How To Stop Your Cat From Scratching The Furniture

Our cats love to scratch anything and everything. Scratching is a normal, instinctive behavior that you don’t want to discourage altogether. However, you do want to have your kitties scratch the appropriate item such as a scratchpad or post and not your furniture. 

Therefore, it is important to figure out how to get your kitty to scratch the correct, acceptable objects.

Understanding Why Cats Scratch

Before addressing the issue, it is important to understand why cats scratch in the first place. Cats have scent glands in their paws and scratching allows them to mark their territory both visually and scent-wise. It also helps them remove the dead outer layer of their claws and stretches their bodies.

Cats don't scratch furniture out of spite or to be destructive; they do it because it feels good, it's instinctual, and it helps them manage their claws. It’s their way to stretch out on what can seem like a very easy target.

Figure Out When Your Cats Scratch

Watch your cats’ patterns and try to figure out when they scratch and what they are attracted to claw. Most cats like a textured surface or anything they can really sink their claws into; however, each cat is different. Some cats scratch as they stand up against a vertical surface; others like to scratch on all fours and stick their butts up in the air for a good stretch. Some cats enjoy both ways.

When do they scratch and stretch out? Is it after a nap when they want to mark their territory, or when they’re excited about something, like you coming home from work. 

 If you figure out when, you can redirect their behavior with a toy or to the appropriate scratching post.

 Provide Alternatives: Scratching Posts and Pads

The most effective way to prevent your cat from scratching the furniture is to provide them with other things to scratch. Scratching posts, pads, and cat trees are designed specifically for this purpose and can provide your kitties with the right place to scratch.

Below Are Some Tips to Help Your Cats to Use The Posts:

Choose the Right Scratching Post

Cats have preferences for different materials and textures. Some may prefer carpeted scratching posts, while others might like sisal or cardboard. Experiment with different types to see what your cat prefers. Make sure the post is tall enough for your cat to stretch fully when scratching and stable enough not to tip over.

Placement is Key:

Place the scratching post near the furniture your cat likes to scratch. If your cat scratches in multiple areas, you may need several posts. Once your cat begins to use the post regularly, you can slowly move it to a more convenient location if necessary.

Encourage Use of the Scratching Post:

Rub catnip or spray catnip spray on the scratching post to attract your cat. You can also dangle toys around the post or scratch it yourself to show your cat how to use it. Praise and reward your cat with treats when they use the post.

Make Your Furniture Less Appealing

While providing alternatives is important, you’ll also need to make the furniture less appealing to your cat. This can be done through a few simple deterrents:

Use Double-Sided Tape:

Cats dislike sticky surfaces. Applying double-sided tape to the areas of the furniture your cat likes to scratch can deter them from continuing this behavior.

Furniture Covers:

Consider covering your furniture with protective covers or throw blankets that are less enticing to scratch. There are also specialized products like vinyl guards that protect furniture from cat claws.

Scent Deterrents:

Cats have a strong sense of smell, and some scents can deter them from scratching. Citrus scents, for instance, are often unappealing to cats. You can use a commercial cat deterrent spray or create a homemade solution with diluted essential oils (just be sure they are safe for cats).

Once you find the best post for your cat, spread the love

It's a good idea to have more than one scratching post, especially if you have upstairs and downstairs areas, your house is large, or you have more than one cat. This will lessen the possibility that your cat will resort to furniture in other rooms without scratching posts and if you have multiple cats, one won't have to use a scratching post, and the other scratches the furniture.

 Place the posts in your cats’ favorite scratching places

 Watch for which pieces of furniture your kitty has clawed and their locations. If it is always the chair you sit in most, locate a scratching post near it and maybe leave a piece of your laundry on the top for a while or use its top tray as a drop spot for personal items so that your cat sees it as part of your territorial marker, like your favorite chair.

Use Only Positive Reinforcement for Good Behavior

Cats respond well to positive reinforcement, so when they use their scratching post, offer praise, petting, or a treat. The goal is to make scratching the post a more rewarding experience than scratching the furniture.

Never scold your cat because it doesn’t work and might even reinforce the bad behavior. If you do catch your cat scratching the furniture, a simple “no” will do and try to redirect your cat to the right place or post to scratch.

Trim Your Cat’s Claws Every Few Weeks

Indoor cats don't wear down their claws as quickly as outdoors ones do, so they can overgrow. Untrimmed, claws can grow into the cat's pads, leading to infection, pain, and difficulty walking and using the litter box.

Check your cat's claws every couple of weeks to see if they need to be clipped. If it is too hard for you to clip them, a groomer can help. And, of course, the shorter the claws, the less likely they will scratch your furniture to get rid of their claws.

Remember, scratching is a normal and necessary part of a cat’s life