Scratching furniture is a natural behavior for cats. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most annoying behaviors a cat owner can experience. It's interesting because some fabric textures just seem to encourage them to scratch, while others they will leave alone.
Fortunately, though, there are ways to train your cat not to scratch furniture and other household items. Let’s take a look at the tips and tricks you can use to keep your cat from ruining your furniture.
Provide an Appropriate Scratching Post
Cats love scratching posts because they provide them with a place to stretch and sharpen their claws. When choosing a scratching post, make sure it’s stable and tall enough for your cat to reach all the way up when stretching. Also, consider placing it near the area where your cat typically scratches so that they associate the scratching post with that particular spot. If possible, try to get them used accustomed to using the post while they are still kittens.
Reward Good Behavior
Rewarding good behavior is one of the best ways to train any pet, including cats! Whenever you catch your cat using their scratching post instead of your furniture, reward them with treats or toys as positive reinforcement. This will encourage them to continue using their scratching post instead of tearing up your furniture and other items in the house.
Trim Their Claws Regularly
Trimming your cat's nails regularly will help reduce their tendency to scratch furniture as well as help protect people and other pets from being scratched accidentally.
It's important that you use proper techniques when trimming your cat's nails. If you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself, you can always take them to a groomer or vet who can do this for you. Regularly trimming their claws will help reduce potential damage caused by accidental scratches on both people and objects around the house.
Discourage Bad Behavior
When catching your cat in the act of scratching something else besides its designated post, distract it with a toy or loud noise like clapping or spraying water at it (from a distance). We keep a toy water gun on hand just for these times.
This should be done gently but firmly so that they understand that this kind of behavior is unacceptable in your home. You may also want to cover up the area they are scratching with double-sided tape so that they don't have access anymore until they're completely trained not to scratch there anymore.
Training cats not to scratch your good furniture takes patience and consistency but is achievable with proper technique and dedication! Providing an appropriate scratching post for them, rewarding good behavior, trimming their nails regularly, and discouraging bad behavior when necessary - these are all key steps in training cats not to ruin household items like expensive furniture!
With these tips in mind, you should be able to better ensure that both you and your kitty live harmoniously in peace and that everyone is happy!
