How to Keep Cats From Scratching Furniture – Tips and Tricks

Scratching is a recreational activity that cats enjoy. They scratch themselves with their claws while having fun. As they stretch, they scrape the backs of their legs together. Also, digging serves two purposes: to mark their territorial boundaries and to send a menacing signal to other felines. Although cats are cute creatures who provide us with love and affection, they can cause problems with our household furniture, particularly as they gnaw through the pillows on the beds and the cushions on the couches and sofas.

Cats scratch on various objects to remove frayed, worn outer claws and reveal new sharper ones for the simple reason that their claws must be sharpened regularly to maintain their health and well-being. However, the clawing may cause significant damage to your furniture, draperies, or carpets.

With these simple steps, you can quickly and affordably resolve the problem of your furniture and prevent cats from scratching furniture regularly. If you want to keep kittens from scratching furniture, you should follow these guidelines:

Why Do Cats Like to Scratch Furniture?

Why do cats scratch furniture? Following are some of the possible reasons why they do so:

1. Flexing Limbs

This adaptation has given them the ability to extend and retract their claws, flex their limbs, and move their bodies.

2. Trimming Their Claws

While scratch pads are more commonly used to allow cats to scratch their nails, traditionally, cats scratch their claws on tree trunks to groom them. Furniture resembles the height and roughness of tree trunks, drawing cats to them when in need of grooming.

3. Marking Their Territory

Cats have certain glands in their paws that secrete scent and allow them to mark territories within the house. Thus, scratching furniture is a way of marking their territory.

4. Acts as a Visual Cue

Cats may use furniture as a visual cue or as a scratching post when they awaken from their sleep to avoid falling asleep again.

5. Instigates Physical Activity Among Kittens

Scratching is an excellent way for young cats to complete their physical activities for the day.

How to Stop Cats From Scratching the Furniture?

Scratching should be addressed by educating your cat where and how to scratch rather than just attempting to stop it. Scratching poles, for example, are ideal for supplying her with cat-friendly surfaces. You may keep cats off furniture by doing the following:

1. You can distract your cat from your furniture by spraying catnip on the scratching posts. Place them in areas where your cat is likely to jump or make them more attractive for your cats. In this way, the little pets can get used to the posts even without the catnip.
2. Scratching posts can be made from various materials, including cardboard, carpet, wood, rattan, and cloth. A cat’s favorite type is the slant. Straight or diagonal posts are preferred over curved ones. After discovering your cat’s favorite scratching post, make several copies and place them throughout your home. Keep in mind that most cats prefer a stable post when scratching.
3. Anything else that the claws might find appealing should be removed or concealed to prevent excessive clawing. Sandpaper, plastic, or a vinyl carpet runner turned upside-down to disinfect the area where your cat would stand and scratch your furniture are all excellent options (knobby parts upward). As previously discussed, installing clawed poles in the surrounding area will serve as “equal” substitutes for the poles.
4. If your cat claws something in the house, wrap the tips of his nails in plastic wrap to keep them from getting damaged. The wrap can be stuck to the nails with the help of glue.
5. Attempting to surprise your cat by slamming your hands together or splattering him with liquid may result in a positive outcome in some circumstances. However, these techniques can get your cats to be scared of you.
6. Claws should be examined and trimmed regularly to ensure that they are healthy for your cat. This will temporarily reduce their scratching tendencies and ensure that much damage is not inflicted even if they scratch the furniture.
7. If you require assistance, professionals are always available to help.

FAQs

1. How to Take Care of Your Cat’s Nails?

Trimming your kitty’s nails every ten to twelve weeks is an important activity.

1. Cats often get anxious during nail-trimming sessions. You can calm them down by moving at a slow pace, stroking their head to distract them, enlisting someone else’s help, or trimming the nails stealthily while they are asleep. However, do ensure that you do it safely and do not trim more than is needed.
2. It is recommended that you don’t trim more than two claws at a time. Repeat the process for the remaining claws once your cat is comfortable.
3. Surprise her with a special treat when you have finished.

2. How to Train a Cat to Use a Scratching Post?

To successfully train your cat to stop scratching the furniture, you must follow the steps outlined below:

1. Hang catnips from the apex of a scratching post, scatter them on the ground, or weave them into the fabric to draw cats to the post. Studies suggest that only 66% of cats are attracted to catnip. However, kittens do not develop an affinity to catnip before six months.
2. Placement near the pole and interaction with the cat will encourage the kitty to connect with the structure.
3. Attempt to interact with the cat or engage them in games near the post to the greatest extent possible.

Cats are our closest companions; we cuddle and adore them! You must make sure that they are raised in a safe and loving environment. Cats have a strong desire to scratch the skin on their backs and paw pads. Follow these guidelines to prevent your cats from scratching furniture and leaving permanent claw marks on them.

Also Read:

Awesome and Easy Ways to Train Your Cat
Homemade Cat Food Recipes Every Cat Will Love
Pretty Plants That Are Safe For Cats