how to stop cat scratching furniture

CATS SCRATCHING

HOW TO STOP CAT SCRATCHING FURNITURE?

Stop cat scratching on furniture

Tips to Stop Your Cat From Scratching The Furniture

1

Clean all scratching marks

  • Use warm water and soap to remove any pheromones left by your cat's paws on the furniture
2

Help Stop Cat Scratching With Feliway

  • If your cat is already scratching furniture, use FELIWAY
  • The FELIWAY Diffuser comforts cats at home and reduces signs of stress such as scratching
3

If needed, also use FELIWAY Spray

  • If no improvement is seen after 2 weeks, consider also using FELIWAY Spray 
  • Apply FELIWAY Spray to the areas you do not want your cat to scratch
4

Follow scratching post “golden rules”

  • Vertical, sturdy and tall enough (at least 1M)
  • Placed near sleeping area and close to the scratched areas
  • At least 1 per cat
  • Essential because scratching is normal cat behaviour 
5

To further understand cat anxiety triggers and how to manage them, take our quiz below. 

Take Our Scratch Quiz

We recommend:

FELIWAY Diffuser

If scratching occurs in multiple areas, plug the Diffuser in the room where your cat spends most of his time

FELIWAY Spray

If scratching occurs in one single area, spray the affected area once daily

Why do cats scratch?

REASONS FOR CAT SCRATCHING?

Scratching is a normal cat behaviour. When scratching, they mark their territory. This territory marking is both visible (the scratching lines) and invisible (pheromones). 

When experiencing cat anxiety or do not have a scratching post, they may scratch your walls, doors or furniture as a form of stress relief.

In particular if:

  • your cat is scratching in many areas of the house
  • your cat is scratching near windows and doors
  • you have two or more cats
  • your cat has many “cat neighbours” (other cats living close to your home or roaming cats)
  • you had recent changes in your home (like new furniture, redecorating or renovating)

Using the FELIWAY Diffuser comforts cats at home and reduces signs of stress such as scratching. 

FELIWAY Spray can also be sprayed where your cat has been scratching, such as the sofa - once you have cleaned it with warm water or mild soap. Remember not to use FELIWAY Spray on the scratching post as this would stop your cat from using it.

To learn more read our article on Why do cats scratch?

THINGS TO TRY AT HOME TO STOP YOUR CAT RUINING YOUR FURNITURE

There are many anecdotal ways to stop scratching and other anxiety related cat behaviour. Some of these involve homeopathy or old wives tales.

Cats scratching is normal and essential for cats. It helps them tell other cats that it is their territory.

Also it is an indicator of a cats feelings, if your cat is feeling uncomfortable then they may scratch more frequently and attempt to scratch in more places.

Utilising the FELIWAY range is an essential strategy in managing cat anxiety and regulate unwanted cat behaviour, such as over scratching. 

What ever the reason for the scratching, a cat needs to scratch especially when they first wake up in the morning. So placing a scratching post near their bed next to a FELIWAY Diffuser is an ideal set up.

Other solutions to stop cat scratching include adding various ingredients to water and spraying on furniture (which cats do not like). The alternative to these home remedies is to use a clinically proven and vet recommended product in the FELIWAY range such as the FELIWAY Spray. Applying FELIWAY Spray in areas you cat frequents the most, can be an effective solution calming unwanted anxious cat scratching behaviours.

To read more our article on alternatives or home remedies to stop cats from scratching the furniture.

HOW TO STOP YOUR CAT FROM SCRATCHING THE CARPET

Excessive scratching can be due to stress. Cats like to scratch certain materials and your cat may like to scratch carpet, this is not uncommon. 

To learn more about what you can do to stop cat scratching carpet.