Cats Scratching Sofas..... Tips please

loopyloulou_3

On the subject of my new sofas......

Any tips on how to deter naughty cats from attempting to scratch them?

they havent dared touch them - yet! but obviously prevention is better than a cure!!


tips would be greatly appreciated

bumblebee_3

I have got a cat too adorable but he scratches the sofas specifically to get my attention - which of course works!

I have got an empty sprayer bottle and filled it with water and everytime he scratches he got sprayed, he learned pretty fast not to do it.

silverfoxdude

I have a scratch post near our sofa (not intentional, just space here), and he's never bothered with the furniture. I also say sharp and firm, NO when he does something wrong, poor cat! I'm such an awful mummy

comping_cat

Get a scratching post and put it near the area it would normally scratch.
Catherine x

somersetapple

My cat has successfully shredded the sofa despite the water sprayer, lots of firm words and a beautiful strategically placed scratching post!! Of course I may just have a very naughty cat!!

Lakeland do sell some special almost invisible plastic stuff that you can put on the corners which is supposed to deter cats from scratching. It's quite expensive - about £12.00 I think - and I really couldn't say how good it is. I've been tempted to give it a whirl but to be honest there's not much of the sofa left now and she's such a wicked little madam she'd probably see its removal as a challenge!!

Good Luck!!

Somersetapple

MAYFLOWERS

I too have an adorably naughty Cat !

I bought loads of that sticky stuff (it is epensive!) and put it on my curtains and sofa but unfortunately unless you cover the whole sofa naughty kitty just finds a non sticky bit to scratch on...or mine did :-(

I/ve given up now....but will be looking for a new sofa soon - might have to try the water spray.......don/t know if i could do that to my poor little baby though........lol

Good job we luv them!


Mayflowers x

wigginsmum

With 7 cats I've given up worrying about the furniture which is fairly bettered by now ... although I'm not impressed with no. 6 who shreds the wallpaper in the hall. I've watched her reach up to grip a bit between her teeth and go into reverse pulling a strip with her. She does the same to any post we leave lying around.

robowen

loopyloulou wrote:

Any tips on how to deter naughty cats from attempting to scratch them?

yes...

...a good sharp crack round the lugholes at the time of scratching, usually stops the cat from damaging the sofa :rotfl:

If the cat continues to scratch the sofa after several cracks...then we have learned one thing..........dogs are smarter than cats !.
My dog gave up scratching after the first time :rotfl:

rob

Lorian

silverfoxdude wrote:

I have a scratch post near our sofa (not intentional, just space here), and he's never bothered with the furniture. I also say sharp and firm, NO when he does something wrong, poor cat! I'm such an awful mummy

I agree, scratch post is the answer. If they start to scratch tell 'em off an take them to the post. After a day or two they go straight for the post.

Here is a cheap one but remember they are based on cardboard tubes with string around them so they won't take much abuse from kids etc. They sometimes break at the base (where they are stapled). Trimming and supergluing fixes it easy enough.

Mr_Warren_2

Get some ground white pepper and sprinkle freely around the sofa. Alternatively mix in hot water solution and spray with garden type spray. They won,t like it and you should not smell it yourself.....unless you put your nose on it.

uncle_buck_3

I agree with rob

...you sometimes have to be cruel to be kind!