Our cats have always been extremely well behaved when it comes to scratching furniture. They have always preferred to sharpen their claws on their scratching post, rather than on the legs of our chairs!
However lately, Poppy has taken to dragging herself along the bottom of our leather sofa. She reminds me of something out of Misson Impossible, half under the sofa using her front paws to drag herself along!! The poor old couch is looking a bit worse for wear as a result. It's funny because it's not as if she is sharpening her claws or marking her territory, it's just that she seems to think it's great fun!
There's a bit of a demon in that cat I think, she has such a mischievous nature, hehehe. Poor Oliver, he is so reserved in comparison. He often sits on the armchair opposite the sofa calmly watching her as she does this. I'd say he thinks she's a bit daft sometimes, 'as mad as a bag of cats' as they say!
I've considered trying something to deter her from this, but at the end of the day, it's not that expensive a sofa, so I don't really mind. Maybe she'll grow out of it, if not we'll just add it to her list of eccrentric behaviour!
If you have a scratch happy kitty these are some suggestions I've come across to improve the situation :) But bear in mind Mark Twain's advice, which applies universally: Never try to teach a pig to sing; it frustrates you and annoys the pig. Translate this bit of wisdom to your dealings with cats and you'll avoid a good deal of futility and frustration.
Introduction
Cats scratch to mark their territory, sharpen their claws and stretch their muscles. Here's how to help your cat curb the urge (or at least redirect it away from the sofa).
Cats scratch to mark their territory, sharpen their claws and stretch their muscles. Here's how to help your cat curb the urge (or at least redirect it away from the sofa).
Instructions
Steps
1
Step One
Provide scratching posts and place them in locations where your cat likes to linger - by a sunny window, for instance.
2
Step Two
Experiment with different types of posts to find the best ones for your cat.
3
Step Three
Keep in mind that different cats like different surface textures (cardboard, wood or rugs) and post orientations (horizontal or vertical).
4
Step Four
Encourage kittens to use posts, and reward them with food and praise.
5
Step Five
Consider giving your cat extra attention when he stirs from a nap, and then placing him near the scratching post, since many cats scratch when waking up.
6
Step Six
Avoid punishing your cat if she scratches an inappropriate area - punishment teaches the cat to not scratch in your presence, but it won't deter a cat from scratching when you're not around.
7
Step Seven
Avoid letting your cat scratch an old couch, even if you plan to get rid of it soon - this will only encourage your cat to scratch the new couch.
8
Step Eight
Consult your veterinarian about alternative treatment options before you give up. Destructive behavior is a leading reason why people surrender their cats to animal shelters.
Tips & Warnings
Aversive-tasting substances will not help, since scratching does not involve the taste buds.
Yelling and loud noises may cause anxiety and encourage destructive behavior.
Scratching is a natural behavior, so blocking the cat's access to one area will simply encourage him to scratch elsewhere.
Steps
1
Step One
Provide scratching posts and place them in locations where your cat likes to linger - by a sunny window, for instance.
2
Step Two
Experiment with different types of posts to find the best ones for your cat.
3
Step Three
Keep in mind that different cats like different surface textures (cardboard, wood or rugs) and post orientations (horizontal or vertical).
4
Step Four
Encourage kittens to use posts, and reward them with food and praise.
5
Step Five
Consider giving your cat extra attention when he stirs from a nap, and then placing him near the scratching post, since many cats scratch when waking up.
6
Step Six
Avoid punishing your cat if she scratches an inappropriate area - punishment teaches the cat to not scratch in your presence, but it won't deter a cat from scratching when you're not around.
7
Step Seven
Avoid letting your cat scratch an old couch, even if you plan to get rid of it soon - this will only encourage your cat to scratch the new couch.
8
Step Eight
Consult your veterinarian about alternative treatment options before you give up. Destructive behavior is a leading reason why people surrender their cats to animal shelters.
Tips & Warnings
Aversive-tasting substances will not help, since scratching does not involve the taste buds.
Yelling and loud noises may cause anxiety and encourage destructive behavior.
Scratching is a natural behavior, so blocking the cat's access to one area will simply encourage him to scratch elsewhere.
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