This releases "feel-good" hormones that help keep your cat healthy. The same muscles that are used for the scratch-stretch are the ones that cats need to climb and run. Your cat knows that her body should be honed and equipped for anything. Scratch-stretching keeps the muscles from cramping and becoming stiff or painful. Scratching is a good way for a cat to loosen up his muscles after sleep, too. Cats love scratching options that they can grip slightly with their claws to help smooth rough edges and improve circulation to their toes and nail beds and also gain some resistance when they stretch, just like resistance bands for us.

