i think i have a cordyline tree in my back garden. my mum had it in a pot for a few years and it got a bit big so with nowhere to put it she gave it to me. i planted in my back garden. its in a bark chipped area so theres no other plants around it. local cats have been using its trunk as a scratching post (!!) and now its started growing lots more shoots at the bottom. ive tried to read about it but eveywhere says new stems only appear after flowering.
sooo, as i am not a gardener i was just wondering if anyone knows what its doing or why? is this a good thing or does it mean my tree is poorly from all the scratching? it does still have new leaves growing at the top too.

Cordyline often sprout new suckers around the base. It is nothing to worry about. The heads often split after flowering and produce multiple growing crowns giving the shape we all recognise. The damage the cats are causing shouldnt be too much of an issue it just makes the tree liable to diesease through the wounds. Try wrapping the trunk in something (tights etc) to try and discourage the scratching. If it is still growing it is in fine health.