How to Train a Cat to Not Scratch Furniture

Cats have a natural instinct to scratch things with their claws. This is because the scratching helps remove the old layers of the nail to reveal new ones. You might find some old nails lying around your house. If cats are not trained where they are allowed to scratch, they will scratch up anything in their path, including your furniture. It is important to train your cat not to scratch your furniture as soon as you buy or adopt it.

Things You'll Need

  • Several scratching posts
  • Spray bottle filled with water
  • Treats
  • Catnip
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Begin by purchasing some scratching posts from a pet store. Buy two or three and place them in different rooms.

    • 2

      Take your cat to the scratching post and show it to him. Some cats will know how to use it instantly and others will need a little prompting.

    • 3

      Watch for your cat to scratch his claws on the scratching post. When he does, praise him and give him a treat.

    • 4

      Rub some catnip on the scratching post if your cat doesn't take to it right away. This is sure to get the cat's attention and let the cat know that this scratching post is a good thing.

    • 5

      Place your cat in one room for the night or anytime that you are not home to keep an eye on her. You don't want your cat getting in the habit of scratching up your furniture when you are not around.

    • 6

      Keep one scratching post in the room that you plan on keeping your cat in when you are not around. If the cat wants to scratch something, it will be more likely to scratch the post that is in the room.

    • 7

      Fill a squirt bottle with room temperature water. Anytime your cat goes to scratch a piece of furniture squirt him with this bottle. Cats hate this and will quickly run away.

    • 8

      Yell "No, no" at the same time you are squirting the cat so that the cat recognizes that the harsh voice means he is doing something that displeases you.

    • 9

      Continue to reward your cat when she uses her scratching post and squirt her when she scratches something she shouldn't. It might take a week to a month for your cat to learn this important lesson, but once she does, she will remember it for the rest of her life.