If your cat keeps scratching the floor, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat scratch the floor? The most likely reason why your cat scratches the floor is that it is hiding its food or feces due to an inherited trait.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat scratches the floor and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my cat scratch the floor?
Below are some possible reasons why your cat has been doing it and what would make each of them more likely.
To hide its scent
It is common for cats to scratch the floor after eating or pooping. The reason for this is that it allows your cat to hide its food for later and to prevent other animals from knowing where your cat has been. This would be more likely to be the reason if your cat only does it after eating or pooping.
Anxiety
It could be the case that something has been causing it to feel anxious. This would be more likely if does it more when it might be feeling anxious such as when you are about to leave home. It would also be more likely if it also shows other signs of being anxious such as pacing or crying when you are leaving.
It likes the feeling on its paws and claws
The reason why your cat does it might be that it likes the feeling on its paws and claws. This would be more likely if your cat does not only do it when it has finished eating or pooping.
Kneading
Another possible cause is that your cat is actually kneading which is where it presses its paws into the floor and pats it with its paws and claws repeatedly. This would be more likely if your cat does it when it is on carpet or on blankets and if it shows signs of being happy when doing it such as by purring.
To sharpen their claws
Cats will often scratch on hard or rough surfaces because it helps them to sharpen their claws. If your cat currently does not have access to a scratch post, it would be worth considering getting one.
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 scratched the floor
If your cat did not always scratch the floor, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started. For example, if it started doing it when you changed the carpet, it might be the case that your cat likes the feeling of scratching at the carpet. In this case, it might help to give it a scratch post instead.
If there is a certain time that your cat tends to scratch the floor
It would also help to consider if there is a certain time that your cat tends to scratch the floor. If there is, it could be the case that the timing has something to do with it. For example, if your cat only does it after eating, it would be more likely that your cat is hiding its food.
What to do about your cat scratching the floor
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Give it a scratch post
One option would be to give your cat a scratch post so that it is less likely to scratch at the floor. This would be more helpful if your cat has not only been doing it when eating.
Don’t give it as much food
Cats bury their leftovers. If your cat has been scratching after eating and it has been leaving leftovers, it might be the case that you have been giving it too much food.
Put food where there is hard floor
Another thing to do would be to put the food where there is hard floor so that it is harder for your cat to scratch and less damaging.
Give it distractions
Another option would be to give it things to be distracted by such as toys, when it seems likely to start scratching the floor.
Why does my cat scratch the floor after eating?
The reason why your cat scratches the floor after eating is likely to be that it is trying to hide its food. This is because its ancestors would have done the same when eating in the wild and it would have allowed them to eat again later.
Why does my cat scratch the floor before drinking?
Possible reasons why your cat scratches the floor before drinking are to see if the ground it is standing on is wet, to dig up more water or because it is a left over behavior from when it was a kitten and would knead its mother’s milk sac.
Why does my cat scratch the floor after using the litter box?
The reason why is likely to be that it is hiding its feces so that other animals do not know where it has been.
Why does my cat scratch the floor after pooping?
The reason why is likely to be that it is hiding its poop so that other animals do not know where it has been.