How can I keep my cat from scratching my furniture?

How to Prevent Cat Scratching of Furniture

Cats are notorious for their tendency to claw and scratch furniture. This can be quite annoying and expensive to repair, so it helps to know how to deter and prevent cats from ruining your beloved furniture.

1. Keep Cats well Groomed

A key factor in preventing cats from scratching furniture is to ensure that they are well groomed. Make sure that your kitty gets regular nail trims to keep their claws short. If they do not need a trim, they may scratch furniture in order to wear down their claws.

2. Provide an Alternative

It is important to provide your cat with a suitable alternative to your furniture. Cats love to scratch, so make sure to have a scratching post available. It is also a good idea to rotate toys and scratching posts to keep your cat entertained. You can even spray the scratching post with catnip to entice them to use it.

3. Use Deterrents

Sometimes it is necessary to use deterrents to prevent your cat from scratching furniture. You can use double sided sticky tape on the surfaces that your cat likes to scratch. You can also try using a motion sensor to spray citronella or water when your cat approaches the furniture.

4. Reinforce Positive Behaviour

It is important to reinforce positive behaviour in your cat. Whenever your cat is scratching their toys or scratching post, be sure to praise and reward them. This will encourage them to continue using their alternative surfaces for scratching.

5. How to Discourage Scratching

• Cover the furniture: Covering furniture with a cloth or plastic can make it less appealing to a cat.
• Make the area unappealing: You can try using aluminum foil, which cats don’t like to walk on. Alternatively, you can purchase a spray that contains repellant.
• Create a distraction: You can distract your cat by providing them with something else to play with, such as a toy or a puzzle feeder.
• Use positive reinforcement: Praise your cat when they are not scratching or loving them when they are on their scratching post.

Cats have an innate desire to scratch, so it is important to know how to discourage this behaviour and keep your furniture safe. By following the tips above, you can ensure that your kitty’s scratching remains limited to their toys and scratching posts.