Every seasoned cat owner can recall at least one experience where their cat has gone off the rails and destroyed a lovely piece of furniture. Perhaps it was the side of a couch or your favorite expensive curtains; out-of-control cats can wreak havoc on your living spaces.
We can't really blame them, though. It's no brainer for cats to climb and scratch on furniture, but what if we told you that you don't have to worry about your cat damaging your furniture any more?
We'll get to that in a minute, but first and foremost--Please do not declaw your cat.
Cats need their claws for many things. So before you decide to declaw your cat, keep in mind that many veterinarians are highly against declawing cats because it is painful and potentially dangerous to them. Think of the procedure as the equivalent of cutting half of one of your fingers off. Do you want your cat to experience this?
Remember, cats heavily rely on their claws for many things, more than just scratching for fun. Cats scratch to get rid of their claws' dead outer layer, mark their territory, and stretch their bodies.
I hope this convinces you.
In this article, we'll go over 7 tips to protect your furniture from cats. These strategies dive into the best methods for keeping your cats away from your expensive furniture when they knead. Keep reading to learn more.
That's why we recommend spraying cat deterrents on the furniture from which you wish to deter them.
The great thing about deterrent sprays like this, in particular, is that it uses lemon, eucalyptus, and other essential oils that your cat dislikes but smells pleasant to us!
Your cat will avoid scratching in areas where it feels uncomfortable, so sprays like this do the trick in most cases.
Look for spray that uses natural ingredients safe for cats, that is also safe to use with other pets in the home and on all kinds of surfaces. Choose a spray that is environmentally friendly.
We aren't going to tell you how to live your life, but please refrain from spraying your cat directly with it.
Also, be cautious because this spray may not be the best thing to use on wood finishes, and it may damage wool.
Attractants are natural ways to calm or entice a cat's behavior or curiosity. Catnip is a prime example of a natural attractant of which cats can't seem to get enough.
Catnip derives from several different types of mint leaves that cats find naturally irresistible. Most people use attractants such as catnip as a training method to get their cat to use the litter box or convince a cat to scratch a scratching post/pads.
We even use catnip as a reward for good behavior. However, be sure to limit the amount and frequency of time you use attractants, like catnip, since overusing it may weaken its effectiveness.
For your cat's mood, attractants may calm a cat down or excite them, depending on the cat. Most attractants are available at most big-box stores or online.
Scratching posts help keep your cat's claws sharp and healthy. When it comes to these cat-scratch products, there are so many from which to choose.
Each type has a unique benefit over the other.
Still, since we are trying to prevent cats from scratching your sofa, let's place the scratching post near their favorite spot, or by the furniture they scratch up the most.
We intend to convince the cat to scratch the post or emery board instead.
Suppose you're in the market for a cat scratch post or emery board. In that case, we suggest checking your local pet store or social media marketplace for one at a massive discount.
Similar to scratching posts, cat furniture is perfect for giving your cat a space of its own. The need for personal space may come up when your cat feels anxious or annoyed and looking to retreat.
When buying cat furniture, make sure it has a rough exterior to promote scratching. Then spray catnip or other scents to attract them to it. If the cat furniture is separate from their scratching post, make sure to put the cat's furniture near the post and away from the couch. As your cat scratches its post or furniture, it will release pheromones. These pheromones will make your cat want to go near its furniture instead of your couch when the need to scratch strikes.
Suppose you are interested in buying some cat furniture. In that case, you can always search for cat towers or kitty condos at your favorite online pet store. Cardboard emery boards work better for older cats. You can also mount these to the wall if you like. Just make sure the scratcher is attached securely if you decide to place it on the wall. If not, the scratcher could fall off the wall and end up hurting your cat.
You see, when a cat is stressed or not familiar with its location, it's more likely to brandish its claws in self-defense.
Using claw caps works wonders; they are inexpensive and stylish!
You can even get claw caps made for untrained small kittens. This innovation is another reason people rave about their claw caps.
Give your cat a whole new makeover and stop them from scratching you and your furniture.
Our Sofa Slipcovers are great for pet owners. Use them as an extra layer to protect your furniture from spills, pet stains, and smells.
Not only can you protect your couch with these stretchy slipcovers, but you can also give your living room a new look at the same time!
When training your cat to scratch cat furniture instead, using our slipcovers can help make your job much easier.
Since you can easily remove them try soaking your sofa cover in a deterrent mix, simply place your slipcover into a bucket with the deterrent mix and allow it to soak. Next, wring it out and allow it to air dry. As a result, the entire slipcover will deter cat scratching behavior and help train your cat to look elsewhere.
Here at Miracle Sofa, we understand how vital protecting furniture from cats and developing a way to give our customers pet-friendly couches can be.
That's why we created our new scratch protector pads as a way to help cat-proof your couch. Help your cat to stop scratching your expensive sofa.
Our Miracle Sofa Scratch Protector Pads are transparent strips you can customize to your desired amount.
These pads help prevent scratch marks, rips, and tears in your furniture, but they also give your cat a reason not to scratch your couch.
While you can use these protector pads on any surface, it works best when used on the surfaces where your cat scratches the most.
Protecting your furniture from a pet is not a small task, especially for cat owners. Cat scratching will happen regardless of age or surface, as it's a naturally beneficial habit for cats. In turn, when cats scratch, it ruins your sofa and other furniture that may hard to replace.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for training your cat to scratch other surfaces and stop your cat from scratching your couch.
However, one critical thing to remember is to remain patient with your cat and be mindful that all these scratch-prevention methods take time to sink in. Even if you train with them every day, some cats are stubborn and may take longer than others.
We hope the best for you and your cat in this scratch-free journey from all of us here at Miracle Sofa. We also like to thank you for taking the time to review the tips we've listed and hope they're able to help.