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Why does my cat paw at my sheets?

If your cat has been pawing your sheets a lot, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.

So, why does my cat paw my sheets? Likely reasons why your cat paws your sheets are that your cat is showing pleasure and kneading or that your cat is sharpening its claws.

There are a number of possible causes and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.

Why does my cat paw at my sheets?

Below are likely reasons why your cat paws your sheets and what would make them more likely.

Your cat is showing pleasure

A likely cause is that your cat is kneading which is where your cat pats its paws up and down because it is showing pleasure. This would be more likely if your cat also purrs when it paws the sheets and if your cat tends to do it when it is sitting with you.

Your cat likes the feeling

It could also be the case that your cat does it because it simply likes the feeling. This would be more likely if your cat paws the sheets at random times and it does things such as purr when doing it.

To sharpen its claws

Cats’ claws are growing all the time. The old parts of the claws become dull over time and are usually worn away when the cat scratches at hard or rough surfaces. The reason why your cat scratches the bed and other hard or rough surfaces is likely to be that it is maintaining its claws. This would be more likely if your cat scratches the side of the bed that is rough.

Things to consider

Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.

If your cat has always pawed at your sheets

If your cat did not always paw at your sheets, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started doing it. For example, if it started doing it since losing access to a scratch post, it would be likely that your cat is doing it to clean its paws and because the sheets are the best location for your cat to do it.

The timing of when your cat paws at your sheets

It would also help to consider if there is a certain time that your cat tends to scratch the sheets. For example, if your cat tends to do it when you are petting it, the cause would be more likely that it is kneading and showing pleasure. Whereas, if it seems to do it at random times, it would be more likely that your cat is doing it in order to maintain its claws.

How to get my cat to stop clawing my sheets?

Below are some options you have to prevent your cat from clawing at the sheets.

Give your cat a scratch post

Cats are very good at keeping themselves clean. But they can’t do it if their claws get too long, which can happen if they don’t have something to sharpen their claws on. If they don’t have anything to scratch on, they are going to keep scratching anyway – maybe your furniture or even you. Giving your cat something to scratch on is one of the most important things you can do to keep them happy and healthy.

Give your cat distractions

Another thing to do would be to redirect your cat’s focus towards something else when it seems likely to start scratching the sheets. Ways to redirect its focus could include showing it a toy or putting it near another hard surface that you don’t mind it scratching.

Get your cat to stay elsewhere

Another option would be to try to get your cat to stay elsewhere such as by putting a cat down for it and encouraging it to go there instead.

Why does my cat scratch my sheets?

Likely reasons why your cat scratches your sheets are that it is sharpening its claws or that it is showing pleasure and is kneading. It would help to give your cat other things that it can scratch and to try to redirect its focus when it seems likely to start scratching.

Why does my cat dig my bed?

The most likely reason why your cat digs on your bed is that it is kneading and showing pleasure which would be more likely if your cat also purrs and does it when you are petting it. It might also be the case that your cat does it because it needs to poop which would be more likely if it does it when it does not have access to the litterbox or when there is a problem with the litterbox.