My cats scratch and claw inside/under the sofa and box springs to hide. How do I stop that habit?

Question

They go under the sofa and have ripped through the cloth. Does anybody know what I can use as a training device to stop them from doing that? They've ruined several couches and box springs.

Thanks.

They go under the sofa and have ripped through the cloth. Does anybody know what I can use as a training device to stop them from doing that? They've ruined several couches and box springs.

I have scratching posts everywhere but they tend to go there to hide.

Thanks for the idea on stapling a tougher fabric. I'll try that.

Answer 1

Squirting water usually does the trick, though it never worked with my female Calico. She's a tad stubborn! =)
A scratching post is great too.
If all else fails use Soft Claws. They are nail covers that you glue on, they work like a charm. You can find them in most pet stores.

Answer 2

Cat Scratch Sofa

Answer 3

I have had this problem in the past with my cats, but no more, I have stored some things under my bed like an enclosed box of pictures, or a plastic sweater box, or even a shoe box or two, or more. lol It keeps the underneath bed cloth from sagging and being so catchy and interesting for the cat to play in. I do leave a tunnel area so that they can still go under the bed clear to the other side in one of my bedrooms, the other has several boxes stored under it. Under my couch I have picture albums, and my kids and my grandchildren know exactly where they are so they can pull them out and lay on the floor and look at them anytime,,, that is if the cats don't want to sit right in the middle of the book, or any opened anythng you are trying to look at whether it be a good book, or the newspaper. The picture books, or the storage boxes are just enough detour to work for me and my cats, and I have 8. Also you may want to try saving a box lid to set on the floor or anywhere you don't mind your cats being. My cats will sit in a box lid, and sleep in one. Right now I have a card board box lid on my computor desk top, and a cat in it. It lures them somehow, and they are perfectly happy. After all it's just especially for them.

Answer 4

I'm with CutiePie. I had a cat that scratched the furniture for ages, so I made him a scratchy; I bought 3 planks of a softwood from a timber yard and a £1 mat from a carpet shop. I screwed the planks to the wall near his cat flap and glued the mat on with PVA. Every time I saw my cat scratch the sofa I told him NO! and I would take him to the scratchy and scratch it myself, then put his paws on it and tell him 'good boy' and rub him between his ears. Anytime I saw him scratching the scratchy I told him 'Good boy'. It took a while but he ripped on the sofa far less and could have gotten out of the habit if he'd not been 14yo already.

Answer 5

Some pet supply companies have the sticky tape that you put where you don't want the cat to scratch. It causes an unpleasant sensation for them, and they learn to avoid clawing at it.

My cat used to scratch the sofa until I found a corrugated cardboard "scratchbox." Once in a while I catch her clawing the sofa, and I have to remind her to use her scratchbox. But she's very good at not scratching what she isn't supposed to. You might have to experiment to find what your cats like--some might like the sisal posts instead. The same websites that sell the double-sided tape will also sell cat toys.

Answer 6

I would buy a large piece of heavy fabric that can be put under the furniture so they cannot get into it. Use a industrial stapler to staple it to the bottom of the furniture along the wood frame but make sure it is pulled tight so that it does not droop onto the floor.

Answer 7

My cats did that under our bed! Err...it makes me so mad! They hate water and you can squirt them with it when you catch them in the action and they will probably cool it....
our cat would claw the carpet and couch...we got a scratching post and it helped!

Answer 8

cats do ot all the time try getting them something to use my aunts cat did it to her sofas

Answer 9

cat scracth post