Scientists are trying to solve one of life’s biggest problems: a house cat with a bad habit of tearing up furniture.
In a new study Wednesday, researchers identified several key factors that appear to predict cats’ unwanted scratching behavior. These include the presence of children in the home, their playtime, and their overall stress levels. Scientists say at least some of these aspects can be tweaked to control cats’ scratching behavior.
The research was conducted by veterinary scientists from Turkey, Portugal and France; the project was also funded by French animal health company Ceva Santé Animale. The team asked more than 1,200 cat owners in France to fill out an online survey that included questions about their cats’ home environment, daily routines and scratching behaviour.
Overall, the team found that some cats are naturally more prone to scratching, such as felines described by their owners as “aggressive” or “destructive.” But there are other external factors associated with unwanted scratches from cats, particularly having children in the home, playing with cats for long periods of time, and generally being more active at night.
Describing their findings, the researchers wrote: “It highlights the multifaceted nature of unwanted scratching behavior and underscores the importance of a comprehensive understanding of the individual characteristics of cats and their environment to effectively address this behavior.” publish Wednesday at Frontiers of Veterinary Science.
Obviously, having young children or a grumpy cat is not something an owner can change on a whim. But the team found something that suggests stress, a major external factor in cat scratching, could be better controlled. For example, too much play time at one time may over-stimulate a cat. Additional stress may also explain why having children around is also associated with cat scratches, although scientists say more research is needed to determine this for sure.
Therefore, they say, finding ways to reduce stress in cats should help reduce their unnecessary scratching. This can include making sure your cat has enough nooks and crannies where they can relax without being disturbed, as well as high places where they can perch and observe their kingdom. You may also want to space out your game time into short bursts of activity to more closely mimic natural hunting behavior. Looking at the survey data, the team found that leaving scratching posts in areas frequented by cats seemed to help prevent them from scratching other, more precious pieces of furniture.
Lead author Yasemin Salgirli Demi̇rbas, a veterinary researcher at Ankara University, said in the report: “Our findings could help caregivers control scratching behavior and redirect it to appropriate materials, which could help create a better environment for cats and their caregivers. A more harmonious living environment. statement The magazine’s publisher, Frontiers.
Implement these findings to protect your favorite possessions. Just don’t let your cat catch you reading this—unless you’re prepared to explain why their favorite couch is suddenly off-limits.
