My cat keeps on scratching the walls and my couch how do I make him stop?

Question

My cat has scratched up my brand new couch, and my walls, and my cabinets. Spanking him dosn't work he comes after you and if you hit him with a towel he'll get on his back legs like a bear and start walking toward you. How do I keep him from scratching and we can't get his claws taken out he is too old now

My cat dosn't use scratching post. He won't use them at all

Answer 1

I had (have) the same problem with my cat. He's 10, and still does it, but not as bad. You learn his mannerisms, and when to avoid him, and when to stop playing with him. Sometimes, a spray bottle works to discourage bad behavior (not in my case). Sometimes a loud noise or clap to distract the animal works.

Essentially, here's what I found works - cats seem to hate sticky or pointy stuff. If he is going, scratching or climbing where he is not wanted, put 2-sided tape on it. Another thing that works is those pointy mats that go under computer desks - they have little rubber spikes on them to hold them in place. Flip it over spike side up where you don't want your cat to go. The cat will step on the spikes and decide it's not a place he wants to be and jumps down. Won't hurt him, but will teach him to not go there.

I bought my cat a scratching post but he hates it. I went toHome Depot and bought some 3/4" particle board and some indoor/outdoor carpeting (that's what it's called) with NO backing on it and glued it to the particle board. Cost: about $25. My cat has now learned to scratch this board and only this board, and he loves it.

Answer 2

First...I highly recommend you choose not to declaw. It's a horrible procedure for the cats to go through. I won't go into all the details but as a cat lover I am firmly against declawing.

Also...spanking a cat doesn't really work.

I would suggest - and I have leather couches in my house - buy yourself a cheap squirt gun and put a small amount of lemon juice in with the water.

This works like a charm...I promise. The cats can't stand water first of all and add the lemon? Not good!

I think this would be a safe alternative for you and the cats.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

There are sprays that keep pets away in pet shops, we have a bottle from a brand called Grannicks. You can also fill a spray bottle with water (add a tiny bit of vinegar to make it extra gross to your cat) and squirt the cat whenever you catch her scratching the couch. Be sure to avoid her eyes if you do add vinegar.

Answer 4

that's too freaking funny how you said he comes after you when you hit him with a towel. Uhm, my cats do it and they'll try it all the time, even after I scold them they'll just stop and wait for me to walk away. They have a kitty condo that they can scratch all they want. they have this bitter apple spray or something to that affect that is supposed to be a deterent, not sure if it works really. I've kept a water bottle around too and would spray them when they started to scratch. you might have to do conditional training with the water bottle. eventually, he'll get the idea that scratching the couch brings the ugly water bottle out.

good luck

Answer 5

you need two things

-a water spray bottle.
-a sctracthing post or something else for the cat to scratch on.

now when the cat goes to the couch or wall to scratch on , lightly spray it with the water bottle. This may seem harmful but it isnt. Cats do not like water , so the sign of water gives them the meaning that they shouldnt be doing what theyre doing. Its very efficient. i know the cat is kinda old, but the cat will learn.

Answer 6

hi Becky R, you really should not spank your cat that does not help at all as you well know by now. try to buy him a scratching post and if you go to a good pet store you will find some sprays that you can spray on the areas you dont want your cat scratching. you can also try rubbing some lemon on those places or put some lemon juice in a squirt bottle and spray around those areas. good luck.

Answer 7

my two kittens did the same exact thing and each time we did something they figured away to get around it. We had to eventually put a plastic clover on it because they hate the sound of rattling plastic. But we also had to put up a cat tower and put a lot of cat nip on it so they scratch there and not on the couch. Each time my cats scratched on the post that I saw of i would give them a treat and they eventually learned that they have to scratch there and not on the couch. Dont get them declawed or put those plastic nails on them because they need there nails to get away from predators like dogs. They help them climb trees. Its there natural like style

Hope I Helped!
~Princess


P.S. Make sure the scrating post is in a different room.

Answer 8

When he does it, lock him in the bathroom. If he is acting out towards you aggressively, no way. He will only get worse later. You need to put a stop to it ASAP. My cat was doin that alot, and I really felt bad whoopin him. Finally, I got a spray bottle and squirted him everytime I caught him doin it. He attacked me so bad one day, the back of my legs looked awful. It may sound cruel, but he made me soo damn mad, I stuck him in the shower. It wasn't cold and it wasn't hot, it was warm. needless to say, he didn't like it and hasn't done that to anyone since. Cat's are better built than dogs, so they can do all that jumpin and pouncin. I felt really awful later, just for the fact that cats hate water. But it broke the habit. I talked to my vet about it, and she said I handled it better than alot of her clients. Can yo believe someone broke their cat's tale for tryin to go into their room? Slammed the door right on the poor thing's tail. I would never do that. But cats are super aggressive by nature, you just have to show them your more aggressive and the boss. it's difficult, but they respect it. After that, my cat is more obedient than a dog. Not out of fear either, he doesn't cowar or anything when I go to pet him. As a matter of fact, he got a lot more cuddly after the episode. I was amazed. Sometimes the weirdest solutions are the best ones for akward problems.

Answer 9

Hi

You could get a kitty tree and some catnip and spread it on the tree, rub it in and that should help....
Cats are very determined.

If you can't get a kitty tree, you could try taking a chunk of carpet and tack it to the wall or a place near where he likes to scratch, again with the catnip and maybe that will help....

Answer 10

Most cats don't like the texture or sound of tin foil. I'm sorry it's not the best idea for decorating the house! Keep a spritzer bottle (water) handy. But I realize you can't always be there.