Have you ever come home to find your furniture covered in scratches? If you have a cat, chances are that you may have experienced this before. Cats scratching is a natural behaviour and can be extremely frustrating for pet owners. It’s important to understand why cats scratch furniture, so that pet owners can take the necessary steps to prevent it from happening.

Why Do Cats Scratch Furniture?

Cats scratch furniture for many reasons, including marking their territory, sharpening their claws, and stretching their muscles. In fact, scratching is a normal behaviour of cats that should not be discouraged completely. However, when cats start scratching our furniture instead of their designated scratching posts, we need to intervene and redirect them toward appropriate options.

Redirecting Your Cat’s Scratching Behaviour 

It’s important to provide your cat with an appropriate outlet for scratching by investing in good quality scratching posts or pads. Make sure that the post is tall enough for your cat to stretch up fully on their hind legs and sturdy enough so it won’t tip over when scratched vigorously. The post should also be placed in an area where your cat frequently spends time so they will be more likely to use it often. Additionally, adding some catnip or other treats near the post may encourage your cat to use it more frequently as well! 

Discouraging Unwanted Scratching    
                       

To discourage unwanted scratching behaviours, it may help to place double-sided tape or foil on the surface of the furniture when you are away from home. This will make the surface unpleasant for your cats and they will soon learn not to scratch there anymore. If this does not work, try using a spray bottle filled with water as a deterrent whenever you catch them clawing at the wrong surfaces. Be sure not to yell or scare them while doing this – just give them a light spritz of water and they will quickly learn what behaviour is acceptable and which one isn’t! 

Understanding why cats scratch furniture is key in being able to redirect this behaviour towards appropriate outlets such as scratching posts or pads. It is important that pet owners do not discourage this natural behaviour completely but rather provide ways for cats to express themselves without damaging our homes! With patience and consistency, pet owners can easily teach their cats what behaviours are acceptable and which ones aren’t – all while keeping our beloved furniture safe!