Scratching is a fundamental feline need serving marking, nail maintenance and stretching functions, and meeting this need prevents both behavioural problems and declawing procedures.
Cats that lack appropriate scratching outlets experience frustration from an unmet behavioural need and redirect scratching to furniture, causing owner-cat conflict. Declawing involves amputation of the last bone of each toe and causes acute pain, chronic phantom pain and altered gait. Provision of appropriate scratching facilities is a simple welfare measure that prevents both behavioural problems and the impulse toward declawing.