Has your cat decided that your couch is her personal scratching post? Does she love to see your face whilst shredding the upholstery to ribbons?



She's not trying to drive you up the wall (whether you believe it or not) : She's just doing what comes naturally to her. So what you need to do, is not stop your cat from scratching, but get her to use something else!

Keep reading to learn how you can train your cat to use a scratching post.

Why Do Cats Like to Scratch? 

Cats like to scratch for many reasons. Many people believe that cats do this to keep their claws sharp, but that's only part of it. Secondly, a cat will scratch to help remove old sheaths growing over their claws.

When cats scratch, it helps tone their muscles. Scratching gives them a bit of exercise.

Scratching is also a way for a cat to mark her territory. Leaving big scratches proclaims to the world, "I was here. This is my turf." The cat also leaves her scent this way.

Training a cat to stop scratching all together is going to fail, it goes against her nature. Removing her claws is also not an acceptable solution as it’s cruel and inhumane

The solution is to get her to use an appropriate alternative.

Getting your Cat a Scratching Post

A good cat scratching post must be sturdy. Don't cheap out and buy those flimsy little things from the pet store. Your cat isn't going to like a scratching post that falls over each time she tries to use it.

Cats also like to stretch full length whilst scratching, so make sure the post you choose is tall enough to allow for her.

Make sure the cat post is covered in the right materials, there are a lot of posts currently on the market covered in extra soft fur fabrics. These tear easily and are not ideal, a post covered in sisal rope and tough carpet is a good option.

Sounds an awful lot like a tree, doesn't it? It should, because outdoor cats love scratching on trees. Trees are tall, rock-solid, and fun to shred.

Getting Your Cat to Use the Scratching Post

It's not enough to buy a scratching post and hope your cat transfers her affections to it. You need to make it as attractive as possible.

Location matters! Place it close to your couch or wherever your cat loves to scratch. Don't work against your cat's routine. If the scratching post is tucked away in some corner of your house your cat never uses, why would she bother with this thing?

You can make the post more attractive with catnip and feather toys. You might want to start off by playing with your cat around the scratching post. When she digs her claws into it, praise her. Give her a treat. You want her to associate this new toy with fun and good experiences.

What Not to Do When Your Cat Scratches Your Furniture 

Even if your cat likes the scratching post, that's no guarantee she'll automatically stop scratching up your furniture. She's used to her old scratching spots, and besides, they carry her scent.

When your cat scratches your furniture:

Don’t hit or yell at your cat, unlike dogs, cats aren’t as susceptible to this kind of training. They won’t connect their behavior with scratching the furniture. Cats are more likely to get confused and frightened. If you do it too much she will come to think of you as someone to avoid.

Don’t pull your cat away from your furniture, if she holds onto the furniture it could damage her claws, even pulling her away gently and putting her near the post (as some owners advise) may not be the best strategy. It’s better if the cat thinks scratching the post was her idea.

Instead try to distract your cat , get her attention by calling her name and playing with a toy. Casually get over near the post.

Making Your Funtiure less Desirable for Scratching

Currently your couch is the epitome of a good place to scratch, the material is fun to shred, it’s tall enough to stretch on and like a tree, it’s sturdy. Best of all it smells like her now.

There are lots of things you can do to discourage your cat from scratching your furniture:

Use a double sided tape. Cat’s don’t like to scratch on sticky things, covering her favorite scratch spots is usually more than enough to prevent her.

Clean your couch. Sounds simple, but it will remove her scent, it’s no longer her territory. She may move on and find that scratching post. Make sure to test the cleanser on a small part of your couch first as to make sure it doesn’t damage your upholstery.

Move the couch. This may be as simple as repositioning the couch so that your cat's favorite scratching spot is inaccessible. If that's not possible, you might want to temporarily move it to a place where she can't reach it.

Spray the couch with a scent. Cats particularly hate citrus smells. However, be careful that the scent doesn't waft over to the scratching post!