Scratching is a core feline behavioral need serving communication, claw maintenance, and stretching functions, and providing appropriate outlets dramatically improves cat welfare and owner satisfaction.
Cats deprived of scratching opportunities experience frustration and may develop stress-related behaviors. Furniture destruction that results from inadequate scratching outlets is a leading cause of relinquishment and, historically, declawing. Declawing causes chronic pain, changes gait, and increases biting behavior - trading one welfare problem for multiple others. Providing appropriate, positioned scratching surfaces near sleeping areas and territorial boundaries meets the behavioral need at low cost and eliminates the conflict between cats and their furniture.