So your gorgeous cat is turning into a such a monster? You probably have a serious issue with your cat’s new found hobby; i.e. redecorating your living room.
The Bengal cat is such a lovely cat to have. It not only has a beautiful exotic look but is also, adorable, playful, energetic and generally lively. This makes it great for families with kids.
On the flip side, Bengal cats tend to scratch everything. However, just because your cat scrapes your drapes or claws your couch, it doesn’t necessarily make it a bad kitty.
I know this behavior can be quite irritating. Don’t panic though; by learning what causes your furry friend to scratch everything, you will be halfway through the journey of having a great time living with a Bengal Cat.
1. Why Do Bengal Cats Scratch Everything?
To understand why your Bengal cat scrapes and scratches everything, you need to understand the cat first.
The Bengal cat is a crossbreed of the wild Asian Leopard cat and a domestic cat. The goal was to obtain a cat with the exotic looks of the Asian leopard cat but also with a domesticated cat disposition.
As such, despite being varied in appearance, there exists a certain distinction in terms of how they look. Despite not being large cats, they are one of the bulkiest breeds of cats with a sheer amount of muscle mass.
Moreover, they are highly intelligent. Their level of IQ is known to rival that of the cunning Siamese cats. They are also very active. They love to play and are excellent hunters. A lot of Bengal cat owners claim that they often pick up random objects and run off with them.
So they are known to scratch anything they deem precious or attractive and often stare down other animals just for the kicks. Thanks, to their wild heritage, they are excellent hunters. Their sheer speed and agility make them efficient hunters and phenomenal fishers.
2. Simply Bored
This blend of characteristics makes the Bengal cat the perfect recipe for trouble.
It is important that you understand that scratching for cats is a normal, instinctive behavior.
They scratch for a variety of reasons.
For instance, due to the hyperactive nature of Bengal cats, they get bored easily. Thus, scratching anything around them is part of play.
Additionally, they often scratch in the morning or rather after they wake up to flex their claws, feet and their body.
Bengal cats are also very territorial.
They scratch various surfaces to mark their territory by leaving a scent and a visual mark of the dead outer layer of their claws.
They are also very expressive, thus scratching might be one of the ways of communicating with you especially if you are not giving your cat enough attention.
3. How To Stop Your Bengal Cat from Scratching Everything?
With scratching being a normal instinctive cat behavior, it isn't possible to discourage it completely. The best thing you can do is to get your cat to play with acceptable objects and make sure to even clip their nails often.
If you suspect that your cat is bored, especially if it is scratching without any provoked play, stimulate your cat with different objects. These can include little furry toys, wand toys, laser pointers, and any other toy that your cat likes.
This way, you are encouraging your cat to scratch and bite something other than you, your kids or your expensive couch.
4. Invest In A Scratch Post & Board
Bengal cats love to scratch vertically on rough surfaces. In this case, a scratching post should come in handy. Ensure that this post is tall and sturdy enough for adult cats to use and have a good stretch.
Any lack of those two critical elements may discourage your cat from using it. You can wrap the scratching post with a sisal rope because cats love the smell and the texture of natural fiber.
Also, place the scratching post and the toys strategically so that your cat can easily find them and play with them. If he starts scratching other household items, firmly say "NO".
Another option is a horizontal scratch board. Cats go nuts over these, especially if you add a bit of catnip 🙂
When your cat scratches it's toys, reinforce this good behavior by rubbing on your cat's back or any other rewarding activity they like. This will instill good manners.
So instead of punishing your cat every time they do something mischievous, try to understand what your kitty is telling you and address the issue accordingly.
This way, you will get to understand that Bengals are not deliberately destructive or malicious.
Instead, you will find out that they are trainable, social, intelligent, kid-friendly, dog-friendly and loyal.
