When cats scratch furniture, carpets, and other personal belongings, it’s often labeled an “inappropriate” behavior that must be corrected. However, scratching is a perfectly normal behavior for cats; it’s something they are genetically programmed to do.
If you can encourage your cat to scratch in their cat tree or cardboard scratchers, you can prevent your furniture, carpet, and personal belongings from becoming damaged. Here’s some insight on why cats scratch and how you can redirect this behavior.
Why Do Cats Scratch Furniture?
Scratching is rooted in instinctive behavior. Scratching behaviors in cats start as early as 8 weeks of age. Scratching surfaces allows cats to mark their territory, scratching allows a cat to stretch out fully and relieve muscle tension. The action of scratching also releases calming chemicals in the brain that help cats overcome feelings of anxiety and over excitement.
In house cats, this preference for vertical surfaces means that the arms of couches and the legs of unvarnished wooden furniture may be common targets for territorial scratching. The fabric on the arms of couches rips easily, and unvarnished wood may splinter easily when scratched. As such, cats gravitate toward these materials.
How To Stop Cats From Scratching Couches and Other Furniture
The first step is to provide suitable alternatives that you can train your cat to prefer. Scratching boards are good tools for this. They should allow your cat to stretch out fully, and they should have a sturdy base to they don’t tip over, frightening or injuring them.
1. Find the Right Scratching board Material
Each cat’s preference for scratching post material will vary, so pay close attention to your cat’s furniture-scratching behavior for clues. You may need to experiment with a variety of materials to determine what your cat prefers—upholstery fabric, sisal rope, carpet, wood, or cardboard.
Pecute Triangle Cat Scratcher, Double-Sided Woven Sisal Foldable Cat Scratching Pad
$36.99 Buy Now
2. Put the Scratching Posts in the Right Places
Once you determine your cat’s preferred material, place the scratching post near their favorite furniture in an area where your cat and family members spend a lot of time.
$11.99 Buy Now
Once the scratching baords are in place, help encourage your cat to start using them instead of the furniture. Try sprinkling catnip on the board or giving your cat high-value treats or praise—whatever most motivates your cat—each time they use the scratching board instead of your furniture.
Pecute Wavy Shape Double-Sided Cat Scratcher Scratching Board
$18.99 Buy Now
4. Keep Your Cat Away From the Furniture
5. Soothe Your Cat’s Anxiety
6. Give Your Cat Plenty of Enrichment Activities
Offering sufficient enrichment to an anxious or bored cat may also help decrease excessive scratching. This may include purchasing cat trees for your cat to climb, providing perches by windows for your cat to view wildlife, increasing interactive playtime with your cat, teaching your cat to walk on a leash with a harness, and installing a “catio” so your cat can get some time outdoors in a protected enclosure.
