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For the great cat lovers, it can be a real struggle when a new much-loved member joins the household: like that beautiful new sofa. Is it really natural to love two, both the cat and the sofa, just as much – if not exactly in the same way? Don’t worry, as irreconcilable as your two loves might seem at times, cats and sofas, and other items of favorite furniture, certainly can co-exist. A cat scratching furniture can be a big headache, but these tips on how to stop a cat from scratching and clawing away at your favorite pieces provide just the solutions for happy co-habitation all around.
4 Tips to prevent your cat scratching furniture
1. The old double-sided tape trick
Apparently, cats dislike stickiness. Go figure. If you cover your cat’s favorite “scratch pads” on your favorite furniture, very quickly Mr. Mittens will learn to stay away. Any brand will do, as long as it’s double-sided. This is such a good solution that you’ll find that some pet stores sell a wide variety of brands made especially to discourage cat scratching. Tip, though, don’t get any ideas about saving a few bucks and simply looping some single sided tape for the save effect. That could end up having the reverse effect of twigging interest. Once you feel that a new habit of ignoring the trouble area has been set, you can remove the tape. However, be vigilant about the cat returning to its old ways. This approach may take more than one series of disincentives.
2. Put a cap on the claw situation
This is a solution that a surprising number of people are unfamiliar with: claw caps are glued into place on a cat’s nails. They are made of vinyl and protect any surface a cat might try to scratch. You can typically rely upon the caps saying affixed for 4 to 6 weeks. Around that time they will fall off with the natural growth of the cat’s nails. At that time, you can wait to see if the cat has lost its urge to claw the furniture, but don’t bet on it. However, it’s a simple matter, then, of applying a new set of caps. These caps are easily ordered over the internet as well of course as being available in most pet stores.
3. Carrots work better than sticks
No, I’m not suggesting that you feed your cat carrots. As a general rule of life, though, incentives will be more effective than prohibitions. Induce someone to want to change, rather than risk raise the rebel within. All the reprimanding in the world will not be as effective as simply giving your cat a more appealing option for stretching out those claws. Scratching posts are built for precisely such purposes. To get the best use of one, though, keep it nearby the furniture that you’re trying to protect from the cat. When you see Mr. Mittens preparing to scratch the sofa arm, simply use a little gentle redirection toward the post. It’s much more satisfying; your cat would thank you for it. Even better, combine the scratching post with the double-sided tape idea in tip number one. That dilemma will likely have your cat choosing the preferred post alternative without any intervention by you at all.
There are a variety of options in the kind of scratching post you choose: carpet, sisal rope, wood or even cardboard. If your cat isn’t taking to the specific scratching post you chose, don’t be disheartened, you may just need a change of material. Also, you will have to choose between a tall post and one of those where the cat can stretch out lengthwise to scratch. It can be a bit of a trial and error process. But ask around at the pet store; some may be happy to have Mr. Mittens come for a visit and choose the scratching post himself. On the other hand, if feeding your cat carrots helps, don’t let me discourage you.
4. Good couture makes for good decor
It’s the basic and solid standby, keep your cat’s nails well trimmed. Some cat owners don’t like this method because it clearly is a source of discomfort and apparent torment to the cat. Experience shows, though, that most will learn to tolerate it if you train them patiently and clip them consistently. Invest in a good quality pair of clippers from your local pet shop and use them to make nail clipping a regular part t of your cat’s standard grooming routine. It is always important, when clipping a cat’s nails, to not cut into the quick of the nail. This will be unpleasant for the cat at the time and Mr. Mittens won’t trust you the next time you try to clip him and likely put up quite the fuss.
We all know that a cat scratching furniture can be a big headache. Hopefully, these tips on how to stop a cat from scratching and clawing away at your favorite pieces provides the solutions you need for a happy cat and well kept home furnishings.
