How to Stop Cats from Scratching in the House

Cats have claws, and they know how to use them.  As cat owners, we understand that scratching is a normal, instinctual behaviour for cats, but we are equally frustrated when cats decide to use those sharp claws in ways generally incompatible with the values of their human companions. Many cat owners fear they must choose between having nice things and having cats. Across the world, countless armchairs, sofas, curtains, carpets or even human arms have become victims of our furry masters, and many cat owners are mystified about how they balance their cat’s need for scratching and the number of times they need to buy a new couch. 

To resolve issues with our feline friends, it’s crucial to understand their behaviours and needs. By managing or redirecting these troublesome behaviours , we can create a true harmonious living situation for both cats and humans. In this blog, we are going to delve into the world of cat scratching and hopefully dig up some effective solutions for how to prevent cats from scratching up our homes and stuff.

Why Do Cats Love Scratching Furniture and Carpets?

There are many reasons why cats scratch, but probably the most important is that scratching is a way of getting rid of the worn-out layers of claws to keep them healthy and strong. In the wild, a cat’s claws help them to capture and eat their prey, and without them, they would probably starve to death. Therefore, the instincts to keep those claws healthy and sharp are going to be very strong. So scratching is a very big and natural part of our cats’ behaviour, and if they are prevented from acting on, it will actually make them quite distressed and uncomfortable.

Alongside this naturally predatory reason for having claws and scratching, cat’s will also scratch for other reasons. Firstly, scratching is a way of identifying and marking their territory. Along with their scent, the scratches act as a visual marking that communicates to other cat’s that the territory has been claimed. So cat’s love to have evidence of their scratching around them in the environment they inhabit. 

Cats also use scratching combined with some pretty impressive stretching manoeuvres. The combination of digging their claws in to reach high against an object, bending their spines close to the ground to elongate it as far as possible, then pulling back with those claws against the solidness of the object, help keep a cat’s body supple and toned. 

I mean who doesn’t enjoy a good stretch? The act of stretching combined with the feel and sound of scratching claws provides a lot of sensory stimulation for cats. Scratching and stretching are used by cat’s to relax their minds and bodies, and helps give them those good feel vibes which will fend off boredom or anxiety.

So, as you can see, cats don’t just like to scratch; they need to scratch! And being cats, they don’t see the world in terms of scratchable or unscratchable items. Basically, if the object is in their world, has a good surface in which to dig in their claws and allow them to stretch up high and pull back against it, and leaves some really nice claw marks that can show them and any other cat’s that this place is owned, well then that’s the object they are going to scratch. Unfortunately for us humans, our household furnishings can fit this criteria perfectly. A sturdy couch, a nice bit of carpet, and those tall curtains, which are just perfect for climbing up with claws, are all going to be fair game to our cats. 

So the short answer to “why does my cat scratch everything?” is, “because it’s there!” And while potentially effective, the problem can’t be solved by stripping our House of those very important furnishings. But I think it’s important to change our goal from “How to get a cat to stop scratching” – a potentially cruel as well as impossible task, to the more practical goal of  “how to prevent cats from scratching up the WRONG things”. 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.

How to Stop Cats from Scratching Indoors

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 is a cat welfare organisation that knows a lot about cats and how to keep them healthy and happy. They offer some valuable tips for selecting the purr-fect scratching post or pad for your cat! Essentially, to become 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. A lot of this will be dependent on the size and strength of your cat, so while a small scratching post may be suitable for a kitten, it probably needs to be updated to something sturdier and taller as the kitten becomes an adult cat. 

2. Location matters:

Cats can be quite specific about the places they like to sharpen their claws. So, if you are going to provide scratching posts or mats, which are great for redirecting a cat’s scratching behaviour, then they should be in the places the cat has already shown a preference for. 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. 

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. This is usually because cats are creatures of habit, and once they have scratched up a particular location, they may just be in the habit of going back there again, and again, and again. In addition to providing them with those fancy scratching posts, you might have to make the sofa a little less desirable. You can find various products on the market, such as sticky clear films or smooth films that can be applied directly to furniture and make scratching less fun for kitties. Additionally, you can try using scents that cats typically dislike, such as citrus, which is supposed to be an unpleasant scent for cats. When looking at deterrents, it may take a bit of experimenting to figure out what is going to work for your cat. 

5. Assist with their claw management:

As mentioned, cats scratch to maintain their nail health and remove frayed, old layers of claws. By introducing a regular nail trimming routine, your cat may not need to scratch as much. Additionally, you can also use nail caps like soft claws for cats that are persistent scratchers, which offer safe solutions. 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. Providing cats with toys, climbing ramps and platforms, hiding places, access to sunlight and, most importantly, spending time interacting and playing with them can greatly improve a cat’s mental and physical well-being and potentially reduce unwanted destructive behaviours. 

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. But sometimes indoor cats can spend too long indoors without companionship which can lead them to get bored or anxious. 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:

In some cases, excessive scratching can be a sign of stress or anxiety. Working with a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) or a board-certified veterinary behaviourist can increase the chances of success in reducing unwanted scratching behaviours. 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 Your Cat Scratches Indoors

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 the vets from Cornell Feline Health Centre point out, punishing your cat by yelling, spraying water or striking them only teaches your cat that it’s you, not the scratching behaviour, that brings this tirade of punishment. So the end result is that your cat will be terrified around you, more anxious and stressed, and more prone to destructive or self-soothing behaviours such as scratching. 
• Declawing your cat: Declawing your cat may sound straightforward, but it actually involves amputating the last bone of each toe on a cat’s paw. 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. But while this kind of practical approach may work when showing human children how to perform an action, it’s important to remember that we usually combine these demonstrations with explanatory language, which helps to get the meaning and purpose across. A cat will have no such context, of course, so this act of force can actually just make your cat highly anxious and stressed and deter them from going near that scratching post again. 

Conclusion

Scratching is a natural instinct in cats driven by various needs essential for their well-being and survival. Primarily, it helps maintain healthy claw growth, which is crucial for catching prey and defending themselves, so a cat’s drive to scratch is a strong urge tied to its drive for survival. In addition, cat’s use scratching, and the visible scars it creates on objects, as a means of marking its territory and communicating its boundaries to other cats. Cat’s also use scratching and their claws to reach high up against an object and stretch and tone their bodies. Finally, cat’s scratch because the feel and the sound of scratching provides them with good mental and physical stimulation. 

So, when you want to know how to stop a cat from scratching, you must think about providing your cat with more acceptable scratching surfaces to replace the less desirable ones they may have chosen, such as your sofa or dining room table leg. Using commercially available scratching posts or wall-mounted pads and placing them in spots that your cat has already shown a preference for scratching is a great way to direct your cat towards a more acceptable outlet for its scratching needs. Simultaneously making those sofas or curtains less desirable with the use of cat repellent scents or films or covers that cats don’t like the feel of can be an effective combination to prevent cats from scratching in places you don’t want them to. 

Finally, as cat’s sometimes use scratching to sooth boredom and anxiety, providing your cat with an enriched sensory environment and sensory opportunities is a great way of providing an outlet for your cat that can reduce the need and frequency of the scratching. If you have any outdoor space available, you can have a quality cat netting enclosure installed to provide your cat with free and open access to the great outdoors, where they will find never ending opportunities to bask in the sun, and enjoy the naturally stimulating sights, sounds and scents of the great outdoors without any risk to their, or local wildlife, safety. 

Kittysafe are Perth’s leading outdoor cat enclosure specialists, with an impressive 80+ five star Google rating! With years of experience, dedication to customer service, creativity and innovative approaches to design and consultation, and countless happy customers to vouch for us, KittySafe is the only choice for cat enclosure design and installation in Perth. Contact us now to get your free quote and start the ball rolling on giving your cat the happy, healthy and lively environment that it deserves. 

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