How To

How to Stop Your Cat From Scratching Furniture

Member
By jbuskirk
User-Submitted Article
(1 Ratings)

All cats have the urge to scratch, and many prefer to exercise those claws on couches, chairs and carpet. Follow these tips to save your furniture without resorting to declawing your feline buddy.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • A scratching post or similar toy
  • A spray bottle
  • Aluminum foil
  1. Step 1

    Buy your cat a scratching post or toy that enoucourages scratching.

  2. Step 2

    When your cat begins scratching furniture or carpet, pick him up and sternly say, "No."

  3. Step 3

    Immediately place the cat in front of the scratching post.

  4. Step 4

    If, after trying Steps 2 and 3 for a few days, the cat continues to scratch innappropriate objects, squirt the cat with a spray bottle when she begins to scratch. Again, say, "No," in a stern voice.

  5. Step 5

    When you observe the cat using the scratching post, offer a lot of praise and love. Give the cat his favorite treat to encourage the behavior.

  6. Step 6

    If the cat scratches the furniture or carpet when you're not home, wrap the area she has been scratching in aluminum foil. It's not pretty, but most cats refuse to touch foil.

  7. Step 7

    If after trying all the above steps, the cat continues the behavior, you can buy soft plastic synthetic claws from a pet store to glue onto the cat's claws. This won't prevent scratching, but it will save your carpet and furniture.

Tips & Warnings
  • Never hit the cat. This will cause more destructive behavior.
  • If you decide to use the synthetic claws, make sure to remove them every couple of weeks. If you don't, the cat's claws will continue to grow and embed the synthetic claws into her paw.

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