Cats use claw scratching mainly to mark their territory (by secretions from glands found at the nail base), however it also serves to stretch the muscles and maintain the claws in good condition.

They may also scratch to get their owners attention, although this is less common. They prefer vertical surfaces that are stable and high enough for them to fully stretch. They also prefer certain textures – including sisal rope, rush matting, carpet, cardboard, leather and soft wood. Unfortunately our furniture often has just the right texture, and it doesn’t take long for a cat to wreck your new furniture. Scratching is normal behaviour for cats, so we need to provide some outlet for this behaviour that we can also live with.

Specially designed scratching posts can be helpful, and should be high enough for cats to stretch out fully, and be covered with something like sisal or carpet. Horizontal scratching posts can also be used – such as the Cosmic Alpine Scratcher made of durable cardboard.

Scratching surfaces should be positioned near sleeping areas and at the entry to the house (where new smells are brought in); as well as some soft logs in the garden to help them mark the borders of their territory.

They can be made more attractive by applying a new product called Feliscratch (from the makers of Feliway). Feliscratch encourages cats to scratch by creating a visual line to scratch on, as well as leaving a scent similar to those left by the glands beside that cats claws.

You can discourage your cat from continung to scratch your furniture by temporarily covering affected areas with something like alfoil (which they don’t like the touch of), or by putting scracthing poles temporarily in front of these areas, to break the habit.

It may help to spray new furniture with Feliway so that the cat doesn’t feel the need to mark it as part of their territory.