How to Stop the cat from Scratching Furniture

When you’re bringing the cat to your home, it’s inevitable that they're going to scratch your furniture. Rather than getting upset at the new housemate, try redirecting their cat scratching behavior. There's a couple of explanations why your cat is behaving this way.

Why your cat is scratching your furniture

Cat scratching is totally normal and may provide many benefits for your cat’s health. A primary reason your cat might be scratching your furniture and turning it into their personal scratcher is probably because they are marking their territory. Cats to produce pheromone throughout their cat paws and scent glands that provides them a comforting experience.

Another reason your cat can't help but scratch your things is they are shedding loose layers from their claws. Removing those dead layers is essential to keeping their claws sharp and healthy. According to the ASPCA, “Cats' claws also need regular sharpening, cats scratch on things to remove frayed, worn outer claws and expose new, sharper claws.”  To prevent your cat from digging their claws into your belongings, try these tips n tricks.

If your cat is new to your home, your cat might be scratching your belongings because your cat is stressed. When cat's dig their claws to your furnishings are very satisfying for them. Scratching mixed with stretching and use might help keep the furry friend happy and maintain good health.

Cat’s also scratch since they're stretching. Cat’s, like humans, enjoy stretching their muscles and limbs to release a relaxed feeling. Cat’s stretching and digging their cat’s nails into things can also be known as “making biscuits”. Making biscuits is the rhythmic backwards and forwards the cat’s paws pressing against a soft object like a blanket, furniture or human lap. 

Scratching post

Try covering your furniture for the moment and get your cat a scratcher. Scratching posts help to keep your cat active, promote the kitchen connoisseur, and can eliminate your cat from scratching surfaces. Put the scratching post in a more accessible location. Try placing your cat’s scratching post inside a high-traffic area. Like us, cat's also get FOMO (Anxiety about Really missing out) and like to be around you as much as you love to be around them. Should you stick your cats scratching post in a dark corner hidden, your cat is more prone to scratch your household items instead. 

Cats will also be very attracted to sisal rope. Sisal rope is most commonly used to create scratching posts. Purchasing a scratching post made from sisal rope can help avoid destructive behavior because many cats like the feel of sisal on their own paws. 

Nail caps

Cats nails can be extremely sharp and can cause some serious damage. Some cat owners recommend nail caps to prevent cats from clawing into furniture and destroying household items. Nails caps are tiny plastic covers that you simply press and glue over your cat’s nails. They're inexpensive and may last as much as 6 weeks. These nails caps are secure for the cat and do not stop your cat from retracting its claws. Nail caps cause no pain and cause no damage to their claw bed.

We recommend getting the nail caps placed on with a vet or groomer but could be achieved at home as well.

Catnip

Catnip is really a mixture of leaves and stems which contain an oil called “nepetalactone.” When cats smell nepetalactone, it stimulates their pheromones which create a kind of chemical reaction that provides cat’s a sense of overloading happiness. Catnip not only makes them happy but offers them with great health benefits. Catnip can sort out stress, improve playfulness, and can also be made into a tea to soak your cat into to  alleviate itchiness or decrease shedding.

You can sprinkle some of this catnip onto their scratching post, bed and favorite toys to inspire use. You can also use catnip to advertise active play, exercise, or perhaps in exchange permanently behavior.

Feliway 

Cat not responding to catnip? Not a problem, try putting Feliway in your cat’s scratching post. Feliway also mimics a cat’s facial pheromones, which cats release once they rub their cheeks against things and surfaces. This really is them marking the areas as being safe. This pheromone can help reduce your cats scratching your furniture and instead inform them that their scratching post is how they must be redirecting their cat behavior.

Aluminum Foil 

Aluminum Foil is surprisingly a great way to keep your cat from scratching furniture as well as keep them off your tables and counters. Cats hate aluminum foil due to the sound and texture. Foil is uncomfortably loud and may startle your cat keeping them from going anywhere near your possessions. Additionally, it has an unusual texture that is uncomfortable for the feline friend. Simply cover your furniture, tables, and counters with aluminum foil to keep them away from your things.

Aluminum foil isn't safe in case your cat uses it as a toy or is chewing the foil. In case your cat appears to leave the foil alone, it is ok to get it out to prevent them from getting on top of or into unwanted areas within your home.  If you want to avoid covering your objects and counter space with aluminum foil, try using a less reflective and noisy option, like catnip. 

Cat Toys 

Lastly, invest in some cat toys. Cat toys simulate the hunting experience and serve as a convenient way to help to keep your cat happy, healthy and active. With no toys, your cat will try to show belongings for example shoes, pillows, and furniture into toys, scratching and chewing them for any release, resulting in an unhappy owner. Since Cats are naturally curious and love squeezing into tight, small places, try using a cat tunnel for their benefit. Many cat tunnels crinkle and may create noises that the cat loves and some even include hanging cat toys that your cat will instinctively bat at.

If cat tunnels don't interest you or perhaps your cat, use a feather teaser. Teaser wands contain a stick with some feathers or toys attached at the end. Feather teasers are awesome as this gives you the power to wave, twitch, and flutter around so that the toy after the wand can move randomly, leaving your cat excited and running around mimicking the hunt for its prey. Feather teasers are one of the only cat toys that give the chance to bond together with your cat.

Cat toys can be what you can bat backwards and forwards that stimulates their prey hunting instinct. These toys will distract your cat from scratching, destroying, or shredding anything of yours. If you're trying to avoid spending extra money on cat toys, use stuff you can easily get in your house like plastic caps, newspaper, or perhaps some string to experience together with your cat. 

The Harm of Declawing 

We don't advise declawing your cats. Declawing your cat can have negative effects in your feline friend. It may affect the way they walk, their balance, and the way they reside in general. To declaw the cat is unnecessary and it’s a harmful surgery. 

Turning your house into a cat household doesn’t have to be difficult, expensive, or worrisome. Keeping your cat active with cat toys, catnip, and cat scratching posts will benefit your cat and them away from turning your individual items into their toys. 

Soon you will see that cat behavior is not always upsetting, but could be fun, entertaining, and uplifting whenever you as well as your cat are happy. Hopefully you find these simple tips and tricks to become beneficial and help grow the bond between both you and your furry feline friend.