If you’ve ever owned a cat, you know how sharp their claws are and how quickly they can leave marks on your favorite furniture or carpet. Scratching is completely normal for cats. It’s instinctual and necessary, but it can be incredibly frustrating when they target your couch, curtains, or rugs. Across the world, countless sofas, armchairs, and carpets have fallen victim to determined feline claws, leaving many pet parents wondering if they must choose between their cats and their home’s treasures. The good news is you don’t have to make that choice. With the right strategies, you can stop them from scratching your furniture and carpets while allowing them to express their natural behaviour.
Scratching is not just only a habit. It’s a fundamental need for cats to keep their claws healthy, mark their territory, and stretch their bodies. By understanding why do cats scratch and providing proper alternatives, you can protect your furniture and carpets while still letting your furry friend express their natural instincts. In this blog, we’ll dive into reasons behind cats scratching habits, the key to redirecting their scratching behavior, and practical solutions to prevent them from ruining your home furnishings while keeping them happy and stress-free.
Why Do Cats Scratch Furniture and Carpets?
For cats, scratching is completely natural and super important. Cat scratch carpet, furnitures and anything indoor in the house to maintain their claws, communicate with others, and stretch their bodies. Scratching helps cats shed the outer layers of their claws, keeping them healthy and sharp. In the wild, those claws are essential for hunting, climbing, and self dense, so keeping them in tip-top shape is crucial for their survival. Even though our domesticated feline friends may not need to hunt, this natural behavior remains essential for their claw maintenance and overall well-being.
But scratching isn’t just about taking care of their claws. It’s also a way for cats to communicate. When they scratch, they leave behind their scent and make a little mark, telling other cats, “This is my territory!” It’s all part of their nature. Plus, scratching offers a great full-body stretch, helping them stay flexible and toned. It’s a fun, sensory experience that keeps them relaxed and helps combat boredom.
So, why do they choose your furniture and rugs for their scratching spree? Well, it’s simple, they scratch because they need to. They don’t know the difference between a scratching post and your favorite armchair. If it feels good for digging in those claws and stretching out, it’s fair game in their eyes.
The goal isn’t to stop them from scratching but to guide them in a better direction. So, let’s take a look at some practical ideas that you could apply in your house that will hopefully help towards achieving that goal. By understanding their natural instincts and following the right preventive measures, you can save your furniture while letting your furry friend enjoy their scratching habits in a healthy way.
Effective Ways to Prevent Cats from Scratching Furniture and Carpets
So, while we can’t and shouldn’t set out to stop our cats from scratching, there are some practical ways we can redirect our cats’ scratching to be less destructive to our homes.
1. Provide Socially Acceptable Scratching Surfaces:
International Cat Care, a trusted expert on all things feline, has some great tips to help keep your cat happy and your furniture safe. They offer some valuable tips for selecting the purr-fect scratching post or pad for your cat! Essentially, to make your cat’s preferred scratching object, the post or pad that you choose should be tall enough to allow for maximum stretch, sturdy enough to withstand the pulling of claws, and preferably wide enough to accommodate both vertical and horizontal scratching. The right scratching post depends on your cat’s size and strength. What works for a kitten might need an upgrade as they grow into a full-sized cat.
2. Location matters:
Cats are quite specific about where they sharpen their claws. To redirect their scratching behavior, place scratching posts or mats in spots where your cat already prefers to scratch. So if it’s the leg of the sofa, then place a scratching pad there. Or if it’s at the end of your bed, then this should be the location of a good old scratching post.
3. Cover up the furniture:
If you can, invest in some fabric or plastic covers for furniture to protect it from cat claws. While a cover is easily repaired or replaceable, the couch or table itself is usually more expensive to buy again. Additionally, consider using slipcovers that are specifically designed to withstand pet wear and tear. It’s also helpful to choose materials that are less appealing to cats, such as tightly woven fabrics that can’t be grabbed easily. By taking these proactive measures, you not only protect your furniture but also create an environment that discourages scratching behavior.
4. Use deterrents to keep them away from your favourite things:
Even when presented with the best scratching post, a cat may still show preference for the living room sofa or even the carpet. Cats often scratch carpets because the texture feels satisfying and allows them to stretch their claws. To protect your carpets and furniture, consider using deterrents like sticky clear films or smooth coverings, which make the surface less appealing for scratching. For carpets, you can also use specialized carpet protector mats or rugs designed to withstand clawing. Additionally, scents such as citrus or lavender are commonly disliked by cats. This can be sprayed lightly on targeted areas to discourage them. It’s important to experiment with these deterrents while ensuring your furry friend has plenty of attractive alternatives, like textured scratching posts or flat cardboard scratchers placed near their preferred spots. There are also feline hormones available to calm your cat down and reduce the likelihood of scratching and other territorial behaviours.
5. Assist with their claw management:
As mentioned, cats scratch to maintain their nail health and remove frayed, old layers of claws. Introduce a regular nail-trimming routine to reduce your cat’s need to scratch. You can also try nail caps, like soft claws, which are a safe and simple fix for cats who just won’t stop scratching. These caps cover the cat’s nails without harming them, effectively reducing scratching damage.
6. Provide enriching and stimulating opportunities:
The Bay Path Humane Society notes that destructive behaviour in cats can sometimes be the result of boredom. Because cats derive a lot of sensory pleasure and stimulation from scratching, excessive scratching may just be how they are choosing to keep their minds and bodies active in the absence of other types of stimulation. Give your cat plenty of toys, climbing ramps, sunny spots, and most importantly your time and attention. These can make a huge difference in their happiness and help curb destructive habits.
7. Get them an outdoor cat enclosure:
Many cat owners choose to keep their cat’s indoors for their safety, and to stop them from being a nuisance to neighbours and local wildlife. Indoor cats can sometimes get bored or anxious when left alone too long. If you have any sized outdoor area available to you, consider creating a secure, netted outdoor enclosure where your cat can spend some quality time basking in the sun and delighting in all the sounds, scents and sights of mother nature.
8. Seek Veterinary or Behavioural Advice if Necessary:
Excessive scratching sometimes signals stress or anxiety. Consult a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist to effectively reduce unwanted scratching behaviors. They can advise on the best possible methods that fit your cat and be tailored to their unique personality and environment.
Behaviourists may also prescribe medication, relaxing supplements, or some behaviour modification techniques that can be helpful if your cat exhibits anxiety or aggression. These interventions, guided by a veterinarian, can drastically reduce the need to scratch. While your cat’s need to scratch cannot be eliminated, it can be managed to an acceptable level that allows peaceful coexistence.
What Not to Do When Stopping Cats from Scratching Furniture and Carpets
While cat scratching is undeniably frustrating for homeowners, it’s also important to understand that this behaviour is not just normal for cats – it’s essential to their physical and mental well-being. Therefore, when confronted with a cat-scratching problem, here’s a list of common mistakes to avoid:
- Punish or chastise your cat: Cat’s don’t act out a sense of wrong or right, therefore their decision to scratch is not an intentional act designed to be defiant or naughty. As Cornell Feline Health Centre explains, punishing your cat like yelling or spraying water just makes them fear you, not the scratching behaviour. In the end, your cat may feel scared of you, more stressed, and even more likely to scratch.
- Declawing your cat: Declawing might sound simple, but it’s actually a serious surgery that removes the last bone on each of your cat’s toes. It is a serious operation that comes with risks, such as reactions to anaesthetics, infections and bleeding and should only be considered in rare and extreme cases. It is important to remember, that a declawed cat, is a cat that cannot survive by itself as its ability to hunt has been removed, and it also leaves your cat defenceless against attacks from other cats or dogs.
- Force them to use the scratching post: Many well-intentioned humans think they need to introduce their cats to the scratching post by carrying them over, lifting up their front legs and wiping their paws up against the post to show them how they can scratch it. This hands-on approach works for teaching kids, but it’s a different story for cats. They won’t understand what you’re trying to show them. Instead of helping, this can make your cat anxious and keep them far away from the scratching post in the future.
Conclusion
Scratching is a natural part of being a cat. It helps them keep their claws healthy, mark their territory, and stretch their muscles. Scratching also keep cats happy by giving them both physical and mental stimulation. They use it to stay sharp for hunting, communicate with other cats, and keep their bodies flexible.
If your cat is scratching up your furniture or rugs, the trick is to redirect their behavior. Offer them scratching posts, wall-mounted pads, or other scratch-friendly surfaces in spots they love. You can also use cat-repellent citrus sprays or covers to protect your belongings. This way, your cat can enjoy scratching without causing trouble, and everyone’s happy.
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FAQs
What can I put on my furniture to stop my cat from scratching it?
You can make a surface less desirable for scratching by using double sided sticky tapes or films, or even slippery non-penetrable plastic films which cats don’t like the feel of.
What scents do cat’s hate?
Because of their heightened sense of smell, cat’s may find some scents unpleasant or unbearable. Common scents include citrus, pepper or chilli, vinegar, bleach, ammonia, or eucalyptus. However, every cat is different and you may have to experiment to find the right scent.
How to stop kitten from scratching?
The same way you stop an adult cat from scratching – provide scratching posts, keep their nails trimmed, redirect their behaviour with a toy, and place scratching posts next to their preferred scratching locations.
How do you discipline a cat for scratching?
You don’t! Disciplining your cat will only make them afraid of you, and will do nothing to deter them from scratching as they will not associate the punishment with the scratching itself.
What’s the best kind of scratching post for cats?
You need a post that’s tall enough, can resist a cat’s pushing and pulling, is wide enough to provide a good surface grip, and is placed in a location preferred by the cat.
Can scratching behaviour indicate stress or health issues in cats?
Yes, excessive scratching can sometimes be a sign of stress, anxiety, or underlying health issues, such as flea infestations, skin conditions, or arthritis. If your cat’s scratching behavior changes suddenly or becomes excessive, it’s important to consult a vet for a thorough examination.
What type of materials or surfaces do cats prefer for scratching?
Cats typically prefer rough, durable surfaces like sisal, wood, and cardboard. These materials help them shed the old layers of their claws, stretch their muscles, and mark their territory effectively. Scratching posts or pads made of these materials are ideal for satisfying their natural instincts.
Is it safe to use nail caps for cats who scratch excessively?
Nail caps, such as Soft Paws, are generally safe when applied correctly. They cover the cat’s claws to prevent damage from scratching. However, it’s essential to ensure that the caps are fitted properly and are used as part of a broader scratching management plan. Always consult your vet before using them to ensure it’s the right solution for your cat.
