching behaviors.

However, play itself is crucial for the well-being of cats, as it serves as an outlet for their innate instinct to hunt and explore, the study continues. In the wild, however, individual play is associated with predatory behavior, which requires an increased level of arousal for repeated but short periods of time.

The observed association between intense play and increased nocturnal activity could indicate prolonged or inappropriate play routines for cats, which could lead to increased stress, irritability, and frustration. This would mean that cats scratch more to relieve stress.

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Understanding individual characteristics

The scientists also write that they hope to generate more understanding of cat behavior among owners. While most studies focus on the well-being of human residents, these results underline the importance of evaluating both components. In this way, a harmonious environment can be created for humans and cats.

In the course of the study, several significant correlations were found between cat characteristics, nocturnal activity, and play, as well as the environment. The researchers want to underline the complexity of unwanted scratching behavior. They also emphasize how important it is to fully understand both the individual characteristics of the cat and its environment in order to effectively combat this behavior.¹