Does anyone know a way to stop cats from scratching furniture?

Question

My cats scratch my sofa and love seat and I can't seem to stop them. I have scratch posts for them, but it doesn't seem to help.

Answer 1

Squirt them with a water bottle when they approach the lounge to scratch

Answer 2

First make sure you have plenty of things available that she can scratch. Its also a good idea to regularly clip her claws on a weekly basis but read up on it a bit so you where to clip too because too far of a clip will injure the blood vessels. After that theres a couple products you can get. There are certain sprays you can put on the furinture that will smell bad to your cat and may deter her from scratching. There's also sticky pads you can put on the furinture that the cat will not like the texture of. You can also get a product called safety claws that are like rubber caps for the nails and she wont be able to scratch with those. If your not into buying any products than get a spray bottle with water that you squirt the cat with whenever she starts scratching and afterwards direct her to something she can scratch. This process may take some time so you have to be ready to stick to it.

Answer 3

I would never declaw my cats, it's cruel. But they will still try to claw the furniture even though I have a veritable amusement park of cat trees and scratching posts for them. Every morning before breakfast I let them run into the back garden and they go and have a good scratch on the trees before coming back (to be locked) inside for breakfast. But it still doesn't get the urge entirely out of their system.

I gave up and bought a lounge suite with a hard wood frame and wood armrests and cushioning - it is totally unappealing for scratching so now they don't do it. Perfect solution!

Answer 4

Please give your cats a chance to modify their behavior before you resort to de-clawing.

It will help if you rub catnip into the scratching posts. This will attract them to it. It is also helpful if the post is about 3' tall for adult cats. (Easy to make with old carpet and 4x4 lumber). That way they can stretch out when they scratch .

Consider getting a special scissors to clip their claws, and do it at least twice a month. Familiarize yourself with the claws before you start. Only clip the "hook" off. You can see the blood vessel inside the claw, so don't clip that far. They will object, but you can get them happy and purring on your lap while you're sitting in one of the livingroom chairs (one with arms). Tuck the kitty under your left arm and reach around to extend the claw on each toe -- gently -- and then with your other hand, clip the claw with the scissors (it has a special notch which makes it much easier). Be sure to be gentle and firm. If kitty squirms and growls you can grab them by the scruff of the neck until they are calmer and then finish. Be sure you are talking calmly to them the entire time. You only need to do the fronts. Pet again afterwards and give them a treat. That way they'll remember the treat. You might want to gently play with their paws anytime you give them affection and that will help get them familiar with your touch on their feet. Some cats may require two people.

If you can trim the fuzz off the sofa and love seat it may not attract them as much. Sometimes you can use a razor to do that. A firm, loud "NO" and a squirt bottle work very well, too. After while they will only need to hear NO or see the bottle. However, this only works while you're in the room.

There are repellants you can get, but I've not found any that don't repel me as well.

There are some cats, however, who will never learn and they will need to be de-clawed, but only as a last resort.

Answer 5

Yes you know at Walmart you can buy your animal a scratch post and also one of them is located at bellingham and that one in woonsocket on diamond hill and there you go all set but cats love to sleep in cat houses which walmart also sells my cat and kitten love there kitty houses and don't worry if you had lost a cat last year i did too and it was a cat's sister that is still alive going on twelve years of age so please don't worry and just love them no yelling hurting them or abusing because then the animal cops well come after you and that is a promise
[ krissy ]

Answer 6

Oh Mine does that too.
I will take to her scratching pole and show her. And if she does scratch the pole,then praise her or reward her with treats.
If she does that on the pole. continue to praise her.
Hard work and now she is pretty good. Sometimes she forgets.
You must say firmly No.. No..NO!!! everytime she scratch the furniture.
But never shout or punish her.
You can also use spray bottle. Sometime it works.
I find my methods pay off well.
Good luck!!!

Answer 7

When I had male cats, awhile ago, they constantly scratched and chewed on the furniture. What I did was, I bought "bitter apple (something like that) from the pet supply place they will know and what you do is spray in on the furniture where they are scratching, will not do harm to your furniture and it WORKS!!!!! THEY HATE IT!!!!

Answer 8

By using aluminum foil around legs. First get a piece and ball it up near cat, to see their reaction. Also if you don't want them laying on a place, lay out a piece on top and when they got to that place they will scare themselves away with the noise it makes

Answer 9

You can get them Soft Paws and cover their nails or get something to cover the area they are scratching. Try Dr. Foster and Smith's website for both products.

Answer 10

thats tricky..ive seen spray stuff u can buy to keep them away but not sure it works..what i used to do was have a water bottle handy and just spray them when they went near the furniture