Scratches, have the right attitude

Pet Care Essentials

A kitty that scratches furniture is simply following certain natural impulses. It's necessary for them at multiple levels. Yes, understood, but not on the couch! Where does this instinct come from, and more importantly, how can you prevent your cat from scratching your furniture? Here's an explanation.

For a cat, scratching is a necessity, and they won't just stop doing it. The primary reason is that scratching allows them to mark their territory. The scratch marks, as well as pheromones left on the surface, send a pretty clear message to other cats: This is my place! They also need to sharpen their claws. For wild felines of all sizes, this is vital. They must hone their claws on trees or other surfaces to efficiently kill their prey. Even the most domesticated cat will instinctively do the same. Cats also sometimes stretch fully to tense all their muscles. By holding on with their claws, they can maximize the effect, even if your carpet or couch might suffer. A cat that scratches furniture is likely stressed or frustrated. It will seek to get your attention by meowing more or shredding the furniture. It's also a way to redirect an excess of energy.

However, while scratching behavior is normal, destruction is not. And since the cat-proof couch doesn't yet exist, it becomes essential to know the redirection strategies useful for letting your cat indulge in its favorite activity, but on appropriate surfaces.

Here are some alternatives and tips. 

The scratching post. This is an ideal accessory, especially if your kitty doesn't have much or any access to the outdoors. Before your cat gets into the habit of attacking your furniture, offer it one or even several scratching posts that you'll place in different spots around the house. However, if it already has the habit of scratching furniture, place the scratching post where it tends to do so to encourage a change of target. If you don't opt for these commercial solutions, know that any sufficiently hard and stable object will do. You just need to declare it a "scratchable" object.

The carpet square. Cats particularly enjoy scratching carpet. Finding one is very simple since you just have to visit a store that sells them and ask for remnants, often offered at a low price. Then, just place the carpet square on the floor or near the furniture your pet relieves itself on. You can also get a doormat that has a similar texture to carpet.

Protect your furniture. For particularly fragile or vulnerable furniture, consider investing in a protective cover. This is especially useful for sofas, armchairs, or chairs. Thus, your cat's claws will penetrate the furniture's surface less easily. Plus, you can easily wash or clean these covers and remove them when you're expecting guests.

Some materials or textures are unpleasant for cats. Place double-sided tape around the furniture your cat most often scratches, as the sticky residue is particularly unpleasant on their paws. Cats also dislike stepping on aluminum foil, even though they love playing with foil balls. They'll hesitate to approach it.

Use smells your cat doesn't like. There are scents pleasant for humans but detestable for cats, like citronella, citrus, or rosemary. If they smell nice to you, you can make a spray by adding a few drops of essential oils to a large bottle of water. Spray it on your furniture, and your cat will look to avoid them. Cats also dislike the smell of pepper, a repellent that's also toxic to their health. On surfaces that can handle it, spray a little water in which you've dissolved 2 to 4 teaspoons of pepper. Just be sure not to use substances harmful to cats.

Regularly trim their claws. Over time, a cat's claws grow longer and longer. This is one of the reasons they sharpen them by scratching hard surfaces. If they don't have the opportunity to do so, think about trimming them regularly. Moreover, with shorter claws, your cat is less likely to inadvertently damage your carpets or sofa. Trim your cat's claws every 2 to 3 weeks or so. Ensure you use a specialized clipper recommended by your veterinarian, and never scissors.