What is the best way to keep my indoor cats from scratching or sharpening their claws on my furniture?
We got leather couches in our home about a year ago and, soon after, we noticed that our cats had scratched the ends of them. After scaring the cats away from the couches when they showed signs of this behavior, the problem was pretty much resolved. Generally, they now avoid these couches all together. The problem now is that my partner doesn’t trust the cats and wishes that I would put them outside. Because putting them outside is not an option and because we don’t want any other furniture ruined, I desperately need to reslove this problem. I’ve tried scratching posts (which they wouldn’t use), clipping their claws monthly, and catnip in areas away from furniture, but nothing was too effective. While scaring them with loud noises when they start to scratch does help, it doesn’t keep them from clawing a chair or other furniture pieces when I am not around. Please help; peace in our home depends on it.
Tagged with: cats • furniture pieces • leather couches • loud noises • peace • scratching posts • signs
Filed under: Your Community Center
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Please dont declaw your kitty. Its akin to amputation and can cause all sorts of behaviour problems (like not using the litter box).
You need to clip their claws WEEKLY, they grow fast! Make sure their stratching post is sturdy, they wont use it if not. Try to get one of a similar texture to what they normally like to claw (some cats like rope, some prefer carpet). Put catnip on their stratching post. Go up to their post and pantimime stratching on it. They will come up to you, then gently scratch their paws on it. Every time you see them scratching on their post shower them with praise.
Try putting tape sticky site out on the edge of the furniture they mess with for a while they hate that and will learn to avoid it. Also you can spray lemon or another citrus around the couches.
Make sure you are giving them plenty of attention when you are home, or they may act out just to get attention (even if its bad).
We had this problem. We used a "stay away" spray. It’s a colerless spray that you spray on anything that your don’t want the cat on or near. it takes a few days but if you spray the area everyday and punish the cats when the get near it, you will have them trained.
Our sofa was being scratched to death till we found this spray. We found it at wal-mart.
Have them de clawed being putting them outside is not an option? They say that cats and dogs both are sometimes attracted to attracted to leather furniture and clothing that may explain why they seem to attack the leather.
Some people get their cats declawed for this reason. If you are one of those people that wants the cat to still be able to defend itself if need be (like I did), you can always have just the front paws declawed. Also, the spray that somone else recommended does work. It is cheaper at Wal-Mart than at the pet store. My cats would not use scratching posts either. I used to also put a spray bottle with water in the refridge and spray the cats whenever they even came NEAR the couch. After a while they stopped. Good luck, I know how upsetting this problem can be!
Every body who answered your qestion is wrong!!!!!!!!
First of all declawing is very painful. The cat fanciers association (CFA) the biggest cat loving organization in the world dissaproves it. Just dont de-claw
A trick I learned long ago is take a empty can from cat food put a plastic top you would use to save leftover food or rubber band some plastic wrap over the top. Put some nuts or bolts in it. Keep it near a place you can grab it. When the cat does something wrong shake it a little to scare the cat. After awhile the cat will stop whatever it was. It does work! and no water all over and not harmful to kitty. I used it when my cat launched herself on the closed screen door and ripped the screen. After about 3 ot 4 times she got the idea. I tired water, it just made her wet, and water marks in the dust on the screen.
I ALSO keep my cat in a room with a litter box and food N water when I’m away for long periods. Cause she will scratch when she misses me. My office chair for example.
Buy a cat scratch tree and simply hold the cats paws against it and imitate a scratching motion. At first, only for a few seconds then feed the cat immediately afterwards (I gave a a treat of fish). I did this for a month and it worked. It helps alot if you catch them scratching the furniture to carry them to the tree do the paw scratching motion thing immediately.