"Help! How do I get my cat to stop scratching on my furniture?!"
Certainly not an uncommon question; though it's got a multifaceted answer. In order to stop your cat from scratching inappropriate items, it's important to understand: why your cat is scratching, appropriate alternatives to those items, and how to get them to actually use those alternatives.
You see, scratching is what cats do. It's a perfectly natural behavior, with perfectly natural drives behind it. Your cat doesn't know what they can and can't scratch; only that they need to. So, like many things involving your pet, it's up to you to teach them.
The Importance of Scratching - It's not just fun and games
Scratching is not just a luxury for cats, it's a necessity. Without getting into too much detail about any one topic, scratching plays important roles in:
Marking Territory - grows a cat confidence by "owning" their space and leaving their scent. Cats have scent glands in their paws and scratching is a means to communicate via both scent and visual markings. This is especially important in multi-cat households.
Nail Health - helps to strip off the older nail layers as they grow. In order to stay sharp and healthy, cat nails gradually shed their external sheaths.
Stretching and Exercise - allows cats to work their muscles and burn off energy. It also allows younger cats to strengthen and tone those muscles they use to jump and climb.
Emotional Health - helps to relieve stress and create a sense of security in their home. Along with all the emotional benefit of feeling confident in their space, exercise is also an important facet to mental health. Just like with people!
So scratching not only has big health and wellbeing implications, it's an activity that your cat is hard wired to do. Even large jungle cats enjoy a good scratch! Now that you know why it's important, it's time to move on to exactly what makes a good scratcher. Your cat will naturally want to scratch on the items that are most enticing to them, so it's up to you to make sure that's not your couch.
What Makes a "Good" Scratcher? - Every cat is an individual
There is a wide variety of scratchers on the market and every cat will have their own preferences, so you may have to experiment some to find one your cat likes. Consider these traits:
Material - popular choices are cardboard, sisal rope, carpet, and natural wood. There are options that are ranging from more basic and less expensive, to sleek and modern with all the bells and whistles. There are a ton of DIY options as well, so don't let price deter you. Beware of carpet scratchers though. It's hard for your can to differentiate that the carpet scratcher is ok, but your floor carpet is not. So take your home into consideration.
Orientation - some cats will prefer vertical, horizontal, or somewhere in between. If your cat is already scratching something they shouldn't, you may already have an idea of a texture or orientation that like; not that it means there's not one they may like more.
Placement - there are often a few "best" places but it's ultimately up to your cat. The ideal spots for your scratchers are: places that smell like you (such as beside a couch or bed), enriching perches (such as a cat tree by a window), and places they are already favoring to scratch. Multiple options are great, so don't settle for just one.
Make sure the scratcher is sturdy and won't fall over or come apart when your cat is using it. Most cats won't use a wobbly scratcher, and if it falls, they may not trust it again. Size is important too. Ideally your cat will be able to fully extend their legs and get a deep stretch out of it. Consider placing multiple scratchers/condos by mentally stimulating spots such as windows, in addition to scent heavy areas.
Cat Furniture - condos, trees, scratchers, etc...
Cat scratchers often come as part of "cat furniture." Whether it's a standalone scratcher, a cat condo with perches attached, or even DIY climbing walls and shelves; keep the material, orientation, and placement in mind. The cat furniture possibilities are endless, and there's something out there to fit every space, aesthetic, and budget.
Once you have your cat's furniture or scratcher in place, try placing some catnip on it or dangling your cats favorite toy. The idea is to encourage them to scratch; and once they do? Reward them! Just like with dogs, rewards of praise, treats, and play can go a long way of building up that positive association with their new scratcher.
Inappropriate Scratching - Consider the reasons they may be doing it
The most common places for cats to inappropriately scratch tend to be: couches, chairs, beds, etc... Scratching is also about territorial marking, and your cat is just trying to add their scent to yours. These areas also tend to have softer materials that shred when scratching; ideal for visual markings. Place a scratcher right by the area, and encourage them to use it instead with things like catnip and play. Often the right material and location may be motivation enough! If you catch them scratching inappropriately, simply remove them from the area; placing them somewhere it's appropriate and encouraging them through play.
If inappropriate scratching continues, consider a deterrent such as "sticky paws", double sided tape, tin foil, or the plastic floor runners used for office chairs (cut it to size and place it on or in front of the area with the bumps facing out). You want to replace that wonderful scratchable surface with something less pleasant to scratch on.
Setting up their environment is all about offering tempting options, while deterring scratching at the inappropriate areas. If they get immediately removed every time they scratch the couch corner, but get rewards at the scratcher, they should naturally start to favor the scratcher. Consistency is key, and just like with people, it can take several weeks or more to fully break a bad habit.
Don't Punish Them - Management to stop your cat from scratching furniture
Using punishments based in fear, pain, or intimidation will cause your cat to become fearful and defensive. You want your cat to enjoy both their home and your company, so be patient and set them up for success. Once more appropriate habits are established, you can start to gradually phase out the deterrents if you used any.
Keep your cat's nails duller by regularly clipping just the sharp tips. If your cat won't let you trim their nails (or you aren't comfortable doing so), groomers and vet offices will often do it for a small fee.
There are also soft nail caps such as "soft paws" that work as well. These soft covers are glued onto your cats nails, effectively preventing any actual scratching. It's an effective solution in a pinch, but should be a last resort to proper environmental management. Remember, there's many reasons your cat needs to scratch; and using nail covers prevents certain aspects.
Make sure your cat is getting regular interactive play and exercise to burn off their energy. Try using play to encourage your cat to scratch on their posts.
NEVER Declaw Your Cat - An archaic surgery fraught with issues
Declawing is a surgery where the claw and last bone of each toe is amputated. It's effectively the same as removing the last joint of your fingers! There is also a surgery known as a tendonectomy, which severs the tendons used to control (extend and retract) the claws. Not only are they inhumane, both surgeries often lead to chronic pain; think arthritis, joint issues, phantom pain, etc... Along with that, declawing has a high chance to cause behavior issues such as litter box aversion (often due to related pain), and aggression. Claws are one of a cats primary defenses. Take those away, and they will often resort to biting instead (and cat bites are no joke!).
Most shelters condemn declawing as inhumane, and the procedure is even illegal in many countries. There are even a few US states that have banned the procedure.
If you adopted your declawed cat from a shelter, inherited them from a family member, or otherwise had a clawless feline bestowed upon you; it's important to work with your vet and potentially a behaviorist to help mitigate any issues that may develop.
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