Cat scratching furniture: Why they do it?
Cat scratching furniture may be purely destructive behavior from your point of view. But you have to understand why she does it in the first place.
Cats need to scratch, something that they need to do for multiple reasons. First of all, they need to get their claws clean and healthy. So scratching is one way of doing that.
Another thing they need to do, is actually express the sink glands on their feet and they use scratching as a time to do that.
And they’re actually using scent from these glands to signal things to other cats. Things like territory ownership that kind of thing. If your cat has chosen to do these activities on your furniture, it can be quite a problem for you.
It’s always best to remember that cat is doing it for a reason they still need to do it. So, you just may need to tip them away to use other things a bit more appropriate rather than your soft furnishings.
Does your cat scratch furniture?
Do you want your cat to leave your sofa alone?. First of all, it is necessary to have a cat’s scratcher in your home. The size of the scratcher must match the size of your cat. That is the bigger your cat, the bigger the scratcher.
Providing them with scratching posts is really essential. There are lots of different kind of ones on the market, and you may want to find one that suits your cat.
How to make the scratcher more attractive to your cat?
You can use a toy over the scratching post so that it bangs against the post. You can also rub catnip onto the post to make the post more inviting.
Cats like to scratch and stretch often after they’ve just woken up, so sometimes placing the scratching post near to where they sleep is a good idea.
Orientate the scratch post horizontally or vertically to match their preference and they will be more likely to use it.
How to make your furniture less attractive to your cat?
If they’re particularly enjoyed scratching on one piece of furniture, you may need to protect that piece of furniture with double-sided sticky tape, can help persuade the cat.
Put a scraper next to your sofa, then move the scratcher away from your furniture a little bit every day to a place it’s more convenient.
Limiting your cat’s ability to scratch
Your cat’s claws must be clipped off regularly by using ‘Nail Clipper’. If you don’t know how to clip a cat’s claws, ask your vet to show you how to do this the first time.
Pictures via youtube
