Why Is My Cat Scratching Furniture

This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.

Cats scratching furniture: natural behavior, territory marking, and nail maintenance. How to redirect to scratching posts.

Understanding This Symptom

Early changes in a cat are small and easy to explain away. The owners who don't explain them away are the ones whose cats do best. This page covers the most common causes, warning signs that indicate an emergency, and what you can expect at the veterinarian.

Common Causes

Less Serious Causes

More Serious Causes

• Poisoning or toxic exposure

What to Watch For

• Lethargy or reluctance to move or play
• Vomiting, diarrhea, or changes in stool

Home Care and First Steps

Veterinary Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will typically:

• Perform a thorough physical examination

Treatment Options

Treatment depends entirely on the underlying cause. Options may include: your cat responds quickly when their routine matches their temperament, habitat, and age rather than a template.

Prevention

Long-Term Management

When to Get a Second Opinion

Related Symptom Guides

• Why Is My Cat Not Eating?
• Why Is My Cat Vomiting?
• Why Is My Cat Hiding?
• Why Is My Cat Sneezing?
• Why Is My Cat Losing Weight?

Should I go to the emergency vet?

Scratching the sofa is normal claw maintenance and does not need an emergency vet. Go in if the cat is also suddenly aggressive, limping, or the claws are torn and bleeding from an injury.

How much will treatment cost?

A behavior or medical visit is only needed when the scratching is frantic and the skin or the paws look diseased. A routine nail trim is a small clinic visit. Declawing is a surgery with its own pain and complication costs, and many clinics will not do it.

Can I treat this at home?

Give a tall sisal post in the spot the cat already uses, trim the tips on a regular schedule, and put a cover on the corner of the couch. Punishing a scratch increases hiding. Cats scratch to shed claw sheaths and to stretch the back.