It is a very normal behaviour for cats to scratch items such as furniture. They can no more stop scratching than they can stop purring! Cats scratch to help condition their claws, to stretch their legs and shoulders and to mark territory with the scent glands in their paws. Although many cat owners see it as destructive, it is important to understand that you cannot teach a cat to stop scratching; however, there are ways to protect your furniture and carpets from destruction.

In order to save your furniture, you must provide a suitable object for your cat to scratch instead. There are many types of scratching posts available to choose from and you may need to try a few to find one that your cat finds acceptable. It is important to make sure it is sturdy enough that it won’t fall over when your cat uses it. If your cat is already scratching objects in the home, use that as a guide for choosing the scratching post. Do they like tall objects? Do they have a material they prefer?  There are many options available from carpet, to sisal to corrugated cardboard.

Place the scratching post in area of the home where your cat spends a lot of time. If they are already scratching furniture in the home, place the post in front of the furniture to help encourage them to use it. Spend time playing with your cat and offering him a few treats while next to the post. Do not try to force your cat to use the scratching post and never punish your cat for scratching the furniture – this will only encourage him to scratch it when you are not around.

To stop your cat from scratching your furniture and transition to the scratching post, cover the furniture your cat is currently scratching with something your cat will find unpleasant, such as tin foil, double sided sticky tape or thick plastic. Trim your cat’s nails regularly to limit damage while he is making the transition. Make the scratching post more appealing by using catnip or treats. Once your cat is using the post you can uncover the furniture. Cats tend to return to scratch in the same spot; therefore, once they are using the post reliably, they will continue to do so.

If your cat continues to scratch the furniture, speak to your veterinarian at Centrepointe Animal Hospital about a product such as Feliway (a pheromone spray) which can help with unwanted vertical scratching. By mimicking the friendly facial pheromones of the cat, it deters scratching, as cats rarely scratch where they rub. Feliway can also be very beneficial in multi-cat households or if you suspect the scratching may be anxiety related.

It is easiest to train cats to use a post when they are kittens; however, with time and patience, cats of any age can be retrained to use a scratching post allowing them to exhibit their natural behaviour without causing any unwanted destruction.