FURNITURE SCRATCHING BY CATS

Furniture scratching is a general term to describe scratching/clawing at inappropriate substrates resulting in damage to the owner's property.

ETIOLOGY AND RISK FACTORS

• Causes and function - All cats are genetically programmed to scratch/claw at various objects within their territory. It used to be said that the reason they do this is to "sharpen their claws" but this is far from the truth. Certainly, old nail husks may be shucked off during the process of clawing, and these husks are often found at the base of scratching posts. However, conditioning of the claws (not sharpening) seems to be of secondary importance in terms of motivation for this species- typical behavior.
  
  The primary function of scratching objects by cats seems to be one of territorial marking and signaling. An outdoor cat scratching at a tree in the front yard is sending both a visual and olfactory message to other cats passing that way regarding territorial claims and personal status. The visual mark, clawing scratches, can be seen from some distance away and are the feline equivalent of graffiti. To some visiting cats they may represent a challenge; to others, a warning. On closer inspection by the itinerant cat, the visually marked site also contains an olfactory message, personalizing the statement.
  
  When indoor cats scratch furniture or drapes they are acting on impulses that are similar to those of their outdoor equivalents. The intended recipient may be feline or human, but the intention is the same, to stake a claim.
• Risk factors
• Age - Cats start scratching furniture at only a few weeks of age.
• Breed/genetics - No breed has been singled out as the worst one for furniture scratching but individual genetics may play a role. Cats born of intense furniture scratching parents are more likely to become furniture scratchers themselves. If the furniture-scratching tendency is from the dam's side, it is hard to differentiate genetically imbued furniture scratching from that learned through observation.
• Sex - Though unsubstantiated, it would seem that furniture scratching would be most prevalent in uncastrated male cats as their propensity for other forms of marking is greatest.
• Geographic/environmental - There are no particular geographical influences or furniture scratching. Furniture scratching is necessarily the province of the indoor cat and it seems to be enhanced by environmental stress/competition.

HISTORY AND PRESENTING SIGNS

Cats that are problem furniture-scratchers will have been observed to display the behavior since kittenhood. As they mature, and become more powerful, they are able to cause more damage. Owners often first recognize furniture scratching as a problem in adolescent cats around the usual time for neutering. While furniture scratching tends to be an ongoing problem, some cats display exacerbations of this troubling behavior at times of increased competition or stress.

Because furniture scratching is intended to deliver a message, sites to which it is normally directed are usually prominent and high profile. Unfortunately, cats usually do not choose to scratch on the back of the sofa but rather the corner of an armrest nearest the entrance to the room. The function of the behavior directs its form. This fact is important to bear in mind when considering treatment options. Certain substrates are favored for scratching. Most highly favored are those upon which an impression can be easily made. Given the choice between vinyl and hessian, the cat will chose hessian. This preference also has considerable relevance when it comes to treatment.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION FINDINGS

There are no characteristic physical findings associated with furniture scratching in cats, though cats with untrimmed nails can wreak more havoc.

DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES

None needed though it may be important to determine which cats are doing most of the damage to furniture in multi-cat households and when. Videotaping may help resolve this dilemma.

TREATMENT OF FURNITURE SCRATCHING

TREATMENT PRINCIPLES

There are a number of non-surgical options owners can choose to mitigate or resolve problematic furniture scratching. The purpose of "treatment" should be to redirect furniture scratching to an object more acceptable, and/or to blunt its impact. Directing furniture scratching more appropriately necessitates the use of a suitable number of strategically located, properly designed scratching posts (see below). Blunting its impact means keeping nails well trimmed and/or fitting plastic nail caps (Soft Claws/Soft Paws).

LONG-TERM/HOME THERAPY

• Determine the key sites of the cat's furniture scratching.
• Position a scratching post at each site (in full view).
• Scratching posts should be tall enough for the cat to stretch up full length (~ 2-1/2 feet), should be absolutely stable (wide, secure base), and should be covered in some easily shreddable material (e.g. hessian). Sections of slender tree trunks, suitably stabilized in an upright position, are also attractive to some cats.
• The cat(s) can be trained or lured to use the scratching posts if they do not automatically gravitate toward them. Methods that have been suggested include rubbing catnip on the scratching post, gently rubbing the cat's paws on the post (to deposit pheromones from glands in the paws), and click and treat training. The latter approach may be the most productive.
• Protect sites of problem scratching from the cat's advances by either:
• Wrapping the site/object with plastic sheeting.
• Applying proprietary, double-sided sticky strips/tape.
• Spray unwanted scratching site with a commercial extract of facial pheromones (Feliway). This approach is unproven but, from the drawing board, might work.