Communication is key…..

A lot of people think that when they take on a cat, as long as there is an area for the cat to scratch that their home décor is likely to remain unscathed.

The truth behind this aspect of cat care is a lot more complicated.

As well as a cat scratching post being a necessary item to enable a cat to shed their claw sheaths, scratching is part of a cats communication skill set.

Cats have a gland on each paw (among other places); these are referred to as the interdigital glands. When they scratch, the scent from the glands is deposited on the item they’re scratching which leaves information to be gained by other cats that are in the area.

This is an action they will perform even if they are an only cat, as their instinct will be to ensure they have left a “message” that their home already has a resident feline.

When cats scratch, they tend to stretch the entirety of their body either vertically or horizontally. Meaning the scratching posts available in a lot of places are ideal for a young kitten, but less than satisfactory for a cat to perform the action it needs to as an adult, which is when they’re likely to start finding places they deem a better fit for the role in the home causing problems to arise.

Another factor to be aware of is how important the location of the post is. Most cats seem to prefer to have their scratching surfaces placed near points of entrance/exit. Presumably, because it means that any newcomers would immediately be provided with the information they have given when they’ve scratched the surfaces.

Finding a scratching centre for your feline can actually be quite fun, due to the huge amount of options available now. There are even modern, stylised items on the market if your budget is a little larger.

Recognising the reason your cat needs a scratching surface means increasing the chances of being able to find the appropriate product to suit their individual needs; and hopefully ensure the safety of your home’s soft furnishings.

Communication between large, wild and the smaller, domestic cats isn’t that different……

(images sourced from Google Images)