Methods to Keep a Cat From Climbing Up Furniture

One major complaint of cat owners is the inability to keep their pets off of the furniture. Whether your cat has colonized Great Aunt Alice's Victorian fainting couch or has the habit of perching on top of the corner cabinet, there are plenty of ways to discourage and eliminate this behavior without banishing the cat or the furniture to the attic.

  1. Scat Mats

    • Scat mats are pieces of fabric fitted with a touch-activated noisemaker. Place the scat mat on the furniture; when the cat climbs up onto it, it will activate the noisemaker, scaring the cat away from the furniture. Scat mats should be left on furniture for several days or weeks until the cat learns that every time he jumps on the furniture, the alarm will go off.

    Aluminum Foil

    • Most cats dislike the feel and sound of aluminum foil. Place a large sheet of foil on the furniture you don't want your cat to climb on. Keep it on the furniture for about a month, or until the cat no longer tries to climb on it.

    Water Gun/Spray Bottle

    • When the cat jumps or climbs on the furniture, squirt her. After a few squirts, most cats learn that you don't want them on the furniture and will stop climbing on it. Obviously, this method only works if you are there to catch the cat climbing on the furniture. You may want to use the water gun method when you are at home and a scat mat when you are out of the house.

    Coin Shaker

    • Fill a container halfway up coins. When the cat starts to jump or climb onto the furniture, shake the can at him. Most cats don't like the sound, and will run away.

    Cat Furniture

    • Buy your cat his own furniture, such as a carpeted cat condo.

    Positive Reinforcement

    • When your cat does what you want her to, like sleep in her own bed or use her scratching post, reward her with a treat and pet her. This reinforces her desire to behave as you want her to.