Scratching things for cats are a natural and enjoyable thing. For them, scratching serves several purposes. Punishing your calico cat for sale will not eliminate the behavior. You can instead divert your feline’s attention to other objects from the valuable things in your house that can get damaged.
Territorial Markings
Although a lot of people believe that cats scratch objects for merely sharpening their claws, one of their reasons for doing this is to mark their territory. If you will just observe them, cats usually scratch the same area, cueing other cats that it is their territory. Aside from this, cats have scent glands located in their paws that’s why their scent is deposited on the objects they scratch.
According to experts, the scent marking activity of cats is the reason why they continue to scratch objects, even those cats that are already de-clawed. Most domesticated cats do not repeat their markings; once is enough for them. However, for wild cats, they mark their territories as often as they can.
Removing Worn out Sheath
Another reason of the cat’s scratching activities is to get rid of the worn sheath or the outer layer of their claws. There are usually layers of claws scattered on the area where cats scratch.
Stretching Muscles
Cats scratch because it is also their way of working and stretching their muscles or it is a display of good mood. Try to notice the cat’s attitude after a nap; they usually have a good stretch and scratch objects. It is actually a combination of release and exercise.
If people like punching bags, running, or swimming as exercise and stress relieving activities, cats also do the same, by means of scratching objects. Scratching tones the muscles of their front quadrant, at the same time, providing them a way of releasing their tension.
A cat that doesn’t scratch or seldom scratch objects will become stressed and starts to turn to his own body as scratching surface.
Cats Experience Stress
It may seem unimportant to humans but cats do experience stress. As a matter of fact, all animals experience the same. It doesn’t mean that when we cannot understand the animal’s stress, we will just ignore them.
We always think that when a cat is silently curled in the sofa and seem like looking at an object intently, he is alright, but we do not actually know if there is something going on stressful in the cat’s mind and body. Just imagine yourself doing the same thing; staring closely at a particular thing with something stressful in your mind. This goes the same with animals, your cat included.