How Can I Protect My Furniture from Cat Scratching?

You can protect your furniture from cat scratching with protective barriers, such as corner guards and no-scratch tape, but teaching your cat to scratch in appropriate places is a longer-term solution. Since it can take a while to break your cat’s bad scratching habits, the barriers will prevent the shredding of your favorite sofa in the meantime.

Getting a cat to scratch where you want 

Cats need to scratch, so the goal isn’t getting the behavior to stop. Instead, you just need to provide more attractive options than your furniture. Here are a few tips to protect your furniture from cat scratching.

1. Provide scratching posts

A single scratching post tucked in a corner won’t cut it. Instead, offer multiple scratching options in areas your cat frequents. Look for posts covered in durable materials such as sisal or burlap, which cats love. Make sure at least some are three feet tall or more so your cat can fully stretch while scratching.

2. Entice them to the posts

Simply placing a scratching post in the room might not be enough to keep your cat off your furniture. Make the post more enticing by sprinkling it with catnip and engaging in playtime nearby. When introducing a new post, show it to your cat, and for kittens, gently guide their paws on the post in a scratching motion to help them get the idea.

What about declawing?

Declawing is far more than trimming your cat’s nails — it’s the equivalent of amputating a person’s fingers at the first knuckle. In short, it’s inhumane. The procedure is so controversial that it’s banned in many countries, including most of the European Union. In June 2019, New York became the first U.S. state to pass a law banning declawing, highlighting the growing recognition of its harm.

As an alternative to declawing, consider having nail caps put on your cats. Each application lasts about six weeks.

By providing attractive alternatives, your cat will learn to scratch in appropriate places, and your furniture will be safe from those impressive claws!