how can i get my cat to stop using my furniture as a scratching post?

Question

i have just purchased a leather suite and already my cat has managed to dig its claws in it as a scratching post!...please help i need it to stop ? any ideas?

Answer 1

She/He is scratcing to sharpen their claws or to mark their territory Isimilar to them scratching trees in the garden).

Two solutions are:
1. cats don't like citrus smells to much so, maybe a lemon (or lemon scent) on the scratching area.
2. or (like everyone has said) get another scratching post.

By the way, it's illegal to declaw cats in the uk. The water option isn't really going to waork either as in the long run the cat will just avoid you as it thinks it's going to get soaked.

Answer 2

Have you actually bought the cat a scratching post of its own? I'm assuming that you have, but if not that's the first thing to do!

If so the cat is using the sofa because it prefers the sofa to the post, maybe get some catnip and put a little bit on the scratching post. Hopefully the cat will then forget all about the sofa.

Hope that works.

Answer 3

You can approach this problem in several ways.

1. Give your cat something else to scratch on.
Pet stores sell a variety of scratching posts: some with rope twine, some with carpet, some made out of cardboard. We originally bought one of the carpet ones, but our cats never used it. However, they all use the cardboard one we bought. It comes with a little packet of catnip, so every week or so we sprinkle a little catnip on it and the cats will continue using it until they have worn it down. Once the cardboard is worn, we flip it over and apply more catnip. One cardboard scratching "post" (it's actually a cardboard box shaped like a ramp with a little toy dangling down on the the inside) will last for a couple of months.

2. Make your furniture less appealing.

Pet stores sell "No Scratch", a spray that has trace amounts of elements such as garlic that will repell cats. (Don't worry, humans can't smell it!) There is also a "feel good" hormone in a spray I have heard of that will cause cats to rub against the furniture instead of scratching it. Cats will never scratch what they rub against. However, this hormone spray is rather expensive.

3. Behavioral modification

We have a little squirt bottle that we fill with water. Whenever a cat does something they're not supposed to, we squirt them with water near their face. After a while, just seeing the bottle in your hand will make them think twice before doing something bad.

I hope this helps you out.

Answer 4

Buy a scratching post and take your cat to it when it starts to scratch the sofa. Also, get double sided tape and put it on the sofa where the cat scratches (probably the corners) and eventually you can remove it because the cat won't like that. Also, invest in a can of air spray (used for cleaning computers and electronics). When the cat scratches, or does anything else that is misbehaving, spray the air can at them and shout NO! Declawing is another option, but I know some people feel it's not humane.

Answer 5

At Some pet stores they have a spary that is odorless and you spray it on your couch or where ever the cat a scratching and for some reason it will stay away from it. Or get a empty spray bottle fill it up with water and when you see that cat scratching the couch spray it with a little water (just one or two sprays). If it's an indoor-outdoor cats then DO NOT have its claws removed because then it will not be able to defend itself if it gets into a fight

Answer 6

I know where I live they no longer remove claws but the do have a surgery that keeps kitty from poking them out (some type of nerve surgery). I don't think a scratching post will work if it's older, you may give it a try. I got my cat one of those clawing things for the floor (it's cardboard and fairly cheap
) and he has left the furniture alone...Good Luck and be patient with kitty it's only doing what comes natural.

Answer 7

Give your cat something to scratch, like a really good, high end scratching post. You may need to keep her contained to one room when you are not their in the beginning, or put something on your couch to protect it. She is only sharpening her claws, she doesn't know what she is doing. You may want to get a few scratching posts. That way she has several options.

Answer 8

Have you considered getting the cat declawed? As long as it has its back claws it will be fine if it gets out of the house on accident. If it is an outside/inside cat, you shouldn't do that.

Other than that, have you thought about buying a scratching post that the cat can use?

Answer 9

I have two cats and they seemed to take a scratching to a piece of wooden furniture. I solved it by taking a piece of the plastic from a binder or something. (It's clear) I taped it to the corner of the furniture and they didn't like the feel of it and stopped. I've also heard of people using something similar only sticky. Cats hate sticky stuff. So possibly a few strips of tape for a few days might solve it for you. Just be careful and watch your sofa and change the tape often so it doesn't leave a mark.

Good luck...I hope you win the battle!

Answer 10

A scratching post is a good idea, but a great way is to keep your cat's claws trimmed. You can have a vet do it, but it's so easy to do. I'll describe it, but please have your vet show you once or look at pictures you can most likely find on line.

Use a regular little silver nail clipper for people (don't buy the pet kind, they're too awkward).

Hold your cat so he's across your arm with his paw in your left hand. Squeeze gently on his paw top and bottom so the claws come out. Before you clip, find the little blood vessel inside. It looks like a black line. You do not want to clip the nails so short that you catch that blood vessel.

So, with the claw extended, clip sideways (not top to bottom) at the same angle the claw naturally grows. Move on to the next one.

I promise you it's easy and the reason cats scratch is to manage their claws. If you do it for them, they have less reason to scratch.

Good luck.