Why Cats Claw

Almost all cats claw the furniture.

Most pet cats at some point will claw the furniture and cat owners get upset by the damage this causes. Knowing why cats claw may help you get on top of this problem, and you'll have a happier cat if you follow some simple tips for dealing with clawing.

Signs of Clawing

All fabric-covered furniture risks being clawed.

Clawing can occur on any piece of fabric-covered furniture in the home, including sofas, beds and even rough wall coverings. Cats are attracted to items with a rough or coarse covering, but any fabric against a firm backing will do. You'll see your kitty stretch upwards on the sofas and beds to scratch the corners. This behavior can appear either purposeful and deliberate or simply playful.

Reasons for Clawing

Clawing can be mischievous, playful behavior.

Clawing is instinctive and normal for felines, whether they are indoor cats or otherwise. Your cat has scent glands on his paws. By scratching soft furnishings he's spreading his scent and marking his territory. He also needs to keep his claws short, so he sheds the outer sheath of his claws by scratching when they're getting long. This stops his claws digging into his paw pads. Playfulness causes clawing too, and pairs of young cats do a lot of clawing and climbing as they tease each other.

Practical Solutions

Clip your indoor cat's claws regularly.

Clipping your cat's claws is vital. Indoor cats can't wear down their claws on natural surfaces. If you notice your cat's claws catching in the carpet or on fabrics, or making a tapping sound on hard floors, his claws are already dangerously long. Buy a sisal cat tree or scratcher--it must be tall enough for him to stretch completely and apply full body weight. Create a climbing wall using woven rattan-style or sisal doormats. Fix a few at cat-stretch height and higher on one wall. Buy stick-on furniture protectors from pet-care retailers for commonly scratched areas.

Behavioral Solutions

If your cat keeps scratching despite clipped claws, is it most likely behavioral. Make changes in your home to help your cat relax and focus his mind on other activities. Offer a lot of toys, a safe outdoor play area and a lot of attention to minimize boredom. As scratching may be territorial, keep neighboring cats away and buy a cat behavioral plug-in product. These are available from veterinarians, and they diffuse a contented feline aroma around the household.

Warnings

Declawing cats, while it benefits your furniture, is not supported by most veterinarians and humane organizations. Declawed cats can suffer significant post-operative pain and behavioral distress. It is unnatural to be without claws and affects a cat's ability to run, jump, climb and defend themselves. Declawed cats struggle to escape from dangers. Learn to clip claws.

References

• The Humane Society of the United States: Declawing Cats, Far Worse Than a Manicure
• Celiahaddon.co.uk: Notes on Scratching

Resources

• Humane Society of the United States: Destructive Scratching
• Catscratching.com: Article by Christiane Schelling, DVM