The scratching behavior of cats alienates them from their frustrated owners. In fact, many cats have been put up for adoption or turned over to shelters because their owners are fed up with their scratching. But knowing why your furball loves to run his paws on surfaces will help you make small changes to accommodate and encourage the behavior.
Cats scratch to remove old nails, claim territory by leaving their signature scent from the scent pads on their paws, and stretch the muscles and tendons on their leg, paws, and back. But scratching can also be triggered by stress; this is a very common cause of excessive scratching in cats. If you think that your cat’s behavior may be stress-related, here are some ways to address the problem:
- Spend time interacting with your cat every day. A 15-minute interactive play,, coupled with some cuddling can go a long way in decreasing your cat’s stress levels.
- Provide ‘legal’ scratching surfaces, such as scratching posts and pads, in places where your cat loves to spend time in.
- If there is something outside-- a dog, cat, or birds-- is causing your pet’s anxiety, cover the window to limit your pet’s visibility and calm him down.
- Cover your pet’s favorite scratching surfaces, such as door frames and window frames, with foil or sticky tape because cats hate the feeling of these things on their paws.
- If you have a multi-cat household, be sure that there is enough resources for everyone. There should be enough food and water bowls, litter boxes, scratching posts, etc.
Your veterinarian Sarasota, FL is a valuable source of information about your pet’s health and behavior. Visit this site Sarasota Animal Medical Center for additional details.
