How do I get my cat to not scratch the sofa?

Answer 1

- Provide your cat with a variety of scratching posts—cardboard, carpeting, wood, upholstery, etc. Some cats prefer horizontal posts and others prefer vertical posts, while still others favor slanted posts. Some cats like pile carpeting, while others will only scratch on sisal. Some prefer a longitudinal grain for raking, while others like a latitudinal grain for picking. Once you ascertain your cat’s personal preferences, provide additional posts in various locations. All cats should have a sturdy post that won’t shift or collapse when used. Cats also like a post that is tall enough so they can stretch fully—presumably why they like drapes so much!

- Encourage the cat to investigate the posts by scenting them with catnip or hanging toys at the tops of the posts. Take care to place posts in areas where the cat will be inclined to climb on them.

- Discourage inappropriate scratching by removing or covering desirable objects in your home. Turn speakers to the wall. Use plastic, double-sided sticky tape, sandpaper or vinyl carpet runner (turned upside-down to expose the knobby feet) on furniture or on the floor where the cat would stand to scratch. Place scratching posts adjacent to these objects.

- Clip the cat’s nails regularly.

- Consider using plastic caps (Soft PawsTM) for the cat’s nails. These caps attach to the nails with an adhesive so that if the cat scratches, no damage is done. The caps are temporary, lasting about 4 to 6 weeks.

- If, and only if, you catch your cat in the act of scratching an inappropriate object, you may try startling the cat by clapping your hands or squirting her with water. Do this sparingly because the cat may associate you with this startling event and come to fear you.

Answer 2

You need to stop the cat when you catch it doing it and squirt it with a water bottle. Some double sided tape on the lounge will deter it.

You need to have an appropriate outlet, scratching is a normal cat behaviour and is essential to their well being. If you don't have a scratch post, get one. It should be tall enough so that when the cat stands on hind legs and stretches out, the cat can still stick it's claws in. Some cats prefer different textures for scratching, since yours in the lounge, a carpet or fabric post sounds like it would suit, although some cats will do it for the wood behind the fabric. You can move the post in from of the lounge so that the cat has to scratch on that or if that's not an option, when you catch the scratching the lounge, pick it up and take it to the scratching post, if necessary take the cats paw gently and make a scratching motion against the pole.

Answer 3

I agree with the squirt bottle technique, and also that your cat must have a scratching post (but I assume you already knew that).

Scolding should also help. My cat knows the word "No!' and is pretty well trained. He hasn't tried scratching the sofa in years. Also, after your cat tries to scratch the sofa, pick him or her up and bring them to the scratching post. Take his or her paws and kinda scratch them on the scratching post for the cat. That helps get the point across. That's what we did with my cat when he was little.

Answer 4

Please dont declaw your cat, imagine having your fingers hacked off to the knuckle and then having to walk around on them for the rest of your life. It is illegal in some countries and there is a reason why! Try spraying the sofa with lemon juice, cats don't like the citrus smell. Make sure they have something that they CAN scratch ike a post or a pad :)

Answer 5

Does your cat have a good 'scratching post'? If not, you need to get him one ... and put LOTS OF DRY CATNIP on it. Then get a 'cats off' spray and use that on your sofa ... the cat should then 'learn' that it's OKAY to use the 'scratching post' but is not okay to use the sofa ... but when we had a cat, she always used my husband's 'office chair' and tore it up badly ... but we don't use any 'sprays' because we are both 'allergic' to the odors. So KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR CAT and 'spray' anything she 'wants to scratch' that you don't want ruined ... but put 'new' catnip on the scratching post twice a day. EVEN AFTER YOUR CAT LEARNS ... because shes a 'cat' and not a 'human' she may 'forget' and want to scratch 'whatever is handy' rather than getting up and going to the 'post' for her 'scratching' ...

Answer 6

I had a similar problem with my cat. She has a scratch post and I keep her claws clipped, but there seem to be some fabrics that are irresistable. She only scratches furniture covered with woven tapestry fabric. I guess, she likes the way the different threads resisted to her claws. Eventually, I gave in and sewed new covers for our sofa using a smother material. She never scratched it again.

An afghan put over the furniture would do the trick as well.

Answer 7

Oh dear, this must be a pain in the neck! Well I dont personally have this problem with my cats but the best suggestion I have is to put citrus peel around your sofa, i know its not pretty but its worth a try! cats hate citrus and it will keep them away hopefully. Also squirt your cat with a water gun within 30 seconds of its naughty behaviour so it knows what it is its done wrong. I hope I helped, sorry if i didnt. Good Luck!

Answer 8

There are products you can buy that are like sticky tape. You put this on the area you want your cat to avoid and they stop scratching up the area. http://www.kittenkaboodle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=Home-Protection
Also, you might try different kinds of scratching posts to give it an outlet for the scratching urge. Some people have their cat declawed so that the problem disappears. (I really don't like that, it seems so painful for the cat for a while.)
This article explains the behavior and offers remedies: http://www.nokout.com/comfortzoneforpets/scratching_clawing.html
There are also "nail caps" that you glue onto your cat's claws that are to prevent scratching. I've tried these and they're a bit of a problem to put on, but the cat didn't seem to mind after we finished the procedure. http://www.softpaws.com/
Also, if your cat seems trainable you might want to try some aversion therapy and use a water pistol to squirt your cat when it goes toward your sofa. This requirs a lot of attention from you and it depends you haw much you cat dislikes being squirted. (c'mon, it's better than ripping their claws out!)

Answer 9

A common training technique is to have a squirt bottle, and squirt water at the cat, when caught scratching the sofa.

Also, make sure your cat has a scratching post readily available. Cats naturally need something to scratch.

Trim the cat's nails, as well, since scratching is done to file down the tips.

Answer 10

Whatever you do, do NOT trim the cats nails!!!!
Big Mistake, then they just wanna sharpen them even more, and they scratch more and more and more then before!!!!
There are Scratch thinks to buy in a pet store, you teach them to use those, instead of the sofa!
Because they will sharpen their nails no matter what ...instead of trying to stop it you should just try to teach them do in on the right things ...at least that isn't worthless.
Good Luck!