I want to buy new furniture because our cats have scratched up the old sofas we have. I dont want to declaw my babies but how would I keep them from scratching away at the new furniture. I bought them a scratching post since they were kittens but they have never used it. Does anyone have any ideas they’ve tried that seem to work?
How Do I Keep My Cats From Scratching On Our Furniture Without Declawing Them?
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#1 by anon - February 8th, 2010 at 21:16
Before you switch furniture, try using some double sided tape, or even contact paper sticky side out to cover the areas they scratch.
I say start this before you get new furniture to make sure they are completely broken from scratching before you buy the new stuff.
Cat’s hate the sticky feel of the tape and will avoid scratching it.
#2 by KAB07 - February 9th, 2010 at 00:01
There are numerous things to try.
1) they make plastic “caps” you can have super glued on top of your cats current claws, (even in different colors). I have never used them but it your desperate, you could try. ask your vet
2) spray bottles work well with training them not to claw on furniture, try squirting them when they are “bad”
3) try those corragated cardboard scratching things – my cat loves them.
I had to ultimately declaw my cat. This is an INSTINCTIVE behavior so be understanding, you cant supress instinct – you have to give it another outlet.
#3 by Tiare - February 9th, 2010 at 02:47
I guess you could try the tape, sprays, squirt them with water … My plan is just to stick with inexpensive furniture and replace it when needed
#4 by HannahDo - February 9th, 2010 at 06:52
DO NOT DECLAW THEM!!!! If you declaw they cut off half their poor fingers. And if you do declaw your cats might poop in places other than the litter box because it hurts to dig when their declawed. I’m sorry about your furniture, I truly am, but do not declaw!!
#5 by jenna - February 9th, 2010 at 11:49
clip there nails. or get a scratching post and spray catnip spray on it they will love it!
#6 by check these out - February 9th, 2010 at 15:31
My cats never liked the scratching post, they prefer the boards made from corrugated cardboard. Get a spray bottle, and whenever you see your cats scratching, squirt them.
#7 by JanelleR - February 9th, 2010 at 15:44
You can try a product called soft paws, they are nail covers that can be glued on. I have heard that double sided tape works well on the spots your cats scratch the most as a deterrent. There are also sprays that have a smell cats hate that you can spray on the furniture & regular nail trims are really important too!
#8 by helen h - February 9th, 2010 at 16:03
The secret is a GOOD scratching post that the cats like. Just deterring them from your furniture is not enough. Cats have a physical need to scratch, so you have to give them a good alternative way to satisfy this need. I have never met a cat that does not prefer scratching a nice sisal post to scratching furniture.
I have three scratching posts from Purrfect Post, a company started by a veterinarian that you can find on the web. I gave one post to a friend who’s cat “did not use a post.” This old cat took to this post immediately. She loves it so much that she sleeps on it. I insisted my friend set up this scratching post before I gave her a nice leather chair. Her cat has never scratched anything but the post since the post was set up in my friend’s apartment, and her cat was 6 years old.
IF not Purrfect Post, just find a good post, not one of those covered in carpet. They don’t work.
#9 by Best Mets Fan - February 9th, 2010 at 20:37
Give your cat something else to scratch and stop the cats from scratching you furniture when you see them doing it. You have to get the cats used to scratching a scratching post or cardboard instead of your furniture.
Declawing is EXTREMELY painful for the cats. It’s the equivalent of cutting off the tip of your finger.