Cats need to scratch: for the health of their paws and feet, to mark territory, and generally for their physical and mental health. That’s natural. But why do some cats scratch so much, or on inappropriate surfaces? Wish there was a scientific study to find the answer?
Well, guess what? There is!
This studyThe study, published in early July 2024 by six researchers from four countries, was based on a highly detailed 28-page questionnaire. The study looked at each cat’s temperament, behavior, and scratching habits. It also looked at the level of damage and unwanted scratching caused by the cats, as well as the demographics of each household. Of the 1,211 cats surveyed in the study, the authors focused on 494 cats with high levels of scratching and 361 cats with low levels.
Features of High Scratcher
Not surprisingly, cats that scratched more were also characterized as more aggressive and destructive, as well as being much less active, along with being more playful and boisterous. With regard to cat demographics, no differences were found between purebred and mixed breed cats, or between cats of different sexes or weights.
Causes of increased scratching
Since inappropriate scratching is often a sign of stress, it is not surprising that scratching levels are higher in homes with children. Even more surprising is that more play time was associated with more scratching, which could be because the amount of play overstimulated the cats and they needed to release pent-up energy. Also surprising is that increased nocturnal behavior was associated with higher levels of scratching.
More Scratch Surprises
One would think that one cause of inappropriate scratching behavior would be a lack of suitable scratching surfaces or locations. However, this is not necessarily the case. Some cats who have elevated scratching surfaces have suitable locations in high traffic areas of the home, and this would be the appropriate place for the cat to be. There could be two reasons for this. Perhaps the scratching surface needed to be located in a more desirable part of the room. Or perhaps the cat was emotionally driven to act out and engage in inappropriate scratching.
Complex and customized solutions
This study shows that solving your cat’s inappropriate scratching behavior requires more than just buying a variety of scratching surfaces to scatter around the house. Here are all the reasons why your cat might be scratching in places they shouldn’t: stress, overstimulation, and ingrained habits. Every cat’s situation is different, but here are some things to consider:
- Even though you have plenty of scratching posts, is your cat scratching things she shouldn’t? Something may be stressing her out or making her less territorial. If rearranging the scratching posts doesn’t help, take a look at your cat’s overall daily routine to see what might be bothering her.
- If you have children at home, or if they come over frequently, try to improve your cat’s life when they are around. This means anything from teaching them to be kinder and gentler with your cat to keeping your cat away from children altogether. Some cats love kids (me too!), while others don’t.
- Consider what works best for playtime with your cat. If playtime gets your cat too excited, shorten the playtime and make sure to slow down at the end. Allow your cat to catch the “prey” that the toy represents and reward her when she’s done so she feels accomplished in the “hunt.” Also, if you have an active cat and only play occasionally, schedule regular playtime to help redirect her energy.
We hope these suggestions were helpful. What did you think of this study? Were there any findings that surprised you? Let’s discuss in the comments!
