How Do You Stop A Cat From Scratching The Furniture

Cats scratch to mark their territory, stretch their muscles, and keep their claws healthy. While this is a natural behavior for cats, it can be destructive to your furniture. There are a few things you can do to stop your cat from scratching the furniture, however.

Provide your cat with a scratching post. Scratching posts are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you can find one that is the right size for your cat and that fits in your home décor. Place the scratching post in a location where your cat will be likely to use it, such as near their favorite sleeping spot or near a window where they can watch the birds.

Make the scratching post more appealing than the furniture. You can do this by rubbing catnip on the scratching post or by placing it in a sunny spot. You can also try using a pheromone spray on the scratching post. Pheromones are natural chemicals that cats use to communicate with each other, and some pheromones can help to attract cats to the scratching post.

Discourage your cat from scratching the furniture. If you see your cat scratching the furniture, say "no" in a firm voice. You can also clap your hands or spray your cat with a water bottle. Be consistent with your discipline, and your cat will eventually learn that scratching the furniture is not acceptable.

Protect the furniture. If you have a particularly stubborn cat, you may need to take steps to protect your furniture from their claws. You can do this by covering the furniture with a blanket or by using a furniture protector. You can also try using double-sided tape on the furniture. Cats hate the feel of sticky tape on their paws, so this can be an effective deterrent.

Be patient. It may take some time for your cat to learn to stop scratching the furniture. Be patient and consistent with your training, and eventually your cat will learn the desired behavior.