Cat scratching repellent?

Question

Is there a product available in the UK that will deter my kitten from scratching furniture? She hasnt done any harm yet, but I want to make sure she doesnt get into the habit of becoming destructive.

Answer 1

i read on a website that spraying watered down vinegar on your furniture will deter cats fron such behaviour because they dont like the smell.

Answer 2

A repllent doesn't sound like a good idea. I took clear tape and put it on so that the sticky side stuck out on the edge of the furniture where the cat likes to scratch. Cat's don't like the feeling of the sticky tape and will stop scratching where it is. After a while you can take the tape of and see if the cat will still not scratch the furniture. Also get a scratching pole. My cat really likes the cardboard scratchers. Good luck!

Answer 3

You could try a pet shop to see. Not aware of anything, although you can get sprays to deter dogs toileting where they shouldn't, so perhaps there is something.

Cats do need to scratch though, it keeps thier nails tidy and is part of the way they mark their territory, so why not invest in a couple of scratching posts and place them around the house?

Cats can hate the smell of orange or onion, so you could try rubbing these on areas you don't want the kitten to scratch, making the posts more appealing to the cat.

Answer 4

any spray that smells of citrus should deter.. however scratching is natural and necessary for cat health. She is marking her territory, cleaning up her claws, and getting a good full body stretch. Provide a scratching post that is at least as tall as your hip for her to use, and praise her when she uses it and don't hide it in a room that you never use. Put it right next to your furniture, then if you don't like it there you can try moving it once she starts using it.

Six cats in my household, four tall posts, and my couch is in great shape and 10 years old.

Answer 5

All cats and kittens are naturally inquisitive and fun loving. Scratching helps to slough off worn claws and also marks their territory.

If your kitten has plenty of 'scratchable' toys (especially a scratching post), her attention will be diverted away from your furniture.

We have a couple of 2-year old cats, which we had from 3 months old. Neither of them ever scratches the furniture (we can't walk around the house without falling over cat toys, though...).

Answer 6

the best deterent is to provide her with plenty of surfaces it is acceptable for her to scratch! if she starts to use a particular item of furniture, try to replicate it in the form of a scratching post and then place this besides the piece of furniture she is scratching. some cats will prefer to scratch vertically and some horizontally - you should try to provide both types of scratching area - also, some prefer wood or cardboard to scratch, others prefer material or carpet. i have a shallow wooden box i placed under my kitchen table and both my cats sit on top of it and scratch the hell out of the lid!

Answer 7

My cousin's cat got into the same habit. All it needed was a scratching post and eventually she even went off scratching that.

Answer 8

Try using double sided sticky tape on the arms of chairs and settees - used it for my kittens and it worked - also make sure you have a scratch pole

Answer 9

Try rubbing grated orange or lemon peel around the area that she tries to scratch, pepper is another good one. A water pistol is also quite good, although my youngest kitten likes to chase the water!

Answer 10

Try indicating your displeasure (hissing, a light tap but NOT on the nose) when she does this. You could try chasing her away but she'll probably think that's a game. You could buy a cat scratching pole but, in my experience, cats ignore them.

PS I eat cat eaters.