The Real Reason Your Cat Scratches All Your Furniture

And how to get her to stop once and for all.

21 March, 2018
The Real Reason Your Cat Scratches All Your Furniture

If there's one thing all cat parents can commiserate about together, it's their scratch-covered furniture. Or how their previously straight table legs are now curved thanks to years of abuse. But according to Dr. Tony Buffington, a veterinarian and "cat guru," this habit used to serve a very important purpose for your pet.

Before cats lived inside cozy houses and the biggest challenge in their day was finding the sunniest spot to take a nap, they had to hunt for food and defend themselves from predators. So they scratched rough surfaces as a way to keep their claws sharp. Even though modern cats don't have these same struggles, scratching is a means for them to relieve stress and stretch their back and leg muscles.

Fair enough, but that doesn't mean your furniture should have to look like you took a cheese grater to it. To train your pet, the Humane Society recommends covering furniture surfaces with materials your cat won't like, like sticky tape or aluminum foil. Then, install a scratching post as an alternative and reward your feline with a treat or belly rub when they use it.

Watch and learn more about your cat's quirky behavior — including why they purr (it doesn't always mean they're happy!) and why they hide in tiny spaces:

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Via

Credit: Cosmopolitan
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