How do i stop my cat from shredding my furniture?

Answer 1

NEVER EVER DECLAW A CAT! That's like cutting off a third of each of your fingers. There are better alternatives. One is double sided tape, stick it to the furniture and the cat will hate the way it feels. Two, offer a scratching post. Three, the spray bottle. Four is they sell something like a huge sheet of double sided tape at pet stores to prevent such a thing. And Lastly, there's this thing called SoftPaws, they sell them at Petco. They're soft rubber tips you can put onto your cat's claws to give the illusion of declawing without mutilating your pet.

Answer 2

I'd try the Soft Paws option first. Declawing however, is sometimes the only option other than getting rid of the cat. The vast majority of cats that get declawed show no sign at all that anything was ever done to their feet. If you were given the option of losing a part of your fingers or being put to sleep because no one would adopt you, which would you choose? On occasion, there are problems with declawing, but with an experienced vet it is very, very rare. Make sure that the vet you are taking your pet to has done this many times. Millions upon millions of animals are put to sleep every year and quiet a few of them are pets that had behaviour problems that the owner couldn't solve. The spraying with water will work, as long as you are in the room, cats are pretty quick to figure out that if you aren't there, then you can't squirt them. The double sided tape also can work, but it's hard to cover an entire piece of furniture with it, or your entire floor if you have carpet. Some cats just gotta scratch, and some of those just aren't the tiniest bit interested in a scratching post. Try the other suggestions first, but keep declawing in mind. Sometimes it's the only option.

Answer 3

Buy stainless steel furniture.

Clawing at things is such a NATURAL behavior for cats, they simply CAN'T understand why you don't want them to. You can try sticky tape, bad smelling sprays, squirting them with water... You can give them tons of scratching posts... But ultimately, they will probably keep shredding your furniture. It's upsetting, believe me, I know.

BUT -- what's worth more? The sofa which can be easily replaced? Or the living, breathing pet who loves you and purrs for you?

So you need to become 'zen' about it -- just accept it as inevitable!

Whatever you do, DO NOT get him declawed. It is EXTREMELY painful and cruel. The cat will never get over it. Declawing should be illegal.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I once put contact paper sticky side up on my furniture, that seemed to help keep them off of it. I have also used those clear floor mats with the plastic prongs placed prong side up. Both methods deterred the cats, but was a hassle to me. and after once sitting on the prongs i stop using that method. : )
While your gone from home, you can put a old sheet over the couch so when the cat does lay on it the hair wont get on the couch.

Answer 5

You cant really make them stop things like that. If you want to buy a spray bottle and fill it with water. When the cats shred your couch just put it half way between mist and stream and then squirt the cat. If it doesnt learn like that pretty much the only other option is declawing.
[x]melanieinuyasha

Answer 6

The spray bottle is a good idea. You should also make sure that it has other places it is allowed to scratch - get a good scratching post or maybe a carpet covered cat condo. There is a product called Soft Paws which you can get at a vets office that is little plastic covers for their claws - i haven't used them but i hear they work well.

Answer 7

First, NEVER declaw a cat. This is actually a de-TOE and many declawed cats spend a lifetime of pain and begin biting or refuse to use a litter box due to the pain of digging.

Use SoftPaws. You can get them at most pet stores or you can buy them online. http://www.softpaws.com/

These protect your furniture AND your cat.

Answer 8

Go buy those cardboard cat scratch things, they sell them at some grocery stores and have catnip in them...my cats LOVE them & don't mess with my furniture at all anymore...they also last forever....when they scratch the hell outta one side just flip it over!

Answer 9

Everyone has given you good advice. I can add that sheets of aluminum foil tucked into corners of chairs or sofas had worked for my cat. She hated the noise or feel of it & would turn away every time!

Answer 10

ok i think that you should think about getting it declawed, but you dont think that is very nice, then there are these things called softpaws that you can get your vet to put on and its like a plactic cover for your cats claws!!!