Cats scratch furniture primarily for a few instinctual and practical reasons:
- To mark their territory: Cats have scent glands in their paws that release chemical markers when they scratch. By scratching furniture, they mark their territory with both visual cues and scents, helping them feel secure in their environment.
- To maintain their claw sharpness: Scratching helps cats remove the outer sheath of their claws, exposing sharp, healthy claws underneath. Vertical and sturdy furniture surfaces provide an ideal place for this.
- To stretch and exercise: Scratching allows cats to stretch their muscles fully and to relieve muscle tension.
- To relieve boredom or stress: It can be a way for cats to express excitement, stress, or anxiety and to release calming brain chemicals.
In sum, scratching is a normal and instinctive behavior for cats that serves multiple biological and psychological functions, although it can be destructive to furniture.
