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How To Prevent Cats from Scratching Furniture

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Cats can be entertaining with all their curious behaviors and cute tricks. But one thing that’s not so cute? Scratching furniture. While it’s impossible to stop them from scratching entirely, there are effective ways to redirect this habit. Learn more about why cats scratch and how to prevent them from scratching up your furniture.

Why do cats scratch?

Wondering why your cat scratches in the first place? Scratching is a natural behavior that’s part of their DNA. Here’s are few reasons why they do it:

  • Territory Marking: Cats have scent glands in their paws, and scratching leaves both a visual and scent mark, signaling their presence and releasing pheromones for other cats to detect.

  • Claw Maintenance: Scratching helps remove the outer nail sheaths, keeping claws sharp and healthy.

  • Exercise and Stretching: Scratching provides a way for cats to stretch their muscles and relieve tension.

  • Stress Relief: Scratching can be a coping mechanism for cats to relieve stress or boredom.

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Scratching helps remove the outer nail sheaths, keeping claws sharp and healthy.

How do I prevent my cat from scratching furniture?

Try these tips to protect your furniture and redirect your cat’s scratching behavior.

  • Provide Scratching Posts and Pads: Offer different types of scratching posts and pads made of materials like sisal, carpet or cardboard. Cats have preferences, so providing options increases the likelihood they’ll use them. Position the scratching posts near furniture pieces your cat likes to scratch. Gradually move the post to a more preferred location once your cat starts using it.

  • Use Cat Attractants: Sprinkle catnip or silvervine on the scratching posts to make them more appealing. Some products come pre-treated with these attractants.

  • Apply Deterrents: Most cats don’t like the smell of citrus, so using a citrus-based spray on your furniture may deter them from your furniture. Or try a synthetic pheromone product like Feliway, which can help reduce stress-related scratching.
  • Try Cat Nail Caps: These soft caps or nail covers are made of vinyl and adhere to your cat’s nails. They’re completely safe and usually last four to six weeks.

  • Protect Your Furniture: Use covers or throws to protect your furniture temporarily while training your cat to use scratching posts. To get your cat to stop scratching table legs or wooden posts, apply double-sided tape since cats dislike sticky surfaces. Adhesive vinyl strips or sheets can also be applied to furniture to protect it from claws.

  • Regular Claw Maintenance: Regularly trimming your cat’s claws can reduce the damage they can do to furniture. Use a proper cat nail trimmer and be careful not to cut too close to the quick, the pink part of the nail where the blood vessel begins.

  • Positive Reinforcement: Reward your cat with treats, praise or playtime whenever they use their scratching post. Positive reinforcement helps reinforce the desired behavior. If you catch your cat scratching furniture, gently redirect them to the scratching post. Reward them once they start using it.

  • Create an Enriching Environment: Provide plenty of toys and engage in regular play sessions to keep your cat mentally and physically stimulated. A bored cat is more likely to develop destructive behaviors. Cats love to climb and perch. Providing cat trees or shelves can help satisfy their need to climb and scratch.

Preventing your cat from scratching furniture requires patience, consistency and understanding of their natural behaviors. Remember, every cat is unique, so it might take some trial and error to find what works best in your home.

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