Stopping cat from clawing furniture
One of our cats is bad about clawing some of our furniture. Can anyone recommend a spray or remedy to stop her? She has never been an outside cat.
Forum Discussion
Sharpening claws is a normal behavior for cats. They won't stop doing it, so the most important thing is to provide them with an appropriate place to do so. Sisal rope is very popular and since it is a different texture than your furniture, it can be easier to retrain the cat to it.
If the cat is clawing on the sides of the furniture, then your cat most likely prefers to stand up and claw. If it's the top of the back of the furniture, then your prefers to stretch out lengthwise. Knowing the preference and buying a cat tree that meets that need will help encourage the cat to use the cat tree. If the cat likes vertical, then get a tree that is tall. If the cat prefers horizontal then you can try those flat cardboard systems.
Place the cat tree in the room where the cat prefers to claw. This is usually the area where you spend the most time (e.g., family room, living room). Place it right in the open near the furniture that the cat is clawing. If you put the tree in a back room or a dark corner, the cat WILL ignore it.
On a temporary basic while you re-train the cat, you can attach tin foil to the areas of the furniture that the cat is clawing. It's ugly, but you can remove it as soon as the cat starts using the cat tree.
Also, use a spray bottle with water. When you catch the cat clawing where it shouldn't squirt it. When you catch the cat clawing the cat tree, give it a treat. You can use catnip and/or treats to encourage the cat to check out the cat tree also.
The last part is to regularly clip the cat's claws. When cats claw furniture, they are usually trying to remove the broken sheath over their nails. By regularly clipping their claws, you remove the sheaths for them, reducing their need to do so.
All the above done as a group can change your cat's habit.
Softpaws can work, but a lot of people have a hard time getting used to applying them - and if applied wrong, they will fall off quickly.
Declawing is not an easy fix. It should only be done in extreme cases where the alternative is the death of the cat.
If the cat is clawing on the sides of the furniture, then your cat most likely prefers to stand up and claw. If it's the top of the back of the furniture, then your prefers to stretch out lengthwise. Knowing the preference and buying a cat tree that meets that need will help encourage the cat to use the cat tree. If the cat likes vertical, then get a tree that is tall. If the cat prefers horizontal then you can try those flat cardboard systems.
Place the cat tree in the room where the cat prefers to claw. This is usually the area where you spend the most time (e.g., family room, living room). Place it right in the open near the furniture that the cat is clawing. If you put the tree in a back room or a dark corner, the cat WILL ignore it.
On a temporary basic while you re-train the cat, you can attach tin foil to the areas of the furniture that the cat is clawing. It's ugly, but you can remove it as soon as the cat starts using the cat tree.
Also, use a spray bottle with water. When you catch the cat clawing where it shouldn't squirt it. When you catch the cat clawing the cat tree, give it a treat. You can use catnip and/or treats to encourage the cat to check out the cat tree also.
The last part is to regularly clip the cat's claws. When cats claw furniture, they are usually trying to remove the broken sheath over their nails. By regularly clipping their claws, you remove the sheaths for them, reducing their need to do so.
All the above done as a group can change your cat's habit.
Softpaws can work, but a lot of people have a hard time getting used to applying them - and if applied wrong, they will fall off quickly.
Declawing is not an easy fix. It should only be done in extreme cases where the alternative is the death of the cat.
