What motivates cats to scratch? What do cats like to scratch? Where should a cat tree be placed?
If you own a cat, you know that one of their favorite activities is scratching and pawing at everything. Many pieces of furniture in your home are bound to bear the marks of cat claws, which is why many households need to set up cat trees, cat scratching posts, and other equipment to allow cats to relax.
But do you know why cats have this habit? And how can you choose and place a cat tree according to their habits?
This article will address all these questions, allowing you to choose the most suitable play and energy-releasing equipment for your little cat in ten minutes.
Table of Contents: Cat Trees, Climbers, and Scratching Posts
1. Why do cats need to scratch? What is the function of a cat tree?
Regarding cat trees, cat scratching posts, and cats' scratching habits, we first need to understand how cats lived before they became domesticated.
In fact, all felines, including lions and tigers, need to scratch because their claws grow continuously. If they don't trim them regularly, their claws can become too long, potentially harming their paw pads or making noise while walking, which could affect their hunting success.
On the other hand, the motivation for scratching is to declare territory. Cats will mark their territory with claw marks and scent secreted from their paw pads. Therefore, cat owners might notice that their cats seem particularly fond of "scratching" certain areas or objects.
That's right, they like these areas, they **value these areas greatly**, and want to leave as many claw marks or their scent as possible, like hanging their name tag in that spot. This is why cat trees (scratching posts) came into being, to satisfy this feline need; because in the wild, various felines use tree trunks, rocks, or any rough surface to sharpen their claws, but now that cats live with humans, they naturally need to find things at home to scratch.
Don't think that simply clipping their nails will solve the problem; scratching is an innate behavioral pattern that has been with them for tens of thousands of years. **Therefore, even if their nails have been clipped, they still need to scratch.**
⚠️ Also, be aware that you should never declaw a cat. This is a **very cruel and inhumane practice**. You absolutely must not declaw a cat just because you dislike their habits.
2. What do cats like to scratch? What types of cat scratching posts are available on the market?
Now that we understand cats scratch to trim their nails and mark their territory, let's explore what cats actually enjoy scratching.
Understanding **how they scratch, where they scratch, and what methods they use** will help us immensely when choosing a cat tree scratching post.
Understanding the physical characteristics cats enjoy for scratching, we must follow these two eternal rules:
- **The material must allow their claws to sink in.**
- **Scratching should leave a visible mark.**
Therefore, some people mistakenly believe that purchasing furniture made with anti-cat-scratch fabric or tech fabric will prevent cats from damaging it. However, this is not true. Anti-cat-scratch fabric is woven so **finely that cats' claws cannot penetrate it**, which is why cats don't like to scratch it. It doesn't actually satisfy their need to scratch.
Cat: "If I can't scratch the sofa, I'll scratch the pillows and blankets!"
Therefore, materials like **carpet, cardboard, softer wood, and sisal** are all very suitable. So, cat scratching posts (scratch boards) are available in almost all of the aforementioned materials, but you'll have to experiment to find out which material your feline overlord prefers.
3. Do you have any cat tree recommendations?
4. Where should cat trees and cat climbers be placed? Can cats be trained to scratch them?
In short, we need to remember the following key points, which are all **based on the cat's daily routine and habits:**
- Cats like to scratch before or after sleeping, so place it **near their sleeping area**.
- Do not place it **near the litter box**; cats usually leave the area after using the restroom.
- If they have already started scratching furniture, you can also place it **near that furniture**.
Based on the cat's daily habits, **identify where they spend their time** and then decide on a suitable placement. Therefore, there is no single fixed answer for where to place a cat tree.
5. How to make cats like cat trees? How can you quickly encourage cats to enjoy cat trees and climbing posts?
We also offer the following methods for you to try and quickly help your cat discover the wonders of cat trees and climbing posts.
- Cats usually like to stand on their hind legs and **scratch slightly higher spots**, so placement is also very important.
- However, some cats like to scratch **things on the ground**. In this case, the stability or surface area of the scratching post becomes important, otherwise, if the object moves when they scratch it, your cat will quickly lose interest.
- To quickly get cats to like a new cat tree, in addition to material, placement, and posture, you can use small aids, such as **sprinkling catnip or catnip essential oil**, to quickly make the cat discover the existence of this good thing, and also allow the cat to start correctly using the cat tree scratching board instead of home furniture earlier.
- Sometimes, once a cat takes a liking to something, their affection is as strong as steel. At this point, some training methods are needed. First, of course, is to directly block it, for example, by using a plastic sheet or other items to block it, and placing a new scratching board nearby, or spraying the item they originally liked to scratch with a scent cats dislike, such as **Mentholatum Deep Heat Rub, or citrus essential oils like orange, tangerine, or lemon.**
- When you see a cat scratching an inappropriate item, **give a suitable warning at that moment, but never scold them afterward**, because they will have no idea what they did wrong.
Conclusion
In summary, cats are very much in need of care and love. You should **never** ignore their need to scratch just because you dislike their habits and nature.
Therefore, when choosing a cat tree or scratching post, you must first **understand your cat's habits and preferences** to select the most suitable one. This way, your cat will be happy playing, and you will be happy watching, while also being free from the worry of damaged furniture. It truly makes cat ownership a very joyful experience.
