Debra F.

Horwitz, DVM, Diplomate ACVB

Applied Behavior F E L I N E B E H AV I O R Veterinary Behavior Consultations,
St. Louis, Missouri
Peer Reviewed

Scratching Behavior
in Cats
I am trying to help clients deal with cats that
scratch furniture without having to declaw
them, but sometimes I run out of ideas. Is
there anything new to offer?
CONTINUES

Applied Behavior / NAVC Clinician’s Brief / September 2010 ...............................................................................................................................................................27

Applied Behavior CONTINUED
I
n many situations, it is possible to keep an
adult cat in the home with claws intact. With
a good understanding of feline marking, play,
and stretching behavior, a home environment
that meets a cat’s needs and leaves family posses-
sions intact can be created.
WHY DO CATS MARK?
Marking is a normal and important social behav-
ior for all animals. In cats, it appears to be an
innate behavior; they do not need to be taught
how to mark with their claws, and even cats that
are declawed will still go through marking
motions. Cats commonly use several different
types of social marking behaviors, including
scent marks or visual marks that delineate terri-
tory, availability for mating, and other social
functions.
Cats can leave a scent mark through facial mark-
ing or “bunting” (rubbing the sides of the face or
28 ...............................................................................................................................................................NAVC Clinician’s Brief / September 2010 / Applied Behavior
body parts against objects) or, of course, through
urine marking.1 They can leave a visual mark
with their claws and glands on the feet leave a
scent mark behind. Facial marking is not usually
destructive or bothersome to a cat owner, but
marking with claws can do considerable damage
to household possessions.
SCRATCHING BEHAVIOR
Scratching behavior in cats appears to fulfill mul-
tiple functions, including leaving a visual and
scent mark on objects, conditioning the claws,
stretching the body, and exercising the muscles
and tendons involved in claw usage.2 The func-
tion the cat is fulfilling at any given time may
determine where the cat scratches.
Scratching behavior outdoors tends to occur
along regularly traveled routes rather than at the
periphery of the territory; this has led to specula-
tion that these marks serve as navigational mark-
ers. Some authors contend that scratching within
the home, however, indicates anxiety or insecurity
and may be more likely to occur at entrances and
exits.2 Others disagree and suggest that scratch-
ing behavior indoors tends to occur repeatedly at
the same sites near where cats spend most of
their time. These authors speculate that these
marks provide reassurance and security to the
marking cat rather than defining territory.3
Loose claw sheaths are also shed during claw-
marking behavior, and cats are often noted
engaging in claw marking upon awakening.
Speculation on whether olfactory glands between
the toes leave a noticeable scent is ongoing. No
published studies have confirmed that cats sniff
claw mark locations. However, studies have noted
that the same claw-marking sites are used over
and over both by outdoor and indoor cats.
PREFERRED MATERIALS &
BODY POSTURE
Cats that live or go outdoors tend to use wood
objects, such as boards or trees. Indoor cats may
choose a variety of objects. Often these objects
are in prominent locations or pathways, and
furniture and carpets are the common targets. A
cat may use a horizontal or vertical object; some
cats prefer one or the other or both. When
scratching, the cat usually positions itself with TX AT A GLANCE
the chest lower than the hindquarters, stretches
out, and alternates paws to extend and retract the • Make sure scratching
claws into the surface. On vertical surfaces, a cat post is located in a
may assume a different posture, with the chest central area of social
higher than the hindquarters. Some bouts are interaction and/or as
close as possible to the
quite vigorous and others are shorter, but in both item the cat is
cases a scent and visual mark remains behind. scratching.
• Consider salvaging
The type of material that an individual cat material from previously
prefers varies. Therefore, it is a good idea to offer scratched items and
the cat a variety of materials to see which ones covering the scratching
the cat prefers. For a scratching post, both the post with that material.
location and the ability to stretch and gain a • Make areas where the
good hold onto the post seem important. The cat has previously
post should be stable, tall enough so the cat can scratched less desirable
by covering the spots
stretch out, and sturdy enough that the post will with plastic, other
not fall over. Some older studies indicated that fabric, or double-sided
cats may prefer materials with a longitudinal tape.
weave, but no newer studies available verify this • Reward cats for using
desire. The location of the scratching post does scratching posts with
seem to matter to many cats. treats and/or attention,
or use a food-
In general, claw marking tends to occur in dispensing cat-
scratching device.
prominent locations near where activity takes
place. The assumption is that since the cat is <End box>
attempting to leave a visual and scent mark as
communication, placement of those marks mat-
ter. This may explain why a cat seems to pick
prominent pieces of furniture for this display. To
encourage use of a scratching post, the post
should be located where people and the cat spend
their time. In some cases another post should
also be located close to where the cat normally
sleeps because, as mentioned earlier, many cats If the scratching post is located in an out-of-the-
will scratch upon awakening. way area not usually frequented by the cat, mov-
cliniciansbrief.com

FIND MORE
ing it to a more central area of social interaction
CHANGING MARKING BEHAVIOR See Aids &
may stimulate the cat to use the post. Moving Resources,
Often the cat establishes a marking location that the post also helps cover areas where the cat is back page, for
may not be suitable to the human occupants of currently scratching to make them less desirable. references &
the home. Rather than punish the cat, which suggested
often leads to scratching in secret and frustration reading.
If the cat has consistently scratched a piece of
and anxiety at the inability to carry out a normal furniture that is now going to be replaced, sal-
behavior, environmental changes may help. vaging some of the material and covering a
scratching post with that material may help
CONTINUES

Applied Behavior / NAVC Clinician’s Brief / September 2010 ..............................................................................................................................................................29

Applied Behavior CONTINUED

attract the cat to the scratching post. petstuff.com) (Figure 1). When the cat
Place the refurbished post as close as scratches the device, it rotates and dis-
possible to where the furniture was penses food into a bowl, providing the
located and cover the new piece of furni- cat's daily food ration. For many cats, the
ture (see suggestions in the following reward of food is enough for them to use
paragraph) until the cat this device for scratching behavior.
shows a well-established
use pattern for the Some authors have suggested remote
scratching post. punishment devices that scare the cat
away, thereby making the location unde-
It often helps to make sirable to the cat. Evidence on the effi-
the areas where the cat cacy of these types of interventions is
has previously scratched lacking, and each cat will vary in its
less attractive to the cat. reaction to and tolerance of punishment
This can be achieved by devices.
covering the spots with
plastic or other fabric or In most cases, a cat can be taught to use
using double-sided tape. a scratching post rather than owner pos-
Another alternative is a food- sessions. With a little time and effort
dispensing cat-scratching most cats will respond well to the
device called Pavlov’s Cat (good changes.

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canine cough, chronic diarrhea in cats,

glucose monitoring, exophthalmos, vomiting,
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Table. Features of Parasite Ova or Cysts
(light microscopy; unstained wet mount
Consulta
of feces)
nt on Call
Parasite Color Shape Wall CONTINUE
Operculum Internal Motility D
Amoeba Features
Colorless to Round Thin No

have” is available in limited quantities.

golden brown Indistinct None
Cestode Colorless Oval to round Thin No
to gold Oncosphere with None
Ciliates up to 6 hooks
Colorless to Ellipse, chicken Thin
gold, green, Yes (in Indistinct Pathophysiolo
egg, or round Some may
or brown Nyctotherus)
move gy
G Animals
Coccidia Clear within cyst undergoing simple

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Ellipse or Thin starvation should
round
No Sporocysts with None differentiated from be
those with medica DIAGNOSIS

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sporozoites in tions that result l condi-
Hookworm most genera in physiologic
Transparent Football, ellipse, Thin hormone balance stress or impaire
or round
No Embryo or larva Larva may move within . Withholding d Clinical Signs
ovum; free-living larvae nutrients from energy and key
critically ill patients Clinical signs of
Pentastome often seen in stool diagnosis, hinder may anorexia and hyporex
Colorless
to gold
Chicken egg Thin None 4 hooks or legs response to treatme cloud often evident during ia are
to football Larva may sometimes increase risk for nt, and the initial physica
Pinworm Gold to brown Elongated ellipse Moderate move legs within ovum sepsis. nation: l exami-
G Protein–calorie

Looking for a
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to chicken egg None
plug may be visible immune compet in decreased n score—u
at one end ence and catabol point scale—should sing a 9-point or 5-
Roundworm lean body mass, ism of not only be evaluated on

BLOGS
Transparent Ellipse or round Thin No Indistinct but organ and presentation. initial
Trematode Gold to green Spindle, chicken
None sues. lymphatic tis-
Thin to Yes G Muscle cataboli
or brown egg, football, Indistinct None G B vitamin sm is often evident
moderate s are necessa along the

specific article?
or round epaxial muscles
and adequate lympho ry for energy metabolism ; evaluation of
lean muscle
cyte function. mass should be
G Glutamine
is important for performed daily
normal enteroc talized patients on hospi-

Dr. Doug Mader’s blog

Article archived on cliniciansbrief.com health; arginine yte .
and taurine are G Weight change
lymphocyte functio important for often reflects alteratio
n. water balance and n in

You can read any

G Deficiencies is a poor indicato
in certain mineral nutritional status. r of
nium, copper, zinc, s, such as sele-
and
infection and decreas iron, increase rates of

about life as a veterinarian

e cell-mediated Diagnostic Tests
humoral respons and
es. There are no specific

past issue of
G Deficiencies diagnostic tests
in vitamins A and ate nutritional
impaired lympho E result in status. Serum albumin to evalu-
and electrolyte
Visit cliniciansbrief.com to download wound healing
cyte function and
delayed levels can be affected , mineral,

is back! Read his

this table for use in your clinic. . ple factors. Diagno by multi-
stic tests should
at determining be directed
Causes & Risk the underlying

Clinician’s Brief
Factors cause of illness.
3 2 . . . . . N AV C c l i n i c i a n’s b r i e f . d G Animals
e ce m b e r . 2 0 0 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.......................... living in multian History
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . co m p a ra t i ve i m a g e r y that have several imal households
caregivers may or Diet, consumption

hilarious and thought-

hyporexia that have prolonged of treats, and supplem
goes unnoticed history will help ent
G Overweight for days to weeks. direct feeding plans.
or obese animals is not essential This step

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cant muscle wasting may have signifi- for initial stabiliz
that is overlooked treatment of the ation and
degree of adiposi due to acutely ill animal,
ty. in developing an but
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on unconventiona treatment plan. and
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body depletion whole- of acceptable starvati
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tions. complex medica those with
l conditions.

Body condition
scoring for dogs
Courtesy Nestlé 1–3 = too thin;
Purina 4–5 = ideal; 6–9
= too heavy

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12

NAVC Clinician’
s Brief / August
2010 / Consulta
nt on Call

30 ...............................................................................................................................................................NAVC Clinician’s Brief / September 2010 / Applied Behavior