How to Stop Your Cat from Scratching Furniture
Why do cats scratch furniture?
Scratching is a natural behavior for cats. “Scratching serves many functions for a cat, including a communication tool that leaves both scent and visual marks on a site, a way to clean and condition claw beds, and a great way to stretch muscles. paws and toes,” says Sánchez. Cats that don’t have easy access to scratching posts or horizontal scratching posts may turn their claws toward furniture and carpets.
How do I stop my cat from scratching my sofa?
Having a scratching post or mat is not helpful if that’s not where your cat likes to scratch. Cats need a variety of choices in different places to be fully satisfied. Sanchez recommends placing them in high-traffic areas and near your cat’s favorite resting spots. The material a scratching post or scratching post is made from can also determine whether your cat prefers your furniture over a scratching post or scratching post. “Some cats will scratch strictly on softer materials such as cardboard boxes or scratching posts, while other cats will only use carpet or tall, sturdy posts,” Sanchez says. Many cats enjoy scratching rope or sisal fabric, but some may find other materials more appealing. If your cat is attracted to carpet, Quagliozzi recommends framing a piece of carpet for her.
Does cat scratch deterrent spray work?
Our experts say that cat scratch deterrent sprays do not help redirect claws away from furniture. “They don’t really work and are repellent,” says Calder. An aversive is any tool or technique that uses discomfort, pain, fear, or intimidation to force an animal to change its behavior. Deterrent sprays are aversive because they irritate a cat’s acute senses of smell and taste, causing it to sneeze and cough. Using scratching strips or furniture protectors combined with training is a more effective long-term strategy for modifying a cat’s behavior. “Our goal isn’t to scare the cat; rather, it’s to find out why this behavior is happening in the first place,” says Calder.
Should cats be declawed?
To prevent a cat from scratching, some veterinarians offer declawing, a surgical procedure that involves removing a cat’s claws. Although declawing techniques have become less painful with laser technology, it is a surgical procedure that still comes with potential complications.
A few of US countries and cities have banned the practice. The American Veterinary Medical Association also discourages this practice and instead recommends providing scratching surfaces like those featured in this guide, frequent nail trimming, and positive reinforcement training. Complications of this procedure can include infection, tissue necrosis and back pain, depending on the United States Humane Society.
Additionally, removing a cat’s claws prevents it from practicing innate behaviors like scratching and climbing. Veterinarians do not know how or if declawing impacts a cat’s quality of life and psychological well-being.
A cat usually recovers from laser declawing in about three weeks, and the pain can be managed with medications such as fentanyl patches. However, Bob Murtaughveterinarian and director of professional relations at Thriving in Pet Health Caredoes not believe the procedure is necessary unless there is a valid medical reason.
“I think the best thing is to just give them a few scratching opportunities and practice them,” Murtaugh says. “Part of it is a cat acknowledging the fact that he might take her to a couch once in a while.”
Besides providing a cat with acceptable scratching alternatives, such as scratching posts and scratching posts, covering a cat’s claws with claw guards is a more humane option than removing them completely. Some vets will even put them on for you, says Murtaugh.