How To Stop Your Cat Scratching Your Furniture

Step 1: Scratching Posts

Cats enjoy the rough texture of a scratching post. Position it on stable ground as cats don't like wobbly surfaces. Make the post more appealing to your cat by tying feathers to it or spraying it with a catnip spray. Remember to praise your cat every time she scratches it.

Step 2: Other surfaces

Make sure your cat has access to a doormat or an off-cut of carpet. Try hanging the carpet on the wall to give your cat the additional challenge of climbing it.

Step 3: High areas

Some cats love to climb to find a safe place to lie in and watch the world go by. To stop your cat climbing curtains or delicate furniture to reach a safe point, provide her with a high area that can be accessed via a catwalk- or carefully position furniture that is touch enough to cope with your moggy's comings and goings.

Step 4: Protect your furniture

Spray the furniture you want to protect with a scent that cats don't like, such as citronella or a cat-repellent spray. Wrap your furniture in tin foil or tie balloons around it as a temporary measure to discourage your cat from using those particular areas.

Step 5: Toys and Games

Your cat may scratch your furniture out of boredom, particularly if she lives indoors and doesn't have access to a garden. To stop her becoming destructive, encourage her to chase and jump with small balls or toys on the end of string, or by making her search for her food rather than simply putting it in a bowl.

Step 6: Activity areas

Create a play area for your cat by stacking boxes on top of each other and let her climb in and out. Cut out holes in the boxes, put toys or titbits inside and spray them with catnip.