In the wild, most big cats are naturally dependent upon themselves and not a pack for survival. Your kitten is no different.
If you have a cat at home, you’re no stranger to the endless shenanigans these furballs are capable of. And one of the most common forms of naughtiness you can witness as a cat parent is scratching furniture and other stuff found around the household. It is a common complaint of cat owners that my cat keeps meowing and rubbing against everything. Though it might look very impolite on your pet's part, it is one of the natural urges of cats. They have practical reasons for scratching stuff.
Cats usually leave their mark by scratching on surfaces, and if you own a cat, watching your cat scratch furniture by dragging its front claws downward is often a common sight to behold. And this is a fairly common practice for felines, and there can be several reasons for which your cat is scratching up furniture around the household. If you are wondering why my cat keeps meowing and rubbing against everything, here are the reasons:
One of the primary reasons that can cause your cat to scratch furniture is for maintaining their nails. Cats as predators have claws which require sharpening. By scratching, your cat ensures the outer husk of the claw has been loosened, allowing it to remove the outer husk and reveal the sharper claw surface that lies underneath. The process of scratching furniture as a way of sharpening the claw is also known as stropping. Therefore, maintaining nails is a primary reason why do cats scratch.
Cats are hunters and are fairly known for their predatory skills, which include tracking and hunting down prey. Scratching on surfaces profusely allows cats to hone their hunting skills by exercising the muscles across their forelimbs and spine. This helps cats retain and improve their hunting posture. Some cats also lie down and pull their body weight as a manner of scratching for the same reason.
Cats are social animals that are used to mark their territory from other cats, as well as to ward off predators. So, most cats mark their territory by scratching against surfaces as strong visual cues, especially in areas with a higher cat population.
Other than marking their territory, cats also scratch surfaces that leave behind scent signals as a form of marking behaviour or territorial communication. Cats have scent and sweat glands between the pads of their paws which produce a strong, yet distinct smell. By dragging down their paws on surfaces while scratching, cats ensure their scent is deposited onto the surface. In addition to the smell, the claw marks and claw husks are used as a combination to display ownership and ward off other cats.
As fascinating as cats are, cat rubbing themselves against loved ones and furniture is one of the common forms of interaction in cats. Have you ever wondered why do cats rub against your legs? For the feline friends, head-butting and nuzzling suggest a wide range of interactions, including greeting, claiming ownership, and gathering information. The other reasons why your cat might be rubbing against stuff are:
It is not uncommon to see your cat rub against furniture and other household stuff. Most cats love to rub against their favourite humans. While they look extremely adorable the action is actually an expression of love and affection. It is a complex social interaction for furry little munchkins. Most cats rub against stuff and favourite humans with their forehead and cheeks, and it is their way of claiming ownership and possession of loved ones. If you witness your cat keeps meowing and rubbing against everything.
Other than being a gesture of confirming social bonds with humans, cats also rub themselves against stuff to leave scent signals for competitors. These furry munchkins transfer their scent from the gland present on their face and cheeks, and by rubbing their head and tail along furniture or along with their owners, cats deposit their scent to claim possession and belongingness. The scent signals, mostly containing pheromones, are also used for identification and for attracting potential mates. So if your cat keeps meowing and rubbing against everything including you, it might be a gesture for the immense affection that it has for you.
If you are certain why do cats scratch, here are some ways by which you can
One of the most effective ways of getting your furry little friend to stop scratching and ruining furniture is by purchasing a scratching post for them. This encourages your cat to resume its natural activity of scratching without causing damage to your furniture or other household commodities. A cat scratching post is usually available as a single upright structure that encourages your cat to interact and play with. Most scratching posts are available as a wooden post that has been covered with rough material and provide an acceptable place for scratching. Scratching posts are usually extremely affordable, and readily available in most pet supply stores.
You can also stop your cat clawing furniture by spraying it with citrus. Usually, lemon juice effectively serves in deterring cats from sitting or scratching a surface. And if you would like to keep your furry little friend from scratching furniture without causing it any harm, a DIY homemade cat repellant spray with citrus juice is sufficient. They are extremely easy to make and are safer than industrial-grade cat repellents which might be toxic to your cat if ingested. You can prepare your cat repellent spray from scratch with lemon essential oil, rosemary oil, vegetable glycerine and distilled water and spray it on the surface of your furniture.
If you already have a cat scratching post but your fur kid still prefers scratching on your furniture, using catnip on the scratching post you've bought can be a great idea to allure them to the scratching post. Cats love catnip, so putting catnip on a scratching post can play a good role in getting them to stop scratching furniture and use the scratching post instead.
In addition, you can also stop your cat scratching and ruining furniture by trimming its claws periodically. This is also beneficial as it prevents your cat from accidentally scratching you. Furthermore, it also helps your cat to avoid bacterial build-up between the claws which might lead to infection. Trimming your cat's nails is also a vital part of their grooming. Though not all cats are comfortable getting their claws trimmed, you can get your munchkin accustomed to trimming from an early age. However, if your cat enjoys going on outdoor adventures, it might be a better idea to avoid declawing and leave their claws be, as your cat can be dependent on them for defence against other creatures, as well as for climbing.
If you want to avoid your cat clawing the couch, you can purchase a scratching post for them to use instead. Using a citrus spray is also effective as a cat repellent to keep them off furniture. In addition, you can also trim their claws to make sure they stop scratching couches. However, if your cat ventures outdoors, it is better to use homemade cat repellent sprays than to have them declawed.
One of the primary reasons behind a cat scratching the furniture is to maintain and sharpen their claws. However, in addition, cats scratch furniture to condition paw muscles, relieve stress, stretch, as well as to mark territories and leave scent signals. Scent signals, combined with claw husks and scratches are strong visual cues for other cats.
Cat clawing is one of the natural urges in cats, which not just helps in marking territory or sharpening claws, but for relieves stress and feeling good. If trained from a young age, cats can get accustomed to not scratching furniture.
If you are wondering why do cats rub against your legs, this article aims at explaining this behaviour. It is common for cats to rub against the legs of loved ones. Though it mostly signifies love and affection, it is a complex social interaction for cats. By rubbing against the legs of their favourite humans, cats leave scent signals to claim possession and belongingness, as well as for greetings and identification. Therefore, the next time you wonder why the cat rubbing head on me, remember to shower it with all the love and affection.
