Is your cat scratching your furniture?

Animal behaviorists believe that cats inherently need to scratch-both to keep their nails in tip-top shape and to mark their territory. No problem there " until your cat decides to do what comes naturally by using your couch as his own personal scratching post. With patience and persistence, you can rechannel this inappropriate behavior and save your furniture.

How to keep cats from scratching furniture

To keep your cat from scratching in a particular place, you'll need to make your home furnishings unattractive to him. Cover his favorite targets with double-stick tape, tin foil, balloons or contact paper. For additional protection, cover your furniture with a sheet, blanket or plastic slipcover. You should keep it covered at least until your pet learns proper etiquette. And remember, fabrics such as raw silk, leather or anything with a thick and bumpy texture are very tempting to feline claws. You may want to avoid these materials for your furniture and drapes, opting for smooth cottons such as chintz or parachute cloth instead.

Retrain your cat's scratching behavior

Next, you'll need to retrain your cat by providing him with an appropriate place to act on his instincts. Try a sturdy scratching post that's covered in sisal or burlap; ideally it should be at least 3 feet tall. A tree trunk may work well, too, but first make sure it is insect-free. Start off by putting this post next to your cat's favorite inappropriate target " a chair leg, your living room rug, etc. Remember, it may take a bit of effort to get him to use his new scratching post. Try running your nails over it or dragging his favorite interactive toy across it. If he still needs coaxing, twice a month sprinkle catnip or the oil from canned tuna on the post. Praise him whenever you see him using the new post, and gradually bring it closer to a preferred location, away from his old favorite. You may want to set it up near his regular resting place. Many cats are compelled to scratch when they wake up from a nap.

If things are not going as smoothly as you would like, ask your veterinarian about rubber or plastic caps that glue on a cat's claws. They will need to be replaced by your pet's doctor every 8 weeks, but will help minimize the damage to your furniture as you continue with the retraining process. And remember, by keeping his nails trimmed, you will also cut down on damage.