Why Cats Scratch – And How cat-on Furniture Supports Their Natural Instincts
Scratching is more than just claw care – it's how cats express identity, regulate emotions, and connect with their territory. In this in-depth guide, discover the real reasons behind scratching and how cat-on creates beautifully crafted furniture that supports your cat's natural instincts – with empathy, design, and real understanding.
If Cats Could Speak: What Scratching Really Means
Imagine a world where furniture doesn’t just serve a purpose, but understands instincts. Where design is guided not by trends but by animal behavior. A world in which scratching is not a nuisance but an expression of well-being, identity – and trust. Welcome to cat-on.
For many cat owners, the journey begins with a torn sofa or a shredded rug. For us, it starts much earlier – with the sight of a cat stretching, anchoring its claws, and scratching with calm determination. Scratching is not accidental. It’s a choreography that says: “I’m here. I am me.”
At cat-on, we’ve made it our mission to understand this behavior – and to create furniture that doesn’t just endure, but responds. Our scratching furniture doesn’t just look beautiful in your home – it makes living together more natural. Each design supports and respects feline behavior, instead of suppressing it. Because only a cat allowed to scratch is truly at ease.
What may look like a compromise at the pet store is, to us, the beginning of something deeper: a living space shaped around behavior and trust. In this guide, we’ll take you on a journey: deep into your cat’s instincts, into the philosophy behind every cat-on piece – and into a new way of understanding your feline companion.
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The Silent Language of Claws: Why Cats Really Scratch
Some feline behaviors appear casual. Scratching never is. It’s not a reflex or a warm-up. It’s communication. Expression. Grounding. And like any true language, scratching speaks on multiple levels – physical, emotional, social.
Let’s start with the obvious: scratching is essential for claw maintenance. It removes dead sheath layers, keeps claws sharp, strengthens muscles, and improves blood circulation – especially in a domestic world that lacks trees and real prey. But that’s just the surface.
Next comes territory. When scratching, cats activate scent glands in their paws and leave behind markers of their identity. In the wild, these are clear messages: “This space is mine.” Indoors, it’s more subtle, but no less meaningful. Your cat is anchoring herself emotionally in the environment. This is why suitable scratching areas are not a luxury – they’re essential. And this is exactly what cat-on furniture is designed for.
Then there’s the emotional layer. Scratching is emotional regulation. It helps reduce stress, provides release, and restores balance. Just like humans tap their fingers or go for a run, cats use scratching to calm down, express frustration, or simply feel good. Without an appropriate outlet, this instinct can turn destructive or disappear entirely – leading to stress or behavioral issues.
And finally, there’s something more delicate – a connection to kittenhood: the kneading motion many cats perform when they feel safe. This behavior, closely related to scratching, shows up in moments of contentment and deep trust. At cat-on, we often hear how cats curl up on our surfaces, stretch out, and rhythmically push with their paws. That’s not a coincidence. It’s a sign of well-being. A sign that everything is just right.
When Function Becomes a Risk: Why Most Scratching Furniture Fails
Most scratching products in stores look similar: vertical poles, beige fleece, stapled-on sisal. They check boxes – but often fail the test of real-life use. Especially for large breeds like Maine Coons or Norwegian Forest Cats, standard models can be too flimsy. They bend. They wobble. They collapse. And cats notice.
We hear it all the time: “My cat used it once, then never again.” That’s not disinterest. It’s distrust. A cat won’t return to a place that feels unstable. And if scratching doesn’t feel safe, it stops – or shifts to your sofa, walls, or doorframes. Behavior doesn’t disappear. It just adapts.
This is where cat-on takes a different path. Our furniture is built for behavior. We use multilayered, high-density corrugated cardboard with a honeycomb structure. Crafted layer by layer by hand in Berlin, each piece is engineered to absorb pressure, distribute weight, and stay completely stable – even under heavy cats with serious energy.
Our customers describe it best:
“I doubted cardboard could hold up – until our Maine Coon leapt onto it full-force and nothing moved. It looks like art and performs like steel.”
– Verified review via eKomi
It’s not just about materials. It’s about understanding what it means for a cat to trust a surface. Stability is not a feature – it’s a necessity.
More Than a Surface: The Forgotten Value of Horizontal Scratching
When people picture cats scratching, they imagine vertical posts. But that’s just one piece of the puzzle. Many cats prefer horizontal scratching – not out of laziness, but because it aligns with their natural resting positions and instincts.
This motion is often linked to comfort, security, and the so-called “milk tread” behavior from kittenhood. When cats scratch from a laying or crouching position, it shows they feel safe, grounded, and emotionally connected to the surface. It’s not just scratching – it’s ritual.
cat-on furniture supports this need beautifully. Our sculpted wave designs and flat surfaces invite scratching, lounging, stretching, and kneading. Not just for minutes – but for hours. Many customers tell us our products have replaced their cats’ favorite nap spots and play zones alike.
What looks like simplicity is actually layered design: ergonomic, durable, soothing. And that makes all the difference.
The Anatomy of the Perfect Scratching Furniture
We don’t design to impress. We design to understand. Every cat-on piece starts with observation – of movement, posture, landing, and behavior. Then we translate those insights into form. Elegant, logical, silent.
We use FSC-certified papers made from long wood fibers, layered into high-resilience cardboard. Our vegan, odor-free glue ensures clean bonding without chemical scents – ideal for the sensitive feline nose. Each piece is handmade in Berlin, not mass-produced or imported. It’s furniture with character – built with care, layer by layer.
Ergonomics are fundamental: the arch of a wave, the depth of a bowl, the width of a lounge – everything is made for the feline body. For movement. For stillness. For trust.
One Cat, One Character: Matching Furniture to Personality
Not every cat climbs. Not every cat hides. Some want elevation. Others seek refuge. Some cats scratch with gusto, others with grace. We understand these nuances – and build accordingly.
Kittens need ground-level stability and inviting surfaces. Seniors seek low-impact comfort and ergonomic curves. Shy cats love hideaways that double as safe zones and scratching spots. Active cats thrive with wall-mounted models and vertical zones for climbing.
cat-on offers tailored solutions – not collections. Our pieces accompany cats through every phase of life, adjusting not just to needs, but to personalities.
Real Life, Real Stories: What Our Customers Share
Sometimes the best testimony comes from those who live with our products. Here are just a few voices:
Monika from Lucerne: “Our Lotte is a diva. She ignores almost everything – except her LE CANAPÉ. She naps on it, scratches first thing every morning, and purrs like never before. We finally have our sofa back.”
Robert & Janine from Hamburg: “We have two Maine Coons – nothing lasted longer than a few months. Then came cat-on. It’s stunning, it’s solid – and it changed everything.”
Elena from Vienna: “Our rescue cat was shy and withdrawn. Her cat-on cave was the first place she chose on her own. Now she kneads, naps, and even plays. It helped her feel safe.”
Kevin from Lyon: “I love design. My cat loves behavior. For once, we’re both satisfied.”
Conclusion: Why cat-on Is More Than a Brand
cat-on is not a label. It’s a way of thinking. Rooted in behavior, designed with care, built with hands. Our Berlin-based team puts heart into every layer – guided by founder Martin Frank and his wife Silvia, whose vision, sensitivity, and passion drive the soul of the brand.
We don’t sell cardboard. We offer understanding – of cats, their language, and the spaces they call home. Our furniture is a promise: To scratch freely. To rest safely. To be understood.
Need help finding the right model for your cat? Contact our team – we’re here for you →
Welcome to cat-on. Where scratching isn’t a problem – it’s part of the solution.
