It has become known why cats scratch furniture and wallpaper

A new study by scientists examined the home life of cats to find out why they scratch furniture and wallpaper and how it can be prevented. An international team of researchers collected data from 1,211 French households, covering caregiver demographics, environment, behavior and temperament.

Researchers found that the main cause of unwanted scratching was the presence of a young child in the home. Experts believe that this could trigger an increased stress response in the cat, leading to more frequent and intense episodes of scratching furniture, writes New Atlas.

In addition, the scientists found that the origin of the pet did not affect its behavior: "No significant difference was observed between purebred and mixed cats, gender, sterilization status, body condition score and actual weight in relation to the scratching index," the researchers noted in a report published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

The team recognizes that more needs to be done to explore these findings, such as how children interact with cats in the home and the age of the children. Also how they share space among themselves. After all, children are not entirely to blame. Other factors such as nighttime activity, playfulness and other aspects of a cat's individual personality also influence their behavior and willingness to scratch furniture, with "aggressiveness" and "destructiveness" being two key traits.

"Although most studies have predominantly focused on the well-being and health of people living in the same household as cats, these findings emphasize the importance of assessing the quality of life of both people and pets - to ensure a harmonious environment," the researchers said.

Although playfulness itself is not a bad trait at all, prolonged play can increase stress levels in cats due to the constant stimulation, causing them to release their emotions onto the armrest of the couch or seat cushion.

"Here we show that certain factors, such as the presence of children in the home, the cats' personality traits, and their activity level, have a significant effect on the degree of scratching behavior. Our findings can help caregivers control and redirect scratching to appropriate materials, which can contribute to a more harmonious living environment for both cats and their owners," said Dr. Yasemin Salgirli Demirbas, a veterinary researcher at Ankara University and first author of the study.

The placement of scratching posts in the home also has a significant impact on cats' behavior. The study found that placing them in high-traffic areas or near favorite sleeping spots caused cats to redirect their scratching to the furniture they liked.

"Providing safe hiding places, high vantage points, and ample opportunities for play can also help reduce stress and engage the cat in more constructive activities. Understanding the underlying emotional motivations for behavior that leads to scratching furniture, such as frustration, which may be related to personality traits and environmental factors, allows caregivers to directly address these issues," the scientist concludes.

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