Why cats claw furniture

Cats: Destructive scratching. The trick is to teach your cat what they can scratch—and what is off-limits. Place the scratching post in a location where the cat wants to scratch. Top 10 tips. Get Your Copy. Introduce your cat to the scratching post. Temporarily make the objects the cat previously liked to scratch less desirable. Many do it standing and pawing high overhead, while others prefer a horizontal stretch. They also seem to feel pleasure in flexing and stretching their feet and toes.

The first step in deterring kitty from targeting your furniture, drapes and walls as their personal scratching surface is to provide an appropriate alternative. As they start building their new habits, you can gradually move the scratching post to a preferred location in the room. While transitioning to a scratching post, it is a good idea to restrict the opportunity to fall back on the old habit.

Ideally, storing the targeted item in an off-limits room can help you keep kitty focused on their new scratching post. If you do choose a homemade remedy, keep in mind that some essential oils are irritating or toxic to pets. A store-bought but homeopathic concoction can help you keep it natural and safe for household pets.

If you have a vertical scratcher that takes aim at the base or arms of the chair or sofa, or even the walls, placing double-stick tape on those surfaces often works wonders! Pet shops also sell adhesive marketed as cat scratch deterrent tape. Cats dislike the feeling of the sticky adhesive catching on their paws, and that can be enough to motivate them to seek alternative surfaces to claw at.

If your cat likes sinking his claws into the padded seats of your couches or chairs, try placing a few sheets of aluminum foil on the surface. The crinkling sound can be enough to startle your cat and send him scurrying back to the floor. Stacking disposable drinking cups that topple when your cat bumps them is a harmless way to get cats to stop their attack and move on to something else. Why DO cats scratch? You may wonder to yourself. Or, how can you encourage them to scratch something else — like a scratching post?

Scratching behaviors fulfill several needs for our furry felines. As an informed cat parent, it helps to understand the psychology behind why cats scratch, and how you can train them to scratch where you want them to — and not your favorite chair. Rest assured, cat scratches on your furniture have nothing to do with revenge.

Kitties are territorial. Part of their scratching behavior designates their claim. Not only do they leave claw marks, but they also leave a scent behind.

Their paw pads have scent glands called pheromones. If you bring home a new cat , make sure you introduce them to a designated cat scratcher. Instead, you can understand their point of view and work with them to create a new favorite scratching pad. Most cats have a favorite place for scratching.

There are several types of claw trimmers designed especially for pets. Until you and your cat have become accustomed to the routine, one foot a day is enough of a challenge. We strongly discourage cat owners from having their cats declawed. Scratching is a natural behavior for cats and can be directed to appropriate items. Read more about the problems of declawing. If you feel that you must either declaw or give up your cat, we would rather see your cat stay in her home and be your lifelong companion.

All rights reserved. Please enjoy this video from Jackson Galaxy, a well-known cat behaviorist and host of How much will it cost to care for a new animal companion? Why do cats scratch?