Stop Cats Destroying Furniture – Louise's Pet Services

How to Stop Your Cat Destroying Furniture

Cats are natural scratchers. They do it to stretch, sharpen their claws, and mark their territory (both visually and with scent glands in their paws).

While you can’t stop a cat from scratching altogether (nor should you!), you can redirect their behaviour to more appropriate surfaces.

The Key to Success: Redirection!

Instead of trying to stop your cat from scratching completely, the best approach is to make unwanted areas unappealing while encouraging them to scratch on designated spots instead.

Provide Better Scratching Alternatives

Cats have preferences when it comes to scratching surfaces. Some like vertical posts, while others prefer horizontal mats.

Here’s how to make scratching posts or mats more appealing:

Place scratching posts near their favourite scratching spots.
Use different textures, experiment to find what your cat likes best.
Encourage your cat to scratch the post.

Make Unwanted Areas Less Appealing

To discourage scratching in the wrong places, you need to make the surface unpleasant. There are a few safe methods to deter your cat from scratching your furniture:

Double-sided sticky tape - Cats hate the sticky feeling on their paws.
Tin foil - The crinkly sound is a big deterrent, but it may annoy you too.
Plastic covers - A smooth, hard surface prevents claws from sinking in.

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Get Creative with Scratching Solutions

If you don’t have space for a full-sized scratching post, there are space-saving alternatives available:

Over-the-arm sofa scratcher mats - drape over furniture arms to protect them.
Curved scratching boards - protect corners and slide neatly under sofas or beds.
Scratching wraps - wrap around furniture legs or bannisters.
Wall mounted scratcher mats - perfect to hang near curtains.