Mark their territory – as they scratch, they leave visible marks and a pheromone scent that reinforce for the cat that they are safe and secure in their home, leading to a confident, relaxed and calm cat who is happy and content Stretch and exercise - when cats are scratching, they are engaging the same muscles they use for climbing, pouncing and leaping, this workout helps to keep them fit and active, and reduces pent up energy that can lead to other unwanted cat behaviours Keep their claws and paws in great shape - scratching not only helps to keep claws smooth and properly shaped; it also helps the circulation reach through to the nail beds and the tips of the toe pads, keeping cat paws in healthy condition Scratching is vital for cat health, it is a normal and natural behaviour that cats need to do, so a cat scratcher is an essential item when caring for a cat.