Scratching is a natural behavior for cats that helps them stretch their tendons, scent mark, and wear down their nails. Scratching furniture, however, is an infuriating and costly form of this natural, necessary behavior.
Some may consider declawing in an attempt to save their furniture from their cat, but there are many other more humane, less expensive alternatives. Click here to learn more about declawing, or read on to learn the many different tools at your disposal to stop Fluffy from scratching furniture. Use any or all of these methods and see just how easy it is to have both intact furniture and a happy cat.
Scratching posts
It’s important to get multiple scratching posts with lots of variety if you want to stop your cat from scratching furniture. Scratching posts come in all different shapes, sizes, and materials, so stock your home with a variety. Cats are particular and may show a preference for vertical versus slanted, cardboard versus carpet. Offer an eclectic mix of scratching posts and learn what your cat prefers for future reference.
As with real estate and litter boxes, the key to scratching post success is location, location, location. Cats scratch as a way of scent marking. It’s the equivalent of a dog lifting his leg to mark territory. Cats are highly territorial and will scratch, or scent mark, on social significant spots. So if your cat likes to lay in the bay window behind the couch, the top of that couch is a hot spot if there is no post in sight.
Place scratching posts in these significant places (in the previous example, a small post or scratching surface in the bay window or next to the couch is ideal). You can even find scratching posts that fit on the corner of your furniture. This way, your cat can scratch, but scratching furniture is not a problem. When plenty of appropriate scratching options are available, your furniture goes unscathed.
Feliway
Feliway is a company that creates diffusers, sprays, and other products that utilize the strong feline scent receptors to help alter behavior and make for more stress-free cats. One of their newest products, Feliscratch, goes directly onto the scratching post to encourage cats to scratch there. The classic Feliway spray works well with this when you spray it where the cat isn’t allowed to scratch. These products yield high success rates and are barely noticeable (if at all) to human scent receptors.
Nail Caps
Most pet stores carry feline nail covers such as Soft Claws or Kitty Caps. These are essentially the same product and are incredibly helpful in preventing destructive scratching. Glue these plastic caps over the nails to protect anything the nails touch. The caps fall off as the nail grows and are safe to the cat if swallowed. If the caps don’t fall off naturally, cut them off with a nail trimmer and replace as the nail grows. Most veterinarians, groomers, or animal caregivers are happy to help you with this process if you are uncomfortable applying yourself, though the process is fairly simple.
If you’ve never had a cat with claws before, this is is a great way to get started to see where your cat wants to scratch. Since scratching furniture is a way of territorial marking, these caps protect your couch while you learn the best places to put scratching posts. You can continue to keep these on or stop replacing them once you feel you can trust your cat to only scratch the cat furniture. Plus they come in festive colors!
Get them started
If you your cat just isn’t interested in the scratching posts, try to engage your cat in play with a wand toy. Once you really have your cat going, have him/her chase the wand toy over to the top of the scratching post. This should get your cat started. You can also try sprinkling catnip on the scratching post to entice activity.
Household deterrents
There are a few household items to try as deterrents from your furniture. Sticking double sided tape or tin foil over the areas your cat usually likes to scratch (couch corners, etc) helps deter scratching. Cats do not like the feel of the sticky tape or harsh tin foil on their paws and will soon learn that it is not a pleasant place to scratch.
Lemon is an aversive smell to cats, so place part of a lemon wrapped in tin foil by the typically-scratched furniture to keep your cat away. One problem with this is that you need to make sure it doesn’t sit out too long and waste. Another potential downside is that this should completely deter your cat from approaching the furniture, so if you want a snuggly lap cat on your couch, this may not be the route to go.
Commercial products
There are several commercial deterrent sprays found online such as Nature’s Miracle Cat Deterrent Spray or Claw Withdraw. Both products have high ratings and many positive reviews. You simply spray the deterrent on/near the furniture you want protected and the smell deters cats from marking their scent via scratching.
Furniture Defender is another product that deters cats from scratching. These thin, clear plastic corner guards fit on the corner of just about any chair or couch. They have several positive reviews and a high success rating.
Do not use punishment
Not everyone may consider using a spray bottle as punishment, but scientifically, it qualifies as positive punishment. This means that you introduce an unpleasant experience (spraying with water) in order to end an unfavorable behavior (scratching furniture). Besides the fact that this is unpleasant for the cat, this is not a good idea because the cat learns to fear you. You associate yourself with the water that you spray and the cat begins to associate you with the unpleasant experience. Sure, your cat may stay away from the couch, but it’s much more likely they’re just staying away from you.
Punishments or scare tactics, such as shaking cans of coins or yelling, only add more issues to the problem. Not only will your cat become more anxious, but he/she won’t learn where it is good and safe to scratch, and the human-animal bond disintegrates.
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