My cats scratch till the furniture is destroyed. I even give them scratching posts and mats for them to sharpen their claws on, but they stick to the furniture anyway. Anyone know why?
2006-10-28 05:29:23 · 16 answers · asked by Luna Duchess 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
I have heard that they do it because my scent is on the furniture, so they are doing it as a territiorial response. Is there a way to get them to go for something else?
2006-10-28 05:37:18 · update #1
two reasons - first one is they are marking their territory, second one is they just prefer it over the alternatives youve given-
2006-10-28 05:32:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you need to do is take them to the scratching post or mat and put their paws on it putting slight pressure on their paws just enough to retract their claws and mimic the kneading motion that they do when they are sharpening their claws. Now I don't know if this only works when they are kittens and haven't developed a bad habit of using the furniture but the saying is you can't teach an old dog new tricks, not cats. There is an option if they still don't like the posts or mats, there called soft claws or soft nails. the big pet retail places carry them they cost about $15-$30 and they are soft rubber like nail covers that are painless for them. I have personally never used them but I just got a 7 week old rescue and have new leather sofas, so far so good with the posts for us, but my vet recommended the soft nails just in case! Good luck!!!
2006-10-28 06:15:29 · answer #2 · answered by Andrew G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well cats scratch to tell another cat that they have been their first, that does not mean they are tryin to be territorial.
Make sure the post is not at a corner
They can stop if you put catnip somewhere on the post or where eva u want them to scratch at so they get atrracted to the place instead of ur furniture. Also put the post or wat eva he likes, where he spends his time the most
Make sure the post is taller to ur cat so he can strectch to his full length
If it continues to scratch, try these kinds of noises or measures:
Use double sided sticky tape on the area they scratch cuz cats hate to be stuck and they may not return to that area again
If that does not work put alluminum or plastic on that area 2 on which they scratch on the most
If that does not work the aroma of oranges will, even if it sounds wierd. They will leave the crime scene quick, hang a orange peel at the site and watch the cat run away!!!!!!!!!!1
2006-10-28 05:57:08 · answer #3 · answered by sexyme 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK, the cat is making its territory. One of my older cats destroyed all of my moms furniture. Also, they probably smell your scent and prefer it over a scratching post. If you want them to stop, you can buy a spray that will stop them(you spray it on the couch not them) or you can apply the silver tin foil, cats HATE the feel of that stuff. It may scare them, but it stopped my cats.
2006-10-28 08:29:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Destroying furniture is a learned bad habit.
When I caught my cats doing that rather than their posts, I sprayed them with vinegar water in a spray bottle. They hated that and eventually learned to do it on the post. Using a pet training spray can also help repell them when sprayed on the furniture or over the trash in the garbage. Cats hate that smell.
2006-11-05 04:06:22 · answer #5 · answered by rainysnana 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats are very territoral and need to make their mark before they can leave. Everytime your cat does this pick them up and put them on their mat or by their scratching post, they should get the point quite easily.
2006-10-28 05:33:26 · answer #6 · answered by Grace H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
U could try putting duck tape on the furniture were they r scracthing it then after a while they won't like the sticky feeling and should stop doin that!
2006-10-28 06:43:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every time you catch them doing it, pick them up and put them near their scratch pad/post. They should get the hint fairly quickly.
Also keep their claws trimmed and/or use softpaws.
2006-10-28 05:39:25 · answer #8 · answered by jaxchick23 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They scratch on things to mark their territory. What they are saying is "this furniture is mine".
2006-10-28 08:37:19 · answer #9 · answered by Chris J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
squirt them with a water bottle and teach them the scratching post is good. give them cat nip by the scratching post and put their paws on it and make them scratch it
2006-10-28 05:59:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe the altenatives aren't good enough maybe your couch makes there claws sharper there is tons of reasons and allcats don't like the post or anything like they are pretty picky
2006-10-28 05:49:30 · answer #11 · answered by thehaterofalover 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋