Tips For Stopping Kitties Scratching Sofas Desperately Required!

[Ami]

Hi guys

Our furbabies are 18 months old now and, despite telling them off for scratching anything other than their scratching post since we got them, they still insist on scratching the corners of our bed and sofas.

I've tried a citrus spray and rubbing citrus fruits themselves on the furniture, but that doesn't seem to work at all for our kits.

They do know we don't want them to do it, because if you come in the room when they're in mid-scratch, they throw themselves across the room and pretend they were doing something else! Or, if they forget themselves, you usually just have to say their names in a stern voice and that's enough.

I'd be content with telling them off forever, but I'm sure that they have a good scratch whenever we're not around!

Problem is, I'm desperate for new living room furniture and a new bed as what we have is second hand and well past it, but hubby says no way cos the kits will just ruin them.

Any tips would be appreciated!

Happy New Year All!

Ami

 

[Bloo]

Have you thought/heard of Soft Paws ? I'm not sure if it's available readily in the UK, but your vet might know. I had one such cat (the one in my avatar) that would only scratch the sofas, beds etc. and ripped everything to shreds - and just nothing I did helped. And I'm a vet nurse

My one bed only had the wooden frame left - he took absolutely all the sides off !
His behaviour was exactly the same as you describe.

I've been out of the profession a few years now so not sure how available soft paws are, but worth investigating or even buying from the US.

Out of interest, are they allowed outdoors access ? Mine wasn't, and I think that was a big part of my problem.

Best of luck !

 

[sekhmut0402]

I've always just accepted the scratching of furniture as part of living with cats - I've provided them with alternatives, but ultimately, scratching is an instinctive thing for cats. You could try using a Feliway difuser to reduce the scenting urge, but cats will be cats.

 

[Ami]

Have you thought/heard of Soft Paws ? I'm not sure if it's available readily in the UK, but your vet might know. I had one such cat (the one in my avatar) that would only scratch the sofas, beds etc. and ripped everything to shreds - and just nothing I did helped. And I'm a vet nurse

My one bed only had the wooden frame left - he took absolutely all the sides off !
His behaviour was exactly the same as you describe.

I've been out of the profession a few years now so not sure how available soft paws are, but worth investigating or even buying from the US.

Out of interest, are they allowed outdoors access ? Mine wasn't, and I think that was a big part of my problem.

Best of luck !

Hi Bloo!

They do have outside access - 24 hours in fact. The male, Tonka, is quite the hunter and since Thursday I've had 1 live mouse, 1 dead mouse and 1 very dead sparrow. I much prefer the live mice to the live bats he bought home in Autumn though!

Will try to track the softpaws thing down and let you know what I find out.

Thanks for the help,
Ami

I've always just accepted the scratching of furniture as part of living with cats - I've provided them with alternatives, but ultimately, scratching is an instinctive thing for cats. You could try using a Feliway difuser to reduce the scenting urge, but cats will be cats.

Thanks for the reply Sekhmut.

Scratching is instinctive and that's why I've made sure that they have a scratching post available at all times. Just wish I could stop the furniture stratching as easily as I housetrained them or taught them not to climb on work surfaces!

There is no scenting problem because they've been dressed and spayed - fortunately!

Thanks,
Ami

 

[sekhmut0402]

Thanks for the reply Sekhmut.

Scratching is instinctive and that's why I've made sure that they have a scratching post available at all times. Just wish I could stop the furniture stratching as easily as I housetrained them or taught them not to climb on work surfaces!

There is no scenting problem because they've been dressed and spayed - fortunately!

Thanks,
Ami

Hi Ami

That doesn't mean there's no scenting problem - mine are all neutered too, but they will still scratch at things to make them "theirs". All you can really do is get furniture that is less attractive to them, but this tends to vary from cat to cat so not always possible.

I hope you're able to find a solution

 

[rainyg]

Hi, I don't have a cat myself but I have heard of people that have used aluminum foil with some success. Just cover the part that they are scratching with it. Or use two sided tape. I don't know if either of these work but might be worth a try!!

 

[Bloo]

Hi, I don't have a cat myself but I have heard of people that have used aluminum foil with some success. Just cover the part that they are scratching with it. Or use two sided tape. I don't know if either of these work but might be worth a try!!

I tried that - no help whatsoever. But worth a try I suppose if she hasn't yet.

The double sided tape ends up catching hair and fluff and the sofas looked hideous covered in all the tape. And the cat would simply scratch where there was no tape - so in the end the entire sofa set was just about covered in tape. By which time I gave up and just let it be
None of the Feli products or sprays (a multitude I tried!) helped either. The longer they behave this way, the more difficult it will be to ever cure / curb it.

Never tried the foil thing though, but can't imagine a sofa or bed covered in foil

Ami, I think your only solution is the softpaws - as your cats have outdoors access and are neutered/spayed, I can't see much else helping a great deal. You could try trimming their nails as much as possible - though saying that, my "lovely sweet" scratching cat turned into an absolute monster when trying to trim his nails and even that was out of the question.

 

[Jue]

Hi

I've got 6 cats and "touch wood" they don't really bother with the furniture too much. One tip I learnt through another cat I had that used to scratch absolutely everything in sight was to put the scratching post by the piece of furniture that was getting all their attention - it certainly helped to divert their attention. The problem is once they've found something that they can get their claws stuck in they tend to keep going back to it.

I've heard the double sided sticky tape can work - it might be worth you trying it.

Hope this helps
Jue

 

[Synirr]

Two words -- Sticky Paws. These things have worked wonders in our home. They're practically invisible (I keep forgetting they're there), and if you do happen to see them and they bother you, apparently you can remove them after a few months and the cats will have learned by then not to scratch there. It's like the double-sided tape solution, but I've never had problems with the cat hair and such sticking to them and looking terrible.

Also, if you don't have this type of scratching post already, the cardboard kind seem to be prefered. Adding a little catnip to the post will help make it more attractive to the cats as well

 

[Bloo]

Two words -- Sticky Paws. These things have worked wonders in our home. They're practically invisible (I keep forgetting they're there), and if you do happen to see them and they bother you, apparently you can remove them after a few months and the cats will have learned by then not to scratch there. It's like the double-sided tape solution, but I've never had problems with the cat hair and such sticking to them and looking terrible.

Also, if you don't have this type of scratching post already, the cardboard kind seem to be prefered. Adding a little catnip to the post will help make it more attractive to the cats as well

Lucky it works for you. I tried this too and as I said above, it ends up catching fluff and hair and looks up looking really tacky. And any patch uncovered would simply be ripped to shreds which meant the entire sofa was covered in the stuff. And I had every single type of scratching post and catnip product imaginable.....

 

[Jue]

Talking of Catnip - go to your local health food store and buy it loose then you can make your own parcels. Loads cheaper than buying ready made ones from Pets @ Home etc and far more effective. Mine sells it for 25p for an ounce, which is enough to make lots of toys. Get some old fabric and there you go...

Don't make the mistake I did though, where I put the "paper" bag with it in in a cupboard that the cats could open. I came home from work to find 6 "spaced-out" cats sleeping all over the place (but they had obviously been more than a bit active earlier.) The front room looked like it had been burgled

Have fun
Jue

 

[Ami]

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the replies. Will move their post somewhere they can see it more easily - I think the fact that it keeps getting pushed aside doesn't help!

Rainyg - I might try your tinfoil tip as our cats run a mile when they hear the noise it makes, although they do love playing with tinfoil balls.


Ami

 

[jacblades]

i know you have scratching posts but have you thought about getting some cat furniture?
i would think cat furniture would be much more attractive to them with so many surfaces to scratch and levels to climb.