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kalane kalane
 
M$8 December 17, 2008 09:15 PM

How can I get my cat to stop scratching the couch?

I've already tried covering the couch with a sheet and the couch is located right beside an elaborate scratching post, which I have tried to entice him to use with catnip. I clip his nails regularly and this is a new habit since we've moved and got a new couch. Any ideas?
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corwin corwin
 
 December 17, 2008 09:53 PM
As many others have suggested, get a scratching post for a cat. Even better, there is a brand that many pet stores sell that rewards the cat with a treat when he/she uses the post. Another option is to put a cover on top of a cat's claws, these covers called Soft Paws are found at this website (http://www.softpaws.com/) Next, if the cat still keeps scratching the sofa, get a squirt bottle (like the ones the hair dressers have) and squirt the cat on the nose every time he/she scratches the sofa. Another option would be to buy sofa covers (bed bath and beyond sells them) if you have an expensive sofa.
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spacemonky... spacemonky...
 
December 17, 2008 09:21 PM
If your cat is strictly an indoors cat, then you might want to invest in a scratch post. This website has a lot of good pointers to teach your cat to prefer a post over your furniture.

Another alternative is to let your cat outdoors more often, if they're already accustomed to doing so.
Source(s):
http://www.catscratching.com


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drmatt drmatt
 
December 17, 2008 09:21 PM
I got a squirt bottle of water. Every time he went for the couch, I gave him a little spray.

The key is not to let them see it's you doing it. You don't want them to associate you with the spraying. You just want them to associate scratching with the water.

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jirvine jirvine
 
December 17, 2008 10:05 PM
This is how I trained mine not to scratch the furniture. A spray bottle with a nice strong direct stream, hit them in the head when they go for the furniture and they avoid it after awhile. Each cat responds differently depending on their character, some cats might take you a few months (Mine) or a few days.

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ppalmer21 ppalmer21
 
December 17, 2008 09:22 PM
I have struggled with this issue along with her scratching the bed posts and door frames. It was a nightmare. I did not want to declaw my cat, so I investigated other options.

I found, tried, and liked Soft Paws. (I don't work for them. I promise.)

They are inexpensive little caps that you put on your cat's front claws. (Most cats wear a medium.) Soft Paws come in a variety of colors and are easy to put on the cat. They stay on for a month to six weeks and generally fall off by themselves.

Here is the website. I hope this will work for you :)
Source(s):
http://www.softpaws.com/


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einstain einstain
 
December 17, 2008 09:22 PM
Cats and dogs respond (learn) well to a system of actions and rewards. In the case of a cat scratching the couch, if you keep a squirt bottle filled with water handy and squirt the cat in the face with the water every time it scratches, the cat will learn from the negative reward of it's actions.

I've done this myself twice with one cat. Once when it got into the habit of scratching away at the edge of an expensive rug and once when it kept chewing on the leaves of a houseplant. Both times, I only sprayed the cat about 3 times and it got the message and stopped permanently.

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ppalmer21 ppalmer21
 
December 17, 2008 09:25 PM
This is an excellent way to change behavior... if you can catch the animal in action!

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colttrickl... colttrickl...
 
December 17, 2008 09:23 PM
You could obviously have the cat de-clawed, but I am assuming that is not an option. You can also try placing orange peel around the location. Many cats find the citrus smell extremely unpleasant. There are also numerous sprays out there that keep that cat away from it.
Source(s):
http://www.cat-world.com.au/ScratchingFurniture.htm


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eatthatpop... eatthatpop...
 
December 17, 2008 09:24 PM
I'm studying psychology so if you are going to punish him make sure that the punishment happens IMMEDIATELY after he starches the couch, or else he won't understand to stop.

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jordan1353... jordan1353...
 
December 17, 2008 09:24 PM
Or you could simply have the cat declawed. It would save you the trouble of trying to watch your cat like a hawk.

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dumblonde dumblonde
 
December 17, 2008 09:28 PM - Fact Refuted
Declawing is extremely cruel. The cat won't be able to defend itself if it ever leaves the house and it will affect its balance and coordination. Many vets outright refuse to declaw because of how cruel it is.

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xds xds
 
December 17, 2008 10:13 PM - Fact Refuted
I agree blonde , I also believe this process to be cruel to any animal even wildlife. And especially dogs.

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homerj homerj
 
December 17, 2008 09:25 PM
I put that extra sticky double sided tape on the corners of my couches (where my cats tend to scratch). They don't appreciate the stickiness all the much and don't scratch. I also got them a scratching post, so that they do have somewhere to do their business. It took a while, but I've been able to remove the tape and the cat's haven't gone back to their old ways.

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skitt skitt
 
December 17, 2008 10:14 PM
My mom had good luck with tape on her couch. She trained 3 cats not to scratch the couch that way.

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shareme shareme
 
December 17, 2008 09:36 PM
Scratch the cat back

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xds xds
 
December 17, 2008 09:41 PM
Kitty mittens


Seems like the best idea to me, after a while the kitty would be desensitized to scratching stuff around the house and you could remove the mittens little by little. (Sorta like training wheels)


EDIT:

Just a thought as well, perhaps the kitty needs some added attention while in its growing years :o/ ?
I'm not saying your parenting skills are not there or anything but we all need a little extra attention every now and then. :o)

A ball of yarn would keep em occupied for hours too :P

EDIT 2:

Also if i remember correctly there are these plastic things you can buy for the claws let me see if i can dig em up.

Ah yes here they are..

Seems they work for dogs to. (see second photo.)
Amazon has 3 used & new available from $15.99.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006NE4ZS?tag=beldogs-20

http://cat-supplies.blogspot.com/2008/08/soft-paws-soft-claws-for-cats-small-red.html

Source(s):
Experience with my 1 year old charcoal lab. :o( /me shakes head

:P


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bthj872gv bthj872gv
 
December 17, 2008 09:50 PM
Tape

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xds xds
 
December 17, 2008 09:54 PM
A little more sticky and nuisance approach but im sure would work while she's at work.

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garance garance
 
December 17, 2008 09:57 PM
Sacrifice the couch! Some cats like special scratch posts or games, mine slept on it. Some couch are more cat resistant: keep it mind next time. And some couch covers, the cats do not like.
Always consult the cat.

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ccowman ccowman
 
December 17, 2008 10:00 PM
We "trained" our cat by using the same method to train your cat to use their kitty litter. Put them in it and rub their paws around in it until they become accustomed to it. To relate that, we used a scratching post - place it further away from the couch, so the cat doesn't want to go back to the couch. Keep rubbing their paws on the scratching post. This may take a couple days/weeks to get them fully into it.

This worked great for our cats, but then they began to stop using the scratching post all together. I'm wondering if part of it has to do with the type of cat and age that they like to scratch - curious to know.

Hopefully everything goes well.
Source(s):
Experience - Had 5 cats


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wboswell wboswell
 
December 17, 2008 10:01 PM
Get some clear packing tape and tape over the section that your cat is interested in - they HATE the feel of that. Also, try a flat scratching post (one that lies on the floor) and sprinkle catnip all over it - some cats really enjoy that better.

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drivel drivel
 
December 17, 2008 10:10 PM
The cat has to scratch for health reasons. You must supply an alternative (such as outside or a scratching post) as part of your plan to stop the cat scratching the couch.

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comiclist comiclist
 
This answer has been voted unhelpful by users. Please click to view
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uoow uoow
 
December 17, 2008 10:46 PM
if the cat is already a certain age getting it declawed is not the answer, what you want to do is a combination of what everyone here has suggested. put double sided tape on the parts of the couch that the cat is prone to claw. when it starts to claw the couch spray it with the water bottle. in order to get it to use the scratching post, rub catnip on it and try to wedge it in between the twine on the post. that drives them absolutely mad and will make them not only scratch on that, but rub against it as well.

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263236 263236
 
December 17, 2008 11:46 PM
This is working for my cat so you may see if it works for yours. Try a small fireplace sized log and sprayed it with liquid cat nip ( I also put some of her play toys near the log so she knows to go to the area ). From the start I took her to it and put her paws on it every hour or two for a two week period and she got the hint and now she is scratching it on her own.
My cat is 7 years old and quite stubborn and before I did this trick had picked the stuffing out of 2 chairs.

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frosty frosty
 
December 18, 2008 12:56 AM
Cat's normally hate citrus, puts some orange peels buy the couch and get a scratching post for the other end of the room.

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texasmiche... texasmiche...
 
December 18, 2008 03:33 PM
The most effective way of keeping my cat away from unwanted areas is to spray the area with a smell that is offensive to cats but not necessarily noticeable to humans. She has a bad habit of chewing on cables, and this works wonders.

I haven't tried this particular brand, but you get the idea:
http://www.petco.com/product/6524/Pet-Organics-No-Scratch-for-Cats.aspx

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ialja ialja
 
December 19, 2008 09:15 PM
Here is another good article on the subject: http://cats.about.com/cs/catmanagement101/a/manage_claws.htm
Source(s):
http://cats.about.com/


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nimue nimue
 
December 20, 2008 02:16 AM
Get your cat a special scratching post, but place it in a prominent place in your home (i.e. where you most likely to gather, such as a den or a living room). Being social, your cat wants to be with you but will scratch because this is a relaxing action for him. That is why he has chosen your couch. Once you introduce him to a scratching post of his own, hopefully, he will avoid your couch.

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grandchamp... grandchamp...
 
December 20, 2008 02:26 AM
I agree with what everyone else has said. Visit your nearest Petsmart and purchase a scratching post just for your cat.

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