By: Michael Xia

Cats are one of the most purr-fect pets, but they scratch a lot of furniture.

The felines or relating to the cat family,are known for using their sharp claws on furniture.

A group of researchers asked more than 1,200 cat owners in France about their pets’ daily lives and characteristics, as well as their undesired scratching habits. They found the presence of children in the home, personality traits of certain cats like aggression, and their activity levels all had a big impact on how much scratching they did.

The researching team said stress was a key reason for unwanted scratching. The presence of small children, for example, might increase stress and be one of several causes that can make the animals stress-scratch. Playfulness is another factor that could be linked to cats’ stress. When cats play for a long time, their stress levels can rise because of the constant stimulation.

One that could help is placing scratch posts in areas where the cat frequently passes or near their preferred resting spot. Cats with safe hiding places, higher spots to observe their surroundings and lots of opportunities to play for short periods could help combat their stress levels, and ultimately limit how much furniture they scratch are unlikely to scratch.

The experts who carried out the study say they aim to do further research to develop more effective strategies to manage cats’ behavior, and most importantly, strengthen the bond between cats and their caregivers.

Image Credit by Jasmine Pang