My Cat Is Scratching The Upholstery: How Do I Stop It?
Why Does My Cat Scratch?
The first thing to do is to identify the reason why your cat is baring its claws on your tapestry. This is not just destructive behavior, but it can be potentially dangerous for your furry friend. Indeed, your cat could be injured by scratching surfaces such as tapestries or getting close to them, for example clothes or towels.
The culprits of this behavior are his paws. Know that they are covered with scent glands and each time he scratches a place, he leaves his mark and thus marks his territory. That’s why kitties love to scratch furniture and carpets. To win!
How To Stop My Cat From Scratching
Buy Him A Scratching Post
Another solution if your cat can’t stop scratching the upholstery is to offer him a scratching post. He will then be able to satisfy his instincts on this place of scratching which is entirely dedicated to him.
Be sure to offer him a scratching post at least 80 cm high so that he can stretch out all the way. Cats like to be able to stretch their body over the entire surface of the scratching post, either horizontally or vertically. In addition, they mark their territory more over a large area.
There are a variety of scratching posts specially designed to be easily installed along a wall, on a stair rung, on a chair leg or various surfaces. Most cat trees also have scratching posts, so you can do a combo.
Once installed, show it to your four-legged friend and if he starts to scratch elsewhere, take him directly to his scratching post so that he gets used to it.
Of course, do not forget to congratulate him as soon as he indulges in scratching in the right place! When your pet uses his scratching post, reward him with a small treat and petting. On the contrary, if he scratches the tapestry, take him directly to his scratching post. It is useless to be violent with your cat, he would not understand and you will not get any results.
The scratching post is the number 1 solution to adopt, and the most reliable! But to entice him to use it, you can imbue him with an irresistible smell with a hormone spray or catnip. In parallel with the use of the scratching post, it will be necessary to dissuade Grisou from continuing to make his claws in the wrong place…
Apply Aluminum Foil To The Area Where Your Cat Is Scratching
Cats hate touching aluminum foil. Cover for several weeks an area of about 1.5 square meters around the target scratching point of your four-legged friend. The next time he wants to scratch there, he will associate this place with the unpleasant sensation of aluminum foil under his paws and will avoid returning there.
Cut His Claws
It is not a question of completely removing the claws of your four-legged friend, but of cutting off the ends of his claws, just as we cut our nails. It’s totally painless for him but you have to be careful not to cut too short at the risk of hurting him. There are nail clippers specially designed for cats. Your veterinarian can also take care of this.
If this solution will not deter him from scratching, it will have the merit of preventing your cat from doing damage and will keep your tapestry intact!
Apply A Scented Repellent
There are a variety of commercial repellents available, but you can also design your own natural repellents. Here are some homemade examples that work more or less according to the cats, each one having its own olfactory tastes.
The Vinegar
Vinegar really does everything around the house, even repelling your cat. Spray it every day in the places where he usually scratches, he will look for another place, it’s time to buy him a scratching post just for him!
Lemon Or Citrus Fruits
Cats are very sensitive to citrus smells. Boil lemon or orange zest in water, infuse for ten minutes, leave to cool and spray in your house… In addition to keeping it away, it smells good and cleans up your interior!
Essential Oils
Essential oils should be handled with care. Indeed, they can be toxic for your tomcat, so you must absolutely avoid spraying them near his food. You can use 5 drops of lemon essential oil in 500 milliliters of water to spray tapestries. Lavender and eucalyptus essential oils are also good repellents.
