How Do You Get a Cat to Stop Scratching the Sofa?

Scratch, scratch, scratch. "No, Kitty, no, not the furniture!" Your kitty seems indifferent to your pleas, and keeps abusing the couch. Why is this happening? How do you get a cat to stop scratching the sofa, not to mention the chairs, table legs, ottoman, and all the other nice furniture in your house?

The first step is to realize that you CAN'T stop your cat from scratching. This behavior is wired into her like breathing and eating. So the answer isn't to teach her to stop, but to encourage her to scratch elsewhere.

Does your cat have her own scratching post? If so, is it suitable? Don't waste money on those flimsy little posts that a toddler could kick over. Your cat needs something tall and sturdy. If she can't stretch as far as she can to scratch, or if it wiggles and falls over when she leans her whole weight against it, you can't expect her to keep using it.

Location is important, too. Don't just get one scratching post, especially if you have a big house. There should be a post to substitute for each of your cat's favorite scratching spots: One to replace the sofa, one to replace the dining room table, etc.

Encourage your cat to use the new post by rubbing catnip all over it. Put treats on top of it. Make it accessible; you may want to put it in the middle of the room at first, then gradually move it to a new location.

Discourage your cat from scratching the furniture by making it less appealing. Spray the arm of the sofa with bitter apple or a citrus scent; cats despise those smells. Cover the furniture with doublesided tape or aluminum foil; these textures don't feel so nice and satisfying to scratch. Finally, if your cat is still determined to go back to her old scratching spots, keep a squirt gun handy to deter her.

published 2 years ago

catkin

191 points