How to stop a cat from scratching furniture: 7 professional tips

But there is good news: the beast does not need your sofa at all – the process itself is important for him. Here’s how to stop your cat from scratching the furniture – or rather, shift its attention to something else.

It is of course important to understand what to do if a cat scratches the furniture, but it is even more important to know what to do in any case. Let’s be Captain Obvious: declawing is a mutilating and very cruel operation. As Zazie Todd, animal behavior expert and author of Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy, explains, an entire joint is removed from the cat. Such interventions are not without consequences: in fact, the cat can no longer move normally after this. (Just imagine all your toes being cut off on the side – and you’ll see what we’re talking about.)

This is another obvious tip, but it’s essential to stop your cat from scratching furniture. However, says animal psychologist Amy Pike, you need to be prepared for the fact that you won’t be able to choose the right option the first time – just like yogurt, not all scratching posts are created equal.

“One of the most important factors is texture. Some cats like to feel the knots of the carpet under their claws, others like cardboard or sisal. Be prepared: To find out how to stop your cat from scratching your furniture, you might want to give him an assortment of scratching posts so he can choose the right one, says Amy.

The question of verticals and horizontals is also relevant: most cats prefer the first option, but there are some who only recognize scratching posts located at the same level as the ground. In the case of vertical posts, remember that they must be stable.

Not only do you need to determine which products prevent your cat from scratching furniture, but you also need to determine where they should be placed. As Ellen Everett, an assistant professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Georgia, explains, animals choose sofas for a reason: Typically, upholstered furniture is located where animals are petted and hugged.

“Here’s how to save furniture from cat claws: place a scratching post next to the one your pet has chosen. It is a space that a cat associates with pleasure. “That’s why he scratches the furniture, marking the territory as his,” says Ellen.

This section of the guide, “Why Cats Scratch and How to Avoid It,” appears to have been written by one of them, but the fact is that all experts agree that the taboo on punishment should not not be broken. “Penalties will only make the animal afraid of you. Use a treat: Once your cat has finished using the scratching post, give him a treat. This will make him more likely to like his new toy,” says Zazie.

Setting up a scratching post and doing nothing with the couch is a common mistake when teaching a cat to scratch furniture. “Be sure to make all other usual claw areas unattractive,” advises veterinarian Andrea Sanchez.

There are many effective ways to protect furniture from cat claws, from smooth films that don’t cling to scented sprays that eliminate the usual odors that attract animals. But, Andrea reminds, they will only work if an alternative is offered to the animal.

Read also: Cat or dog: what the choice of animal reveals about a person

“If all the methods used to wean your cat from bad habits do not work, buy special caps for claws – they will prevent you from scratching the furniture without causing harm to the animal. But don’t forget to change attachments: you should do it once a month,” says Everett.

“You can read dozens of articles on how to properly stop a cat from scratching furniture, use all the recommendations and get no results. For example, one of my cats absolutely refused to use anything other than his favorite chair. In such cases, it’s best to just vacuum it up and sacrifice one item to protect the rest of the furniture. Sometimes we give a chair to be reupholstered and treat it as a scratching post to sit on. You may also consider purchasing specialty blankets, which are a great compromise for you and your pet, says Pike.

Read also: 10 Cleaning Tips All Cat and Dog Owners Should Know

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