If you are like many feline owners, I’m sure you’ve asked the question “How do I get my cat to stop scratching my furniture?” Cats enjoy sleeping on furniture, but they also like to use it as a scratch post. The good news is if your pussycat behaves like an alley cat and scratches your furniture, you can make her stop swiftly, and humanely.
You can get your cat to stop scratching furniture by placing scratching posts in the right areas. Destructive furniture scratching can be discouraged with double-sided tape, aluminum foil, and cat repellent spray.
What causes cats to scratch furniture?
There are several reasons cats scratch furniture:
- Scratching furniture removes the outer husk of their claws, revealing a sharp new surface underneath. One way to prevent this is to trim your cat’s claws regularly.
- Your kitten scratches your furniture to mark its territory. It’s just a form of territorial communication. The scent deposited from scratching provides a strong visual and scent message to other cats.
- Cats scratch furniture to exercise their muscles. It helps them stay in top shape for hunting.
- Your furniture is the perfect scratching post because it’s generally fixed and non-yielding. As a result, it can resist the force exerted by your feline.
Why do cats scratch your furniture?
Cats may scratch your furniture to help them stay in shape. Scratching helps cats exercise the muscles on the shoulders and back.
Cats scratch your furniture to get your attention. They love to interact with you, and scratching your furniture is a sure way to get your attention.
Scratching your furniture or scratching carpet is a way for cats to mark their territory. It leaves a visual scent that does nothing for humans, but it leaves scent messages for other cats.
Your cats may scratch your furniture to keep their claws healthy. Cats scratch your furniture to remove the outside husks of their claws. You might find these husks embedded in your furniture if you look closely.
Related post: Why does my cat smell like maple syrup?
How to stop your cats from scratching furniture?
I get it; you want your pussycat to stop scratching the furniture. Although you can’t stop your kitty from scratching, you can stop your cat from scratching your furniture. It all starts with cat-proofing your home.
Preventative home remedies can help break the feline of the habit of scratching your furniture and keeping it that way. There are simple home remedies to help you stop your cats from scratching furniture:
- Double-sided tape – Place double-sided tape where your feline likes to scratch your furniture. Cats have don’t like sticky surfaces, so the double-sided tape will be an effective deterrent.
- Aluminum foil – Cover the area where your kitten likes to scratch with tin foil.
- Nail protectors – You can use a clear plastic protector for your pussycat’s nails.
- Cat repellent spray – Mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water. This cat repellent spray to stop cats from scratching furniture.
Can cats be trained not to scratch furniture?
Cats can be trained not to scratch furniture as long as they are provided with an alternate scratching surface that is comparably desirable.
How to train your cat to stop scratching your furniture?
If you catch your kitten in the act of scratching furniture, correct your cat with a sound. A quick hissing sound should do the trick to get your cat’s attention. Don’t use the cat’s name when you try to get her to stop scratching your furniture. Only use her name when you praise her for scratching where she is supposed to scratch. Always give praise when the cat scratches on the post.
How to stop cat scratching bed base?
If your cat loves to scratch the bed base, there’s hope. You can stop your cat from scratching the bed base. Keeping your cat from scratching the bed base is not that different than deterring your cat from scratching any other furniture in your house.
It’s important to remember that scratching is natural and completely normal for cats. So while you can discourage your cat from scratching the bed base, you can’t expect your cat to give up scratching completely.
One of the simplest ways to stop your pussy cat from scratching a bed base is to use a board-type cat scratcher near the bed. Once your cat is used to the new scratching surface, you can slowly move it away from the bed.
Here’s how to keep your cat from scratching the furniture
What to do when kitty claws at the furniture?
It can be disheartening when a kitty claws the furniture. You probably feel that your house guests will wonder why your furniture is full of scratch marks. And now that you want to buy new furniture, what can you do to stop your kitty from ruining it?
While kitties need to scratch to stay healthy and calm, you don’t want them to damage your furniture.
What to use to stop cats from scratching furniture?
Here’s what to do when your feline is scratching your furniture:
Use a loud noise to redirect destructive scratching. When you catch your kitty scratching the furniture, make a loud noise to distract them. Hopefully, it will make redirecting them to a scratching post easier. For best results, you can offer positive reinforcement like treats or catnip.
Offer your kitty at least a couple of toys or scratching posts, especially near the furniture she scratches. Choose firm, tall, and stable scratching posts. A kitty-friendly surface is critical to ensure your cat doesn’t ignore it and goes back to scratching your furniture.
Position at least one scratching post near the furniture your kitten loves to scratch.
You can tuck a sheet around the scratches section of the furniture to discourage your kitty from scratching.
Use double-sided tape or aluminum foil, or double-sided tape to cover the affected area on the furniture.
Another puss deterrent is spraying the furniture with a citrus scent as cats hate the smell.
A great way to limit bad scratching is to maintain your kitty’s claws. Clip your kitty’s claws every couple of weeks to keep them from overgrowing.
What smells deter cats from scratching furniture?
Several smells deter cats from scratching your furniture. Understanding which smells repel your cats have practical applications, such as keeping them away from your furniture. For example, if you want to keep kitties away from your furniture, you could be spritzing the area with a smell she hates.
Although geranium, eucalyptus, and lavender will deter cats from destroying your furniture, you probably shouldn’t use them. Unfortunately, all of these are somewhat toxic to kitties. And if ingested, they may cause vomiting, nausea, depression, anorexia, and excess salivation.
Orange and lemon smell deter cats from scratching furniture. Cats dislike citrus smells. Use these smells to discourage your cat from scratching furniture.
Cats hate the following smells:
- Mustard mixed with banana
- Pepper
- Rosemary
- Curry
- Pine
- Thyme
- Mint
- Cinnamon
- Wintergreen
- Menthol
Of course, every cat is a bit different. Not all felines will dislike the same smells, but many do.
Can I use vinegar to keep cats from scratching furniture?
You can use vinegar to keep cats from scratching furniture. In truth, cats are highly sensitive to smell and are much more sensitive to smells than humans. You can use this trait to your advantage to stop cats from scratching furniture.
Using the smell of vinegar, a scent cats hate, is a great way to deter their poor behavior, such as scratching in your home. Cats have sensitive noses and can easily be repelled by the smell of vinegar.
Homemade spray to stop cats from scratching the furniture
The best spray to stop pussycats from scratching furniture includes two simple ingredients, water and vinegar.
Distilled vinegar is effective for stopping cats from scratching your furniture. Fortunately to cats, vinegar has an intensely pungent aroma. It overwhelms their senses, and they will steer clear of the area.
You can mix water and vinegar to make a potent cat repellent spray. A one-to-one ratio will do the trick. Fill the distilled vinegar mixture in a spray bottle to apply on the furniture where you want to repel a kitty.
What to put on a leather couch to stop the cat from scratching?
You can create a vinegar deterrent to stop your cat from scratching a leather couch. A simple white vinegar spray is a powerful cat repellent. It’s not only effective, but it’s also a natural way to stop the cat from scratching your leather seat.
Before applying vinegar all over a leather couch, test it on a small area to ensure it doesn’t stain or bleach. If it doesn’t damage your leather couch, you can apply it all over.
If you don’t want to spray vinegar on your leather couch, you could instead soak a sponge or cotton wool in the vinegar solution. Then, place the cat repellent solution in a container and slide it under the leather couch. Although not as effective, it should still deter your feline.
