Can you train a kitten not to scratch the furniture?

Question

Is there a way to stop that behavior? (on my furniture atleast)

besides just buying a cat scratcher and assuming that she will use it?

Answer 1

The first thing that a lot of people do not seem to be aware of is that a scratch post MUST be sturdy (ie. do not buy a straight up post sitting on a tiny platform..it will tip over). One good way to save costs is to buy a post as described above but put it on the side of the platform so that the post is at an angle and on the floor. Sprinkle it with cat nip.

If you catch the cat clawing the furniture, there are several things you can try:
- Spray the cat with water (but do not let him see you, or else he will learn to do it when you are not around)
- Fill an empty can with pennies and seal it, throw it near the cat. The rattle will frighten it.
- Cover the furniture with a loose blanket that is smooth. Cats do not like scratching things that they cannot get their claws in and do not like it when the material moves with them (I covered my boxspring mattress with a loose sheet...worked like a charm).
- Contrary to what people say, cats actually do respond to praise. If you see your cat using the post, praise it, pet it, and give it treats.
- Keep cutting your cats nails on a regular basis...about once every 2 or 3 weeks.

Overall, the point is to make the cat think that if it scratches the 'bad stuff'..something bad will happen and it will be less likely to do it again. And praise it when its scratching what it is supposed to scratch.

If possible...DO NOT DECLAW!! It is cruel. Basically imagine laying your hand on a table and imagine not having the digit with the finger nail on your fingers (so you have only 2 digits on each finger, and one on the thumb).
It is a painful and unneccessary procedure to do to a cat...

Answer 2

if your going to make your cat a outside cat then have him scratch the tree. when ur cat starts scratching furniture then hit him gently on his head/ pull him away and put the cat next to the tree, hold him near with one hand and use ur other hand to hold his paws (with his claws out) and have his paws go up, down, back, forth on the tree. after a few times the cat with learn and will stop and use a tree.

if your going to make ur cat a house cat, spray him with water everytime. BUT the cat will always be scratching his claws on one thing or another. I have a cat and a few years ago i got him declawed. He still thinks he has claws or something because he still "scratches his claws". Its just natural for a cat to do this. So get a 2 by 4 and put it in a corner of ur house and when the cat starts scratching furniture, bring him to that board and hold his claws (so they come out of his paw) and scratch the board for him. After a week or so, he'll do this naturally.

Answer 3

You need to by a cat scratcher, cat condo. When you first purchase it, introduce your cat, to her new toy and when you see her start to scratch at your furniture. Pick her up and escort her to her post and start motion the scratching she'll learn. Do it now while she's just a kitten.

Answer 4

Every time she tries to scratch sth. she must not., grab her gently from the neck, like her mum, say No and put her on a scratching post. It is important to give her the alternative. However, this must be repeated consistently every time she tries to scratch the furniture. Praise her whenever she scratches the scratching post. This has worked to all the kittens I've had.
PS. Don't even consider declawing, or you will have worse troubles (like peeing around, because it is no fun to scratch with amputated fingers). You could try www.softpaws.com though, plastic claw caps,easy to use and effective.

Answer 5

You can train them not only to not scratch furniture but also not to jump up on furniture. This can be done if you are consistent and are home all the time. My girlfriend has done this.

Answer 6

YOu can't assume they will use scratch toys. You have to TEACH them, and use a spray bottle with water in it to get them off your furniture. They will still forget and use the furniture when you are not there.

Answer 7

Cover your furniture with loose weave blankets, slip covers, and afgains. The cat's claws will get caught in the loose weave, which the cat will hate.

Answer 8

What I have done in the past with my cat is that I have used a spray bottle and it works really good ,but make sure that the cat does not see you spraying him .

Answer 9

To train them, no. That's their way of marking their territory. You can always clip the kitten's claws every once in a while; the same way we do with our own fingernails.

Answer 10

Get your cats front claws taken out when it's old enough. We did and are sure glad we did.