Even the most obsessive fan of cats in the world can agree. It's super annoying when they scratch up your stuff with their claws.
But why do they do it? What causes cats to always scratch at furniture?
Let's find out on today's episode of Colossal Questions. Sometimes it might seem like cats scratch furniture simply to get under our skin.
But according to experts, there's a pretty straightforward reason for it. Cats tend to scratch the nicest and most noticeable pieces of furniture in the room as a warning to other animals that it's their territory.
Think of it like a cat marking their favorite place to sit, so that no one else would dare come close, but it's actually not just the scratches that a cat is leaving behind. The also have scent glands in their paws that leave a distinct odors that cats, dogs, and other animals can smell to let them know which cat owns the place.
So that's the main reason that cats love to tear up the place, but it's not the only one. They also do it to help them file down their claws or even pull them off, so that a fresh one you can grow.
They also use their scratching time as a chance to stretch out their back muscles, so they can stay nice and loose for all that scurrying about. If you live with a cat who loves to tear the couch to shreds, there is something you can do to try and stop them.
Buy a scratch post for your cat to tear apart instead. That way, the cat can mark its territory and that brand new couch can still look nice.
So really, if you think about it, all those scratches on your couch are kinda like the cat version of a bedroom door sign that says keep out.
