Scratching is natural for felines, and many owners wonder how to stop cats from scratching furniture. Fortunately, there are easy ways to protect your furniture from scratches.
To help your cat stop scratching your couch and chairs, it’s useful to know why they do it. A new study gives more information about cats’ scratching habits and how to manage them.
Dr. Andrea Sanchez, a vet at Banfield Pet Hospital, explains that cats scratch to communicate, stretch, keep their claws healthy, and mark their territory.
French scientists studied 1,211 cats by interviewing their owners about unwanted scratching behavior.
They found that more aggressive and active cats and those who played often and stayed awake at night were more likely to scratch.
However, the research suggested additional factors beyond just the cats’ personalities.
The researchers discovered that the presence of children in the home was linked to increased scratching behavior among cats.
Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science on July 2, their study indicated that cats in households with children tended to scratch more frequently and intensely.
This behavior suggests that cats may experience stress from living with children, prompting heightened scratching activity.
Researchers have previously found that children can lead to destructive behavior in cats, but some questions remain.
It’s unclear if younger children cause more stress than older ones, and the researchers also want to investigate whether it matters who lived in the home first.
How to stop cats from scratching furniture?
If your cat keeps scratching furniture, there are ways to help.
Ensuring your cat gets enough physical and mental exercise, regular short play sessions, and stimulating toys can reduce stress and stop unwanted scratching.
Interactive toys like rollerballs, scratchers, and play tunnels offer lasting fun for cats.
Researchers also found that scratching posts can reduce furniture scratching, but their placement matters.
For best results, put them in areas your cat frequently visits, such as near their bed or litter box.
Watching your cat’s scratching habits can help you choose the best scratching post for them, according to cat behavior consultant Danie “DQ” Quagliozzi.
If your cat scratches the side of your couch, they may prefer a vertical scratching post, while those that scratch carpets might like a horizontal scratch pad.
It’s important to remember that every cat is different, and this study emphasizes how their unique personality and environment influence their behavior.
Moreover, you can also make your furniture less appealing to your cat.
This is a temporary solution while your cat learns to use their new scratching post instead of your furniture. If you don’t provide a good scratching option, your cat may still choose your couch or chair. To help, you can make your furniture less appealing by:
- Covering it with a sheet, plastic cover, or aluminum foil.
- Using double-sided sticky tape safe for cats.
- Spraying a cat-safe citrus scent or apple cider vinegar.
- Use a pet-safe odor neutralizer to remove your cat’s scent.
Avoid punishing your cat, as they might not understand and become fearful. Instead, gently guide them to the scratching post and praise them for using it.
These strategies can help reduce your cat’s interest in the furniture and make the scratching post more inviting.
Important note:
Do not declaw your cat, says BondVet.
Declawing, or onychectomy, is a painful surgery that removes the tips of a cat’s toes, causing long-term problems, such as chronic pain and behavior problems.
While it prevents scratching, it can cause discomfort when walking on litter, leading to accidents outside the litter box and increased biting or aggression.
Declawed cats cannot go outside safely since they lack defense.
If the tips above on how to stop cats from scratching furniture, an alternative to declawing is using claw covers, which are rubber caps glued onto the nails.
They are generally comfortable but must be replaced every few weeks as the claws grow.
A vet usually does the first application, but many owners can learn to do it themselves at home.
Here are some more tips on how to stop cats from scratching furniture:
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