How do I keep my cats off my new Lazy Boy Chair?

Question

I just bought a new chair, and I'd love to keep my cats off it. At night I put the kids toys on the seat of the chair, and my wife's purse on the top. This isn't working. I'm wondering if there's some type of material (sand paper... lol... just kidding) that they wouldn't like to lay on, that I could drape over it. I've heard of the sprays, but do they stink, or stain the material?

Thanks,

JohnL

Answer 1

Use aluminum foil. I had to do this with a table because my cat was constantly knocking over my breakables that were on it. Drape aluminum foil on the chair - the noise will scare the cats when they jump on it and they're likely to quit going on there. I've also used a water bottle to spray my cat when I was teaching him not to jump onto the kitchen counter. A quick spray and a firm "no" and he hasn't done it since. In fact, just picking up the water bottle makes him alert to see if he's doing something wrong.

Answer 2

Lazy Boy Computer Chair

Answer 3

The best thing would be to put a throw over the chair and give into the cat. I just remove the throw when I am sitting in the chair and put it back when I am through. I have used the spray and it does work but it does have an unusual odor.

Thanks for the info Ducky. I will try the citrus spray too.

Answer 4

The way you train them to stay off counters should work here as well... anytime you are not using the chair, lay tin foil pie pans upside down on all horizontal surfaces. Cats hate the feel under their paws, the noise they make (usually), and the fact they slide all over. Don't spank or yell at your cat if it does get on it. Take it off the chair and say that is "mommy's" or "daddy's" then distract them with a toy they are allowed to play with, telling them "this is yours". As with all training be consistant. When the cat no longer seems interested in this new "toy" in it's environment, start taking the pie plates off while you are around to see if it leaves the chair alone, putting them back immediately if it shows interest. It usually only takes a few days to work.

Answer 5

I would try this product: http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=1195&PC=productlist&Nav=207&N=23%20140&sku=515230&familyID=7297&

I've used it, with some sucess. The main way I've kept my cats from scratching my furniture is by putting a scratching post they like in a place where they will use it, and rewarding them every time they use it. That way they like/want to use it, and don't have a need to scratch anything else.

Experiment with different places, and get a nice carpeted one that's tall enough for your cats.

The sprays let off a noxious odor initially, but it quickly fades and does not stain. Then only cats can smell it.

The other thing I've heard of is double sided tape, but then you can't use the seat either.

Answer 6

John, I would not use a repel spray on your chair. If you see the cats there, a squirt gun with water right in the face will change their behavior. If this happens at night, petshops stock a product which is a hard plastic sheet with nubs about a 1/3 inch long, think of a bed of nails, place this on your chair before you hit the rack.

Answer 7

I don't know if this works or not, but I've heard of a product meant to train your cats not to get on countertops. It's kind of like a door mat, with little 'fingers' pointing up. It's also kind of like a bed of nails, only not as sharp. Just enough to make it uncomfortable for the cat to walk on. After a few times walking on that stuff, the cat learns that he or she doesn't want to be on the countertop (or in your case chair)
I wouldn't spray the chair with anything.
Why do you want your cats off of it? Do they claw up things? Or do you just not want cat hair on it? Either way, the decision to have cats was yours. Don't be upset when your cat acts like a cat. They tend to do that.

Answer 8

in my experience the sprays do not stain or smell (to us), but are not fool proof. I would suggest something uncomftable, as you have tried, with a sheet draped over. When you do catch them, make a hissing noise and/or spray w/ water bottle. They will get the hint.

Good Luck!

Answer 9

when you catch them on the chair squirt them with a squirt gun. it may take time to train them but they soon will learn that the chair could mean water and most cats hate water. I've seen this work in keeping them off a dinningroom table

Answer 10

Out of all the answers I just read, aluminum foil is the best. Cats hate tinfoil. It will work. And it's cheap. Try it.