Cats are beloved members of the family but sometimes their scratching can be quite frustrating. Your cat does not care that your furniture shouldn’t be clawed at, so the team at Northlands Cat & Rabbit Care Clinic have compiled a list of advice on how to control the furniture scratching whilst also promoting your cat’s wellbeing. Contact us on 01604 478888 for more advice and share your tips on our Facebook page.

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Why do cats scratch?

Scratching is a perfectly normal and healthy behaviour for cats. It serves several purposes, including:

• Claw maintenance: to keep nails sharp, cats will scratch their claws to shed the outer layers, keeping them healthy.
• Territory marking: scratching deposits scent marks from glands on their paws to establish their territory.
• Stress relief: cats can scratch when they feel anxious or stressed – they use it as a way to self-soothe.

How to reduce furniture damage from cat scratching

1. Provide scratching posts and pads strategically near furniture that your cat has targeted before. If they are made from materials such as cardboard or carpet, it will really help to satisfy your cat’s scratching needs.
2. Furniture covers can help to protect against claws and the team at Northlands Cat & Rabbit Care Clinic recommend using either double-sided tape or sticky pads on furniture that your cat seems to like. As felines hate sticky surfaces this will deter your cat from scratching without causing harm.
3. Using pet-safe deterrent sprays on furniture to discourage scratching and make use of catnip on scratching posts or pads to make them more appealing to your cat.
4. Cats often scratch to mark their territory so offering them more space can help. Provide them vertical spaces like shelves and cat trees and offer them praise and treats when they use them correctly. This positive reinforcement will help to prolong the life of your furniture!

Along with regular nail trimming with the nursing team at Northlands Cat & Rabbit Care Clinic, our vets can help if the scratching seems excessive or is driven by stress. Changing any cat’s behaviour takes time so patience and consistency is key to success.

By providing your cat with suitable scratching alternatives, you can protect your furniture whilst ensuring your cat leads a happy and healthy life.

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