10 Ways to Stop Cats from Scratching Home Furniture

As affectionate and loving as cats can be, they’re natural climbers who often like to test their sharp claws on your living room furniture. In their opinion, that is very funny and healthy because it acts like a massage for their paws, but it is not so good for your wallet because replacing upholstery can be very costly.

Despite what we think, cats do not scratch just to get our attention or to make us angry. Scratching helps cats keep their claws in good condition and remove the dead skin from the outside of the nail sheath.

Cats typically have two scratching patterns. One is usually near one or more zones it considers to be its territory, such as where they eat, nap, or play. The other pattern is when they patrol a larger area and mark more obvious objects, such as sofas, windows, and doors.

SOME WAYS TO PREVENT CAT SCRATCHING

Scratching Post – Providing your feline an alternative opportunity to scratch their own post reduces the chances of them using something you don’t want them to scratch. Purchase a cat scratching post and place it near their territory, such as their food bowl or basket. This also allows the cat to have a platform to play on to remain in shape and healthy.
Repel – Stop your cat from scratching by making them not want to do it. Use materials that they dislike the texture of but won’t hurt the cat or furniture, such as aluminum foil, tape, or anything sticky, and place them on the surfaces, like areas of your carpet, that your cat usually scratches.
Placing bitter – Tasting non-toxic sprays and citrus fruit peels on the furnishings that the cat usually scratches will also put them off because they hate the taste and their sensitive sense of smell.
Excitement – Make sure your cat is kept excited and gets plenty of physical activity so that any excess energy is used up playing and not scratching. Buy plenty of toys in a range of fabrics, play with the cat yourself, and make sure it goes outside as much as it wants. This also helps an owner form a firmer bond with their pet and get to know what kind of toys it prefers.
Window seat – it will give your cat a perch to sit on to observe the outside world while indoors – much like their version of television for humans. This will keep their mind stimulated and amuse them to no end if you place a bird feeder directly outside.
Trimming – Start clipping your kitten’s claws from an early age so that it can get used to the sensation. Practice a reward system so that it knows it’s a good thing. Making sure your cat’s claws are clipped is healthy and safer for your cat, as it prevents harm from coming to their claws while they’re scratching, and also for your furnishings.
Noise – Attach something noisy to the furnishing they keep scratching so that the loud sound surprises them and prevents them from returning. For example, attaching a wind chime to your curtains would cause it to jingle whenever the cat scratches them, scaring the cat enough to deter it. Alternatively, a doorknob alarm attached to your curtains will also make a noise if your cat decides to hang off them.

Balloons also make a loud noise when popped. Put these noisy inflatables in the scratching hot-spots so that their sharp claws will pop them when they scratch, hopefully deterring the cat from venturing there again. Make sure you are around to pick up the pieces, however, so they’re not consumed, as this can harm the cat.

You can also purchase special devices from pet shops designed to emit an irritating sound when the cat walks there, scaring and deterring the feline.

Deter – A good deterrent is a toy water gun. Animals, especially water-fearing kitties, dislike being squirted with water and the action will send a message that you are not happy with their actions. This should prevent them from repeating it.
Rearrange – Cats often enjoy exploring and their travels often take them into hard-to-reach places. If they’re using pieces of furniture to gain access to others, move the offending item so that they can no longer use it.
Surgery – In extreme cases, your kitty can be declawed. This is where a vet literally removes the claw and should be a last resort. Due to the healing, risk and pain of the surgery, vets will usually advise against it and suggest other, simpler methods instead.

Ultimately, there are many ways of preventing cat from scratching your furniture without having to resort to physical punishment, which usually serves no purpose other than to make the cat scared of you and nervous, taking away the purring, affectionate personality we love them for. If you hurt them, they’re more likely to hurt you back, severing the bond between you and causing irreparable damage.

To minimize the chances of damage at home, it’s essential to carefully select the right cat breed. For instance, Maine Coon cats are an excellent choice as they are known for their intelligence and lack of destructive behavior towards furniture. Maine Coons are not only the largest domestic cat breed but also one of the oldest in North America. They have a reputation for being friendly, affectionate, and playful – their size matches their big personalities. Similar to dogs, Maine Coons enjoy the company of their family and sometimes exhibit pack animal-like behavior. They are obedient and responsive when called. Additionally, they have a sociable nature and love to greet guests warmly. If you’re interested in Maine Coon kittens for sale, you can check here.

Using any of the above methods will not only save home furnishing but also strengthen the relationship you already have with your feline friend. Providing the cat with a cat scratching post to play on, as well as toys, will allow you to bond, and using the deterrents talked about above to allow the cat to realize that scratching furniture is ‘bad’ is the basic method of stopping them from ruining your upholstery. You must show cats you won’t allow this behavior, but at the same time, provide them with exercise and bonding time, which will only make them happier, healthier cats.