24/08/2026
Why Does My Cat Scratch Home Items?
Scratching isn’t your cat being “naughty”—it’s a normal and important feline behavior.
Cats scratch to:
🐱 Keep their claws healthy by shedding the outer layers
🐱 Stretch their muscles and exercise their body
🐱 Mark their territory using both visible scratch marks and scent glands in their paws
🐱 Express emotions, including excitement, frustration, or stress
⚠️ Sometimes, increased scratching can be a sign of stress. If your cat suddenly starts scratching more than usual, begins scratching in new or unusual places, or seems more intense about it, consider whether something in their environment has changed. A new pet, visitors, moving furniture, changes to their routine, conflict with another cat, or even unfamiliar smells can all contribute to stress. It also worth a visit to your vet to rule out any health conditions that may cause the change.
Scratching can help cats cope because it allows them to leave familiar visual and scent signals in their environment, helping them feel more secure.
Instead of trying to stop scratching completely, give your cat an appropriate place to do it. Offer sturdy scratching posts or pads in areas they already like to scratch, especially near sleeping spots and busy parts of the home. Some cats prefer tall vertical posts, while others love horizontal cardboard scratchers.
If your cat is scratching furniture, make the scratching post more appealing by placing it right beside the targeted area and rewarding your cat when they use it. Avoid punishment—it may add to their stress without teaching them where you want them to scratch.
Also FELIWAY is designed to help your cat feel safe and secure, reducing the need for catch scratching.
🐾 Remember: Scratching is a normal feline need—but a noticeable change in scratching behaviour can also be your cat’s way of telling you that something isn’t quite right.
