How to Keep a Cat From Scratching the Furniture

With nothing better to use, scratching the couch or a chair is natural for a cat, even one with no claws. Cats scratch to groom their claws, stretch the muscles in their backs and mark their territory visually and with the scent in their paw pads. To keep your cat from shredding your furniture, all you have to do is offer an alternative.

Things You'll Need

• Tall, stable scratching post
• Wide scratching pad
• Logs
• Thick piece of wood
• Cardboard boxes
• Doormat
• Soft claws
• Sticky paws or double-sided tape
• Sheet
• Bubble wrap
• Catnip

Instructions

1. 

   Place scratching posts near the entrances to the living and family rooms. The cats will create claw marks on the posts, instead of the upholstered furniture, to let the world know those rooms are their territory. The "purrfect" post is about 36 inches high and stable enough that the cats won't think it's going to topple over on them when they're using it.

2. 

   Put wide scratching pads near the places where your cats sleep. They'll bypass the furniture and sink their claws into the cardboard to stretch when they wake up from a nap.

3. Scatter a variety of scratching materials around your house. Some possibilities are logs, thick pieces of wood, cardboard boxes and doormats.

4. If your cat always scratches in the same spot, put a scratching post or pad right there. Chances are the cat will use the scratcher instead of the furniture or rug.

5. 

   Cover your cat's claws with Soft Claws (see Resources). These plastic nail caps allow cats to scratch without damaging the furniture. Most pet supply stores sell Soft Claws.

6. Use Sticky Paws (see Resources) or double-sided tape on furniture the cats scratch. They won't like the sticky feeling. Find Sticky Paws at most pet supply stores.

7. If your cat is scratching the sofa or an upholstered chair, cover it with a sheet. Most cats dislike scratching smooth surfaces.

8. Put bubble wrap on the carpeting where your cat is scratching. The bubbles will make a loud noise when the cat's claws pop them.

Tips & Warnings

• Sprinkle catnip on scratching posts and pads to entice your cat to use them.

• Never punish your cat for scratching. The cat won't understand why you're upset, and cats respond better to positive reinforcement than punishment. Don't declaw your cat. Declawing can cause many more problems than it solves (see Resources).

References

• Cat Claws: Cats and Scratching
• Cat Scratching Solutions

Resources

• Soft Claws
• Sticky Paws
• The Declawing Information Site