Cats just love to scratch, and in that, you don’t have to worry about them. However, you should pay attention to the type of scratching they do.
If you are asking yourself ‘Why Does My Cat Scratch The Wall?’, then read on.
If your cat is scratching the wall, there might be a few reasons behind it. Today, we are going to talk about the most common reasons for cats scratching walls, and what you can do about it.
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Why Does My Cat Scratch The Wall?
Cats may be scratching at your wall for a number of different reasons. Here are a few of those reasons:
Marking their territory
One reason why cats scratch at your walls is to mark their territory. Cats will scratch at your wall to mark their territory as their own. This is why you’ll notice that they do this more often when they know you’re not around.
Claw maintenance
Cats use their claws to maintain their coat, and if you’re lucky, your cat will also use them to groom herself. As such, your cat may use her claws to scratch at your walls if she feels the need to clean them or remove the dead skin from around their nails.
Stress
If your cat is stressed, it may also scratch at the walls, and this could be for a number of reasons. For example, if you have recently adopted a second cat, your resident cat may scratch at the walls to signal that she feels uncomfortable with the change.
You could also have another pet in the home that your cat doesn’t get along with.
Expressing their emotions
If your cat is unhappy, they may scratch at your walls to express their emotions. This is especially common if the cat is in a multi-cat household because one cat may feel it would be easier to express their emotions if they could cover up the noise with a scratching noise.
They will scratch at the wall when they feel the need to let off steam. If you notice that your cat is scratching at the wall, try to see what is causing them to do so.
An unfamiliar scent
Your cat may also be scratching at your walls if they are trying to get familiar with a new scent in the house. They may also be trying to get familiar with an unfamiliar person by scratching at the walls. They do this to establish boundaries. They also may be doing it to let you know that they have been there. A cat’s paws have scent glands in them, and they will leave their scent on the wall as they walk along it.
After using the litter box
A lot of cats have funny rituals that they do after they use the litter box.
They may sit on the edge of the box and bat at it, or even stand on the edge of the box and look at it. Many of them will clean their paws after they have used the box and one way they can do this is by scratching on a wall.
How to stop your cat from scratching at the walls
If you want to keep your walls looking good, you need to take steps to stop your cat from scratching them.
Provide scratching surfaces
If you catch your cat scratching your walls, a great way to stop them is to give them a scratching post. Cats love to scratch, and they’ll always find a way to do it, so they’ll appreciate having a place they can scratch.
Mark their territory in your home
If your cat still scratches your walls even after you’ve given them a scratching post, there are other ways that cats mark their territory.
Catnip toys will help your cat get over their need to mark their territory on your walls. They’ll also give your cat something fun to do in your home.
Exercise and mental stimulation
If your cat doesn’t get enough exercise, it can start scratching at walls to find something to do. If you’re not sure how to keep your cat entertained, then check out our guide on how to keep a cat happy & entertained.
Trim your cat’s nails
You can trim your cat’s nails by using a nail clipper. It’s best to use the clippers to clip the nails from the tips, so you can avoid any damage to your cat’s paws.
If your cat’s nails are too long, you can also buy nail caps or nail extensions. These are helpful because they won’t damage your cat’s paws.
However, they’re not a permanent solution. You’ll have to reapply them after several weeks because they can come off. You should also note that they might not fit your cat’s paws perfectly. If the caps are too tight, they can cause your cat’s toes to be deformed.
They should fit snugly, but not too tight.
Pests in your walls?
If your cat is scratching your walls, then it could be that there’s an issue with mice or other pests in your home. Check for holes in your walls and seal them.
If you find any holes in your walls, then you’ll want to take steps to repair them. It’s also a good idea to keep your cat away from them until the repairs are done. Use a product like
You can also use a product like “Tomcat Repellents Rodent Repellent” to get rid of mice and other pests that are causing your cat to scratch at your walls. They’re also great for stopping ants and other pests from getting into your home.
As it repels rodents by using essential oils, it is safe to use around the house.
Indirect punishment
One of the things that cats hate is loud noises.
If you find them scratching up your walls, you could try throwing a loud toy at the wall. If the cat does not stop when the toy hits the wall, then you should take it a step further. This is called indirect punishment.
Use ‘Pheromones’
This involves the use of synthetic pheromones. These pheromones are used to create a barrier between the cat and the part of the house the cat is not supposed to be in.
My name is Ben and I am a cat lover. I’m not a professional writer or a doctor or an expert of any kind on anything. But I am a guy who likes to share what little knowledge and experience I have with others.
