Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Scratching Behaviour and Welfare

Scratching is a fundamental feline behavioral need that must be accommodated in the home environment to prevent frustration and inappropriate outlets.

Key Facts

Cats scratch to maintain claw condition, mark territory visually and chemically, and stretch
Declawing (onychectomy) causes chronic pain and is banned in most European countries
Appropriate scratching posts must be tall enough for full stretch and stable enough not to wobble
Sisal, cardboard, and wood are preferred scratching substrates for most cats
Placing scratchers near sleeping and feeding areas increases their use

Welfare Considerations

Providing appropriate scratching outlets is a welfare necessity that protects both cats and household furniture. Declawing is not a solution - it is amputation that causes chronic pain while removing a natural behavior cats are strongly motivated to perform.

What You Can Do

Provide tall, stable scratching posts in areas where your cat naturally scratches
Never declaw a cat - support campaigns to ban this practice where it remains legal
Redirect inappropriate scratching with attractants like catnip applied to approved posts