How To Cat Scratch-Proof Your Home

Dear Diary,

When I told family and friends that I wanted to get a cat, one of the first comments was, oh dear, your furniture will suffer.

Straight away, images popped up in my mind. Shredded carpets, destroyed sofas and torn apart wallpapers …

So, having a cat means sacrificing on my furniture?

Good news, it doesn’t have to be this way.

1) Why do cats scratch?

Cats scratch to keep their claws in shape, as well as to develop their muscles. But also to mark their territory.

Some just scratch because they enjoy it. I’d say Jamie falls into this category …

Others, because they are bored. (Make sure to keep your cat entertained!)

Overall, it’s just part of their nature, and you can’t do anything to prevent it.

Or rather, you shouldn’t prevent it; they need to do it.

But luckily, there are ways to keep them away from your furniture.

2) How to scratch-proof your home

The key is to establish scratch zones in your house.

Start by observing your cat’s behaviour.

You will find out pretty quickly where their preferred places to scratch are, mostly. And yes, your sofa will definitely be one of them, as will be your bed’s headboard and many other things you haven’t even thought of.

Once you’ve identified those favourite spots, make sure to place a scratcher near them. Believe me, your cat will ignore it when you place it somewhere you think is right.

Offer various scratchers, like a scratching post or a scratching board. You can also buy mats that you can use to cover the edges of your sofa.

Now, you need to convince your cat that the scratcher is better than your sofa. So, whenever they start scratching your furniture, lead them towards their scratcher. This might take a while, but it is worth the effort. You can also entice your cat by using catnip.

And of course, just because you bought them a scratcher doesn’t mean your cat will stop going after your sofa. That’s not how cats work …

I always use a firm “no” and a raised finger whenever Jamie uses my furniture, and you can tell by his looks that he is well aware that he’s doing something forbidden, and he usually stops.

3) Finding the right scratcher for your cat

Cats have different favourites when it comes to the ideal scratcher.

Some like to scratch horizontally, some prefer vertically.

If you opt for a post, make sure it’s tall enough, as cats like to stretch out completely. Also, make sure that the post is sturdy enough and won’t fall over when they start going after it.

You can also make your own scratcher using sisal rope, for example.

Overall, I have to say that after living with Jamie for 4 years, my furniture is still in good shape.

Oh, and keeping your cat’s nails short also does wonders.