Why cats scratch the furniture – and how you can stop it
Many cat owners mistakenly believe that their lounge-scratching kitty is badly behaved. In reality, cats who scratch furniture are simply carrying out an instinctual behaviour that is good for them – just maybe not for the leg of your dining table.
Cats claw furniture for a variety of reasons:
- They like to change its appearance – in the wild, it’s natural for felines to leave visual markers of their territory by scratching trees. The furniture in your living room is sometimes the closest to a tree they’ve got.
- Stretching – clawing furniture provides a great opportunity for some rigorous stretching.
- Claw shedding – scratching also helps to remove the dead outer layer of your cat’s claws.
So now that you understand exactly why your cat is shredding your settee, let’s look at ways you can curb that behaviour. Obviously, we don’t want to stop them completely, but there are ways you can protect your furniture and still let your cat be a cat.
According to animal behaviourists there are some observations you should make when trying to alter your cat’s scratching habits:
- Watch what they scratch – look closely at the things your cat is choosing to scratch. Is it hard? Is it textured? Is it soft?
- When do they scratch? Does your cat scratch to show its excitement when you get home? Or when it first wakes up?
- Watch how they scratch – is your cat a vertical or a horizontal scratcher?
Once you’ve figured out thee variables, you’ve got a great understanding of your cat’s behaviour, which will make it so much easier to alter. Here’s where that happens:
1. Scratching post
Now that you know exactly the kinds of surfaces your cat likes to sink its claws into, you can choose the perfect scratching post. They come in all shapes and sizes, so look around until you find the perfect one. If you’re not sure, maybe get a couple of small alternatives and see which one your cat prefers. You can always upgrade in the future if you need to.
If your cat doesn’t take to the object immediately, try attaching a favourite toy, or rubbing a little catnip on it.
2. Deterrents
Now that you’ve set up an alternative scratching surface, you can discourage your kitty from clawing your furniture. There are many options for this process, including:
- Cover the surface in aluminium foil
- Make it smell unappealing to your cat with cotton balls soaked in citrus oil or perfume
Make sure you praise your cat when it uses the scratching surfaces you’ve provided for it, and gently discourage any slips back to the furniture. Remember only to scold your cat if you catch it in the behaviour – never after the fact.
3. Prime location
Choose the best spot for your cat to scratch based on when they like to do it. Next to their bed if they’re a post-nap scratcher. Near their food if they scratch after eating. By the front door if it’s the first thing they do when you get home.
Have you successfully stopped your cat from scratching the furniture? How did you do it? Share your tips in the comments below.
Related links:
10 pets with no remorse for stealing your bed
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