Why do pets scratch and cause the damage they do? The answer involves a number of physical and emotional issues. Here are 6 reasons why they cause damage.
Picture this: You come home from a long day of work. You’re excited to see your family, make dinner and relax for the evening. Your pets are just as excited to see you. But when you walk through the door, you find claw marks on the other side and scratches on the furniture.
Sound familiar?
We’ve been there.
And we all wonder, “why do pets cause damage?!”
It’s frustrating, and it only makes us, regrettably, resent our pets.
Before figuring out a solution, it’s important to identify exactly why your pet is scratching. While it’s natural for cats and dogs to scratch, there could be some underlying reasons for the pet damage around your home.
Identifying the causes of damage could save your family time and money in finding a solution so you can spend more time loving your pet and less time repairing the damage. Less damage, more love — it’s as simple as that.
Here are 6 reasons why your cat or dog is scratching around your home.
Your Pet Could Be Stressed
Humans aren’t the only ones who experience anxiety. Separation anxiety among pets makes up 10 to 20% of veterinary visits.
When they become too reliant on their owner and cannot be left alone, pets often relieve their separation anxiety by scratching and clawing around the house. Dogs have an instinctive need to feel certain about their environment and will scratch, claw and bite to do so. And because cats tend to be solitary animals (unlike dogs), the presence of other pets can make them feel stressed.
Pets may exhibit some additional behaviors such as pinning their ears back or drooling excessively. There are ways to treat separation anxiety in pets, from medication to massage. If your pet exhibits anxious behaviors, consult your veterinarian to evaluate the best solution.
Your Pet Is Likely Bored
When you get to leave the house, your pet usually has to stay home. Some pets are very energetic, and sometimes a walk is not enough to release their energy. In fact, some breeds of dogs need to be active for at least two hours a day, according to dog walking service Wag!. A bored pet will make its own fun by scratching and clawing around the house.
Your Pet Is Marking Its Territory
Cats have scent glands on their paws. Scratching around the house allows them to leave both a visual mark and a scent, marking their territory.
Your Pet Is Probably Excited
Think about the times when you were a child and a friend would come over for a play-date. You wouldn’t scratch at the walls, but you may have jumped around the house in excitement. Your pet feels the same way when they see you, your family and all the new friends who may walk past your home.
Your Pet Is Trying To Escape
Especially in thunderstorms and firework displays, your pet will feel scared, creating the urge to escape from whatever room they’re in.
Your Pet Is Removing The Outer Layer Of Its Claws
Cats instinctively keep their claws healthy and functional by scratching, which removes their claws’ dead outer sheath. Then, newer and sharper nails grow to add an extra layer of protection.
No matter the reason why your pet is scratching, CLAWGUARD is here to prevent the problem from happening in the future.
While clawing and scratching can be frustrating for pet owners, we never support the process of declawing to reduce pet damage. That’s why our affordable products are designed to let pets scratch if they need to, but without the expensive aftermath of repairing the damage they cause.
Learn more about which pet protection products will work best for you!