We had a new leather rocking chair that our cats loved to scratch. We tried the water, the scolding, and even aluminum foil around the base of it. All to no avail.
To "cure" our cats of the leather chair fetish, we put several coins in the bottom of an empty can. We placed it in a precarious spot on the top of the chair, so that when the kitties scratched, they knocked it over and the sound of the coins inside the noisy can (or coming out of the noisy can) was too loud for them.
After a few "unpleasant" trips to the chair, they associated it with too much noise and didn't want to go back. You can also set this up for when you are not home.
By Patti from Ewing, NJ
This page contains the following solutions.
Just figured out how to stop the cat (temporary solution) from scratching furniture. I blast them with canned air when they scratch my box springs and mattress. Runs them off.
Here is something that helps keep cats from scratching furniture. Sticky Paws is a double-sided tape that adheres to your furniture on one side and is sticky on the other.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have a cat that is 3 years old who I love dearly. The cat is at the point of scratching furniture. How do I stop it from happening without declawing her?
If you don't have a scratch post for the cat it would be a good investment. Also try hanging some catnip on the scratch post. The next time you see your cat sharpening its claws on the furniture.
I agree with MCW. The spray bottle works and a post with catnip will be welcome. My neighbors have leather furniture and a large cat and nothing is scratched. That cat has worked over the post and loves it.
I've never had a cat but I know they sell things you can put over, either their feet, or the nails.
I agree to use a spray bottle but also most pet stores have a type of 2 faced tape that is clear and will stick to furniture without causing any harm and is nearly invisible. It comes in about ft long strips. I have used this with much success as sometimes cats will scratch behind the furniture where water can't reach them or will carry on the scratching when you are not at home.
There is a pet-off solution that you can buy at most pet or farm stores that one can spray on furniture. It leaves no marks. It has a scent that pets don't like. That along with taking your cat to a scratch post that has been rubbed down with catnip should do the trick. One of the things I have done with my cat when introducing them to the scratch post is to take their claws and actually claw the post with them. Seems to work.
We have 3 cats and none of them scratch the furniture, although they will scratch on the carpeting occasionally. We have 2 cat condos with scratching posts, a scratching pad that looks like a little ramp, and a Turbo Scratcher which they love to play with and scratch...you can do a search for them on the internet to see what they look like.
We have 3 neutered males and 2 spayed females cats AND they do not scratch the furniture BECAUSE when I see them getting ready to "do it", I squirt them with water that comes out of an old windex bottle. When they see me heading toward the squirt bottle they all vanish knowing all to well that one of them is going to be squirted!
They know they are not to scratch on the furniture or whatever the offense may be, like jumping up on the kitchen cabinets etc. We bought them a special rug that they can scratch on. I just took their paws and showed them where they could scratch at by rubbing their little paws on the rough fabric AND now that is the only place they go too to scratch. We live in a small 1216 square foot home and have a real 3 piece set of leather furniture and it is still fine.
Good luck and I know this does work and quickly to train them to not do what they are doing no matter what it may be.
My cat is 13, and has developed some bad habits, but I drape matching throws over the arms of my couch and love seat. He is not interested in scratching on the arms when they are covered.
We have a scratch post and a scratch box, but he still likes the furniture, if the throws are not covering up the arms.
Most commercial scratching posts are perfect in size for kittens but too short for adult cats, especially large ones. How high on your furniture has your cat been scratching? Although the bases seem wide and stable enough, vigorous scratching near the top can pull the post over... usually onto the cat! Feeling insulted, they never go near the post again.
Larger cat"trees" or condos are better but expensive; and they take up a lot more space.
Scratch pads that lie flat on the floor are great for most of my cats, although some continue using posts successfully. I use various pads (all include catnip) made from
a) low cardboard boxes packed with strips of cardboard (bought in stores)
b) sisal rope wrapped around carpet-covered wood (both surfaces are available for cat)
c) just carpet-covered wood
d) accordion-folded carpet remnants, finished size about 2 feet by 3 1/2; to 4 feet.
At first I keep pads right in front of furniture that's been scratched. Gradually I move the pads away to the least attention-grabbing but still effective place.
I also trim my cat's claws regularly so if they do attack furniture occasionally, they won't be as destructive. Train cats with treats to accept the trimming. For us it's a good time for snuggling before and after.
I have six indoor only cats (yes, six - I'm crazy). Mine never scratch on the furniture or the drapes. I have two carpet covered scratching posts and a large cat condo for them to scratch on.
The last cat I brought home didn't want to use the scratch post - he thought my couch was better. So, I just took some clear packing tape and put that on the corner (you can't see it) then set one of the scratch posts by the couch. It took him about 30 minutes to figure it out.
You really don't need to buy the expensive, fancy double side tape. Regular tape works just fine. The cats don't like the texture and won't scratch on it. After a week or so of it being there, the cat will "forget" about it and be used to using the appropriate spot.
If you want her to stop scratching furniture, give her something she would rather scratch. I made a floor to ceiling scratcher for my Maine Coon because nothing else was large enough. Of course, the other 3 love it too and leave the furniture alone.
There are caps for cat nails, that go on with glue, and stay on indefinitely. They come in great colors and they solve the problem! I saw them at the vet office, but they are probably out there on the net -
As an anniversary present, our daughter is purchasing brand new furniture for our great room. I am very thankful for her generosity. I also have two cats who either like to sleep on the couch, or worse yet, claw the couch. That's one reason for the new ones.
Does anyone know of a way to first: stop the kitty from sharpening his nails on my new stuff, and second: how to keep the older one off of the couch so I'm not cleaning up fur every day. Both cats are brushed daily, but also shed daily in addition. There's probably an answer somewhere in ThriftyFun, but your assistance to my problem will be appreciated ten fold. Thank you.
By Marilyn
I put throw blankets on all the couches to catch the hair, ugly but effective. I tuck them into the cracks and also put some over the backs since they like to lay up there too. That takes care of the hair, when someone is coming over I quickly pull them all off and throw them in the washing machine to wash before putting back (or the basement if they're relatively clean). It does look sort of ugly, but saves a lot of work.
I bought most of them at thrift shops, they're funky but cool. The scratching I am pretty lucky, maybe because I have scratching posts and cardboard scratching pads all over the house for the three of them.
Or: maybe because, most of my furniture is leather so not so satisfying as cloth? Not that they don't accidentally scratch it once in awhile. Your couches will be new so the cats won't sense their scent on them yet, you could probably train them to some extent as long as you start immediately.
I bought medium weight clear vinyl that comes by the yard at the fabric store home dec. department. I cut pieces to fit the sides of my couch and along the front skirt where the cat likes to scratch. I attached it with small screw pins also from the fabric store. The cat cannot do any damage to the vinyl and people cannot see it unless you tell them it is there. I cannot see it myself. I thought my daughter had removed it one day but then I saw that it actually was there. It is much better than having a shredded couch.
I rescued 3 kitties one time and started immediately using a spray bottle of water to train them. Once in awhile, one will try to claw furniture but a good NO! will send them running. They still stay off the kitchen counters.
Pat
Pretty throws could work on the couch, maybe just draped over one cushion. Or even a cat bed. You'll have to keep putting them in the right spot for awhile and spray them when they go to an unprotected area. Wipe off the furniture with a damp sponge to collect a lot of the fur. As far as the scratching, put lots of posts around. There are sprays for furniture that can discourage them from scratching but I haven't found any that work really well. I keep my couch against the wall with tables, etc. on each side. They can only get close to the front. Put something under the seat cushions that will drape down and cover the front/bottom of the couch. I'd start doing some of this while you still have the old furniture, if it's not too late. Other than the suggestions we've all given, the only other option is having them declawed. There's a lot of controversy over this, but we brought them into our homes, and we'll never be able to get rid of their natural instincts. That's asking too much. So declaw if nothing else works for you and remember that we've already domesticated them so much that a little more isn't that bad.
By 2 sided tape! It sells at Petsmart either in wide or single. It is very safe for furniture. I put it on my new leather chair where the cats had already begun clawing up on the front and back, also the side. You can barely see it when after its on. The cats don't like sticking to the tape. Mine havent scratched once since i applied the tape 2 days ago. The tape can be used on anything it sticks to. Curtains, sofas, chairs, beds. It has pretty much saved my furniture being I have 5 cats all with claws. Next Im going to trim the nails and put cat claw caps on them. they come in different sizes and colors. They also prevent any clawing. Amazon sells them and also most pet stores. Hope this helps...Good Luck
What is the best way to keep a cat from clawing upholstered furniture?
Cajun62234 from Munford, TN
I received feed back from here before about cats scratching the furniture and they suggested using citrus spray that you can use on furniture "sorry I forget the name" but any kind that is fabric safe, just as long as it smells like citrus. The house smells good and the cats hate it. I spray it on the side arms of couch and the back top and they do not come near the couch anymore. Good luck
I mix some Dawn dish detergent with enough water to make it thin and sprayed it on the spots my cats liked to scratch. They hate the taste and never wanted to get that nasty stuff on their paws again! Problem solved at our house with 4 cats.
Much easier solution. Pet stores sell covers for the claws. They don't hurt, aren't dangerous and a single application lasts about three months. They are teensie (individual claw size) little blue plastic slippers that go on with the same type of glue used for false eyelashes. The vet recommended them and they work very well.
Give them something else that they would rather scratch. Most scratching posts aren't tall enough for cats, so you'll need to find or make something that is. I made a floor to ceiling post and have the lower 4 feet wrapped in sisal rope. They never touch the furniture because scratching and climbing the pole is much more fun!
Much easier and longer lasting solution to the cat scratching your couch is Cat Scratch Guard.com
I need to know the best way to keep my cat from sharpening her nails on my furniture. Keeping her outside has always worked best for me, but recently I have begun to let her stay in. She knows she is doing something I don't like because she stops and runs when I react to the pawing.
By tharris62 from Texarkana, TX
Hi,
Your cat is doing something that comes natural to her, unfortunately there is wood under your upholstery and they normally will sharpen claws on trees outside.
There are things you can buy, spray, tape etc to put on where you do not want her to scratch. You should also either make or buy a scratching post. Buy a bottle of the catnip spray and spray it and she will want to go over to it and will start to claw that. You also need to keep her nails cut as short as possible, your vet may do this for free if you do not want to do it yourself.
We have one cat out of 13 that still insists on using the couch, he likes the fabric on it I think. I keep a spray bottle with water in it and all I have to do is pick it up and he runs away, I will then spray the tower and put him on it, he is using that much more now and scratching and clawing couch less, the other twelve use the tower now. They like the texture of sisal or scratchy type rope and carpet mixture.
You can also buy a cardboard thing for them that is inexpensive and they will use that also, again either rub catnip on it or spray with catnip spray, I find catnip spray much cleaner to use and they all love it. I save the green stuff for the toys. You can save money and make your own scratching post with the rope and carpet on it.
She may be marking her territory since she was just brought into the house. There is a product called "soft paws" which are plastic nail covered that you put over their claws. It does not hurt the cat and prevents any damage to a surface they try to scratch.
Cats still need to scratch, so I'm trying to understand the nail covering, "soft paws ". Also, the nails keep growing.
I have a lovely wooden sculpture on my front porch. My cat has started using it to sharpen her claws. Does anyone know of anything that I can do to prevent her from ruining my sculpture?
I think there is a spray called Feliway that should do the trick.
You might try spraying it lightly with vinegar water every couple of days until your cat gets the hint.
I am having new furniture delivered soon. How can I get my two cats to not scratch the furniture? They have scratching posts. They are part Siamese. Thanks!
By patty from FL
I've used Sticky Paws tape on my furniture. It's a big double stick tape. Here is a link from Amazon, so you can see it, but I've gotten mine from Petsmart.
www.amazon.com/
I also figured out that my different cats like different kinds of scratching surfaces. Two of them like vertical surfaces (regular scratching posts), and the other likes the corrugated surface that lies on the floor.
I've heard other people recommend Soft Paws. They're little covers that go over their claws, so they can't scratch things. I've never used them.
We got new furniture about 1 1/2 years ago. I was *so* worried, because our old couch was all scratched up. I was very vigilant about putting the tape on the corners of the furniture, and keeping posts blocking their favorite corners. And I'm happy to report that my cats don't scratch the new furniture! I don't know if the old furniture felt or smelled different, or if it's all the preventative measures I took. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your new furniture!
You could get "Soft Paws", an acrylic nail cap you put over your cat's nails. It does not harm the cat, and they won't damage the couch if they try to scratch it.
How do you make a cat repellent, so they stop scratching furniture?
By 44delta from Edmonton, AB
We finally found out how to stop this and I couldn't believe how cheap it was, AND that we had both ingredients in the house. We took the lable off of an emtpy can, put several coins in it and placed it on top of the chair where Molly liked to scratch. The can made such a racket that she jumped a foot and will not go anywhwere near that chair. She then tried the couch, so I put the can near that spot, she only had to hear that can and coins fall once there too. She now uses her scratching posts which have been here as long as the furniture. Silly cat.
A jet stream spray from a water bottle when you catch them in the act works wonders and it only takes a few times to work ;-) Oh, but say not a word when you do it so they don't associate the act with your voice!
What are some ways to make cats not scratch furniture? I have tried sprays, tape, etc. Any suggestions?
By Pam
Try sprinkling black pepper on the arm and right at the base of foot. Just a little, cats don't like black pepper and it won't damage the furniture.
This is a page to using nail caps on cats. Many cat owners prefer to not have their pets declawed, however, those pointy, sharp claws do need some type of attention. One option is using nail caps.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
I'm in a quandry of how to stop my cats from sharpening their claws on the arm of the couch! I will not de-claw. I've tried to replace the arm with nice scratching posts!
