How do I keep my cat from scratching the furniture?

Dan
by Dan
Our family cat, Ms. Tin-Tin, is 2 years old and likes to scratch all our furniture. Can anyone tell me how we can stop her without being cruel? Please respond when possible. Dan.
  5 answers
  • Leading Edge Leading Edge on Nov 21, 2016
    The cheapest and easiest way I found is to attach double-sided tape strips to areas Ms Queen or Mr Tom have identified as the purrrfect place to clean their claws. The commercial double-sided tapes were a little narrow - and expensive. I used the wider moving/storage tape, wrapped it sticky side out making a band, and sealed the ends to each other. I put these strips everywhere that looked like Ms Queen and Mr Tom had used for paws-icures. At the same time, I invested in a carpeted scratching post and a sisal one because I needed to know which is Ms Queen's and Mr Tom's preferred surface. I sprinkled them with catnip and set them up nearby. I also chose models that could be either vertical or horizontal. That gave them a feline-friendly relocation area rather than selecting another section of the sofa or another chair. Hope this helps!
  • Mary knight Mary knight on Nov 21, 2016
    I have 9 cats that have destroyed my furniture. Now I have 1) a spray meant to keep them away; 2) doilies and other cloths draped over the arms and backs; 3) cardboard scratch pads, which they absolutely adore. You can also bring in a p iece of firewood or something else for them to sharpen their claws on - extremely important and absolutely essential. They must be able to sharpen their claws! You can get a nail clipper to help the process, but you must become an expert so as to not inflict injury inadvertently. You can also make a scratch pad using rope or sissal wound around any cylinders or cardboard. Also, by scratching, your cat has deposited pheromones or some sort of scent that must be removed using an enzyme odor remover so they won't be attracted and return to their spot for scratching on your furniture. Hope this helps.
  • Craftyshak Craftyshak on Nov 21, 2016
    LOL MAKE THEM A SCRATCHING POST.....REALLY EASY... A 4X4 SKREWED TO A 12 X 12 BASE AND YOU HAVE A SCRATCHING POST.....
  • Debbie Debbie on Nov 21, 2016
    I have a spray bottle with water, when they scratch I spray them. Now, when I'm cleaning, they run when they hear the spray from the glass cleaner.
    • KC KC on Nov 21, 2016
      I agree...a spray bottle of water works wonders.
  • Stacey Gardner Stacey Gardner on Nov 21, 2016
    They love cardboard, paper bags and tree bark, and they also love attention ! Sometimes a kitty will do something to get attention if they're being ignored,, even if it's negative attention, lol. If you are already giving her enough pets, then it's simply a matter of EXERCISE> When cats are scratching their claws on something it is a form of release and they stretch their muscles and get exercise, in other words, it's GOOD for them ! ...especially if she is an indoor-only kitty she *absolutely* needs something to scratch on, it's simply a *natural need* the Creator made them with. If a person is not providing a cat with a scratching outlet, it's no mystery why they're scratching furniture instead ! Declawing a cat does not involve only removal of the nail, (clipping does that) it's an invasive surgical procedure which removes the nail and part of the JOINT of a cat's paw. It's painful and scarring not only to the cat's body but to it's psyche as well. Many cats are never able to walk normally again without pain and discomfort, why toture the animal like that ? . I strongly recommend not doing it, or ifnfor some reason after you've provided alternatives to scratch and she still prefers furniture, find a new home for her before chopping part of her paws off !. It's the human equivalent of having your finger AMPUTATED at the first knuckle ! Not only is this practice cruel, it's also being outlawed as animal cruelty in some states, and even where it's not outlawed, many ethical Vets refuse to do it.. On another note, it has been scientifically documented that the sound vibration of a Cat's PURR is the same sound vibration that causes Bones to heal at... pretty amazing ! It seems cat are DNA hard-wired to comfort us, if we just slow down enough to acknowledge them and let them. Pets are not our toys or playthings, they are our *Companions* and being a companion to Humans doesn't automatically mean the animal stops having the needs the Creator designed it with ! Please be mindful of that and make the effort to provide outlets for her scratching needs, instead of contemplating subjecting her to a barbaric hurtful practice. Thank you ~
    • Dan Dan on Nov 22, 2016
      i Don't intend to be Hard on Her, i Love her, i Just Don't Want her Getting Hurt or In Trouble with my Mom. OK? Dan