Help Me Stop My Cat From Scratching My Furniture!

July 15, 2017

Scratching is an instinctual behaviour in cats that’s hard to break. So instead of trying to stop your cat’s scratching and driving yourself crazy (and probably your cat too), try redirecting their behaviour. We’re going to show you how.

 

Why do cats love to scratch?

 

There are a number of reasons why cats love to scratch so much. Your cat’s paws contain scent glands that help to mark their territory. When they reach up and scratch a tree or the end of your couch, the scent glands are stimulated and leave behind a fragrance unique to each cat. The scent and the scratch marks act as a deterrent for any would-be intruders, and clearly identifies your cat’s territory. 

 

More cats, more scratch?

 

If you have a few cats living in your house, you might find a little friendly competition going on with the scratching. That’s natural, but you might have a harder time trying to get them to stop. Similarly, if there’s another cat in the neighbourhood that they can see from the window, it could trigger a scratch attack to your couch. In this instance, your cat’s scratching signifies territorial rights and establishes who’s the boss.

 

Scratch that kitty manicure!

 

Cats also scratch to sharpen and spruce up their nails. As soon as they wake up from a nap, cats will stretch indulgently and tear up the carpet, the couch, the curtains. It’s a great opportunity to get their claws into tip-top shape by sharpening and smoothing down any sharp edges. The way your cat sees it, you never know when you’ll need those claws, especially if that darn cat from next door keeps coming around; I wanna be ready!

 

So if you want to save your furniture from your cat’s daily scratching, here’s what you need to do:

 

Stop My Cat From Scratching!

 

  1. Apply double-sided sticky tape to the areas of the couch where your cat scratches.
  2. Position a scratching post in front of your cat’s favourite scratching site.
  3. If they like to claw the carpet, place a scratching pad on top of their chosen spot.
  4. Create a play area where they can hang out, climb and scratch, and most of all, sleep!
  5. If you notice outdoor cats lurking outside and upsetting your cat, keep the curtains closed when you’re not at home.

 

You may consider declawing your cat. Please don’t. It’s a horribly inhumane and painful procedure that can sometimes be crippling. You cat’s very nature revolves around those precious claws and what they mean to their status and survival. 

 

You might also consider nail caps like Soft Paws. My advice would be to read the reviews first. There are some awful stories out there from people who have used them. If you do want to try them, make sure you only use them for a short period of time. From the reviews I’ve read, it seems the longer you keep the caps on your cat’s claws, the greater the chance of damaging the nail or paw. 

 

Give your cat time to adjust to the new scratching devices. You can try to tempt him or her with treats placed at the top of the scratching post. Or you could smear some wet cat food on the scratch pad to entice them. 

 

by Natalie Secretan
Professional Dog Walker & Writer
PuppyDogCapers.com

 

Photo credit: Liz West - Sleeping Cat