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How To Get Cats To Stop Scratching Furniture

Sprays Tapes And Other Deterrents

How to get your cat to stop scratching the furniture

Not all cats adapt to scratching posts. As an alternative, try covering her favorite scratching places with double-sided sticky tape like Sticky Paws. Cats paws are extremely sensitive. This acute sensitivity makes sticky surfaces exceptionally annoying, and cats will avoid scratching any place so uninviting.

Herbal sprays can also keep your cat from scratching unwanted areas of your home. Dont use anything that could harm the cat if she ingests it and be careful with strong odors because you dont want the nearby acceptable objects to also smell unpleasant, Herron cautioned.

Keeping your cats nails trim is another way to reduce damage from scratching. Herron recommends trimming the sharp tip of your cats claws about once a week, being careful not to cut into the quick , which will cause bleeding and be painful for the cat. Use a nail trimmer designed especially for cats, not for humans or dogs, and if you are unsure how to safely trim your cats nails, ask your veterinarian for a demonstration.

You can also dull your cats claws by sheathing them with Soft Paws, plastic caps which fit over your cats claws. Your cat will have to be patient enough to let you or a veterinarian put them on and trim the nails underneath, however. Some cats will take them off, but many tolerate them. They glue on easily, last four to six weeks and won’t interfere with normal claw retraction.

Can I Use A Deterrent Spray

Its not recommended to only use a scratching deterrent spray. This is because, when you are training any pet, the most effective method is to deter an undesirable behavior while providing an alternative, desirable behavior at the same time.

Just using a deterrent spray is ineffective because the cat still needs to scratch, so he will just move on to something else to scratch. Sprays are especially assaulting to a cats sensitive sense of smell. When he comes into contact with the smell, he will cough and sneeze.

Encourage Natural Cat Behaviors

For a long, happy life, your cat needs an enriching environment that encourages their natural behaviors, along with plenty of attention and a healthy diet.

A high-quality diet that keeps your cats gut ecosystem in balance will help kitty better absorb essential nutrients and keep their immune system in top working order. NutriSource is proud to formulate all its pet diets with their innovative Good 4 Life® system that builds good gut health for the cat and a better litter box experience for you. Shop local and find NutriSource at an independent pet retailer near you.

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Try Out Thunderease For Cats

  • ThunderEase for Cats is the vet recommended, drug free, calming pheromone diffuser that mimics the natural feline facial pheromone. Cats use this to mark their environment as safe by rubbing their cheeks on objects. The pheromones helps the cats feel calm and confident in the environment and helps reduce signs of stress
  • Scratching is a common way for cats to de-stress, so if you can help to reduce stress, it can help to eliminate problematic cat scratching
  • Place your ThunderEase diffuser in the room where you are having the biggest scratching issues
  • Owners often see results within the first 7 days
  • We realize that no product works for 100% of animals, so we offer a 100% money back guarantee if ThunderEase doesnt work for your cat

Spray Water And Apple Cider Vinegar

How to get cats to stop scratching furniture

Another spray you can use combines equal parts clean water and apple cider vinegar. Unlike the water spray, you will not apply this solution directly to the cat and will apply to areas you want the cats to avoid instead. Cats dont like the smell of apple cider vinegar and will avoid it if they can.

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Option : Have More Scratch

If you have a leather sofa your cat really likes to scratch, it may not be that he or she actually genuinely prefers to scratch leather over other materials.

The truth of the matter is that your cat may just scratch your sofa because when he/she gets the itch to scratch around it, theres nothing else nearby thats nice to scratch on, so your leather furniture gets the grunt of the claw-work.

We spend a lot of time on and around our couches, and cats like spending a lot of time around us.

If theres specific furniture in your house thats more damaged than other pieces, Ill hazard a guess the damaged pieces happen to be where you spend a large chunk of your waking hours.

The resolution to all this? Increase the amount of scratch-approved items you have in your home, concentrating especially on places your cat spend a lot of time.

And Im not just talking in the same room either. Some rooms are enormous, and some rooms are small, yet certain cats really dislike having to go even a little far from where theyre spending time to find something adequate to scratch.

The easiest way to make sure a scratcher isnt too far to be a suitable replacement for the leather couch? Place a scratch post you know your cat likes to use right in front of the spot your cat typically scratches on your leather sofa like the back, the sides, the front, wherever your particular cat likes clawing.

How To Stop Cats From Scratching Leather Furniture

Scratching is a natural behavior for cats. It helps to sharpen their claws, stretch out their muscles, and keep them entertained. Of course, this is disastrous in the home, especially if you own leather furniture. Cats dont specifically target leather, but they dont avoid it either. Even faux leather can fall victim to a cat, which leads to an expensive and unsightly problem.

To deter cats from scratching leather furniture, start by offering more scratching posts. You may need to buy different models, sizes, and textures to make them more appealing to the cat. After that, begin training the cat to never step on the leather furniture, using positive reinforcement. You can safeguard your leather with protective covers, such as scratch guards, drop cloths, or slip cloths. That can be topped off with anti-scratch sprays or your own smell-based deterrents.

Trimming your cats nails will help prevent it from scratching up the leather by accident. Even walking over your furniture could leave tiny pocket marks, so keep your cats away from the leather whenever you can. Leather cant be completely repaired, but you can mask the damage. Using a colorant on small scratches will help disguise little pocket marks. You may eventually have to replace entire areas of the leather for straight scratches or have it reupholstered.

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How To Care For Your Cats Nails

If your cat is tearing up your furniture, walls, and other areas, then youll probably need to start trimming their nails.

Like brushing, its best to wait until your cat is calm and hanging out nearby. If youre petting your cat and the kitty is relaxed, this can be a good opportunity. Youll want sharp nail clippers designed for kitty claws. Gently, calmly, take your cats paw, press it a little to unsheathe the claw, and then trim carefully.

It may take a few sessions to get all your cats claws, especially if its the first time. Most cats need claw trimming every four weeks or so. If your cat refuses to let you trim those nails, then youll probably need to pull in the experts via your veterinarian or groomer.

Things To Try At Home To Stop Your Cat Ruining Your Furniture

How to stop cats scratching furniture

Even if scratching is a healthy behaviour and necessary for all cats, it can be difficult to watch cats tearing your beloved furniture apart. However, simple solutions and home remedies to stop cats from scratching the furniture do exist.

Once a cat has started scratching in a particular location, it’s not easy to stop them. It’s very much like breaking a bad habit and we know how hard that can be.

For cats, the visible and invisible marks they leave on the places they scratch tell them this is where they scratch.

The first step in breaking an unwanted scratching habit is to remove the previous scratch marks and then to try to redirect your cat toward the new desired scratching location. That new location should offer another desirable option to scratch not your sofa preferably and remain visible in a location where your cat likes to spend time. This will maximize the chances of your cat using the new scratching location. Don’t hide your cat’s scratching post in a corner or behind the couch, as this won’t encourage them to use it. After all… out of sight, out of mind!

Using FELIWAY Classic to comfort your cat proven to work for more than 80% of cats.

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Should I Punish My Cat For Scratching

No. Punishment is effective only if you catch your cat in the act of scratching unacceptable objects and have provided her with acceptable scratching objects. Punishment after the fact, wont change the behavior, may cause her to be afraid of you or the environment and may elicit defensive aggression. Used by itself, punishment wont resolve scratching problems because it doesnt teach your cat where to scratch instead.

If you do catch her in the act of scratching inappropriate objects, remote punishment is best, in which you do not directly interact with her. Ideas for remote punishment include making a loud noise , throwing a pillow at her or using a water-filled squirt bottle. If punishment is interactive, shell learn to refrain from scratching in your presence but will continue to scratch when youre not around.

Training Your Cat To Scratch Acceptable Objects

  • You must provide objects for scratching that are appealing, attractive and convenient from your cats point of view. Start by observing the physical features of the objects your cat is scratching. The answers to the following questions will help you understand your cats scratching preferences:
  • Where are they located? Prominent objects, objects close to sleeping areas and areas near the entrance to a room are often chosen.
  • What texture do they have are they soft or coarse?
  • What shape do they have are they horizontal or vertical?
  • How tall are they? At what height does your cat scratch?
  • Now, considering your cats demonstrated preferences, substitute similar objects for her to scratch . Place the acceptable object near the inappropriate object that shes already using. Make sure the objects are stable and wont fall over or move around when she uses them.
  • Cover the inappropriate objects with something your cat will find unappealing, such as double sided sticky tape, aluminum foil, sheets of sandpaper or a plastic carpet runner with the pointy side up. Or you may give the objects an aversive odor by attaching cotton balls containing perfume, a muscle rub or other unpleasant odor. Be careful with odors, though, because you dont want the nearby acceptable objects to also smell unpleasant.
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    If You Have A Cat That Won’t Stop Scratching Your Furniture You’re Probably Wondering How To Make Them Stop It Which Is Why We’ve Put Together This Handy Guide To Help You Prevent Your Cat From Shredding Your Sofa Keep Reading To Find Out More

    Theres nothing worse than getting a new sofa and coming home to find that your cat or kitten has ripped it into ribbons, or finding deep scratches in your freshly painted door frames. Cats scratching furniture can be a real problem, especially if youre house-proud! Sometimes it may seem that your cats out to cause trouble, but its important to know that these scratching behaviours are deeply ingrained instincts and they have numerous benefits to both their health and wellbeing.

    Keep reading to find out how to stop cats from scratching furniture and to discover why they always seem to target your favourite spots.

    Use Praise But No Punishment

    How to get cats to stop scratching furniture

    Cats respond well to positive reinforcement. As a result, if cat owners want them to scratch either a scratching post or a scratching pad, it is a good idea for them to praise or otherwise reward their cats to encourage further examples of such behavior. Meanwhile, cat owners shouldnt punish their cats when they see scratched furniture because their cats wont be able to make the connection between one and the other. Never mind the potential for their cats to start avoiding them altogether. Instead, whenever they see their cats engaging in inappropriate scratching, they should interrupt that by making a loud noise before redirecting them to something more suitable.

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    One Litter Box Per Kitty

    A good rule of thumb for litter boxes is to have one for each cat in your household.

    To be safe, get another one for good measure.

    Once you get your cat to recognize its designated litter box, accidents should not happen again.

    You dont want your furniture to get stained!

    Additionally, your litter boxes should be big enough. This is so that your cat doesnt feel cramped or that the litter box is filled to the brim already.

    Do remember to change the litter often cats like to be clean!

    If youre looking for hidden litter boxes, heres a rundown of our top choices that youll want to consider for your household.

    Trim Your Cat’s Nails Regularly Or Arrange Claw Covers

    Most kitties need their nails trimmed at least every two weeks. For safe nail trimming, make sure you follow these steps:

      • Choose a quiet room and keep your cat comfortable.
      • Gently massage your kittys paws first.
      • Only trim the white part of the claw.
      • Reward your kitty with a treat, and let her take a break if needed. Dont try to trim all her claws in one sitting.

    You can also try using plastic nail caps or scratch tape to protect your floors and furniture from those sharp claws. The drawback of nail caps is that they sometimes fall off, and of course, some felines would rather be caught dead than wear cat nail caps.

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    Invest In A Scratching Post

    When your cat digs her nails into your antique armoire, its easy to lose your temper and yell. That will only upset, confuse and provoke your cat. The best thing to do in these moments is to pick her up and place her next to a scratching post as a means of conditioning her.

    Scratching posts provide cats with an outlet for their instinct to scratch while saving your furniture and carpets. Choose a scratching post that is similar to the material your cat most likes to scratch, said Meghan Herron, DVM and clinical assistant professor of behavioral medicine at Ohio State University.

    Most cats prefer scratching posts made out of rough material they can shred. According to Herron, sisal scratching posts are ideal because they are satisfying to scratch and tough enough to stand up to repeated use. Try a variety of scratching posts, like ones made from hemp, cedar, cardboard or rope, to find the one your cat prefers.

    Cats that scratch chair legs or the corners of your couch may prefer a vertical scratching post, while cats that scratch rugs and carpets may prefer a horizontal scratching post or mat, Herron said, adding that vertical scratching posts should be tall enough so that your cat can stretch up to scratch. Scratching posts should also be stabilized to ensure that they don’t move or tip over and scare your cat while she is using them.

    Here are a few training tips to get your cat used to scratching a post instead of your furniture:

    Furniture Protection From Cats

    How to Stop Your Cats From Scratching Furniture

    If you dont mind the look, you can try covering up your leather furniture with a scratch guard. These can be used independently or paired with a drop cloth or slip cloth.

    Leather Scratch Guard

    Scratch guards are composed of a sheet of thin plastic. They can be stuck or mounted to the sides and corners of your leather furniture. Depending on the brand, they will strictly adhere to the furniture with thin tape or be mounted with little pegs. No matter the case, they create a barrier thats more difficult for your cat to pierce with its nails.

    Since these guards only attach to the sides and corners of your leather, they cannot protect the cushions. However, most cats target the corners and sides, as theyre the most abrasive parts of a sofa or chair. That makes them excellent for sharpening claws, but all the joy is taken out of it with the thin plastic.

    You can buy these sheets or make your own by putting heavy-duty tape onto your furniture. They may need replacing if your cat is persistent, or they may last for years. No matter the case, one downside is that they are unsightly to some people, even if theyre see-through.

    Drop Cloth or Slip Cloth

    A drop cloth or slip cloth covers the full length of your furniture. This not only protects it from dust but also scratching claws. If youre concerned about aesthetics, this is the least invasive option. With a tight enough fit, you may hardly notice the cover .

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    Seven Day Plan To Get Your Cat To Stop Scratching

    Rather than worry about your cat destroying your furniture or whether you should declaw her digits, you can train her to stay off scratching your belongings. While this may seem like an impossible task, it can be done by following these steps outlined below:

    First Day: Deliberate on, discover, and then choose various cat scratching posts along with some interactive cat toys as well. This is a crucial step in the whole process. It is also vital you purchase the right kind of post as you will need to provide your cat with the scratching surface she desires else the process wont work. Ensure that the post to be purchased is strong, tall, sturdy, and also coated with materials that your cat loves to scratch.

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