What is the best way to keep my cat from tearing up my new furniture?

Question

However, i do not want to get her declawed and she already has a scratching post.

Answer 1

First you need to make the area she is scratching unattractive. You can try doubling tape, sand paper, perfumes that she doesn't like, aluminum foil.

Then you need to get a scratching post. Many of them. Place them in various locations some laying down some hanging on doorknobs (some cat’s prefer to scratch that way). Cover them in Cat nip. (Praise her like mad when she accidentally stumbles upon them).

When she starts to scratch the furniture yell no at her and redirect her to a scratching post.

This should help a little.

If not. Rather than declawing you could trim the nails or buy little caps that go on the end of the nail. It's the same as a person getting fake nails on.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Double-sided carpet tape. Provided you dont have leather furniture this can be super effective. Also, if she shows a preference to a particular spot or two, put the scratching post or posts right next to those areas. Add a little catnip to the posts to make it even more attractive. Spray bottles with water and a little vinegar worked for me too. The vinegar while non-toxic, tastes gross to the cat when they go to clean themselves off. After a few sprays they will just hear you pick up that bottle and stop whatever it is they are doing. Declawing is not necessary.

Answer 3

Clip her claws regularly. This will help limit her instinct to scratch and limit the damage she can do. Any time you see her scratching, scold her and mover her to an acceptable place to scratch (some cats prefer those cardboard scratchers to carpeted posts). Rubbing catnip on her scratchers will help attract her to them. If that doesn't work, they sell something called "sticky paws." It's essentially double-stick tape that you can put where your cat tends to scratch. The problem is, you can't really use your furniture when they're on there and most cats are smart enough to realize that when you take the sticky things off they can go right back to scratching that spot, so redirecting is really the best way.

You're doing the right thing by not declawing. It's a horrible surgery that can have lifelong painful side-effects.

Answer 4

Trim the cats nail at least once a month. I do my cast every three weeks. Also if the cat does not use its scratching post try a different type (I have three cats each uses a different type ie. rope, carpet, cardboard). You also might want to try rubbing some catnip on the scratching post. Depending on the type of furniture fabric if you put some masking or shipping tape on the corners it keeps the cat away and after about a week you can remove.

Answer 5

I've heard how you're supposed to train the cat to use the scratching post, and how rubbing it with catnip will make it more attractive to the cat. I can't vouch for it, though: I never could get a cat to actually use the post.

However, I also have a few car mats that a cat I used to have LOVED to scratch on. And I never had to yell at him about scratching the furniture, until he was very old- near the end of his life, in fact.

Answer 6

Put double sided sticky-tape on the furniture. She won't like the feeling on her paws. Throw a dishcloth over the furniture (she won't like it when her claws won't sink in and when the towel falls on her). Try shaking a can of pennies or hit her with a spray bottle when you catch her. Sprinkle some catnip on her post and scratch her ears or give her treats when she uses it (when our kitties were little we would feed them their dinners after they used the post). Pull her away from the furniture and go put her paws on the post.

Try putting her post near the furniture she likes best. Maybe try getting a new post with fresher carpeting (so it's more 'grabby')

Try 'Soft Claws' (Little silicone sheaths you put on the claws). You can get them at petsmart.

If it comes down to declawing the kitty or giving her to a shelter, get her declawed. It's mean and hurts the cat, but it's better than leaving her homeless. I will absolve you.

Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Having 3 cats myself and one a kitten. I find the best thing to do is get cat clippers and just cut the tips of the hook part off so it doesn't ruin the furniture. They usually claw with instinct cause they shed their nails. I also bought a those cheap cardboard scratching things and put cat nip all over it. The cats took to it right away and no longer have any interest in my furniture. Also juust a cardboard box works if you want something now and quick. Hope you get it working soon.

Answer 8

Spray him with a water bottle.They hate that.I don't think they will stop.You either have scratched up furniture or have them declawed.Personally I think declawing is abuse and not right.I have 3 cats and some srcatched up furniture but thats just material stuff.I love my cats more.

Answer 9

Theres plastic covering you can buy for your furniture if she scratches the furniture spray her with water immeditly for disclipline so glad to hear that you do not declaw your cats!

Answer 10

Try filling a spray bottle with water and spray her whenever she starting scratching the furniture. She'll learn she's going to get wet whenever she scratches