About Products to Stop Cats From Scratching Furniture

Function

• Cats scratch to relieve stress, to remove external layers from their claws and to mark territory. Outdoors, they would likely use a tree or fence post for this purpose.

Types

• Several products deter scratching, or at least prevent damage from scratching. Vinyl claw covers keep your cat's claws from damaging furniture, or anything else. She may still scratch, but will not leave marks. Deterrent sprays keep some cats from scratching furniture. The three primary types of sprays are pheromone, botanical and chemical. Pet training products also include sticky strips. These strips are like double-sided tape, only stickier. A cat typically dislikes how this tape feels and avoids scratching any area covered by the tape. Scratching posts are another product that may deter cats from scratching furniture.

Features

• Vinyl claw covers fit over the cat's claws to prevent damage to furniture and other objects. These covers come in several colors or in clear. You must glue them on and then must reapply them when they fall off.
  Pheromone sprays may help if your cat is scratching because she feels territorial or otherwise stressed. Your cat may rub on the areas you spray, but should not scratch the area as much.
  Botanical sprays contain citrus, eucalyptus or other strong scented essential oils which, when sprayed on the furniture, deter some cats from scratching.
  Like botanical sprays, chemical sprays contain odors (most chemical sprays contain the unpleasant-smelling chemical methyl nonyl ketone) that deter cats.
  Scratching posts give your cat an alternative scratching surface. You may have to do some experimenting, however, to find out which kind of scratching surface your cat prefers. Most cats prefer sisal wrapped posts (or sisal-wrapped boards that lie flat or hang on the wall) or corrugated cardboard scratching posts over the old-fashioned carpeted scratching posts. Tall posts give a cat sufficient room to stretch her back as she scratches.

Considerations

• Chemical sprays with methyl nonyl ketone may be slightly toxic for pets and humans even when used as directed. In addition, some cats may be very sensitive to botanical sprays. You should use caution when using any chemical or botanical sprays around cats.
  Consider keeping your cats claws trimmed so that if she does scratch, damage to furniture and other objects is minimal. If you have difficulty doing it, many vets and most groomers will trim the claws for you.

Significance

• Most cats scratch. Even cats that have had claws removed often go through the motions of scratching---it is simply a natural thing to do. To save furniture from claw marks, cat owners must provide better scratching options for the cat and make furniture seem unattractive to her.
  Scratching furniture quickly becomes a habit. The sooner a cat owner brings better options into the home (good scratching posts) the sooner the cat will lose the habit.