• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Happy City Cat

  • Christmas & Cats
  • Useful Cat Products
    • Cat Doors
    • Cat Trees
    • Cat Beds
  • Cat Toys
  • Cat Proof
  • Cat Tips & Tricks

Why Do Cats Scratch Furniture?

This post may contain affiliate links for products I recommend, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not change the price you would pay.

Why Do Cats Scratch FurnitureMy office chair is all covered in sellotape (you can see picture of it in this post). It was the easiest and fastest solution I could come up with for protecting my most used piece of furniture from my cat’s claws.

Most cat owners (if not all) will confirm the fact that cats love scratching our furniture – and not just any random chair or sofa, but our most used or favorite ones.

So why do cats scratch things in our homes?

Below are the three main reasons for this cat behavior:

Sharpening Their Claws

Cats do a lot of claw maintenance for keeping them sharp, but here is an interesting fact: they don’t actually sharpen their claws the way most of us think they do.

When we see a cat scratching we think it sharpens its claws the way we sharpen our knives for example. But that’s not how it works.

As a cat owner, I would often find claw “covers” around my home. They are the old top layer of a claw that a cat “sheds” from time to time. Removing this top old layer of the claw is what is really happening when a cat scratches something.

So cat scratching is more similar to a snake shedding its old skin than to a real sharpening of the claws.

If you find such a ripped-off claw cover you may think your cat did it by accident, that its claw got stuck, you may even think that your cat hurt itself but this is just normal claw maintenance for your cat and the basic reason for cat scratching.

Another very interesting thing is that cats only scratch with their front legs. They remove the old claw cover on their back legs with their teeth – which I find really interesting and a bit funny. I guess scratching with their back legs was not practical or even doable 🙂

Keeping Muscles Around The Claws Strong

Most cat owners are not aware of this fact and I was really surprised when I discovered this in my research.

So besides “claw shedding” by scratching a cat keeps the muscles around the claws in shape.

These muscles are responsible for claw retracting and putting out. It is important these muscles are always active and in best form, because they play a major role in hunting, cat fights and climbing.

Scent Marking

Another surprising thing about cats: by scratching they are actually leaving their scent behind by using glands located on the bottom of their paws.

So when your cat is “making biscuits” it is also leaving its “signature” on the furniture. Luckily this scent is not detectable by humans so the only damage in this process is the scratched material. Although I am convinced we would accept anything from our precious furry babies and we would have forgiven them even this scent if we could smell it 🙂

Have you ever wondered why is my cat scratching the couch?

Well, cats love those pieces of furniture that their owners use most often. A cat will scratch mostly its owner’s favorite chair or couch. The reason for this is that by scratching they mix their own scent with the scent of their “master”.

Why is my cat scratching the couch?

Cats are notorious for being picky with their toys and cat trees. Instead of jumping on a new cat tree right away they still choose an old item that their owner uses – like a favorite chair. The reason for this strange behavior is the owner’s scent, on which they love rubbing and mixing with their own scent.

So here is a tip for you: if your cat doesn’t play with its new cat tree or cat furniture you can try putting an unwashed shirt of yours on it. The cat should pick up the scent and embrace the new product faster. Catnip also works for this purpose but I believe a scented owner’s clothing will work even faster.

What Not To Do When Trying To Get Your Cat To Stop Scratching the Couch

Cat scratching can drive some cat owners crazy. It’s really an annoying habit especially if it is ruining expensive furniture.

So they decide on removing their cat’s claws.

Please remember that this is an extremely painful procedure for a cat and it may even change its character and leave it psychologically damaged. It is very cruel to remove such an essential body part of a cat.

Removing cat’s claws is mutilating a cat and leaving it handicapped for many natural activities like hunting, climbing and self-defending. I strongly advise you never to do this to your beloved cat.


If you would like to cat scratch proof your bed please check my research on cat scratch proof bed covers and cat scratch proof bed sheets. I have selected the best ones to keep your bed protected from your cat’s claws.

Contents

  • Sharpening Their Claws
  • Keeping Muscles Around The Claws Strong
  • Scent Marking
  • What Not To Do When Trying To Get Your Cat To Stop Scratching the Couch

You May Be Interested In:

  • Best Space Saving Cat Tree For Small Apartment
  • How To Get Cat Hair Out Of Carpet
  • Waterproof Couch Cover For Cats
  • Dualscan Microchip Cat Door Review
  • Leave Cat Alone For Weekend - All You Need To Know
  • Cat Proof Bed Cover (Cat Scratches)
  • Cat Proof Recliner Cover
  • Best Microchip Cat Flap Door Review
  • Best Cat Mom Gifts - Picked By A Cat Mom

Primary Sidebar

Hello!

happy catmas

All the best wishes for the New Year 2021 from me and my Puffy! (the only picture where she kinda stood still 🙂 )

This is my sweet cat Puffy which makes my life so much happier and funnier! Love her endlessly…

Disclosure

The admin of this page is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

All information found on this site is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The information provided on this website is not intended to be a replacement or substitute for professional veterinary advice.

Footer

Most Useful Posts For Cat Owners

Cat Hair Resistant Bedding
Leave Cat Alone For Weekend – All You Need To Know
Waterproof Couch Cover For Cats
Under Bed Cat Blocker
Cat Tree for Small Spaces
Best Microchip Cat Door

What You Can Find On This Site

  • Christmas & Cats
  • Useful Cat Products
    • Cat Doors
    • Cat Trees
    • Cat Beds
  • Cat Toys
  • Cat Proof
  • Cat Tips & Tricks

Contact Me (If You Wish)

starcodex@gmail.com

Stuff Nobody Reads

  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 Happy City Cat

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.