Why is my cat clawing furniture

Why Not Declaw? Day 1: Decide on, locate, and purchase several cat scratching posts and some interactive cat toys. This is a critical step in the process. It is essential that you choose the right kind of post because providing your cat with a scratching surface that she doesn't like isn't going to work. Make sure that you choose a post that is strong, sturdy, tall, and covered in a material that cats love to scratch.

Choose places that your cat already likes to hang out, such as near windows and in the family room with you. Cats also love to stretch and scratch when they first wake up from a catnap, so placing a post near her regular sleeping area is a good idea. Cats scratch partly to mark territory, so don't tuck the post away in an unused corner.

Place it front-and-center so she can show off. It's also important to place a post in front of the area of the couch that your cat is scratching. When you see your cat investigating the new posts, give her quiet praise and a cat treat if she likes them.

Day 3: Make the couch an unattractive place for scratching. You can accomplish this by using one or more of the following techniques: Tuck a sheet around the scratched area of the couch tightly so your cat can't get under it to scratch the couch. Use double-sided tape or aluminum foil on the couch. Spray the couch with a citrus-scented spray because cats have a natural aversion to citrus odors. Day 4: Get your cat interested in the scratching posts by sprinkling them with catnip or spraying them with honeysuckle.

Learn more about catnip and honeysuckle. Day 5: Get your cat even more interested in the post s by using a wand toy. Start by playing with the wand toy a few feet away from the post. Once your cat is playing along, sweep the toy so that its end drapes over the post. Often, when cats "discover" their post this way, especially when it's covered in a great scratch-worthy material like sisal fabric , they will come back to it again and again.

Day 6: By this point, your cat should not be trying to scratch your sofa anymore, but if she is, consider adding the product Feliway to your anti-scratching arsenal. Feliway is a product that mimics the feline facial pheromone that makes cats feel calmer. If your cat enjoys scratching the wall by your front door when you come home, place the scratching post near your front door.

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The easiest way to introduce your cat to the post is to play with them around the post; for example, using a fishing rod toy or laser light, so that in the midst of play they will interact with the post.

You can also rub catnip on the post for the first several days, which will typically lead the cat to investigate it. It is very important that you do not carry your cat to the scratching surface and rub their paws on the surface.

This may seem harmless, but this can create a stress response in some cats and lead them to avoid the scratching post or pad. For furniture, the easiest and most effective solution is to cover it with a tight-fitting sheet.

This sheet will not be nearly as desirable to scratch as the sisal-covered post. If the post has too small or too insecure a base, it will wobble or tip as he pulls, eroding his confidence in the post and leading him back to that nice solid furniture.

We get it. You want your cat to stop scratching apart anything and everything it can get its claws into. So we pulled together a list of some preventative home remedies to help break the cat of the habit of scratching inappropriate objects your furniture and keep it that way. The trick is to remove the pleasurable component and replace the action with something not quite so nice. But remember, aversive methods will only work when the cat is provided with an alternate surface that is equally or more desirable.

His name is only used in conjunction with praise. If the cat is having a hard time accepting the post, try daily sessions where you make the sound with your fingers of scratching on the post, accompanied by praise, and an irresistible treat to reward the cat as soon as he performs the desired action.

Timing is important! Start young: It is easier to start kittens on the right path than to retrain an adult cat, but even older cats can learn to enjoy having their feet handled and to accept nail trimming.

They will often pull away from you and make the job more difficult. If your cat is sensitive, try warming them up to the concept during petting sessions.

When the cat is most relaxed, touch one of her paws. Then, gently push on their pads, extending a claw, gently praising the whole time.