10 Tips On How To Stop Your Cat From Scratching Furniture

Amy Tokic
by Amy Tokic
Cats have an itch they just have to scratch – here’s what you can do to keep them from scratching furniture


Cats make awesome pets. But there are some habits we wish they just give up. Like bringing us a dead bird. Jumping up on the keyboard when we’re typing. And one of the worst things has to be when your cat scratches the furniture.


Don’t you wish that cats could understand how much it cost and how bad it looks? Since cats aren’t going to start speaking human anytime soon, there are some things that will stop your cat from scratching furniture. We’ve got the top 10 here:


  1. Give your cat lots of places where they can scratch. A scratching post is a good investment and will let your cat not only scratch, but exercise and stretch as well. Place it near food and water or a bed, as cats tend to scratch after eating and sleeping.
  2. By clipping your cat’s nails, you can reduce the damage done by scratching. But you cat isn’t going to be onboard with a mani/pedi, so be sure to start young and offer lots of praise and treats.
  3. You can cover the furniture with something your cat doesn’t like. Just a few of the things cats tend to stay away from include double sided tape, plastic and aluminium foil.
  4. Tape a balloon to the areas your cat scratches. When your cat pops the balloon, you can be sure that it won’t go there again. Only do this when you are around, as you don’t want your cat to eat the broken balloon pieces.
  5. If your cat loves to scratch up the curtains, use a doorknob alarm. Pin them to your drapes and the alarm will sound when your cat climbs them.
  6. A bored kitty is a kitty that likes to scratch. Be sure to play with your cat and give it enough attention. That way, it will have less opportunity to be destructive. As well, offer your cat toys that motivate – toys that stimulate with smell, sound, texture and movement.
  7. Cats hate the smell and taste of bitter apple and orange peels, so spray them on the area your cat likes to scratch.
  8. Squirt, squirt! If you catch your cat scratching furniture, squirt it with a squirt bottle of water, followed by a firm “no.”
  9. Pet stores offer a variety of training devices made to keep cats from scratching furniture. You can research them online or in person.
  10. Who needs furniture? Trade that sofa in for a couple of cushions and settle in for a comfy night (just kidding!)
Amy Tokic
Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

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