Don’t throw out that old, well-scratched cat tree just yet! It might be the best way to help keep your kitty from scratching things you don’t want her to.
Cat scratchers come in all shapes and sizes, and enhancing their attractiveness to your cat so that she prefers scratching there instead of scratching on your sofa can be frustrating when you don’t know how to get her to get started using a beautiful, new cat tree you just brought into the house. A new study may have unlocked one of the keys: pheromones.
A team from Texas Tech led by professor John McGlone used kittens to test various cat scratchers to determine which one cats preferred and why. The study offered horizontal scratchers, vertical scratchers, and scratchers with all kinds of substances, even bubble wrap. They found that the kittens preferred cardboard scratchers in an S shape over the others offered.
Even more interesting, the study looked more closely at what attracted the kittens to the scratchers by putting various substances on the favored S-shaped scratchers. The results suggested that what really attracts cats to scratchers is pheromones left by cats who scratched there before, which trigger a social response for the next cat who encounters it to scratch the scratcher to mark it, too.
While catnip oil attracted some attention to the scratchers, kittens clearly preferred scratchers that were previously used by other kittens. Each subsequent kitten that used the same scratcher used it for longer and longer, suggesting that the pheromones left by the previous kittens were attracting the new kitten to it.
The researchers say that the next step is to determine exactly which pheromone impacts cat behavior. Once it is isolated thorough organic chemistry and animal behavior work, it can be applied to scratchers to attract cats and help keep your furniture safer from cat claws.
One day soon, there may be a scratcher attractant spray. Until then, you might want to think twice about throwing away your cat’s favorite scratcher, even if it’s looking a little tired. That might be the best way to be sure that your kitty is going to return to it again and again.
Reference and further reading:
ASDA-ASAS Joint annual meeting, Evidence for a cat pheromone that modulates kitten scratching
Photo credit:
Raelene Gutierrez on Flickr
I’m going to tell this to my human next time we’re at the pet store and she tries to stop me from using the scratchers that are for sale! Clearly, I am readying them for their new owners.
WE have found that the flat scratchers are the most popular here . Great information. Have a good day.
Each of us is a little different when it comes to scratchers. Me and Zoey like vertical ones, Wally likes horizontal ones. ~Ernie
We both like upright scratchers best – Mum did buy us a flat one but we only used it in front of a radiator in the winter so we could have a warm nap on it. Toasty!!
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
I REC’D A TELEPATHIC MESSAGE FROM MY TREE STUMP THAT MOM WAS GONNA TOSS IT OUT CAUSE I HADN’T USED IT…SO OF COURSE IT IS NOW MY NEW FAVORITE PERCH
HUGS MADI YOUR BFFF
That’s so interesting! I’ve yet to find a cat who really enjoys using a scratcher…they’ve much preferred the rug…maybe enough scents just haven’t built up yet!
This is quite interesting. I wonder if adult cats would react the same way? In our house, Milita prefers vertical scratchers while Carmine prefers horizontal ones. Nobody touches our S scratcher, which really surprises me.
Oh this is really interesting and I can see a whole new line of cat products!
We do like scratchers of all kinds, especially cardboard!
Emma loves a scratcher. She has one hanging and a wedge and both love them to pieces. Buster does not want to be anywhere close to the scratchers. He prefers the rug/carpet and no matter what we do he’s not going to use the scratchers. I’m afraid we’d be replacing our carpet sooner than expected.
Interesting that you and Ingrid blogged on the same topic and posted with in moments of each other. 😉
Yup, I am loathed to throw out anything that is popular, no matter how much *I* want it gone.. because I apparently run my house for the comfort of my cats
That is interesting. Flynn never really uses the scratcher for anything other than stretching. He has his favourite outdoor scratching places, vertical and horizontal.
grate post two day guys…thanx for sharin….itz funnee coz de scratcher thatz vertical used ta be gram paw dudes N it haz two perches attached; tube and cup…..neither me or sauce used de scratch postz…..but we will scratch de sisal matt
…..de perches gram paw dude slept in….get used all de time…over at cuzin boomer & dai$y’s houz…they never scratch anything but de chairs & never de same one de other scratches !!!
~~~~~ tuna ♥♥♥
very interesting! wonder if Feliway spray would be of any help? we like to scratch on the sisal rope our mom has put on our trees to repair the shredded carpet 😉
pip, smidgen, Minnie, hollie
Very interesting.
Well, speaking only for myself, I have never not been attracted to a new scratcher! But maybe my using them have encouraged everybody else to follow?
When TW bought me a new Ultimate Scratching Post, she kept the old one until she knew I liked the new one. Same with a cat tree.
Pierrot loves cardboard scratchers, which are horizontal. Annie, who’s declawed (by previous owner), used to use the vertical scratcher but now she likes this little dome we have that’s like an inverted U. I always thought that catnip gets kitties interested in scratchers. I love the idea of an attractant spray. Good article!
we have newer scratchers, but we tend to use the one in the bedroom that Sweet Praline had.
We love vertical scratchers, and we’re lucky : our pawrents have understood that we love our old used scratcher and keep it it place ! Very interesting post ! Purrs
This is fascinating!!!
And makes total sense… There’s a lot of back and forth scratching that goes on here. Katie then Waffles then Katie and so on… Also, there are a couple of scratchers that get the most use. There’s one that Glogirly LOVES the look of that neither Katie or waffles will touch.
An attractant spray would be an amazing invention!
One good scratch attracts another! We add catnip after replacing a scratcher or even vacuuming cat furniture, just to remind them to keep using it even though it smells different. We’re also interested in more durable scratching surfaces that last longer, so they can keep their pheromones around longer!
SEE MOMMY? Tolja. *drags cardboard scratcher out of trash*
Thanks for this info. I have always heard that we should keep those old, ratty, beat-up scratchers. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo