Why Cats Scratch Furniture and Carpets | Destructive Feline Scratching - Reasons and Solutions

Why do cats scratch things? Scratching is a natural behaviour, and all cats and kittens need to scratch.

Contrary to popular belief, cats don’t tear up the furniture or carpets to be vindictive or to sharpen their claws. Scratching is actually more akin to grooming than sharpening, as the purpose is often to shed old claw sheaths from the front claws (cats usually chew the sheaths from their back claws).

Cats also have scent glands in their paw pads, so in addition to removing claw sheaths, scratching a surface leaves the feline’s personal scent signature to let others know that the item or space is his. Humans can’t detect these scent signatures, but another cat can. Marks left by clawing also let other cats know by sight who owns a given object or area.