Offering Some General Advice On How To Prevent Your Cat From Scratching Your Furniture
As most cat owners will tell you, cats love to indiscriminately scratch things. They have been known to scratch carpets, floor molding, clothing, curtains, and of course furniture. As responsible cat owners, we love our cats unconditionally. However, we also don’t like having to replace furniture every year. That’s why My Dog Walker & Pet Sitting is giving you some general advice on how to prevent your cat from scratching and inevitably destroying your furniture.
Why Do Cats Scratch Furniture?
When it comes to your cat scratching your furniture, it’s important to remember that this is completely natural. Your cat isn’t being malicious or resentful. Scratching is a normal behavior for cats as it helps them remove dead layers of claw and keep their claws sharp for hunting purposes. Scratching is also a way for cats to mark their territory. Cats have scent glands between their claws which leaves their scent behind when clawing surfaces. Scratching is a normal behavior for cats, so try not to be too mad at them when they tear up the furniture.
Invest In A Scratching Post
Because scratching is natural for cats, they most likely won’t be stopping any time soon. That’s why the best way to prevent your furniture from being scratched up is to give them something else to scratch. Investing in a scratching post is an excellent way to promote your cats’ healthy habits while saving the integrity of your furniture. For a more comprehensive guide to scratching posts, check out TheSprucePets website.
Clip (Don’t Remove) Your Cat’s Nails
We strongly discourage you from declawing your cat as it is both unnatural and unfair to your cat. A cat’s claws are their first form of defense and they are essential for their climbing & maneuverability skills. We do suggest trimming and maintaining your cat’s nails so they do less damage to your furniture. If you don’t feel comfortable trimming your cat’s nails (it can be very difficult), then you can always hire a groomer to do it instead.
Pheromone Diffuser/Plug-In
While cat scratching is a neutral behavior, it could also be due to stress, anxiety, and/or boredom. A great way to handle these mental issues is to utilize a cat pheromone diffuser. A pheromone diffuser is a small device that periodically disperses pheromones into the air of your home.
According to Feliway.com, Pheromones are a type of chemical communication that all cats use to interact with each other and the world around them. Different pheromones will send different “messages” to cats and potentially influence their behaviors. A pheromone diffuser will disperse calming and relaxing pheromones into the air, potentially reducing your cat’s anxiety and decreasing the chances of them scratching your furniture.
Cover Your Furniture
If all else fails, you can always cover your furniture to protect it from further cat scratches. There are a variety of different types of furniture covers that can be made to fit your specific furniture. They are usually made of a clear vinyl material, so you can still see the original furniture while keeping it protected. However, they also come in a variety of colors and styles to fit your needs. For a more comprehensive list of the best furniture covers, check out BestProductsReviews.com.
Cat Repellent
Lastly, you can also spray your furniture with cat repellent to help keep your cat away from the furniture all together. While this may seem like an extreme last ditch effort, it can be very effective. These repellents are usually made from natural ingredients such as cayenne pepper, crushed garlic, dry mustard, cinnamon, and essential oils. Although it’s not a 100% guarantee, it will usually deter your cat from going near and destroying your furniture.
More Helpful Articles
Please be patient with your cat and remember that scratching is completely natural for them. Don’t punish your cat for scratching the furniture, but give them other options and try to deter them from continuing such behavior. We hope you found this article useful and that it helps save your furniture from your feline friends. For more helpful pet related articles like this, check out the blog section of the official My Dog Walker & Pet Sitting website.