How to Stop Your Cat from Scratching Furniture
One of the biggest ways that cats can cause damage in our homes is by using our furniture like a giant scratching post. Not only is this frustrating, but it can also be quite costly! Let’s break down how to stop your cat from scratching furniture safely and effectively.
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The urge for a cat to scratch is natural. In fact, it’s an important part of their physical and mental well-being.
However, as cat owners, we would obviously prefer that they would stick to a designated spot.
No one wants to invest good money in a beautiful new couch, only to have their cat shred the side of it in a matter of weeks. Right?
The good news is that there are steps that you can take to save your furniture and peacefully share the same living space with your cat.
Why Does My Cat Scratch?
Your cat doesn’t scratch your furniture with the intent of destroying something you love or causing your grief.
The urge to scratch is a natural habit with important (and necessary) benefits.
For this reason, it’s important to realize that the goal is not to stop your cat from scratching entirely.
Instead, you want to redirect your cat to a ‘safe place’ to engage in this behaviour.
This could be a cat tree, a smaller scratching post or a smaller scratcher pad or mat. There are options for every size and style of space.
When a cat is scratching on a surface, they are engaging in necessary stretching and exercise.
Not only does this stretch their legs, but it also provides them with an opportunity to flex their feet and their claws.
If you have ever experienced a cramp from not stretching, then you understand this desire!
Scratching is also a way for a cat to mark its territory, especially in a home with multiple cats.
Not only does it leave a visual mark on the surface, but it also leaves behind your cat’s scent from the scent glands located between their toes.
The act of scratching also allows a cat to maintain their nails, which are important both for hunting and self-defence.
Okay, your indoor cat may not be hunting for food any time soon, but they still want to ‘hunt’ their favourite toys!
As they scratch, the dead outer sheaths are removed from the nail, exposing a fresh, sharp nail.
Finally, your cat scratches because it’s fun!
Even an older cat still has a little kitten left, and scratching is one away that your cat can play and have a good time.
Related: ‘Get Rid of ‘Cat Smell’ For Good with These Tips‘
Declawing is NOT an Option!
There was a time when declawing was seen as a harmless ‘quick fix’ for scratching problems.
However, since that time we have learned a lot more about the declawing process as well as both the short and long-term impact it can have on your cat.
In fact, many areas have now banned the practice of declawing entirely.
The process of declawing has been compared to trimming one’s fingernails, but that’s not an accurate comparison.
It is far more invasive and barbaric…
When a cat is declawed, the process amputates the last bone from each of the cat’s toes.
To put that in perspective, if you were to perform a similar procedure on a human you would be amputating each finger at the last knuckle.
Declawed cats often experience chronic pain throughout the rest of their lives.
Additional complications associated with declawing include:
- Infection
- Tissue necrosis (death of the affected tissue)
- Regrowth of claws that have been improperly removed
- Bone spurs
- Nerve damage
It can also cause psychological damage which leads to unwanted behaviours such as increased levels of aggression or going to the bathroom outside of the litterbox.
How Can You Effectively Stop Your Cat from Scratching Furniture?
Provide Places for Your Cat to Scratch
First and foremost, as we mentioned, you need to recognize that scratching is a necessary behaviour.
Rather than expecting your cat to stop scratching entirely, provide them with safe and acceptable places for them to scratch within your home.
Commercially available options range from elaborate cat trees to simple, inexpensive cardboard scratchers.
Your cat may prefer the feel of one surface over another, so it’s recommended to try a few different options until you discover which will work best.
Common materials include rope wound posts, cardboard, carpeting, and natural wood (similar to scratching a real tree in the wild).
Each time that you see your cat starting to scratch on something that they should, move them to the designated scratching area.
Be sure to praise your cat for using their scratching post.
You can also entice your cat to these areas by rubbing catnip on the surface, tying in your cat’s favourite toy or turning it into a game where you are ‘using’ the scratch post as well.
The goal is for your cat to associate scratching on this surface with a positive feeling.
View More Scratching Posts on Amazon
Deter Your Cat by Covering Desirable Surfaces
Take note of the furniture and other surfaces in your home that your cat is most attracted to in terms of scratching.
Cover these surfaces with double-sided tape, a vinyl sheet barrier, or sandpaper to discourage scratching.
Alternatively, you can use a cat deterrent spray.
If you do notice your cat trying to ‘push the boundaries’ and scratch these areas anyway, state a firm ‘no’ before moving them to your preferred scratching area and praising him/her for using that space instead.
Maintain Your Cat’s Nails
One of the most important steps that you can take as a cat owner is to ensure that your cat’s nails are properly maintained.
This means regularly trimming their claws to avoid overgrowth.
Overgrown nails can cause significant discomfort for your cat.
These nails often snag on carpeting or fabric surfaces. If your cat tries to free itself, this could cause painful broken nails as he/she attempts to pull themself free.
Longer nails are also uncomfortable for your cat as they impair their ability to walk normally.
Are you nervous about cutting your cat’s nails?
Check out my post ‘How to Cut Your Pet’s Nails at Home (Including Tips for Nervous Pets)’ for a 5-step breakdown.
Restrict Your Cat’s Access
If you have a really expensive furniture set, you may wish to restrict your cat’s access to a specific room.
While this may not be the easiest option on the list, it is sometimes the best choice available.
You can do ‘everything right’ as a cat owner, and still find yourself faced with a cat that pushes the limits and scratches on your furniture.
Simply closing the door or putting up an extra tall pet gate can prevent your cat’s access.
Related: ‘Keep Your Kitty Happy With These 11 Entertainment Videos for Cats!‘
Purchase Nail Caps for Your Cat
You can purchase small plastic nail caps that are glued onto your cat’s claws, preventing them from causing damage when they attempt to scratch any surface.
While there are several companies marketing these products, it is important to purchase from a company that you trust.
There are horror stories online of cat owners buying knock-off nail caps only to have their cats suffer a negative reaction, with their toes swelling and causing pain
Here in our house, we trust Soft Paws.
The company that developed and sells Soft Paws (Aquanta LLC) is owned and operated by veterinarian Dr. Christianne Schelling.
This means that the product is developed under the direction of a professional (unlike many of the cheaper alternatives).
Consult with A Professional
If you have tried the options listed above with little to no success, it may be time to contact a professional for assistance.
Don’t trust just anyone’s advice – instead, focus on those with the experience and qualifications to help you achieve success with your cat’s best interests at heart.
The American College of Veterinary Behaviourists website offers an easy-to-use resource, connecting you with veterinary behaviour specialists in your area.
Cat owners, what are your best solutions to stop your cat from scratching furniture?
Do you have a solution that I missed? If so, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
We have plenty of scratching places for our cats and, in addition to that, we’ve covered commonly scratched areas with either cat rope OR a plastic guard to stop them plucking the strands. So far, so good!
The biggest thing in our house was finding what they preferred scratching. I have one cat that loves the rope wrapped on their cat furniture while the other cat prefers the smaller cardboard scratchers. Knowing this, we make sure that they always have both options readily available around the house.
Great information! This information really would have came in handy when my mom had two cats back in the day. I don’t think she had many areas in her home for them to scratch, but I do remember hearing a lady at the pet store offer her a few cat furniture pieces. Thank you for sharing this information. It will definitely help out those who own cats! 🙂
Some cats naturally want to scratch more than others as well. Our one cat is super laid back and quite content as long as her one scratch post/cat tree is in the house. Our other cat is a little more mischievous and will try to scratch where she shouldn’t if we don’t entice her with catnip cardboard scratchers in each room lol
I never realized that scratching was so important for cats! But then again, I’ve never had one, so I wouldn’t know! Interesting post 🙂
It’s usually looked at as nothing but an annoyance, but it has an impact on a cat’s health and well-being. The best option is to find a way to allow your cat to scratch while still keeping your furniture safe 🙂
Loads of useful information here, thank you. Especially the bit about de-clawing. I knew it was bad but not fully any and how. Glad there are so many alternatives.
A lot of people aren’t fully aware of what declawing actually involves. I believe that a lot of people who have made that choice for their cats would have made a different choice if presented with all the facts.
I have always wondered why every Cats owner must have a Scratching post. Now I know.
It’s so important to have at least one safe scratching place in the home unless you want your furniture to become that spot for your cat!
So cool! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you
very useful post. i find scratching the worst part of having a pet at home.
It can definitely put a BIG damper on the joys of being a pet owner, can’t it?
I didn’t realise scratching was also a way of playing. Our cat has a favourite tree in the garden where he scratches, so our furniture is pretty safe!
Sometimes it looks like just a chore, but occasionally we catch a glimpse of the play aspect with our cats. They get a different look in their faces like they are having too much fun lol
Cats are such intelligent creatures. And they love fun. So found it quite interesting to look at ways to stop them from spoiling costly furniture by diverting their attention to something else that they can get passionate about and yet fulfill their wish.
It works REALLY well, especially if you can find the option that your cat loves most. A few years ago we invested in a taller cat scratch post with both rope and carpet surfaces, and it made a world of difference for our two.
I’ll skip telling you what I think about people who de-claw cats here, because I’m quite sure it would violate your comment policy. But let’s just go with, it isn’t nice. A good/cheap option my vet told me once was to cover the edges of the couch in foil. It’s ugly, but cats hate foil and will steer very clear of it. My orange turd is getting older, so we have someone come to the house and trim his nails every 6-8 weeks. I forget exactly how often, but it is usually right on time when I can start hearing his nails on the floor. It saves a lot of time and headache that taking him to the vet for this would involve. I have read your post about trimming nails myself, but it honestly terrifies me. I always feel like I’d jump if he moved or squirmed and we would have some sort of bloody disaster, requiring an emergency vet visit.
I’m sure that your thoughts about declawing are very similar to my own. I tried to word it in the nicest way I could in the post. Honestly, though, I can’t wrap my head around putting a cat through that kind of torture. That’s why it’s so important to spread the word about exactly what happens when a cat is declawed… So that people don’t think it’s just a bigger nail trim or something they can shrug off.
Thank you so much for taking time to write this, as my friend will find this really useful x
Thank you!
Very informative. I totally need to share this with my friend. Her cat is always scratching up her couch!
There are definitely things that she can do to save the couch! We have 2 cats and are able to keep our furniture safe and free from damage. It just takes a little careful planning.
I’m glad you are speaking out against declawing cats, it is a horrible practice and should be banned everywhere. Some great suggestions here, we never let our cats go upstairs when I was a child, so all the nice furniture could be kept there.
I truly believe that most people who still pay for it to be done have no clue what it actually involves. How could you know all of that and still go through with it on a cat that you claim to love?
Thank you so much for writing this useful and comprehensive article. I have been hoping for this one and was so happy to see it in my inbox (I am subscribed to your newsletter) Off to implement these tips!
Thank you! It’s definitely a concern that many cat owners struggle with, but the solution can be easy (and cost-effective too).
Our couch still bears the scars of our cat! As it’s an old couch and we never got a scratching post it’s entirely our fault though! I knew it was a method for sharpening claws, but interested to hear it’s also a marking technique. Who knew cats had scenting glands on their feet? Not me! The stretching aspect also makes a lot of sense. If I have another cat, I’ll be sure to make a designated scratching area a priority!
Having even one scratch post that your cat knows and likes can make a WORLD of difference.