Have you ever got annoyed seeing your brand-new furniture is scratched by your cat? If you have, then continue reading this. Cats naturally love scratching and as a parent, you need to understand the reasons why they do that.
First, cats scratch to stretch. They need to exercise and stretch for their muscles and tendons in their body from toes to neck and shoulders. Secondly, cats scratch to mark their territory.
It is also a method of communicating that they are the only cats in the house. The other reasons are for their claw’s health and to release stress.
Get to know the ways to prevent your cats from getting diseases and if boarding facility will reduce stress level on cat.
Scratching is important for cats, so thinking to declaw the cats is not a good choice. Instead, declawing cats is an amputation of the digits up to the first joint. It is painful and fraught with the possibility of complications both during and after surgery.
It will also affect the way your cats walk, balance and interact. So, never ever declawing your cat for the sake of protecting your furniture from being scratched. Instead, do the following ways to stop them from doing that.
Here are the 5 steps to stop your cats from scratching your furniture. No more furniture damage caused by cats!
- Give your Cat Some Scratching Posts
This is considered as the critical step on stopping your cat from scratching your furniture. By providing her some scratching posts, then she won’t care to scratch your furniture.
It is important to choose the right kind of post scratching because providing her with the one she dislikes won’t work at all. Make sure to choose a strong, sturdy and tall post that is covered with the material that your cat loves, such as sisal fabric.
Sisal fabric is strong and durable and it comes in different forms, including rope and fabric. It helps shred beneath claws and allow cats to see the results of their scratching, also mark their territory. It is also durable so that your cat will enjoy scratching for a long time.
- Put the Scratching Post Strategically
After you have scratching post (s), then make sure to put it/them in the strategic place. Choose the place where your cat loves to hang out, such as in the family room or near the windows.
Cats also love to scratch after they wake up from a catnap, so putting the post near her regular sleeping area will be perfect. As mentioned before, cats scratch to show their territory, so avoid placing the scratching post in the unused area.
You can also put the scratching post in front of the area of your couch, for instance. When your cat investigates the new posts, you can give her a quiet praise and treat if she likes them.
- Make the Furniture Become an Unattractive Place for Your Cat
Once the furniture is unattractive, then your cat will think twice of scratching on it. You can do it by some techniques. First, tucking a sheet around the scratched area tightly.
Then, you can also use a double-side tape or aluminum foil on the scratched area. Lastly, you can spray your furniture with some citrus-scented spray as cats have natural aversion to citrus odor.
- Get your Cat Interested with the Scratching Post
To make your cat get interested with her scratching post, you can try to sprinkle some catnip on them. You can also use a wand toy. Start introducing the wand toy by playing it a few feet away from the post.
Once your cat enjoys playing with it, you can sweep the toy so its end drapes over the post. Once the cat discovers the post this way, she may come back again and again.
Spend time reading more about catnip including the reasons why cat likes catnip.
- Consult with the Expert
This can be done if the ways above are not working. One of the reasons your cat keeps scratching may be related to anxiety. Cats can become tense and anxious due to many reasons and the causes are not easy to identify.
Excessive scratching can be a sign of a distressed cat. As a cat parent, you should keep an eye for other changes in her behavior. If you suspect any sign or symptom of distress in your cat, then you should consult with your vet for further assistance.
You can follow these following tips on how to make cat’s mood happy and ways to make your cats comfortable in their new home if you have cats which seem to be unhappy at home.