how can I keep my cats from scratching and sleeping on my good furniture?

Question

I just got my living room furniture re-done and my two cats have decided to make it their own. They have been scratching here and there, and sleeping on the couch, leaving lots of fur all over. I put sheets over the furniture, but it seems silly to have new furniture that I can't even see...I love my cats, but I need to figure this out. Thanks everyone!

Answer 1

I did read once that cats don't like to step on aluminum foil, but i dont think you would want to put aluminum foil all around your furniture. Another thing you could do is buy a scratching post for them and train them to use the post instead of your furniture. As for the sleeping on your couch, the only thing i could think of is to spray them with a waterbottle everytime they get on, but I dunno seems kind of mean.

Answer 2

Understand first of all that cats shed, and they like comfy furniture. It goes with the territory. I just got brand new furniture myself, and after ordering it was immediatly found by a pregnant cat. So, my brand new lovely furniture is now covered by slipcovers. This will remain in place until I'm sure the "kittens" are not going to scratch it up. Not to mention, the slipcovers keep it clean and hairfree. If company is coming, I can rip off the covers and VOILA, pristine new furniture. The rest of the time, my little furry family can enjoy the covered version. And, when you pull off the covers, toss them in the dryer for 15 minutes and they have been de-furred. The cars are more important that the furniture -- reach a compromise that works. But cats WILL sleep on furniture -- just be concerned about the scratching and focus on that. The slipcovers help with that, too. Mine seem to have no interest in scratching the faux-suede materials, but the brocaded material on my dining chairs - rougher in texture -- is a whole 'nother story.
Good luck!

Answer 3

The thing is, when you have cats, you have to come to grips with the fact that whats yours is also theirs! I just got new furniture a month ago, and yes, since I have 4 indoor cats, I have fur on my furniture. I use a little brush, or a sticky lint remover roller, and it takes the fur right off. I have accepted this as a part of life, and figure its no different than crumbs from someones midnight snack!!!!!

As far as scratching goes, if you have always allowed it, then it will be harder to break, but, cats are smart, soooo, its not an impossible task! We have a couple of those inexpensive card board scratchers you can get from Walmart, and then a little carpet covered cat tower, that they love to scratch on, and then, if you are REALLY feeling crafty...... We have a family room with dark green carpet, lots of windows, and this is really the main place where our kitties like to spend their time, (away from the new furniture, yay!) My husband & I, bought a roll of matching carpet, then he bought a couple of 2X4's, nailed them together, then covered this nice square post with the carpet, then we got a couple of "L" brackets, and put some shelf like sides on the post, and needless to say, our cats climb it, they scratch it, you name it, they love it! Basically, if theres enough things to "scratch" else where, they will be content.

Answer 4

My cat did the same thing and i bought them a cat tower. it has 4 levels. It has two platforms that they can lay on and a barrel attached to it to. and big post to scratch on. As soon as i brought it home they stopped attacking my furniture. They love it it solved all my problems. I got it at Pet Smart. They are a bit pricey but to me it was worth it. Mine was $150.00. It is about 61/2 ft tall. If is is too short it will not satisfy them. They are covered with carpet they look nice in any room.

Answer 5

For the scratching all you have to do is put tape on the areas they sctatch. They hate the feeling of scratching tape. For your fur problem. Just by an in-expensive but nice blanket and lay it on the couch. They both work perfectly I had the same problems with my cat.

Answer 6

Get a repellent at the pet store. For the scratching, get a scratching post, and they also make sticky strips that you put on your furniture to keep the cats from scratching. Cats hate anything sticky on their paws, so when the go to scratch where the tape stuff is, their paws stick and they don't scratch there anymore. It's clear and doesn't hurt the furniture.
Just PLEASE don't consider declawing them. That is so cruel. I was going to declaw mine until I read that it is equivalent to amputating a human finger at the first joint.

Answer 7

We have had GREAT success with a product called Turbo Scratcher. You can get one at PetSmart, or maybe even WalMart. Our cat is now 4 years old and still uses it (instead of the furniture!). Good Luck.

Answer 8

my family and I have 3 cats inside and we stop them from scratching at the furniture by taking a wooden board and putting a thick cloth over it.

Answer 9

There is a product called Feliway. You can get it from Petsmart or go to DrsFosterSmith.com. Spray it on the objects you want the cats to stay off of. It simulates pheremones that cats normally give off when they rub on something to "mark" it as theirs. They won't want to scratch anymore once they smell it. Good Luck!

Answer 10

Get a scratching post or box or something for them and put catnip on it. Rub their paws on it so they realize that its for scratching.

To prevent them from scratching on the furniture, use tape, balloons, repellent, or something like that to get them to dislike even the idea of scratching on it.

You can also get Soft Paws to put on their claws so that they can't claw at all. http://softpaws.com

To prevent them sleeping on it, I don't know. Repellent or pet throws or something like that. Or just continuously taking them off of it and telling them 'no' until they get the hint.