How to get your cat to stop clawing the carpet: Tips on stopping cats from scratching up furniture
Anyone that has a cat knows that they love to scratch! They do this to sharpen their claws, mark their territory, and stretch their shoulders and back. This behavior is natural but can be frustrating when your nice furniture is the victim. If you’re tired of your furniture being torn up, try some of these helpful tips.
Scratching post
Make sure your cat has a scratching post that is easily accessible. You may want to place the scratching post near or in front of the furniture that they are tearing up. There are even scratchers that are designed to hang on doors or over furniture. If your cat just isn’t interested in the scratching post, try sprinkling catnip on it. This should peak your cat’s interest. If it doesn’t do the trick, try a post with a different material or design. They come in a wide variety of shapes, materials, and sizes so you should be able to find one that fits your cat’s unique needs.
Cover the Furniture
After you make sure your cat knows that the furniture and carpet isn’t their scratching post, the next step is to cover the area that they’ve been tearing up. You can simply cover it with a cloth or blanket, sometimes not being able to see the spot is enough to stop the temptation. If you’d like something a little more discrete, there are a variety of specialized tapes and sprays that are designed to keep cats away. These are typically pretty effective and easy to use.
Positive Reinforcement
Give your cat a treat when they use their scratching post. Rewarding positive behavior is just as, if not more important than punishing bad behavior. Your cat will want to use their scratching post when they know they have a treat waiting for them. If you’re worried about giving your cat too many treats, simply show some extra affection. It’s just important to communicate to your cat that they are doing a good job when they use their scratching post. Hopefully, these tips will help you and your cat come to an understanding of where they should (and shouldn’t) sharpen their claws!
