Scientists suggest strategies to keep your cat’s claws away from furniture (Photo: Daniel Zopf/Unsplash)
Is your cat addicted to destroying your furniture? If you’re already hopeless about solving this issue, see what scientists have to say to combat this feline behavior!
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In a new study, scientists surveyed over 1,200 cat owners in France about the daily lives, personality traits, and unwanted scratching behaviors of their feline companions. The results showed that there are several factors influencing cats’ scratching behavior.
“Certain factors – such as the presence of children at home, personality traits of the cats, and their activity levels – significantly impact the extent of scratching behavior,” said Dr. Yasemin Salgirli Demirbas, a veterinary researcher at the University of Ankara and lead author of the new study, published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
“Our findings can help caregivers manage and redirect scratching towards appropriate materials, which could help promote a more harmonious living environment for cats and their caregivers,” added the scientist.
Stress, the researchers said, was considered one of the main reasons for unwanted scratching. For example, the presence of children, especially when they are young, can amplify stress and be one of several causes that may prompt cats to scratch.
Another factor that may also be linked to stress is playful behavior. When cats play for extended periods, their stress levels can increase due to uninterrupted mental stimulation.
While some factors favoring scratching cannot be changed, others can, according to the researchers. Placing scratching posts in areas where the cat frequents or near its favorite resting spot, or the use of pheromones, for instance, can decrease cats’ scratching on furniture.
“Understanding the underlying emotional motivations behind scratching behavior, such as frustration, which appear to be linked to personality traits and environmental factors, allows caregivers to address these issues directly,” concluded Dr. Demirbas.
This content was created with the help of AI.
