How Do I Keep My Cats From Scratching Everything in My House?
If your cats have started scratching up everything in your house, it can be a frustrating experience. But it's not impossible to keep your home scratch-free.
There are several methods recommended to help you stop your cat's scratching behavior. These include placing scratching posts, covering inappropriate surfaces and using deterrents.
Place Scratching Posts
It is important to give your cats a place where they can scratch their claws without destroying furniture and wallpaper. Scratching posts and pads are excellent for this purpose because they provide a safe outlet to stretch and sharpen their claws.
Cats are often taught to use scratching posts through positive reinforcement. So, make the new one appealing by sprucing it up with toys or catnip and reward your cat for using it regularly.
Choose a scratching post that is sturdy and tall enough for your cat to stretch out on. This allows them to pull back their shoulder and back muscles, movements that promote flexibility in their bodies.
Cats prefer to scratch posts that are made of material like sisal rope, carpet, and wood. Try different materials to find out which your cat prefers.
Cover Inappropriate Surfaces
Cats have strong feelings about the surfaces they like to scratch and those they don't, so it's important to cover these inappropriate areas.
Fortunately, this can be done with simple products you probably already have in your home. Double-sided "sticky" tape, aluminum foil, or even cellophane all work well to protect furniture that your cat is likely to try and scratch.
For example, if your cat tends to scratch the arm of your sofa, consider covering it with clear vinyl panels that are easy to install and come in a variety of sizes.
You can also apply plastic caps to your cat's claws so that they won't hurt themselves while trying to scratch in these unsuitable places. In addition to preventing damage, these methods can deter your cat from scratching anything else in the house that you would prefer they don't.
Use Deterrents
Deterrents are one of the best ways to keep cats from tearing up your house. These include physical barriers, scare tactics and a well-chosen selection of deodorizing chemicals.
The key to a successful deterrent is to find one that suits your cat's temperament and your budget. It should be something that is not only safe for your feline, but also pleasing to the eye and a good fit in your home decor scheme.
The most effective deterrents may be found in your local hardware store. Some of these include thin netting, sandbags and other low-profile barrier systems. Some are not cheap but will go a long way to keeping your kitty out of trouble. Using the right combination of these will ensure that your pet won't have the opportunity to cause serious damage to your property. Besides, it's the responsible thing to do. Be sure to rotate your equipment to make it last as long as possible.
Punishing Your Cat
Cats will often scratch when they feel stressed or anxious. This can be a response to some kind of pain or discomfort, so it is important to take your cat to the vet if they start scratching their furniture, walls, or floors suddenly. This may be your first response before engaging any type of disciplinary actions.
If you have ruled out a medical reason for the scratching, one of the best ways to stop this behavior is by using remote discipline. This involves using smelly sprays or noise traps to deter the unwanted behavior while you are not present.
Scratching is a natural behavior for cats, so it’s important to discourage this behavior by providing alternatives. Ideally, this means providing your cat with their own designated scratching post that they can use to exercise their claws.
Punishment, such as scolding or physically hitting your cat, is a negative experience for cats and will lead to more negative behaviors. It’s also unlikely to help your cat learn new behavior – it’s far more effective to teach them with positive reinforcement.
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