How to Stop Cat from Clawing

Many pet cats claw the furniture, carpets or curtains, much to the chagrin of their owners. Cats need to scratch for health and territorial reasons, but they can be taught to scratch only appropriate surfaces. All you need to know is how to choose an appropriate scratching surface, how to encourage the cat to use that surface and how to stop the cat from clawing on other items.

Things You'll Need

  • High-quality scratching post or pad
  • Noise maker
  • Cat treats
  • Pet odor neutralizer
  • Citrus fruit peels or juice
  • Double-backed tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide an appropriate and appealing surface for clawing. Some cats like to claw on vertical surfaces, while others prefer horizontal ones. Most cats enjoy rough surfaces such as sisal, burlap and wood, but some like softer material such as carpet. Choose a scratching post, pad or cat climbing tower with a texture similar to what the cat is currently scratching. The scratching post should be large enough to let the cat to stretch its whole body while scratching, and stable enough not to fall and frighten the cat. Place the scratching post near the cat's favorite scratching area.

    • 2

      Use a loud noise to stop a cat from clawing on something inappropriate. Blow a whistle or bicycle horn, shake a can filled with rocks or pop a balloon. Attach a motion-sensing alarm (such as a doorknob alarm) to movable objects like curtains that are currently being clawed by the cat. Avoid letting the cat see you make the noise, or it will only stop clawing when you're around.

    • 3

      Redirect clawing behavior to the right place. Once you've reprimanded the cat for scratching the wrong spot, show it the correct place to scratch. Gently pick up the cat and put it in front of the scratching post. If the cat scratches on the post, praise the cat and give it a treat. If not, start scratching the post yourself. This gets some cats to scratch in attempt to cover your scent with theirs.

    • 4

      Deodorize scratched surfaces and apply cat-deterring scents. Cats scratch to mark their territory with their scents, and will continue to scratch any scent-marked surfaces. Eliminate the cat's scent by cleaning the scratched item with a specialized pet odor neutralizer. Then rub or spray the item with a scent cats dislike, such as orange or lemon peels, cedar chips, pepper or mint-scented soap. Feline pheromone sprays can also discourage territorial clawing.

    • 5

      Cover the scratched area with a deterrent material. Cats are unlikely to claw a surface that feels unpleasant on their feet. Make surfaces less appealing by covering them with double-backed tape, sandpaper, aluminum foil or a sheet of plastic or vinyl. Cover scratched carpet areas with a plastic carpet runner turned prickly side up.