There are many reasons that explain why the cat scratches the sofa. Although there is a tendency to believe that it is simply a bad habit, the reason may be that you need to file your nails. In the same way that when you observe any type of strange behavior in your pet, the first thing you should do is identify why it does it: stress, boredom, anxiety, need to mark its territory … Starting from this base, you can put a scratching post to try to redirect its behavior.Causes of cat scratching on the sofaIf you have a cat as a pet, it is very important that you have all its needs covered if you do not want it to acquire destructive behavior at home. If you do not take care of their nails, it is very possible that they will scratch the sofa and even the furniture to file them.To this we must add that felines are territorial animals by nature, and they have different ways of marking their territory. They can do it with their nails, with their face, and even with urine. If they choose to mark with their nails, the scratches are vertical and usually always mark the same areas. It is not something they do to annoy, but it is part of their instinct.Tips to prevent the cat from scratching the sofaIf the reason for it is that it is stressed, you should review how the cat’s routine is. These animals are very sensitive to any type of change in their day to day, so the slightest alteration can trigger their stress levels. Of course, it is 100% recommended that you give them a scratching post that is appropriate for their size and age. If you have more than one cat at home, each one should have its own.How to choose the best scratching post? The first thing you should look for during the purchase decision process is that it is stable.That is, if the cat has a little strength, it cannot easily knock it down. The minimum height must be 40 centimeters, and it is important that it is made of very good quality materials. If the animal has a habit of scratching the sofa, it is best to place it right next to it. It may take you some time to redirect its behavior, so in the meantime it is convenient that you cover the sofa with a material that the cat does not like too much. like plastic.
