Whether the scratching represents claw maintenance, marking or both depends on the dynamics of your cat household, the pattern of locations and various other factors. If the scratched locations are widespread throughout the home, particularly around doorways and windows, then it is likely that your cat is signalling a general sense of insecurity. How do I know if the amount of scratching my cat does is normal? Popular locations include door frames, furniture and stairs.Ĭats will often scratch vigorously in the presence of their owners or other cats as a sign of territorial confidence. Popular substrates indoors include softwoods (eg, pine), fabrics, textured wallpaper and carpet. Scratching can also be used as a precursor for play or even as an attention-seeking tool if they have learnt this behaviour is positively reinforced. There are also those that choose to spend more time in the comfort and safety of the home and just feel more relaxed about maintaining their claws in a secure environment! Many cats nowadays have limited or no access to outdoors. Unvarnished woods and tree bark are the most natural surfaces to scratch as they provide a perfect level of resistance to the action and show a strong visual cue when used regularly. Similar surfaces outside will also be utilised for claw maintenance. When claws are scraped down a surface, the scent is deposited and the combination of the mark, discarded claw husks and the smell provides a strong visual and scent message to other cats.Įvidence of scratching outdoors can often be found on trees, fence posts, sheds and wooden gates, for example, all strategically important locations in a cat populated area. Scent and sweat glands in between the pads of the feet mix to produce a unique smell. Scratching is also used as a form of territorial communication or marking behaviour. The surfaces chosen are usually fixed and non-yielding to resist the force exerted by the cat. Some cats will scratch by lying down and pulling their bodyweight along the floor. It also exercises the muscles of the forelimbs and spine to keep the cat in tip-top condition for hunting. The owner was lying on the couch when her cat decided that they wanted some attention – as they do – and started to knead on her belly.įor the owner (and for the many cat owners out there) was a very common occurrence, and to the report she allows the cat to carry on.Cats scratch with their front claws by dragging them downward, either on a horizontal or vertical surface – this action, referred to as stropping, loosens and removes the outer husk of the claw revealing a sharp new surface underneath. These war wounds were from her nine-pound spayed long-haired domestic female cat called Bella. The cuts had appeared several days before, but had slowly become more red and prominent. The paper highlighted the case study of a 56-year-old woman who had developed abdominal punctures above the belly button created by the repetitive insertion and withdrawal of claws (in less technical terms, kneading). This would be of a Latin nomenclature and would designate the name for any claw-induced dermatosis (which is any skin lesion or lesion). A 2017 paper has described a case presentation and proposes that these marks should be called felis punctatis. These illnesses have been well documented, however, there has not been an accurate description for the puncture marks themselves. Fortunately, this infection resolved after a course of anti-fungal treatment. She developed an erythematous papule (small, raised area of the tissue that are can cluster together to form a rash) on the chest that ulcerated. In fact, lap kneading was a root cause of feline-transmitted sporotrichosis in a 41-year-old from California. This can be a concern as claws can sometimes carry infections that can cause bartonellosis ( cat scratch fever) and sporotrichosis (rose garderner’s disease). So overall, it is a sign that the cat is very happy – but unfortunately, it is also common for marks to be left behind on the skin. Many reasons for kneading have been previously described: such as instinctive trait from when they were kittens and wanting milk, marking a territory, signalling they are able to mate, to preparing an area for sleep like when wild cats are pawing at leaf debris and patting down tall grass. ![]() Some cats can often knead and cause skin breakages when they are very comfortable, like when they are being stroked, sitting in a sun-heated spot, or on an owner’s warm lap. However, some diseases can occur through cat scratches, whether intentional or not.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |