Your cat, slinking along the sofa back, is nothing if not a miniature mountain lion. Keep in mind that once you decide to share your home with an animal, there may be a certain amount of household damage. In exchange, you receive years of wonderful companionship.
Scratching is one of the definitive feline behaviors.
As cats scratch, they release scent from their paws, which serves as a way of marking territory. This routine also provides a feline fitness session, working back, shoulder and leg muscles, supplying a good, long stretch and shedding the dead outer layer of the claws. Scratching behavior is so innate that even declawed cats will go through the motions. Declawing is a painful procedure that has long-term physical and emotional effects, but there are some simple alternatives. Clip your cat's nails regularly.