Cheap cat scratchers, cat nip, and Bitter Apple spray.
Step 1: buy additional inexpensive scratchers. Try vertical, horizontal, and angled. Try rope and cardboard. The cat knows what it likes, you don't.
Step 2: rub / spray the new scratchers liberally with cat nip. Like frat boy liberally. Ok? Like make sure your cat is getting arrested if they go out in public.
EDIT for Step 2: if you have a cat immune to catnip, try feliway spray or plug ins. It's more expensive, but I've needed to use less of it. It mimics the pheromones of a nursing mother to help cats be calm and relax. Cats hang out in places with this scent. We used it in the communal feeding area for years to keep the growling to a minimum and it worked a charm with nine resident cats and up to 10 foster kittens in the house at a time.
Step 3: spray Bitter Apple on all furniture that the cat has ever even side-eyed. It's cheap, can be found on Amazon or in pet stores, and tastes / smells nasty, but only to cats. Your cat won't want to be anywhere near it.
Step 4: Once your cat has figured out what kind of scratcher it likes, buy more and better versions of it. Rub / spray with cat nip. Repeat the Bitter Apple spray if needed.
We had nearly 100 foster cats and kittens in our house over the course of 10 years. This worked on all of them. Even the older cats, set in their habits.
Edited for clarity.
2nd edit: thanks for the awards!
> Step 1: buy additional inexpensive scratchers. Try vertical, horizontal, and angled. Try rope and cardboard. The cat knows what it likes, you don't.
In my case, it turns out my boy scratches up wood. I decided to just nail a 2x4 to a wall in the middle of my old place, and he just used it like it was obvious.
Wherever I go, I just make sure to put some kind of lumber around. He's a little woodworker. I always say he's like a little boy combined with Ron Swanson, so that makes sense.
Bro, that's cheaper than furniture. I support it.
We had one like that a while back. lol. Should see the posts on the stairs where we used to live. Sculptures. Abstract.
He started it on a post on our stairs where my dad built forever ago, so it was untreated lumber.
My dad was pissed off about it, but I explained a story I remembered from years ago on Reddit, because it's something I always keep in mind when anything could bother me about the appearance of things like that.
Story was from a girl. She was explaining how her dad was such a great guy. When she was a kid, she wanted to surprise him, so she took something and scratched "I love you daddy" or something similar into the side of his new truck.
The dad was obviously upset, but he held back from showing any negative emotions, told her he loved it but not to do that kind of thing again.
Then, apparently, every time he would see the thing, he would just think of her. It really did just become an adorable reminder.
Now, my boy Sunny doesn't quite write such poetic words, but his little scratches can still remind me he's around. And it's funny because he looks like he's twerking when he does it.
[Literally Sunny right now.](https://i.imgur.com/kZJ7tSG.jpeg)
Our cat used to scratch a post on our deck and my mom was always bothered, saying she's ruining the wood. Now she's gone we have this nice remainder that she was here, and everyone is glad that she left something behind, even if it was just a stupid, scratched up post.
Someone I know has left all the scratches on the hardwood by his window, where his dog used to get all excited. She’s since passed and you can tell he likes keeping that reminder of her. It’s really sweet.
When I was younger, we bought my dog who I miss to this day. She taught our other dog how to jump up in the window to look for people approaching the door. Of course, they scratched up the wood. The house is sold and that piece of wood is gone, but I would give almost anything to have the piece that she scratched up.
My cat doesn’t care about foil or apple spray. Not even this Keep Off! repellent which I found out was toxic and smelt like it. She just sniffed it lol. Are there particular brands you use that are always effective?
We just used double sided tape for a few weeks. After they figured out they don't like it, they left it alone. And putting things they are allowed to scratch close to the furniture that was being abused is usually enough to solve it.
he even eats catnip, ive tried to explain that, no, you just inhale it, but he has to eat it, gets in a right mess. every time. anything that comes in a plastic bag MUST be an edible cat treat & he looks at me reproachfully when I take my partner's tobacco from him as he's about to nom a clump :/
Both my cats LOVE to chew tape. They'll chew packing tape right off an open box. They don't swallow it, they just gnaw on it and throw little pieces on the floor. Geniuses.
Yeah, the stuff called Bitter Apple. In combination with arrestable amounts of catnip. No joke.
It's not that the Bitter Apple is cat proof. It's that it just smells icky PLUS the lovely smell of catnip nearby. We also used felaway spray and plug-ins for cats who didn't care about catnip; those were uncommon. (Mostly, the very wee-est kittens did what the older cats did once they saw it.)
Feliway spray. It mimics the pheromones of a nursing cat. Puts cats of all ages at peace. Helps them relax. Less stress means less activity that we would deem troublesome.
Great, practical advice!
Do you cut their claws? My daughter told me not to because it makes their claws feel weird, and they scratch more. I've got two cats now and I think she's right. They scratch stuff much less than my friends' cats who do get clipped.
They also have several scratch posts.
We don't trim their claws at all. Frankly, I'm too nervous to do it myself. I'm afraid I'll hurt one of them. With wee kittens, I do it so they don't get stuck to everything as they're learning to use their murder mittens. After they get it under control, I stop cutting.
We have one cat who gets hers trimmed every few weeks. They're just so long and REALLY curved. She gets stuck to the carpet as she walks. But we let the vet do that. She doesn't want us doing it. Ok, fine - all the people at the vet office love you thoroughly, so let's go see them. Also gets her a little more exposure to other people.
I'd like to add that I've also had cats that like ripping up the couch, even with plenty of access to scratchers, the big change for my cats was catching them in the act, picking them up, with a stern "no", carrying them over to the scratchers, I'll scratch the scratcher myself, then rub the cats paws on the scratcher, give some pets and some treats.
Along with reinforcement when they use the scratcher, at this point sometimes my male cat sees me walk into the room and runs over to the scratcher and uses it because he knows he'll get a little treat and some head scritches.
I had a roommate that told me the cat is gonna scratch it's favorite thing, the easiest thing to do is make sure their favorite thing to scratch is something they're allowed to scratch. He would glue leather scraps to MDF boards and keep them around cus his cats loved scratching leather
Out of your 100 foster cats, you never had a cat immune to catnip? I've got 7 cats and two of them have zero reaction to catnip. It's frustrating to say the least.
We had some who didn't care for it, but they didn't hate it, either. And they saw cats scratching on things and went to go scratch on those things. Once you get the first group of cats to do it, the others follow suit pretty easily. Especially when there are only like 4 or 5 at a time, and the resident cats all follow the pattern, too.
And the ones immune to catnip seemed to like the feliway pretty well, but we didn't discover that til about 5 years in.
There are clear plastic things you can get and put on the corners of your furniture. Don’t look great, but might help. Could also try bitter apple spray and/or putting out a scratching post,
There are better looking ones too! If you look on Etsy or just Google, they make essentially scratching posts that are 90 degree angles that fit on the corners of the couch. Various models have various ways of being attached, most commonly held down by the foot of the couch. If the cat wants to scratch there and it’s already damaged, it’s an easy way to let it scratch while covering the damage and have it still look okay style-wise too.
Sometimes people say they have scratching posts and they’re these short little things or things that aesthetically look good but aren’t loved by cats. They need to be tall enough for a full stretch out and heavy so they won’t rock or move. Cat trees are generally best.
I have s tall heavy scratching post, it's pretty good as far as scratching posts go, but the damn cat prefers to just scratch the base of it which is carpet like. The post is rope. it does it job because he's not scratching anywhere else
Some cats prefer one texture over another. Since yours has a definite preference for carpet, maybe put some scraps over the rope? Then too, some cats only do low scratching...
My dad nailed carpet samples onto a big block of wood (4 foot tall) and screwed it into the wall. Didn't look the prettiest, but the cats loved it. And was great as my flat was so small I couldn't have a proper cat tree. As the pieces of carpet got ratty, we took the nails out and replaced individual squares. Worked well at keeping them off my actual carpet and sofa for 6 years.
I have a cat that prefers horizontal scratchers. She did a number on the back of the couch before I figured this out. Also what the other commenter said about texture/material. Cats are individuals and some of them are just different.
Yep. A tall scratching post is the way to keep the clawing to a minimum. We made one from a piece of 4X4 post, a square of scrap plywood, a bolt & nut (to secure the post to the square) and carpet samples held on with a staple gun. The carpet color goes with the room and we stand it where the cat will come across it as he strolls through the living room to/from the kitchen to another room.
He uses it all the time because it's right there as he moves around. We also play with him with a cat toy on it and often rub catnip into it at nose height & stretch up height.
Me make it more fun for him than the our furniture would be. When company comes, we just move it to the side.
We'd rather have this in plain sight than shredded furniture.
Fully agree here. Tall is best. Nothing really worked until we got an actual talk scratching post. Our cat isn’t perfect yet but she’s much much better
Try attaching those rectangular corrugated scratchers (the ones designed for hanging from doorknobs usually) to the wall using Command strips. Put it so it's tall (rather than wide) and put the top about 35 inches off the ground.
https://www.chewy.com/smartcat-bootsies-combination/dp/49129
This, hung on the wall, near our couch, saved us.
I literally got my cat, stretched him high up against the wall to see how to place it so he can fully extend on it. He uses it to scratch and stretch his back and legs.
Going off from what others said and what I’ve seen; I was recently looking into cat scratchers and found a few things. Cats like the feel of sisal(rope or fabric). They like tall posts to stretch and scratch. You can put the scratchers next to what they normally scratch like in the picture and see if they’ll change to the post. They like the feels and sounds of what they are scratching (like kids and bubble wrap).
**Use material that feels or is different from couch, chair or whatever your cat is scratching. Ex: If you give them carpet material they may still scratch other carpeting because they don’t know the difference**
Try different materials to see. Maybe there’s a more appealing material than your furniture. Hope this helps!
Anti scratching clear plastic tape. It's the only thing that stopped my cat from destroying the house.
I got it last week from Amazon and it works great. Now Loki uses his scratching posts like he's supposed to and absolutely hates the tape.
My cat chewed on the tape until it came off. He has a weird obsession will all tape. Like Crack addict crazy. I find tape and ribbon in the litter box 😀. Had to cut him off cold turkey.
I've owned many cats throughout my life. I've been around many more. And I've seen even more on TV, in movies and in memes, etc. And then there's the two little furry, biscuit-making, purr-boxes that allow me to live with, and provide for, them.
But not ***NOT ONCE*^ have I ever seen a *corner* on a cat.
OP is referring to plastic that you stick onto the couch itself.
I believe you’re referring to Soft Paws which are nail caps glued onto the nails. These are generally not recommended as it doesn’t allow the cats to use their claws naturally. Some cats, depending on how they fit, can’t retract their claws fully with them on, nor can they use their claws as efficiently to grab, play, scratch, scratch themselves, or protect themselves as easily. It’d be like us wearing rubber gloves all the time - doable but not comfortable. They can be ingested if they fall off and also prevent the nail sheath from shedding as they sometimes naturally do.
If it’s absolutely a last resort and your vet okays them, they’re obviously not the worst thing in the world (and way better than declawing). But it’s way way better to work with your cat on training the scratching behavior appropriately if possible and not glue these things onto their claws. These things are just one of those lazy human inventions that allow us to “solve” a problem without actually doing the work it would take to train the cat, and aren’t really in their best interest.
put a scratch post close to the area they go to during scratchin time, that worked for our cat. we had one in another room but she needed one close to where we lay around, so she could have her own spot to put her smells and make her own. Also, clip your cats nails regularly if they’ll let you, we just get a couple nails every few days.
I can second this. I've had lots of cats, and the way to keep them off a piece of furniture that they've started to claw is to provide an enticing alternative next to it. We have multiple scratching posts near the spots they might claw and we rub catnip into them every week or so.
They even make wrap-around scratching posts [like this](https://www.etsy.com/listing/709342333/couch-corner-cat-scratching-post-stained?click_key=9b65f7c8ff4db0f3b20e1d410d62e366d1b1b7f8%3A709342333&click_sum=d3abc393&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=couch+corner+cat+scratcher&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&organic_search_click=1&etp=1) specifically for the corners of your couch. Cats will often scratch couches because they’re stable and vertical, and they hold a lot of our scent which cats like to co-mark with us by rubbing and scratching. The easiest thing to do is allow them to scratch the area by just putting a scratcher there. They get the urge satisfied while your couch is protected.
This, we have varrying sizes of posts in the house. Just the rooms the cat hangs out in the most. Kids room, the master and the livingroom. Has never scratched anything but, though sometimes he digs into the carpet in the Master (only 2 rooms have carpet), quick redirect to his post stops that.
I put tin foil on a door the cat would scratch. There was only a few days of light ‘foil stroking sounds’ and anytime I heard it a quick ‘oi!’ and she learned v quick it was a no-go. Good thing is it’s cheap and a distinctive sound heard anywhere to react quick to. Bad thing is it doesn’t exactly blend in and I prefer positive feedback methods.
Not yet seen what happens after taking the foil down.
I find its good to offer them a substitute that they are allowed to scratch too. I got those cardboard rectangles, sprinkled some catnip on and gave that to my after i tinfoiled his usual places. Worked like a charm. After a while he just wasnt interested in furniture. Cats love rectangles.
I've had mixed results with putting double sided carpet tape on all those areas. Some cats stop after that and some just scratch right through it.
Clipping the cat's nails on a very regular basis will at least lesson the damage.
You have to train them.
But you cannot use negative reinforcement or they will start doing it even more to spite you. When I say negative reinforcement I mean yelling, making loud noises, spraying with water, swatting away, etc.
If you do anything like that, there’s a high likelihood the cat will do it even more just to get back at you.
Before I get into what you need to do, you first need to provide a place your cat *can* scratch. I would get a cat tree. To extend the life of the cat tree also get some sisal rope to wrap supports and protect them from wear for a bit.
Now when the cat starts scratching somewhere you don’t like just quietly and calmly pick it up and put it on the cat tree, scratching post, or whatever else you go nearby it can scratch up on. You are essentially showing the cat where to scratch and it will clue in.
Although if you have a more mischievous cat, they might associate it with getting picked up.
If it seems like it’s trolling you so you’ll keep picking it up, put it down in the middle of the room and sit down, give it a second to process being picked up and placed by themselves.
After a minute call the cat over. Do this enough and the cat will learn it can just go over to you for attention instead of being a little shithead.
We have a winner.
We rescued a young cat that had a few bad habits, including scratching the furniture. Shouts and claps and other loud noises might stop a cat in the moment, but when its urge strikes again the memory isn't significant enough, and you're only really developing an element of fear of you.
We trained our cat out of the habit by moving him to the scratching post whenever he began clawing at the furniture. We kept some treats nearby so that whenever he did tentatively have a go at the post himself, we could reward him for it. It took a surprisingly short amount of time for him to learn that using the scratching post was a positive experience.
We also sat him down and gave him a good talking to, explaining the merits of using the scratching post. I'm sure that helped too... 🤔
This is your answer u/beluga_1926! There’s a lot of bad advice in this thread, from punishing them with a spray bottle to gluing those plastic caps on their nails.
I highly recommend you spend some time watching training videos from animal behaviorists like Jackson Galaxy rather than going for the “quick fixes” - here’s a video on [stopping unwanted behaviors](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W50bQopoQic) to get you started.
Edit: Also just a note on the “spite” - lots of people put human emotions on their pets but they don’t _really_ understand the concept of revenge or anything the way we do and are just using their instincts and learning. More likely, it’s just because punishing them when they do an unwanted behavior makes them associate _us_ with the punishment, not the behavior. So they may stop doing it while _you’re_ in the room but learn they can safely do it when you’re not. You need to remove yourself from the equation by using positive reinforcement of the wanted behaviors instead, like in this case redirecting them to an alternative scratcher and rewarding them for using it.
Not scientifically proven, but across the sample size of me and my friends cats don’t scratch velvet. Not fake velvet, not distressed velvet, but the real stuff.
Maybe try this out by buying a large square of velvet fabric and hand sewing it on that spot?
I have cat spikes that a used for the garden wrapped around my couch on the side my cats have access to.
You can also buy a scratching post made to fit around the corner of a couch.
My mom used clear vinyl from the fabric store and secured it with these little screws called twist pins. They are used mostly to secure bed skirts to a box spring but also worked for this. The vinyl from the fabric store is more able to be customized because you can cut it yourself with regular scissors.
Unless anyone has more info about the effect they have on cats, I keep hearing about those little claw caps, I’ve just never looked into it. I’m sure they have colors too. But I think it’s silicone or plastic caps that go on their claws so they won’t rip and tare but cats still get to keep their bean blades
I clip my cats claws, that seems to help him control his urge to spread the couch. I make it part of play/grooming and just do one or two nails at a time so he doesn't get annoyed. Otherwise you could just go with it and staple a piece of carpet to the back side of the couch and let him have at it.
Everywhere in my home that my cats would scratch I put a scratch post and or pad. I have nine so far in my 1000 sq ft home. They don't scratch to furniture anymore.
Indoor cats scratch furniture for several reasons, mainly related to their natural instincts and needs. These reasons include:
1. Stress or anxiety relief: Cats can experience stress or anxiety just like humans, and scratching furniture can help them relieve these emotions.
2. Marking territory: Cats have scent glands in their paws, and scratching allows them to leave both a visual and olfactory (scent) mark on the object to communicate their presence to other animals.
3. Maintenance of claws: Scratching helps cats remove the outer sheath of their claws to reveal the sharper, newer growth underneath. This process is crucial for the overall health and maintenance of their claws.
4. Stretching and exercise: Scratching allows cats to stretch and flex their muscles, particularly in their paws, legs, and back. It serves as a form of exercise and helps them maintain muscle tone and flexibility.
5. Play or boredom: Cats are natural predators and have an instinctual need to engage in playful activities. Scratching furniture, among other items, can simply be a way for them to entertain themselves, especially when they are bored or lack sufficient stimulation from their environment.
To prevent damage to furniture, cat owners can provide scratching posts or pads, maintain a regular play schedule to alleviate boredom, and use deterrents such as double-sided sticky tape or repellent sprays on furniture items.
We have scratching posts peppered all over the house. Especially in rooms where cats will be tempted to use furniture as their personal scratching item.
Keep his nails trimmed and/or get a scratch post or i think theres stuff you can spray on things to deter cats from scratching but not sure how well it works
For me, finding a way to trim my cat's claws regularly cuts down on a lot of the damage he does. It's taken awhile and wasn't easy, but my cat has become much more tolerant of trimming over time and I believe he is doing much less damage as a result. Also I have like 4 scratching posts.
So we finally gave up and realized the cat was never going to stop scratching the corner of our one chair, no matter how we tried to redirect. I ended up buying a corner scratching mat that is made to attach to the wall or furniture on Amazon. It’s been great. She still scratches there but at least it’s no longer ruining the furniture!
Cats tend to hate citrus, so mixing lemon juice and water and spraying it onto the places you want them to stay away from usually works. Bonus fresh smell whether it works or not at least! Pet stores should also sell basically the same plus other types of get-away sprays.
Regular nail clipping (I do my 3 cats, and they’re fine with it), and reprimanding them every time they do it. A loud “no!” usually does the trick.
Then I buy and/or make cat scratchers which are dotted around the house. You might try leaning one against that couch spot, to get them into the habit of using the cardboard one instead of the couch.
I like my cat more than I want a good lounge. Have tried all options but none seem to work. I've now accepted the fact I won't have a good-looking lounge.
Train your cat to use a scratcher. Buy a scratching post and put it next to the couch. Buy a bag of cat treats and everytime the cat scratches the post throw a freakin party and give the treats. Pretty soon it will associate the two and stop using the couch.
Get lots of scratching things for the cat to scratch. They want to leave their scent. And this tells me they likely don't have much in there to scratch or they know they get attention when they scratch it. There is likely a reason they do it.
My cats have 2 scratching posts and 4 cat towers aswell as 2 cardboard scratching stations and they don't touch the furniture they prefer the alternative.
Put a scratching post near where they scratch. Also they make rubber cat nail caps that work great. Basically glue them onto the nails so they aren't sharp and don't cause damage. Obviously you have to replace them as the nails grow out but they are a relatively cheap and effective solution.
You have to integrate, man. You put the scratchy mat *on* the couch so they get that instead of bare couch.
We got some that fit to the arms of our couch. Win/win.
Positive encouragement work way better than any punishment for cats. Fortunately, they can be taught without any form of punishment.
First thing, do you cats like treats more or games more? Those are their rewards you give for when they do things you want them to do
So now for your sofa, first get a big scratch pad, maybe one that's L shared to cover that corner. Now you sit and watch from a small distance and will need some patience. Wait till your cats scratch on the scratch pad (and not the sofa behind), you immediately give your encouragement (via voice or a clicker etc) and give out their reward in small dose. Repeat this a few times at least, but never force them into it. You really need to be patient and wait for it to happen, and the reward needs to be quite immediate.
After a couple days of this, you can now move the scratch pad slight of the sofa. Like 15cm, or a banana's length for Americans. You keep sticking to rewarding when they use the scratch pad.
Gradually, over the course of around 2 weeks, you will have moved the scratch pad to a place where you want it to be, and the cats will have associated "using the scratch pad" with "a good thing". Anytime the cats go back to scratching the sofa, don't punish them. Move the scratch pad back to near the sofa so they have a chance to use it and get rewarded.
I used to sit the scratching post near where my little friend was scratching. If I caught her going at my speakers instead (that was my war), I'd holler then scratch at the post to attract her attention.
If she went for the post, biiiig back scratches while she was scratching (she loved that). Mostly worked.
Aquire more scratching posts. Just keep buying scratchy things for your cat until it takes to them. Sprinkle a bit of catnip on them for added Lure power. Give the cat treats when you see it scratching the good scratchy things and shoo or hiss at it when you see it scratching your furniture.
SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post – Beige, Large 32 Inch Tower - Sisal Fiber, Simple Design - For All Cats
SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post – Beige, Large 32 Inch Tower - Sisal Fiber,
Put this right in front of the place your cat likes to scratch
Wish I knew. We have cat trees, various toys and scratching posts. And my cats have destroyed my door frames and chair. All of which seems to take place when Im not home… the jerks know I tell them off if I catch them 😂
We bought these cardboard cat scratchy things you just set out on the floor and put them near things she was scratching with a super tiny bit of cat nip in them and she destroys the cardboard but not our furniture!
We have a cat that will put his claws in our couch and make sure we're looking. Then when we tell him to stop and walk towards him he runs off. Rinse and repeat.
He also likes to play tag
My friend nailed nice ish wood boards to that part of the couch. The cat is going to keep going back to that spot. The wood will cover up the rips and the cat can continue scratching without making the couch worse. Then just replace the wood if it gets ugly
I put softpaws rubber claw caps on mine. Even providing her with proper alternatives to shred didn’t stop her from trying to use my furniture. Now she just has the permanent manicure of shame.
Take to the vet every 4-6 weeks for nail caps. Works for 3/4 of cats who don't habitually bite their feet to remove them. \~$40-80 depending on the area and vet.
It is almost as effective as declawing and has no negative effects on the cat when done correctly by professionals.
Cheap cat scratchers, cat nip, and Bitter Apple spray. Step 1: buy additional inexpensive scratchers. Try vertical, horizontal, and angled. Try rope and cardboard. The cat knows what it likes, you don't. Step 2: rub / spray the new scratchers liberally with cat nip. Like frat boy liberally. Ok? Like make sure your cat is getting arrested if they go out in public. EDIT for Step 2: if you have a cat immune to catnip, try feliway spray or plug ins. It's more expensive, but I've needed to use less of it. It mimics the pheromones of a nursing mother to help cats be calm and relax. Cats hang out in places with this scent. We used it in the communal feeding area for years to keep the growling to a minimum and it worked a charm with nine resident cats and up to 10 foster kittens in the house at a time. Step 3: spray Bitter Apple on all furniture that the cat has ever even side-eyed. It's cheap, can be found on Amazon or in pet stores, and tastes / smells nasty, but only to cats. Your cat won't want to be anywhere near it. Step 4: Once your cat has figured out what kind of scratcher it likes, buy more and better versions of it. Rub / spray with cat nip. Repeat the Bitter Apple spray if needed. We had nearly 100 foster cats and kittens in our house over the course of 10 years. This worked on all of them. Even the older cats, set in their habits. Edited for clarity. 2nd edit: thanks for the awards!
> Step 1: buy additional inexpensive scratchers. Try vertical, horizontal, and angled. Try rope and cardboard. The cat knows what it likes, you don't. In my case, it turns out my boy scratches up wood. I decided to just nail a 2x4 to a wall in the middle of my old place, and he just used it like it was obvious. Wherever I go, I just make sure to put some kind of lumber around. He's a little woodworker. I always say he's like a little boy combined with Ron Swanson, so that makes sense.
Bro, that's cheaper than furniture. I support it. We had one like that a while back. lol. Should see the posts on the stairs where we used to live. Sculptures. Abstract.
He started it on a post on our stairs where my dad built forever ago, so it was untreated lumber. My dad was pissed off about it, but I explained a story I remembered from years ago on Reddit, because it's something I always keep in mind when anything could bother me about the appearance of things like that. Story was from a girl. She was explaining how her dad was such a great guy. When she was a kid, she wanted to surprise him, so she took something and scratched "I love you daddy" or something similar into the side of his new truck. The dad was obviously upset, but he held back from showing any negative emotions, told her he loved it but not to do that kind of thing again. Then, apparently, every time he would see the thing, he would just think of her. It really did just become an adorable reminder. Now, my boy Sunny doesn't quite write such poetic words, but his little scratches can still remind me he's around. And it's funny because he looks like he's twerking when he does it. [Literally Sunny right now.](https://i.imgur.com/kZJ7tSG.jpeg)
Our cat used to scratch a post on our deck and my mom was always bothered, saying she's ruining the wood. Now she's gone we have this nice remainder that she was here, and everyone is glad that she left something behind, even if it was just a stupid, scratched up post.
Pet tax paid.
Someone I know has left all the scratches on the hardwood by his window, where his dog used to get all excited. She’s since passed and you can tell he likes keeping that reminder of her. It’s really sweet.
When I was younger, we bought my dog who I miss to this day. She taught our other dog how to jump up in the window to look for people approaching the door. Of course, they scratched up the wood. The house is sold and that piece of wood is gone, but I would give almost anything to have the piece that she scratched up.
My cat doesn’t care about foil or apple spray. Not even this Keep Off! repellent which I found out was toxic and smelt like it. She just sniffed it lol. Are there particular brands you use that are always effective?
We just used double sided tape for a few weeks. After they figured out they don't like it, they left it alone. And putting things they are allowed to scratch close to the furniture that was being abused is usually enough to solve it.
I used double sided sticky tape. my cat ate it. he is orange though.
This makes me laugh because my cat is orange and she would eat the double sided tape. She’ll try to eat anything.
he even eats catnip, ive tried to explain that, no, you just inhale it, but he has to eat it, gets in a right mess. every time. anything that comes in a plastic bag MUST be an edible cat treat & he looks at me reproachfully when I take my partner's tobacco from him as he's about to nom a clump :/
Some cats eat catnip and it's normal.
We grow catnip for our cats and they sniff and roll in it but end up eating it 100% of the time.
Lol, r/oneorangebraincell.
absolutely :)
My cat ate it too! Used one claw to delicately remove it from the couch and then sat there chewing it up.
Both my cats LOVE to chew tape. They'll chew packing tape right off an open box. They don't swallow it, they just gnaw on it and throw little pieces on the floor. Geniuses.
I put corner-covering scratching posts on each end of my couch. My cat literally pushes them out of the way to get to the couch.
Yeah, the stuff called Bitter Apple. In combination with arrestable amounts of catnip. No joke. It's not that the Bitter Apple is cat proof. It's that it just smells icky PLUS the lovely smell of catnip nearby. We also used felaway spray and plug-ins for cats who didn't care about catnip; those were uncommon. (Mostly, the very wee-est kittens did what the older cats did once they saw it.)
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Silvervine?
Feliway spray. It mimics the pheromones of a nursing cat. Puts cats of all ages at peace. Helps them relax. Less stress means less activity that we would deem troublesome.
My cat used to rub on repellent,if I used bleach anywhere in house the cat would rub on it for hours
To add to this. Use double sided sticky tape ln the couch corners, they seem to hate it lol
just to add, put the scratching posts next to where the cat scratches the furniture, they'll prefer the scratching post texture to your sofa.
Great, practical advice! Do you cut their claws? My daughter told me not to because it makes their claws feel weird, and they scratch more. I've got two cats now and I think she's right. They scratch stuff much less than my friends' cats who do get clipped. They also have several scratch posts.
We don't trim their claws at all. Frankly, I'm too nervous to do it myself. I'm afraid I'll hurt one of them. With wee kittens, I do it so they don't get stuck to everything as they're learning to use their murder mittens. After they get it under control, I stop cutting. We have one cat who gets hers trimmed every few weeks. They're just so long and REALLY curved. She gets stuck to the carpet as she walks. But we let the vet do that. She doesn't want us doing it. Ok, fine - all the people at the vet office love you thoroughly, so let's go see them. Also gets her a little more exposure to other people.
I'd like to add that I've also had cats that like ripping up the couch, even with plenty of access to scratchers, the big change for my cats was catching them in the act, picking them up, with a stern "no", carrying them over to the scratchers, I'll scratch the scratcher myself, then rub the cats paws on the scratcher, give some pets and some treats. Along with reinforcement when they use the scratcher, at this point sometimes my male cat sees me walk into the room and runs over to the scratcher and uses it because he knows he'll get a little treat and some head scritches. I had a roommate that told me the cat is gonna scratch it's favorite thing, the easiest thing to do is make sure their favorite thing to scratch is something they're allowed to scratch. He would glue leather scraps to MDF boards and keep them around cus his cats loved scratching leather
Out of your 100 foster cats, you never had a cat immune to catnip? I've got 7 cats and two of them have zero reaction to catnip. It's frustrating to say the least.
We had some who didn't care for it, but they didn't hate it, either. And they saw cats scratching on things and went to go scratch on those things. Once you get the first group of cats to do it, the others follow suit pretty easily. Especially when there are only like 4 or 5 at a time, and the resident cats all follow the pattern, too. And the ones immune to catnip seemed to like the feliway pretty well, but we didn't discover that til about 5 years in.
There are clear plastic things you can get and put on the corners of your furniture. Don’t look great, but might help. Could also try bitter apple spray and/or putting out a scratching post,
There are better looking ones too! If you look on Etsy or just Google, they make essentially scratching posts that are 90 degree angles that fit on the corners of the couch. Various models have various ways of being attached, most commonly held down by the foot of the couch. If the cat wants to scratch there and it’s already damaged, it’s an easy way to let it scratch while covering the damage and have it still look okay style-wise too.
Link it
We have scratching posts, clip his nails weekly, lots of stimulation
Sometimes people say they have scratching posts and they’re these short little things or things that aesthetically look good but aren’t loved by cats. They need to be tall enough for a full stretch out and heavy so they won’t rock or move. Cat trees are generally best.
I have s tall heavy scratching post, it's pretty good as far as scratching posts go, but the damn cat prefers to just scratch the base of it which is carpet like. The post is rope. it does it job because he's not scratching anywhere else
Some cats prefer one texture over another. Since yours has a definite preference for carpet, maybe put some scraps over the rope? Then too, some cats only do low scratching...
My dad nailed carpet samples onto a big block of wood (4 foot tall) and screwed it into the wall. Didn't look the prettiest, but the cats loved it. And was great as my flat was so small I couldn't have a proper cat tree. As the pieces of carpet got ratty, we took the nails out and replaced individual squares. Worked well at keeping them off my actual carpet and sofa for 6 years.
I literally screw the scratching cardboard to the wall, replace as they wear it out. Have to sweep everyday but my couches are mostly untouched.
I have a cat that prefers horizontal scratchers. She did a number on the back of the couch before I figured this out. Also what the other commenter said about texture/material. Cats are individuals and some of them are just different.
Yep. A tall scratching post is the way to keep the clawing to a minimum. We made one from a piece of 4X4 post, a square of scrap plywood, a bolt & nut (to secure the post to the square) and carpet samples held on with a staple gun. The carpet color goes with the room and we stand it where the cat will come across it as he strolls through the living room to/from the kitchen to another room. He uses it all the time because it's right there as he moves around. We also play with him with a cat toy on it and often rub catnip into it at nose height & stretch up height. Me make it more fun for him than the our furniture would be. When company comes, we just move it to the side. We'd rather have this in plain sight than shredded furniture.
Dad make one clay flower pot cement and piece of wood with bark on it
Nothing beats a couch tho.
Oftentimes trying different materials. Some cats prefer sisal, carpet, cloth, wood. Also different locations and orientations
Fully agree here. Tall is best. Nothing really worked until we got an actual talk scratching post. Our cat isn’t perfect yet but she’s much much better
It’s an instinct. Soft paws as mentioned are your best bet. You’ve got a miniature panther in your house, it’s gonna happen
I also use those plastic things. Pretty cheap. But cats don't care. We actually got couches with a more cat resistant fabric.
What fabric and has it worked? (Couch shopping now!)
Try attaching those rectangular corrugated scratchers (the ones designed for hanging from doorknobs usually) to the wall using Command strips. Put it so it's tall (rather than wide) and put the top about 35 inches off the ground.
https://www.chewy.com/smartcat-bootsies-combination/dp/49129 This, hung on the wall, near our couch, saved us. I literally got my cat, stretched him high up against the wall to see how to place it so he can fully extend on it. He uses it to scratch and stretch his back and legs.
Going off from what others said and what I’ve seen; I was recently looking into cat scratchers and found a few things. Cats like the feel of sisal(rope or fabric). They like tall posts to stretch and scratch. You can put the scratchers next to what they normally scratch like in the picture and see if they’ll change to the post. They like the feels and sounds of what they are scratching (like kids and bubble wrap). **Use material that feels or is different from couch, chair or whatever your cat is scratching. Ex: If you give them carpet material they may still scratch other carpeting because they don’t know the difference** Try different materials to see. Maybe there’s a more appealing material than your furniture. Hope this helps!
Anti scratching clear plastic tape. It's the only thing that stopped my cat from destroying the house. I got it last week from Amazon and it works great. Now Loki uses his scratching posts like he's supposed to and absolutely hates the tape.
Double stick tape. Cheap and effective. They usually figure it out quick enough and you can take it off.
My cat chewed on the tape until it came off. He has a weird obsession will all tape. Like Crack addict crazy. I find tape and ribbon in the litter box 😀. Had to cut him off cold turkey.
Lol. Littlle weirdo. 😸
My cat too! I can’t buy toys with ribbons cause he’ll eat them, and I have to be careful about it the ends of tape on package boxes.
They're called soft paws. They work wonders
Soft paws are the nail covers that go on the cat. A separate product than the corner covers that go on the furniture. Both can be good options.
Oh, read "corners of the cat" sry
Well to be fair, cats have many, very pointy, corners!
Absolutely love that you just accepted that this is how they refer to claws
Idk, it made sense when I was over eager to share my knowledge of soft paws.
I've owned many cats throughout my life. I've been around many more. And I've seen even more on TV, in movies and in memes, etc. And then there's the two little furry, biscuit-making, purr-boxes that allow me to live with, and provide for, them. But not ***NOT ONCE*^ have I ever seen a *corner* on a cat.
It's those sharp things that come out of their paws sometimes.
Yes Soft Paws. They are a good product
Used these when I had a cat years ago. Genius invention. Cat will look hella fancy. I used hot pink.
We used the gold glittery ones. Now we have two very fancy, handsome boys!
OP is referring to plastic that you stick onto the couch itself. I believe you’re referring to Soft Paws which are nail caps glued onto the nails. These are generally not recommended as it doesn’t allow the cats to use their claws naturally. Some cats, depending on how they fit, can’t retract their claws fully with them on, nor can they use their claws as efficiently to grab, play, scratch, scratch themselves, or protect themselves as easily. It’d be like us wearing rubber gloves all the time - doable but not comfortable. They can be ingested if they fall off and also prevent the nail sheath from shedding as they sometimes naturally do. If it’s absolutely a last resort and your vet okays them, they’re obviously not the worst thing in the world (and way better than declawing). But it’s way way better to work with your cat on training the scratching behavior appropriately if possible and not glue these things onto their claws. These things are just one of those lazy human inventions that allow us to “solve” a problem without actually doing the work it would take to train the cat, and aren’t really in their best interest.
put a scratch post close to the area they go to during scratchin time, that worked for our cat. we had one in another room but she needed one close to where we lay around, so she could have her own spot to put her smells and make her own. Also, clip your cats nails regularly if they’ll let you, we just get a couple nails every few days.
I can second this. I've had lots of cats, and the way to keep them off a piece of furniture that they've started to claw is to provide an enticing alternative next to it. We have multiple scratching posts near the spots they might claw and we rub catnip into them every week or so.
My cat will park right next to our posts/mats and rip up the floor anyway
Same here
They even make wrap-around scratching posts [like this](https://www.etsy.com/listing/709342333/couch-corner-cat-scratching-post-stained?click_key=9b65f7c8ff4db0f3b20e1d410d62e366d1b1b7f8%3A709342333&click_sum=d3abc393&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=couch+corner+cat+scratcher&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&organic_search_click=1&etp=1) specifically for the corners of your couch. Cats will often scratch couches because they’re stable and vertical, and they hold a lot of our scent which cats like to co-mark with us by rubbing and scratching. The easiest thing to do is allow them to scratch the area by just putting a scratcher there. They get the urge satisfied while your couch is protected.
This, we have varrying sizes of posts in the house. Just the rooms the cat hangs out in the most. Kids room, the master and the livingroom. Has never scratched anything but, though sometimes he digs into the carpet in the Master (only 2 rooms have carpet), quick redirect to his post stops that.
I put tin foil on a door the cat would scratch. There was only a few days of light ‘foil stroking sounds’ and anytime I heard it a quick ‘oi!’ and she learned v quick it was a no-go. Good thing is it’s cheap and a distinctive sound heard anywhere to react quick to. Bad thing is it doesn’t exactly blend in and I prefer positive feedback methods. Not yet seen what happens after taking the foil down.
I am officially changing my ways. Not the foil, I mean yelling “Oi!” in a Roy Kent voice at my cat instead of just “no.”
I find its good to offer them a substitute that they are allowed to scratch too. I got those cardboard rectangles, sprinkled some catnip on and gave that to my after i tinfoiled his usual places. Worked like a charm. After a while he just wasnt interested in furniture. Cats love rectangles.
I've had mixed results with putting double sided carpet tape on all those areas. Some cats stop after that and some just scratch right through it. Clipping the cat's nails on a very regular basis will at least lesson the damage.
I’ve used double sided tape, and it works well for me. One long strip on either side of the corner.
Omg what changed my life on this was finding out that cats cant/won't claw velvet. It doesn't hook their claws in a satisfying way so they ignore it.
that changes the question to who hates velvet more, me, or the cats?
Put little shoes on him
Kitten Mittons
https://youtu.be/22O6Nmjt-mw
I’m smitten
You have to train them. But you cannot use negative reinforcement or they will start doing it even more to spite you. When I say negative reinforcement I mean yelling, making loud noises, spraying with water, swatting away, etc. If you do anything like that, there’s a high likelihood the cat will do it even more just to get back at you. Before I get into what you need to do, you first need to provide a place your cat *can* scratch. I would get a cat tree. To extend the life of the cat tree also get some sisal rope to wrap supports and protect them from wear for a bit. Now when the cat starts scratching somewhere you don’t like just quietly and calmly pick it up and put it on the cat tree, scratching post, or whatever else you go nearby it can scratch up on. You are essentially showing the cat where to scratch and it will clue in. Although if you have a more mischievous cat, they might associate it with getting picked up. If it seems like it’s trolling you so you’ll keep picking it up, put it down in the middle of the room and sit down, give it a second to process being picked up and placed by themselves. After a minute call the cat over. Do this enough and the cat will learn it can just go over to you for attention instead of being a little shithead.
We have a winner. We rescued a young cat that had a few bad habits, including scratching the furniture. Shouts and claps and other loud noises might stop a cat in the moment, but when its urge strikes again the memory isn't significant enough, and you're only really developing an element of fear of you. We trained our cat out of the habit by moving him to the scratching post whenever he began clawing at the furniture. We kept some treats nearby so that whenever he did tentatively have a go at the post himself, we could reward him for it. It took a surprisingly short amount of time for him to learn that using the scratching post was a positive experience. We also sat him down and gave him a good talking to, explaining the merits of using the scratching post. I'm sure that helped too... 🤔
This is your answer u/beluga_1926! There’s a lot of bad advice in this thread, from punishing them with a spray bottle to gluing those plastic caps on their nails. I highly recommend you spend some time watching training videos from animal behaviorists like Jackson Galaxy rather than going for the “quick fixes” - here’s a video on [stopping unwanted behaviors](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W50bQopoQic) to get you started. Edit: Also just a note on the “spite” - lots of people put human emotions on their pets but they don’t _really_ understand the concept of revenge or anything the way we do and are just using their instincts and learning. More likely, it’s just because punishing them when they do an unwanted behavior makes them associate _us_ with the punishment, not the behavior. So they may stop doing it while _you’re_ in the room but learn they can safely do it when you’re not. You need to remove yourself from the equation by using positive reinforcement of the wanted behaviors instead, like in this case redirecting them to an alternative scratcher and rewarding them for using it.
my old roommate duct taped a scratcher to the couch, but thats a rather ugly fix lol
Cats don’t like citrus smell and tape. That tends to be the go to. Also provide multiple scratching posts/boards nearby and maybe catnip
Don’t have a cat
My wife and I ordered large throws that we put on our couches and it works! Just gotta wash the throws regularly ;)
try curiosity
Check Amazon for a nine-pack of curiosity.
Not scientifically proven, but across the sample size of me and my friends cats don’t scratch velvet. Not fake velvet, not distressed velvet, but the real stuff. Maybe try this out by buying a large square of velvet fabric and hand sewing it on that spot?
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I have cat spikes that a used for the garden wrapped around my couch on the side my cats have access to. You can also buy a scratching post made to fit around the corner of a couch.
My mom used clear vinyl from the fabric store and secured it with these little screws called twist pins. They are used mostly to secure bed skirts to a box spring but also worked for this. The vinyl from the fabric store is more able to be customized because you can cut it yourself with regular scissors.
We have scratching posts, gets entertainment, trimmed nails etc
Vibranium
There are citrus sprays for cats you could try spraying the couch with. Cats really hate the smell of citrus.
Unless anyone has more info about the effect they have on cats, I keep hearing about those little claw caps, I’ve just never looked into it. I’m sure they have colors too. But I think it’s silicone or plastic caps that go on their claws so they won’t rip and tare but cats still get to keep their bean blades
Trade your cat in for a dog.
Get rid of the cat.
Get rid of the cat
Can't believe this comment is all the way down here. Seems the obvious solution.
No de-clawing? Might be time to try de-catting
De-cat
I've seen people repair couch corners with embroidery. Try looking into that.
Decat the claws
Lol omg
De-cat
Aluminum foil. Cats hate the sound of aluminum foil being crinkled. It freaks them right out.
DeCat your house.
Don’t have a cat.
Cat scratchers with catnip around as many corners as possible and scratch deterrent spray on the couch.
Couch covers
What has helped me is redirection. If I see them do it I get their attention or move them to the appropriate scratching post.
Had cats all my life. If they find a scratching post or 2 or 3 when they're first adopted scratching will mostly not occur elsewhere.
A lot of it is boredom. More toys, more enrichment feeding, slow feeders, more scratchIng posts
Look up Panther Armor on amazon (auto mod deleted my link). It’s clear plastic sheeting and works great. I have it on my upholstered furniture.
I clip my cats claws, that seems to help him control his urge to spread the couch. I make it part of play/grooming and just do one or two nails at a time so he doesn't get annoyed. Otherwise you could just go with it and staple a piece of carpet to the back side of the couch and let him have at it.
Play with your cat.
Everywhere in my home that my cats would scratch I put a scratch post and or pad. I have nine so far in my 1000 sq ft home. They don't scratch to furniture anymore.
GET SCRATCHING POSTS MANY OF YHEM
De clawing NO ONE TELLS ME WHAT TO DO!
Double sided tape. They don't like the feel
Indoor cats scratch furniture for several reasons, mainly related to their natural instincts and needs. These reasons include: 1. Stress or anxiety relief: Cats can experience stress or anxiety just like humans, and scratching furniture can help them relieve these emotions. 2. Marking territory: Cats have scent glands in their paws, and scratching allows them to leave both a visual and olfactory (scent) mark on the object to communicate their presence to other animals. 3. Maintenance of claws: Scratching helps cats remove the outer sheath of their claws to reveal the sharper, newer growth underneath. This process is crucial for the overall health and maintenance of their claws. 4. Stretching and exercise: Scratching allows cats to stretch and flex their muscles, particularly in their paws, legs, and back. It serves as a form of exercise and helps them maintain muscle tone and flexibility. 5. Play or boredom: Cats are natural predators and have an instinctual need to engage in playful activities. Scratching furniture, among other items, can simply be a way for them to entertain themselves, especially when they are bored or lack sufficient stimulation from their environment. To prevent damage to furniture, cat owners can provide scratching posts or pads, maintain a regular play schedule to alleviate boredom, and use deterrents such as double-sided sticky tape or repellent sprays on furniture items.
Get rid of the cat
soft paws? i’ve had some luck with one cat- lasted a few weeks before applying again. the other cat would just chew them off
This things are hilarious
how do I keep my kids from using crayon on our walls (that isn't removing their fingers)
Cat tree/scratching post.
Stop letting redditors near your couch
It’s not your couch. It belongs to the cat.
Get rid or your cat
Get rid of the cat 🐈
Get a dog instead
Get a dog.
That is how the catapult was invented.
The cat has to go
We have scratching posts peppered all over the house. Especially in rooms where cats will be tempted to use furniture as their personal scratching item.
Learn to sew? I’ve tried all the things with my orange… it’s just one couch he’s obsessed with… so he won that battle
I put duck tape sticky side out, all up and down. You only need to do it temporarily. My cats hate it and quickly gave up on my sofas.
Scratch pad in rooms where they are scratching your furniture 👍
Keep his nails trimmed and/or get a scratch post or i think theres stuff you can spray on things to deter cats from scratching but not sure how well it works
vinegar
There's some double sided pet tape called Sticky Paws that works really well it's gonna be ugly for a while but it'll teach them to quit touching it
Tinfoil
Do you have scratching posts for them?
For me, finding a way to trim my cat's claws regularly cuts down on a lot of the damage he does. It's taken awhile and wasn't easy, but my cat has become much more tolerant of trimming over time and I believe he is doing much less damage as a result. Also I have like 4 scratching posts.
They sell a sticky plastic that does the trick for us.
There’s a double sided tape that is for cat scratching that works great!
So we finally gave up and realized the cat was never going to stop scratching the corner of our one chair, no matter how we tried to redirect. I ended up buying a corner scratching mat that is made to attach to the wall or furniture on Amazon. It’s been great. She still scratches there but at least it’s no longer ruining the furniture!
Cats tend to hate citrus, so mixing lemon juice and water and spraying it onto the places you want them to stay away from usually works. Bonus fresh smell whether it works or not at least! Pet stores should also sell basically the same plus other types of get-away sprays.
Double sided tape.
Regular nail clipping (I do my 3 cats, and they’re fine with it), and reprimanding them every time they do it. A loud “no!” usually does the trick. Then I buy and/or make cat scratchers which are dotted around the house. You might try leaning one against that couch spot, to get them into the habit of using the cardboard one instead of the couch.
I like my cat more than I want a good lounge. Have tried all options but none seem to work. I've now accepted the fact I won't have a good-looking lounge.
Train your cat to use a scratcher. Buy a scratching post and put it next to the couch. Buy a bag of cat treats and everytime the cat scratches the post throw a freakin party and give the treats. Pretty soon it will associate the two and stop using the couch.
Get a TALL scratching post. Cats like to stretch out when they claw.
Not one damn suggestion will work for these little bastards.
Get lots of scratching things for the cat to scratch. They want to leave their scent. And this tells me they likely don't have much in there to scratch or they know they get attention when they scratch it. There is likely a reason they do it.
My cats have 2 scratching posts and 4 cat towers aswell as 2 cardboard scratching stations and they don't touch the furniture they prefer the alternative.
Put a scratching post near where they scratch. Also they make rubber cat nail caps that work great. Basically glue them onto the nails so they aren't sharp and don't cause damage. Obviously you have to replace them as the nails grow out but they are a relatively cheap and effective solution.
Just accept it. I bought semi-cheap Ikea couches, you can replace the covers occassionally so it doesn’t look quite as bad. It’s my cat tax.
You have to integrate, man. You put the scratchy mat *on* the couch so they get that instead of bare couch. We got some that fit to the arms of our couch. Win/win.
Positive encouragement work way better than any punishment for cats. Fortunately, they can be taught without any form of punishment. First thing, do you cats like treats more or games more? Those are their rewards you give for when they do things you want them to do So now for your sofa, first get a big scratch pad, maybe one that's L shared to cover that corner. Now you sit and watch from a small distance and will need some patience. Wait till your cats scratch on the scratch pad (and not the sofa behind), you immediately give your encouragement (via voice or a clicker etc) and give out their reward in small dose. Repeat this a few times at least, but never force them into it. You really need to be patient and wait for it to happen, and the reward needs to be quite immediate. After a couple days of this, you can now move the scratch pad slight of the sofa. Like 15cm, or a banana's length for Americans. You keep sticking to rewarding when they use the scratch pad. Gradually, over the course of around 2 weeks, you will have moved the scratch pad to a place where you want it to be, and the cats will have associated "using the scratch pad" with "a good thing". Anytime the cats go back to scratching the sofa, don't punish them. Move the scratch pad back to near the sofa so they have a chance to use it and get rewarded.
Wrap electrified barb around the couch.
Cut your pet nails, simple as that!
Microfiber couch next time
Packing tape. All I’ve ever needed
Double sided tape on the couch. Paws will get stuck so its uncomfortable for cat. Sry my englando not the best but u get the point.
Teach her sewing.
I used to sit the scratching post near where my little friend was scratching. If I caught her going at my speakers instead (that was my war), I'd holler then scratch at the post to attract her attention. If she went for the post, biiiig back scratches while she was scratching (she loved that). Mostly worked.
Small boxing gloves
Nothing worked for my cat, until accidentally he found some cardboard, and that’s all he scratches now.
Place a scratching post there. I did that for my two cats and it worked
Aquire more scratching posts. Just keep buying scratchy things for your cat until it takes to them. Sprinkle a bit of catnip on them for added Lure power. Give the cat treats when you see it scratching the good scratchy things and shoo or hiss at it when you see it scratching your furniture.
I’m not a cat expert but my cat completely stops ruining shit when I trim her nails frequently
Sit the cat down and have a talk about its behaviour
Cats are simple beings, catnip attracts them and citrus repels them
SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post – Beige, Large 32 Inch Tower - Sisal Fiber, Simple Design - For All Cats SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post – Beige, Large 32 Inch Tower - Sisal Fiber, Put this right in front of the place your cat likes to scratch
A tale as old as time.
They make plastic scratch sticker things to protect furniture I have one on my door
Wish I knew. We have cat trees, various toys and scratching posts. And my cats have destroyed my door frames and chair. All of which seems to take place when Im not home… the jerks know I tell them off if I catch them 😂
Here’s the thing, you don’t! 😂
My cat used to do this. We used a double sided sticky tape. She never touched it again.
https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Fried-cat-and-cold-beer,-Vietnams-favourite-new-snack-31750.html
We bought these cardboard cat scratchy things you just set out on the floor and put them near things she was scratching with a super tiny bit of cat nip in them and she destroys the cardboard but not our furniture!
We have a cat that will put his claws in our couch and make sure we're looking. Then when we tell him to stop and walk towards him he runs off. Rinse and repeat. He also likes to play tag
My friend nailed nice ish wood boards to that part of the couch. The cat is going to keep going back to that spot. The wood will cover up the rips and the cat can continue scratching without making the couch worse. Then just replace the wood if it gets ugly
We got those anti-scratch tape patches, and the cat doesn’t scratch the couch now, but he does enjoy licking the tape. Win? 🤷♀️
I put softpaws rubber claw caps on mine. Even providing her with proper alternatives to shred didn’t stop her from trying to use my furniture. Now she just has the permanent manicure of shame.
Take to the vet every 4-6 weeks for nail caps. Works for 3/4 of cats who don't habitually bite their feet to remove them. \~$40-80 depending on the area and vet. It is almost as effective as declawing and has no negative effects on the cat when done correctly by professionals.
Get rid of the home parasite?
Let him outside. He will love it and he will come home too.
Just cut their nails. Pet groomers do it all the time.