Dr. Andrea Sanchez, a veterinarian at Banfield Pet Hospital, previously told Business Insider that cats scratch to communicate, stretch and condition their claws, and claim possessions. But if you really want your cat to stop scratching up your couch and chairs, it's worth knowing the exact reason they're doing it in the first place. How to stop cats from scratching up your furnitureStressed-out cats can wreak havoc on your furniture and other household items. Magui-rfajardo/Getty ImagesIf your cat won't stop scratching up your furniture, there are things you can do to curb the behavior, the researchers found. Observing your cat's scratching behavior can help you figure out what type of scratching post is best for them.

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Persons: —, Andrea Sanchez, they're, Larisa Tyushova, Nico De Pasquale, Quagliozzi Organizations: Service, Banfield Pet Hospital, Business, Veterinary Science Locations: France