We often have owners call us upset that their cat is clawing at their furniture and ask us for tips on how to deter this behaviour.
A good scratching post or cat tree is a great alternative for climbing and pulling on. Make sure the post is covered with a thick carpet or other material that will be appealing to your pet. Try to avoid similar material that your furniture is made out of.
You can encourage your cat to use their new post by sprinkling loose catnip on it, or placing treats or toys on it that they enjoy.
Also, it is a good idea to cover the area of furniture that your cat is attracted to with foil, tape or plastic. This may make the transition to the scratching post more appealing. You can also put the new post next to the furniture and then gradually start moving it away.
If you catch your cat still clawing your furniture try a loud clap or other noise that will startle them. Hopefully they will associate this unpleasant noise with scratching at the furniture. Make sure you praise and reward your cat for good behaviour like using the scratching post.
Routine nail trims (every 4-6 weeks) are also helpful in keeping the tips dull and less likely to cause damage. You can also try a product called SOFT PAWS – a plastic covering that is glued over the nail. These products have some success however they will fall off eventually.
Written by Dartmouth Veterinary Hospital
