Whereas scratching surfaces is a standard cat habits, a brand new research explains why a few of our beloved clawed floofs are extra damaging than others. And no, they are not simply trolling you with their rapscallion methods.
“We show that certain factors – such as the presence of children at home, personality traits of cats, and their activity levels – significantly impact the extent of scratching behavior,” says veterinary researcher Yasemin Salgirli Demi̇rbas from Ankara College in Türkiye.
It is very important present cats with surfaces for them to scratch on, as this exercise retains their claws sharp and prevents them from overgrowing and inflicting well being issues. Scratched surfaces additionally act as a territorial marker, permitting cats to speak with their fellow felines.
This, nonetheless, is the place issues can come up. The extra pissed off an proprietor will get on the cat tearing up the costly leather-based sofa, the extra the cat is prone to scratch in response to heightened social rigidity, in response to Salgirli Demi̇rbas and her colleagues from Portugal, Canada, and France.
The researchers surveyed over 1,200 cat house owners – all of whom owned only one cat – to find stress is the main explanation for extreme scratching in home cats. Whereas self-reported knowledge is susceptible to biases, they discovered a powerful affiliation.
“We see a clear link between certain environmental and behavioral factors and increased scratching behavior in cats,” says Salgirli Demirbas.
“Specifically, the presence of children in the home as well as high levels of play and nocturnal activity significantly contribute to increased scratching. Cats described as aggressive or disruptive also exhibited higher levels of scratching.”
This tells us how we will work with our cats to change their habits.
“Providing safe hiding places, elevated observation spots, and ample play opportunities can help alleviate stress and engage the cat in more constructive activities,” advises Salgirli Demirba.
So in case your cat is scratching the place it shouldn’t, you will need to use constructive reinforcement methods, and keep away from ways that would exacerbate the cat’s stress. Optimistic ways embrace offering an alternate floor for scratching, near the cat’s chosen scratching space.
Cats normally scratch in socially vital areas, doubtless as a strategy to specific their emotional state. So the situation of their scratching publish does matter to them.
It’s also essential to play together with your feline companion in a approach that works for them. Cats who performed for prolonged durations have been extra prone to scratch extra usually, presumably from the stress of being overstimulated, the researchers suspect.
“Promoting regular and brief interactive play sessions, coupled with offering suitable toys, can alleviate stress and consequently reduce undesirable scratching behavior,” the group recommends of their paper.
Cats actually are specific creatures. They’ve robust preferences about many issues, together with how we pat them. Attempting to pinpoint a selected stressor behind your cat’s scratching response may assist you to work out find out how to mitigate the problematic habits.
“Understanding the underlying emotional motivations of scratching behavior, such as frustration, which seem to be linked to personality traits and environmental factors, allows caregivers to address these issues directly,” says Salgirli Demirbas.
Calming cat pheromones might help diffuse the state of affairs within the meantime, whereas different ways are investigated.
“Our findings can help caregivers manage and redirect scratching to appropriate materials, which could help foster a more harmonious living environment for both cats and their caregivers,” Salgirli Demi̇rbas concludes.
Cats have been our companions for over 10,000 years now, defending our crops, entertaining us, and offering affection. Attempting to know them higher is the least we will do in return.
This analysis was printed in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
