By Animal Wellness - January 24, 2024. Reprinted with permission from www.animalwellnessmagazine.com

One of the problems many cat parents face is getting their kitties to stop scratching everything. If you have a problem with your feline friend scratching furniture, these seven tips will save your furniture and get your cat scratching the right things!

Cats love to scratch. It’s an instinctive behavior that promotes emotional well-being and nail health, and it also helps cats stretch and communicate with each other. However, that doesn’t mean cat parents want their feline friends scratching everything in the house, and many struggle with getting their cats to stop tearing up doors, floors, furniture, and other surfaces. Luckily, there are things you can do to stop your cat from scratching furniture, and these seven tips will get you started!

1. Provide Scratching Alternatives

Scratching posts and scratch pads are great for cats. They come in many different shapes, sizes, configurations, and materials, including:

Sisal
Cardboard
Carpet
Upholstery

You may have to try a few different products to find what your cat likes and where they want it, but it’s worth the effort to find something that’ll be more appealing than your couch!

2. Entice Your Cat with Catnip and Toys

Sprinkling catnip or using a catnip spray on the scratching post and pad can attract your cat to those areas. You can also use toys like wands to draw their attention to the post/pad and get them interested in using it.

3. Use Positive Reinforcement to Encourage Good Scratching

Reward your cat when they use the scratching post or pad instead of scratching furniture. Positive reinforcement, such as treats or praise, will encourage them to repeat the desired behavior.

4. Keep Their Nails Trimmed

Regularly trim your cat’s nails to reduce the damage they can do while scratching. Trim every two to three weeks for the best results.

5. Use Nail Caps

Soft nail caps are available that you can glue to your cat’s claws. They’re safe, harmless, non-toxic, and can prevent damage to furniture.

6. Install Furniture Covers or Protectors

There are a few things you can do to protect furniture and stop cats from scratching it. For example, you can put protective, plastic, or fabric slipcovers on your cat’s favorite part of the couch or floor.

7. Employ Deterrents

Things that might deter your cat from scratching furniture include special sprays that have scents or tastes that cats dislike. You can also try covering their favorite spot with aluminum foil, sandpaper, or double-sided tape.

7 Tips to Stop Your Cat from Scratching Furniture