7 Tips to Keep Your Cat from Scratching Your Furniture

Many cat owners have been in this situation: you love your cat, but you don’t like their propensity for scratching.

Cats naturally scratch things, which unfortunately can occasionally involve chairs, couches, rugs, and other items.

Fortunately, you can stop your cat from clawing everything in the house in a variety of methods. Here are four approaches that veterinarians advise.

1. Provide scratching poles for your cat.

Giving your cat something to scratch could help keep them from gnawing on items they shouldn’t.

A scratching post is a fantastic item to provide your cat with a place to use its claws.

It’s also important that the post is solid. Cats are quite good at scratching, and a strong post will prevent your cat from getting hurt. While posts are normally upright, some cats really prefer horizontal posts. Try different things and discover which your cat prefers.

The majority of the time, the materials used depend on your cat’s preferences. Sisal, carpet, and bare wood are typical post materials.

My Cat Scratches the Furniture—Why?

You can stop cats from scratching by being aware of their motivations. In the wild, cats scratch their claws to remove the dead layers, maintaining them sharp for climbing and hunting—essential activities for a predator with agility. Territorial marking can also be done through scratching. The scratch marks serve as a signal to other cats that an area is occupied, thanks to the scent glands that cats have between their claws.

Cats who scratch are able to stretch and maintain a healthy body. They often scratch when they are bored or enthusiastic as a means to let off their physical and emotional energies. Finally, cats simply like to scratch! Like people, cats have a variety of coping mechanisms, including scratching. Here are five suggestions to prevent furniture damage and scratching.

Tip 1: Purchase and Position Scratching Posts Strategically

Cats begin scratching around two months of age. Ideally, you should give your kitten scratching posts and teach them how to use them from an early age. They will be free to act naturally without damaging your furnishings thanks to this. We advise getting several scratching posts and strategically arranging them all over your house. There are many different surfaces available for scratching posts, making it difficult to predict which one your cat would like. A few various kinds should be purchased, and you should watch your cat to discover which sort they prefer.

The location of the scratching posts is crucial as well. Place the scratching posts in locations where your cat spends the most time, such the sunny spot next to the window where they like to lounge, rather than sticking them in a corner. Placing their favorite post directly next to a piece of furniture you want to protect will help. Give your cat treats and compliments when they scratch a post instead than the couch to encourage this good behavior.

Certain furniture is better suited to pets than others. For further tips, read our blogs on how to make your home more pet-friendly and how to assist your pet transition to a new home.

Build interest in the scratching posts as a second tip.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts with goodies and praise, your cat may not be interested in any of the scratching posts you’ve bought. But don’t give up! By sprinkling catnip or misting honeysuckle on the posts, you can generate attention. You may also get your cat interested in playing with wand toys next to the scratching post and then setting the toy on the post.

After adopting the aforementioned precautions, if your cat still doesn’t seem interested in the scratching posts, think about getting a relaxing cat bed. Cats occasionally scratch more frequently when they’re more stressed, thus worry may contribute to the problem. A soothing cat bed could lessen their nervousness and scratching.

Make the furniture less appealing for scratching as a third tip.

You can use a few methods to make the furniture less appealing for scratching.

You can deceive your cats into believing they have already marked their area by using a cat scratching spray. Likewise, you have the option of purchasing a spray or making your own. But until you break the habit of scratching, you must use the spray every day for it to work. Note: When your cat is in the same room as you, avoid spraying directly on or near it.

Tape over any cat scratches. Cat scratch tapes are sticky and double-sided. You can easily place them where you need them and then remove them afterwards because they come in rolls or panels. It will stop cats from scratching certain areas because they naturally dislike feeling sticky on their paws. Wherever you don’t want your cat to scratch, cat scratch tape will also work on carpet, cloth, and hard surfaces.

Spray some citrus-scented cleaner on the furnishings. Citrus scents naturally repel cats, so this could help keep them away from the furniture you want to keep safe.

4. Take action on your cat’s claws using tip

Although it may be alluring, declawing your cat should be avoided if at all possible. Declawing is a medical process where the final bone in your cat’s toes is removed in order to stop the cat’s claws from growing again. It’s an unpleasant treatment that could lead to issues like chronic discomfort and bleeding. Additionally, it might cause behavioral issues like hostility, anxiety, biting, and litter box refusal. Cats require their claws for stability, climbing, defense, and gripping. Here are some declawing substitutes.

Trim the claws on your cat. Regular cat claw cutting usually helps to minimize damage to your furnishings. Choose nail clippers that are both sturdy and simple to use. Due to the rounded shape of a cat’s claw, clippers with curved edges are significantly more comfortable to use because they exert pressure uniformly along the nail.

Consider soft nail caps. They are secure, simple to apply, and last for about 4-6 weeks on your cat’s claws. They are painless for your cat and will stop scratching damage.

Put on cat mittens or socks. Some cats find that cat socks work well, however your cat can get frustrated and continually removing them.

Tip 5: Maintain a healthy and content cat

When cats are unwell, they may scratch more. Many cat owners undervalue the value of good dental care in maintaining their cat’s wellbeing. Dental disease can result in more severe health problems such liver, kidney, and heart disease and is painful. Bad cat breath frequently indicates a more serious underlying medical condition.

And lastly, make sure to play with your cat frequently. Cats will occasionally scratch when they are bored and agitated. Playing with your cat can help prevent them from scratching furnishings in addition to being enjoyable. Cats who are physically active have less need to look for other outlets as a result of the stress and energy they are able to release.