How do I stop my cats sharpening their claws on my furniture?

Answer 1

You could buy a scratch pole or make your own from a piece of wood with string wrapped around it then spray with a small amount of catnip

Answer 2

As you've been told...get a scratching post. The ones with the carpet on them I have never had luck with. Had good luck with one that was wrapped in some type of rope. My cat I have now won't use either. She likes a wicker type clothes hamper ($15 Walmart- the one with the flip top lid) I have the worst looking clothes hamper in the country located in my bathroom. She has actually made a hole in it big enough to crawl in. I don't care. She doesn't claw in the furniture and it costs about the same or less than some of the scratching posts. What I'm trying to say I suppose is the things that I have had luck with are made from natural materials not carpet. It will be a hard habit to break because they have already gotten used to using your furniture. Try getting a good spray bottle that has a stream setting that shoots pretty far and give them a squirt every time they stick their claws in the furniture. They will learn.

Answer 3

This is a two part problem.
first you must give them a place where they can scratch. Buy or build a nice tall scratching post/tree. You can put the words. cat tree or cat scratch post into your browser and up will come a million plans for building one. It should be tall enough for your cats to really get a good stretch out of it.
How many cats are we talking about? If it's more than 2 you may need more than one post.
Place the post where they can see it, not off in a corner somewhere. Part of the reason cats scratch is to mark their territory sort of saying "I live here and I am this tall". A post off in the corner won't do.
Using that spray catnip, get it at the pet store, is a good idea.
Then you must make the furniture unpleasant. A good way is double sided sticky tape. Or tin foil. I admit, a sofa with tinfoil wrapped on it is almost as ugly as one with cat scratches but this part is only temporary. As soon as the cats have the habit of the scratch post in their little heads, you can take it off.

Answer 4

I had the same problem!!! I had to even have my living room plastered to stop her scratching the wallpaper...
Anyway you can try a number of ways which include: a 'scratchy post' in the rooms the cat likes to attack, lemon scented sprays on your furniture (make sure they don't stain tho).

But what I do know is lock my cat in the kitchen with the window open so she can come and go as she pleases also with plenty of food. Therefore not scratching my walls and furniture...!!!

Answer 5

You can buy a repellent spray from the pet shop or the vet, this stopped my cat clawing the furniture.
Make sure they have something that they can use to sharpen their claws too.

Answer 6

Purchase a kitty condo. It will provide your cat a place of it's own to lay on, scratch on, and play in. Place it close to the furniture that they are clawing at. When you catch them sharpening, take them to their condo, lift their paws and scratch at the exterior so they know what it's for. Depending on their age, you can rub some catnip on the outside to grab their attention. (Young cats are not interested in catnip)

Answer 7

I think sslpatt got it the best way - offer an alternative (any type of scratching post that works) and consistently
- discourage scratching of furnature - spraying / covering the furnature with repellents, firmly saying "no" (DON'T slap your cat), spray bottle;
- encourage using of the alternative - this is very important; pet your cats and give treats when they use the scratching post.

Also, I found several sources recommended that the scratching post is placed, at least in the beginning, very close to the favourite scratching place, so you can redirect their attention immediately. Me, I forgot to buy nails to fix my scratching post on the wall by the couch, so (as I was not entertaining many visitors at the time) I put the post lying down on the couch, once he got the use of it, and then when he tried to scratch the couch, I just raised him up on the couch and he was using the scratching post consistently very soon.

But you have to consistently insist on the correct behaviour, with rewards as well as punishment.

Answer 8

get yourself a water pistel, a door mat and a pair of pet claw clippers (from the pet shop). Squirt the cat every time he sharpens his claws in an inappropriate place. If he sharpens them on the mat praise him. Ensure claws on kept short with the clippers.

Good luck!

Answer 9

If your cat is strictly an indoor cat, save the headaches and get it declawed. My cats will not use a scatch post, pad, or otherwise. I do not believe in hitting any animal and therefore do not suggest it. I use a water bottle and spray them when they start to scratch and my furniture.

Answer 10

My mother's cats clawed up her furnature until she rubbed mothballs over the spots they scratched. Weird as all hell I know, but it stopped all of them scratching. Another good one if to dilute a few drops of T-tree burner oil in some water and spray the scratching places down with that. Cats also don't seem to like the smell of T-tree.

I only wish it worked so well for mice...

Answer 11

Buy a scratching post for them, but also discourage scratching of furniture by purchasing a water pistol. Everytime they start scratching the sofa, take out your water gun and spray a couple times. They'll get the idea eventually.