Flattened soil under shrubs

My front garden is planted with shrubs but (especially over the winter) the soil gets flattened by cats, hedgehogs and birds walking over it.
Would you leave it or break up the soil with a hoe or small fork?
I am gradually getting some ground cover where I can so just open areas affected.
Flat soil though does tend to discourage cats from crapping!

 

I think I'd be inclined to leave it unless you really hate how it looks.

 

Bark would improve the look and keep weeds away. My neighbour’s cat doesn’t like my bark mulch. I use the large size, not the smaller decorative chippings.