Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch

RE: Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch Post By Carla. (Guest Post) (09/25/2007) I'm a firm believer of the card board scratch boxes found at walmart and other stores. One of my cats kept scratching an upholstered chair, so I put a scratch box right next to the chair and would encourage him to scratch there. The catnip helped, too. Usually a package is included in the box. Hope this helps! RE: Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch Post By CandyCane (Guest Post) (08/22/2007) Although the water-bottle trick will stop her at the time, it will not prevent your cat from doing it when you're not there. I put the cats scratching post right in front of the spot where she likes to scratch the couch. Also, when she would scratch the couch, I would move her to the post and I would scratch it to show her. It takes some time and patience, but it works. RE: Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch Post by Maryeileen (237) | (08/21/2007) Profile | Contact Nails should be clipped about once a month...or when you notice that the tips are getting caught in the carpet or any kind of fabric, or you can hear them clicking on hard-surfaced floors. RE: Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch Post by RealtorRose (8) | (08/19/2007) Contact Me again...how often should I clip her claws. Thanks RE: Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch Post By Melinda (Guest Post) (08/18/2007) What worked for me was to put a small amount of vapor rub in the area where you want the cat to stay away from. The smell and vapor gets to them. Also clipping claws helps and my cat loves these cardboard scratch boxes. They usually come with catnip to entice the cat. Our cat Duncan likes to receive a reward of a kitty treat when he does good. He actually stops to look if I am noticing him using it. When we had the scratch post, he could not understand why it is OK to scratch the carpet on the post, but not the carpet on the floor. RE: Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch Post by Noella (56) | (08/18/2007) Profile | Contact There is a product that you can buy from the pet department at Wal-Mart that will deter cats from the area (apparently they hate the smell). I had a cat that had scratched the back of my couch to pieces. When I bought a brand new couch, I also bought the spray and used it on the couch. At the same time, I bought some catnip to rub on her scratching post. I did as "Candleglows" did and took her to the scratching post, holding her front paws and did the "scratching" action on the post a few times. She completely avoided the couch and always went to the post after that. Remember, she had completely shredded the corner of the old couch. RE: Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch Post By Margie Minard (Guest Post) (08/17/2007) I had real good luck with tin foil, too. Just use straight pins to secure it to the sofa, where she scratches. It just takes a couple of weeks. RE: Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch Post by RealtorRose (8) | (08/17/2007) Contact Hi Everyone, Thanks so much for your suggestions. My problem is that I never catch her actually scratching on the couch arms. I think she is very smart and does it when we are not around. I will try some of your ideas. Rose RE: Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch Post by candleglows (56) | (08/17/2007) Profile | Contact This is what i did and it worked, make sure they have a scratching post and when you see kitty scratching the couch walk up to her grab her front paws squeeze them and yell no still holding her take her to the scratching post hold her front paws and make like she is scratching the post and say good kitty and pet her, after a few times of that they will get the picture, i trained all 4 of my cats like that or you can use a spray bottle and yell no while squirting them..Good Luck! RE: Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch Post by Maryeileen (237) | (08/17/2007) Profile | Contact Squirt her with water from a spray bottle when you catch her scratching your couch. RE: Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch Post by kimhis (348) | (08/17/2007) Contact Rub the area with a fresh dryer sheet (test on a hidden area first). Too much fragrance for a kitty nose, but it smells nice to us. RE: Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch Post By Tigger1971 (Guest Post) (08/17/2007) Put tinfoil on the cushions your cat is sharpening its claws on...they don't like the feel of the tinfoil and will remember, so even after you take the tinfoil off, they'll stay away RE: Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch Post By toddsharon15 (Guest Post) (08/17/2007) Trim your cat's nails with a nail clipper. Clip only the white portion of the nail. Provide scatching material i.e. paper bags, cardboard, carpet nailed to the bit she uses. I've got nine; I know what you're going through! Best of Luck, Sharon RE: Stopping a Cat from Scratching a Couch Post by perfumed fan (166) | (08/16/2007) Profile | Contact Cats hate the smell of citrus. Try putting some citrus scented candles or bowls of potpourri around the couch. Try this, too: hang a carpet remnant on a wall or door. Cats like to stretch out their full length when they scratch so buy a piece that's long enough and hang it high enough.