How To Keep Cats From Scratching Furniture

Cats are natural scratchers. They need to scratch to keep their nails healthy and to mark their territory. However, this can be a frustrating habit for cat owners, especially when their furniture is the target. There are several things you can do to keep your cat from scratching your furniture, including providing them with an appropriate scratching post, deterring them from scratching your furniture, and training them to scratch only on the scratching post.

Providing A Scratching Post

The most important thing you can do to keep your cat from scratching your furniture is to provide them with an appropriate scratching post. A scratching post should be tall enough for your cat to stretch up on, and it should be made of a material that your cat enjoys scratching. Some cats prefer sisal, while others prefer carpeted or cardboard scratching posts.

Once you have a scratching post, place it in a location that your cat frequents. You may need to experiment with different locations to find one that your cat likes. Once your cat starts using the scratching post, praise them and give them a treat.

Deterring Your Cat From Scratching Furniture

In addition to providing a scratching post, you can also deter your cat from scratching your furniture by using deterrents. There are a number of products available that can be applied to furniture to make it less appealing to cats. These products typically contain ingredients that cats find unpleasant, such as citrus or cayenne pepper.

You can also try using physical deterrents, such as placing double-sided tape or aluminum foil on your furniture. Cats do not like the feel of these materials on their paws, so they are less likely to scratch furniture that has been covered with them.

Training Your Cat To Scratch Only On The Scratching Post

Once you have provided your cat with a scratching post and deterrents, you can start training them to scratch only on the scratching post. To do this, you will need to be patient and consistent.

Every time you see your cat scratching your furniture, gently redirect them to the scratching post. You can do this by picking them up and placing them on the scratching post, or by using a toy to lure them to the scratching post.

When your cat starts scratching the scratching post, praise them and give them a treat. With time and patience, your cat will learn to scratch only on the scratching post.

Additional Tips

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

Make sure your cat's nails are trimmed regularly. This will help to reduce the amount of damage they can do to your furniture.
Play with your cat regularly. This will help to tire them out and reduce their need to scratch.
Provide your cat with plenty of toys to play with. This will help to keep them entertained and less likely to scratch your furniture.
If you catch your cat scratching your furniture, don't punish them. This will only make them more likely to scratch in secret.

By following these tips, you can keep your cat from scratching your furniture and save yourself a lot of frustration.