Why Do Cats Scratch?

A Natural, Species-Specific Behavior 

A species-specific behavior is an action or instinct that is characteristic of a particular species as a result of their natural environment, genetic makeup, social needs and evolution. 

• What? Instinctual, innate or natural learned behavior

• Purpose: to meet a physical, emotional or social need

Dogs chew, birds preen (groom themselves), rabbits thump…and cats scratch! It’s a natural behavior that we cannot stop, and we shouldn’t try to. 

• Asking our cats not to scratch would be unfair. It would be like asking a bird not to fly. Instead we can show our cats appropriate outlets for scratching. 

• Other natural, species-specific behaviors in cats include: climbing, sleeping for many hours, concealment, hunting/playing, running, jumping, foraging, grooming, and vocalizing.

Scent Marking

Scent marking is a way cats spread their pheromones (chemical messages) to communicate with other animals in the area, mark their territory, self-soothe and build relationships with other nearby cats.

• How? Cats have scent glands called interdigital glands located in between their toes. Scratching leaves that scent as a marker of their presence and mood (stress levels). Cats use scratching similarly to how many dogs like to mark objects with urine on walks or when they feel insecure in their environment.

• Other forms of cat scent marking include: rubbing against objects or people, spraying (it’s not urine!) and sometimes defecating (depending on the context) and grooming themselves or other individuals. 

So, what are they trying to communicate? 

• To mark their territory: “This is my object or area!”

• Frustration or Overstimulation: “I’m so frustrated or overstimulated, I don’t know what else to do with myself!”

• Check out: Impulse Control, Overstimulation, DSCC & Choice (YouTube playlist)

• Boredom: “I need something to do.”

• For boredom busters, check out: Enrichment: Brain Games for Mental Health (article) and Enrichment Resources (YouTube playlist)

• Excitement: “I’m so excited, I want to play!”

• Fear, Anxiety or Stress: “I’m nervous and stressed. Give me space! [or] This calms me down!”

• Relaxation or Happiness: “I love it here!”

You may be thinking, “Those are all very different reasons!” 

To that we would say, “Yes, which is exactly why scratching is such an important, necessary and multipurpose behavior for cats!”

Maintaining Nails & Shedding Nail Husks 

As cats’ claws grow, the outer layer must come off, akin to a snake shedding its skin. 

• If a cat is unable to scratch to remove the sheaths, it can irritate the area at the base of the nail.

• Maintained nails provide cats with a sense of relief and comfort.

Stress Relief, Self-Soothing and Stretching

• Scratching stretches the shoulder and back, gets any irritating sheaths off of the claws and leaves behind a happy scent. 

• Scratching feels good and is a normal feline behavior, most cats are very motivated to scratch. 

Play

• Exciting high energy play can motivate a cat to scratch, because they are feeling overstimulated, happy, or to mark their play territory.

Expel Excess Energy

Scratching provides an appropriate, natural way to cope with excitement, overstimulation or frustration. 

• When a cat is overstimulated a natural behavior can be to scratch.

• Similar to how going for a run expels excess energy or stress for humans. The tactile sensation of scratching relieves stress and expels excess energy.

Attention-Seeking Behavior

• Our pets are very good at picking up on patterns. Cats can notice that every time they scratch the furniture, they get a reaction out of their humans. Whether the reaction is “bad” like yelling or punishing or a “good” reaction like trying to pet them to distract them, cats perceive this as attention. They can learn to scratch the furniture when they want attention. 

• Check out: How Animals Learn & Why Behavior Works! (YouTube playlist)

Appropriate Scratching vs Inappropriate Scratching

• Our cats don’t know the difference because it’s something pet parents decide. So we must teach our cats the difference!

• Check out our article, Behavior Challenges: Inappropriate Scratching.