Your cat is a wonderful housemate, and she makes a point to brighten your day over and over again. However, you could do without the scratching. Why does she do this?

Scratching is a necessary behavior that helps to keep your pet healthy. Her claws need this upkeep, as it removes parts that aren’t in good working order and keeps the remainder filed to a reasonable length. She will scratch on areas she finds appealing, and unfortunately this may mean scratching on furniture and carpeting. Offering her an alternative place to scratch is a great way to keep this behavior to approved areas, so be sure to seek out a scratching post or mat if you find your pet scratching on your belongings often. Climbing trees can also be helpful as an alternate area, just as deterrent sprays can help keep her away from the places she used to scratch. Your local reputed Omaha NE vet can offer additional guidance.