How Do You Keep Cats From Scratching Your Furniture

How Do You Keep Cats From Scratching Your Furniture?

Cats are natural scratchers. It's a way for them to mark their territory, stretch their muscles, and keep their claws healthy. However, scratching can also be a destructive behavior, especially if your cat is scratching your furniture.

There are a few things you can do to keep your cat from scratching your furniture. One is to provide them with an alternative scratching surface. This could be a scratching post, a cardboard box, or even a piece of carpet. Make sure the scratching surface is tall enough for your cat to stretch out on and that it's placed in a location where your cat will be likely to use it.

Another way to keep your cat from scratching your furniture is to trim their claws. This will make it less likely that they'll be able to do any damage. You can trim your cat's claws yourself or take them to a groomer to have it done.

If you've tried providing your cat with an alternative scratching surface and trimming their claws, but they're still scratching your furniture, there are a few other things you can try.

Use a deterrent spray. There are a number of commercial pet deterrent sprays available that can be used to keep cats away from furniture. These sprays typically contain ingredients that cats find unpleasant, such as citrus or vinegar.
Cover your furniture with a plastic sheet. This will make it uncomfortable for your cat to scratch your furniture, and they'll be less likely to do it.
Use double-sided tape. Cats don't like the feel of sticky tape on their paws, so they'll be less likely to scratch furniture that has been covered in double-sided tape.

It's important to be patient when trying to stop your cat from scratching your furniture. It may take some time for them to learn that scratching your furniture is not acceptable. However, with a little patience and effort, you can eventually train your cat to stop scratching your furniture.

Here are some additional tips for keeping your cat from scratching your furniture:

Make sure your cat has plenty of other things to do, such as toys, scratching posts, and climbing structures. This will help to keep them from getting bored and scratching your furniture out of boredom.
Play with your cat regularly. This will help to tire them out and make them less likely to want to scratch your furniture.
If you catch your cat scratching your furniture, say "no" in a firm voice and redirect them to an appropriate scratching surface.
Be consistent with your training. If you only punish your cat for scratching your furniture sometimes, they'll be less likely to understand what you want them to do.