Train Your Cat to Stop Scratching Your Couch

Do you recognize the following situation? On your way to the kitchen for coffee in the morning, you stumble into the living room and notice it: a fresh set of claw marks covering the entire side of your couch. Your energetic cat left further scratch scars on your sofa as you slept.

Your new sofa will arrive in seven days, your picky Aunt Gertrude will be visiting in two weeks, and you need to watch out that your cat doesn’t give her another excuse to criticize your cleaning skills. In just seven days, how can you get your cat to stop clawing your couch?

When your cat is young, teach them to scratch the objects you want them to.

Cats scratch, but why?

Understanding why your cat scratches your couch (or other furniture) in the first place will help you train her not to do it in the future. Cats scratch objects for a variety of purposes, such as:

• To extend. The muscles and tendons in a cat’s body, from her toes to her neck and shoulders, are stretched and exercised by scratching.
• To note. Scratching objects releases scents that serve as a cat’s territorial markings thanks to smell glands on her paws. Using this mode of communication is crucial to feline social systems. She will feel the need to communicate in this way even if you only have one cat in your home.
• To keep the claws healthy. In order to maintain the health of the claw, scratching aids cats in periodically shedding the outer nail husk as needed.
• Feeling good For cats, scratching simply feels wonderful. It reduces stress and the likelihood that your cat may exhibit other undesirable habits.

Why Declaw Not?

Knowing why cats scratch is essential, you might ask if it would be wise to simply declaw your cat so you don’t have to worry about damaged furniture. The amputation of the digits up to the first joint occurs during the declawing of a cat, which is crucial to understand. Your cat’s gait, balance, and method of interacting with her environment will change as a result of the painful procedure and potential problems both before and after the operation. This article, “Declawing Cats: Banning Declaw Surgeries,” explains why declawing is viewed as inhumane by many, is prohibited in numerous nations, and may soon become unlawful in several US cities.

The 7-Day Boot Camp to Stop Scratching

You can definitely get your cat to stop clawing your sofa, which is wonderful news. Additionally in time for Aunt Gertrude’s visit. To prevent your new couch from meeting the same demise as your previous one, simply follow the simple instructions below.

Other than your favorite couch, there are more interesting objects to scratch!

Atop the Command Center bundle, there is space for two people.

Day 1: Choose, find, and buy a number of cat scratching posts as well as several interactive cat toys. This stage of the procedure is crucial. It is crucial that you pick the appropriate type of post because giving your cat a scratching post that she dislikes won’t work. A solid, sturdy, tall post covered in a material that cats enjoy scratching should be the one you choose. This article, “How to Choose the Best Cat Scratching Post,” has further information on selecting a top-notch cat scratching post.

Day 2: Strategically place the cat scratching posts throughout your house. Pick locations where your cat already enjoys hanging out, like beside windows or in the family room with you. It’s a good idea to put a post close to where she usually sleeps because cats like to stretch and scratch when they first wake up from a cat nap. Don’t hide the post away in an unused place because cats scratch partially to indicate their territory. Put it in the foreground, so she can flaunt it. Additionally, it’s crucial to set up a post in front of the couch spot where your cat is scratching. If your cat seems to like exploring the new posts, quietly compliment her and reward her with a cat treat.

Day 3: Make the couch a less appealing location to itch. One or more of the following methods can be used to achieve this:
So that your cat cannot scratch the couch from underneath, closely tuck a sheet around the region of the couch that has been scratched.
On the couch, use aluminum foil or double-sided tape.
Cats naturally dislike citrus scents, so spritz a citrus-scented mist on the couch to avoid this problem.

Day 4: Catnip or honeysuckle spray can be used to pique your cat’s interest in the scratching posts. Find out more about honeysuckle and catnip.

Day 5: Use a wand toy to pique your cat’s interest in the post(s) even more. Start off by experimenting with the toy to want a little distance from the post. When your cat starts to participate, move the toy so that one end hangs over the post. Cats will frequently return to their post once they “find” it in this fashion, especially if it is covered in a nice scratch-worthy material like sisal cloth.

Day 6: Your cat shouldn’t be attempting to scratch your sofa at this time, but if she still does, think about include Feliway in your anti-scratching arsenal. A product called Feliway imitates the feline face pheromone that calms cats. Feliway can assist if your cat is scratching your couch because she is anxious. Spray the sofa and any other spots where your cat usually congregates. Play with your cat in the vicinity of the scratching post and give her praise and goodies when she uses it.

Day 7: Take pleasure in your new couch and prepare for Aunt Gertrude’s arrival. Your couch should no longer be your cat’s preferred place to scratch. You might need to make your new couch unattractive to her for a few days to a week after it is delivered, so she understands right away that it isn’t a place to scratch. On Day 3, employ whatever technique was effective to prevent her from scratching the old couch. As time passes, you should continue to schedule daily play sessions with your cat, occasionally using new toys, and continually introducing new scratching posts and shifting the old ones to interesting locations throughout the house.