Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Understanding and Correcting Your Cat's Behavior
• Method 2 of 4: Suppressing Undesirable Behavior
• Method 3 of 4: Restricting Your Cat's Access to Things
• Method 4 of 4: Limiting your ability to sharpen your claws
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

When a cat tears down furniture and other things in the house, it may seem to you that it is just trying to destroy everything around it, but this is not entirely true. It is a natural necessity for cats to sharpen their nails because they keep their nails in good shape. In addition, the visual cues and scent cats leave on objects help them mark territory and communicate this information to other animals, including other cats. In addition, when the cat sharpens its claws, the muscles of the shoulders and paws tense and relax, which is a kind of exercise. Since cats have a natural tendency to sharpen their claws, you'll need to be creative and work hard if you don't want furniture to suffer. Remember that nothing is impossible in this.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Understanding and Correcting Your Cat's Behavior

1. 1 Understand why cats sharpen their claws. A cat will not tear up furniture just to annoy you. A cat sharpens its claws because it is a great way to stretch the muscles from the claws to the paws, shoulders and back, and the process also sharpens the animal's claws and cleanses their outer shells.
   • Cats also tear up furniture to mark the area with the smell of their paws. There are special aromatic glands on the paws, but a person does not feel this smell, unlike other cats, dogs and other animals.
2. 2 Be patient and understanding about your cat's behavior. You love your pet and appreciate the bond between you. If your cat knows that you love her, she will love you. Cats try to make a person feel good, but only on condition that a person supports the animal and praises it.
   • Over time, if you regularly show your love, your cat will get used to not tearing the furniture and will find other objects to sharpen its claws on.
3. 3 Buy your cat at least one scratching post of any shape or type. A scratching post can help you solve the problem, but it can take a while to get your pet used to it.
   • When choosing a scratching post, it is important to consider several nuances. You should buy scratching posts that are no less in length than the height of the animal when it stands on its hind legs. The scratching post should not be heavy and high, otherwise it may fall on the cat.
   • Scratching posts come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some should be placed on the floor, others should be placed vertically. There are hemp scratching posts. Better to buy a few than not have one.
   • Some cats prefer to sharpen their claws on a horizontal surface (for example, on a carpet), so you may want to buy a recumbent scratching post. There are special scratching mats made of cardboard, hemp and carpet.
   • The most important thing is not to buy soft scratching posts. The material of the scratching post should resemble the bark of a tree (which cats sharpen their claws on in the wild); he must be rough and tough. It is best to use scratching posts wrapped in hemp rope. The more the cat likes the scratching post, the less often it will be attracted to furniture.
4. 4 Place the scratching posts in the right places. Find out where and on what furniture the cat sharpened its claws. Place the scratching posts so that they are in a conspicuous place next to this furniture.
   • If you have a new animal, place the scratching post where you think your pet will start tearing up furniture.
   • If your cat leaves marks and scratches furniture in many places, place comfortable scratching posts everywhere. It is best to have several, especially if you have many rooms or if you have more than one cat. This will reduce the likelihood of your cat tearing at furniture.
   • If your cat sharpens its claws all the time on the chair in which you sit most often, put a scratching post next to the chair. You can put your clothes on the scratching post for a while or put personal belongings on it so that the cat begins to associate the scratching post with you. This is especially important if the cat is strongly attached to the same person who lives with her in the same house. If the scratching post or cat play complex comes into contact with the cat's favorite sofa or chair, she will more often sharpen her claws on the scratching post.
5. 5 Train your cat to use the scratching post. Try to make sure that the kitten or adult cat sharpens its claws only on the scratching post. To get the cat interested in the scratching post, place it directly in front of it. At the same time, gently push the animal forward so that it responds to the scratching post.
   • If you want to make the scratching post more attractive, rub it with catnip or sprinkle it with catnip oil on the scratching post.
   • Every time your cat sharpens its claws on the scratching post, praise it and give it a treat.You can even try to put your pet's paws on the scratching post and make some up and down movements, but remember that many cats do not like being forced to do something, so this experiment can have bad consequences.
   • You can sharpen the scratching post with your nails for the cat to see.
   • Try attaching a dangling toy to the scratching post. This will get the cat's attention. She can start playing with a toy and at the same time will understand that sharpening her claws on a scratching post is very pleasant.
   • You can also try the following trick: When entering the house, do not pet the cat until you reach the scratching post. Stand nearby, scratch the scratching post with your claws and say hello to the cat. When the cat comes to the scratching post and starts to tear it, remove your hands and pet the cat. At the same time, you need to praise her for the desired behavior.
6. 6 Change the position of the scratching point if necessary. If your cat is oblivious to the scratching post, move it to a different location. Don't try to make the cat love the scratching post - instead, try to make it more attractive to the cat.
   • For example, if you notice that your cat is nervous around the scratching post or expresses dissatisfaction, try tilting the scratching post to its side. This will make it appear smaller and less intimidating, and the cat will be able to get used to it.
   • Cats usually like certain surfaces. Use a scratching post with a coating that suits your pet. It can be rope, carpet, cardboard, cloth, or something else entirely. You will be able to quickly wean the cat to tear furniture and accustom it to a scratching post if you think about the preferences of the animal, and not force him to do as you want.

Method 2 of 4: Suppressing Undesirable Behavior

1. 1 Speak in a threatening voice. Saying "No" sharply when your cat walks past furniture it is sharpening its claws on can help dampen the animal's interest in the furniture.
   • If you do not want to shout or speak in a stern voice, make some noise with a jar of small stones or coins, or clap your hands. Then, for educational purposes, take the cat in your arms and sit next to the scratching post. Do not scold the cat and do not get angry - remember that the animal only follows its instincts, and you are a more developed creature that can control your emotions.
   • Never scold your cat if it is near the scratching post or sharpening its claws on it. The cat should associate the scratching post only with pleasant and joyful sensations.
2. 2 Scare the cat away with water. If you have a spray bottle, fill it with water and spray it on your cat every time it walks past furniture and begins to sharpen its nails on it. Try to do this before the cat starts sharpening its claws, or immediately after. This will not harm the animal, but it will make it clear that in the process you can experience unpleasant sensations from the water.
   • Try scaring the cat away with citrus oil. Many cats do not like the smell of this oil. Mix equal proportions of eucalyptus and orange oil and pour into a spray bottle with water. You can check how the cat reacts to the oil: dampen the cloth with the mixture and let the cat smell it. You will have to shake the mixture each time as the oil and water will separate. The oil will not only help scare the cat away from furniture, but it will also fill your home with a pleasant scent.
3. 3 Distract the cat. Sometimes you just need to physically distract the animal. Remove the cat from the furniture and give her something else. You can give her a toy or pet her - whatever the cat likes more than sharpening its claws will do.

Method 3 of 4: Restricting Your Cat's Access to Things

1. 1 Cover affected areas of furniture. Some pieces of furniture seem to be made to sharpen their claws. In this case, you can try the following:
   • Stick double-sided tape to the furniture. Cats do not like sticky things, so they will not touch with their paws what their paws are sticking to.There is no hair on the pads, and these are very sensitive areas of the body.
   • If the furniture is large, stick masking tape to the armrests or back (where the cat likes to play and hide from the spray bottle).
   • If rug or rug is damaged, spread the sticky side up on it.
   • You can buy a special tool, which is a sticky strip for attaching to curtains, tulle, carpets and any objects that your cat likes to sharpen their claws on.
   • Place a plastic or vinyl rug against the back of your sofa or armchair, inside out. The cat will not like sharpening its claws on sharp protrusions.
   • If your cat is tearing at furniture while you are not at home, cover the furniture with plastic wrap. Cats don't like plastic because of its smell and texture. You can also place inflated balloons under the bedspread covering the furniture. The balloon will burst when the cat tries to sharpen its claws, and this will scare her. She will remember this sensation for a long time after the balloon bursts.
   • Also try using the Scat mat, which scares animals away from certain areas and surfaces.
2. 2 Try to keep the cat away from specific areas by installing a motion sensor connected to a spray bottle or ultrasound device. It is best to do this remotely so that the cat does not associate unpleasant sensations with people, otherwise the cat may become afraid of a person, and it will sharpen its claws on the sofa until you see it.
   • These devices are commercially available.
3. 3 Close the door to the room where there is valuable furniture and expensive items. If you have antiques or valuable furniture, keep cats out of this room. Tell everyone in the house that cats are not allowed in this room, and always keep the door closed. It is better to think about it yourself than to expect the cat to know which furniture should not be touched.
   • If the cat enters this room, make a harsh sound to let her know that she did something wrong.

Method 4 of 4: Limiting your ability to sharpen your claws

1. 1 Trim the claws carefully. Since one of the reasons cats sharpen their claws is to sharpen them and even slow their growth, you should trim the claws carefully on a regular basis.
   • If you are unsure how to do this, ask your vet to show you this the first time. Doing something wrong can hurt your cat.
   • If your cat is not accustomed to clipping, she may not like it, but you should keep doing it until she gets used to it. Praise your cat when you trim the claws so that she feels like you love her.
   • Cutting the tips of the claws is even useful if the cat never goes outside. This can be done with a nail clipper (never use a dog nail clipper). You should always be careful not to cut off more than you need to. The first time, ask your veterinarian to show you how to do this correctly.
2. 2 Place the plastic pads on the claws. The pads adhere to the claws and prevent the cat from tearing the furniture, as they cover the sharp part of the claws. You can stick them on yourself or ask your vet to help you. After 3-6 weeks, the pads will begin to break off and need to be re-glued.
3. 3 If possible, let your cat go outside. If a cat can go outside, she will surely find a tree that she will like to sharpen her claws on. Don't scold her for doing this (as long as it doesn't harm the tree) and keep letting the cat walk as natural scratching posts will distract the cat from your furniture.
4. 4 Consider the cons of claw removal and possible alternatives before removing claws. The absence of claws will protect the furniture, but this is an operation and, as with any surgery, there are risks associated with this procedure.
   • Removing claws is not a prohibited procedure, but ethical considerations are more important here.Do your research and get as much information as possible before deciding to remove all the claws on your cat's paws.
   • This procedure removes part of the last joint on the paws. If you decide to have this operation, discuss it with your veterinarian. Some cats do not have problems after surgery, while others develop chronic pain and arthritis.
   • Remember that if the cat goes outside, the lack of claws will prevent it from climbing trees and protecting itself.
   • Review the contract you entered into when purchasing the animal. Sometimes breeders prescribe in the contract that the claws cannot be removed from this animal.

Tips

• Cat houses with scratching posts, small shelters and sleeping platforms are popular with cats. They are not cheap, but they will allow animals to both mark territory and sharpen their claws. In addition, the cat will be physically active as it climbs up and jumps down.
• Cats are afraid of citrus fruits (like oranges and lemons). Temporarily spread orange peels around the furniture to see what happens. If the cat continues to tear at the furniture, spray the furniture with citrus oil.
• Do not cover the scratching post with a cloth that looks like your carpet on the floor or upholstery. If the tissues are similar, the cat will have an association.
• If you like to do something with your own hands, try building a scratching post. There are articles on WikiHow on how to make a scratching post from a log.
• Sometimes cats fight over a scratching post. If you notice that one cat drives the other away from the scratching post, put the scratching post for the aggressive cat in a different place. Each animal in the house can have its own favorite places and its own territory. Everything is exactly the same as in the case of cats that do not want to go to the same litter box with others.

Warnings

• Place the scratching post on a stable surface so that it doesn't tip over when your cat starts using it.
• Never yell at a cat. This will only worsen the relationship between you. The cat does not understand that this is a punishment and that it can be avoided. The cat thinks that you are just raising your voice and getting angry. The typical reaction to this is to hide from you and wait for you to calm down, and then continue doing what was done before.
• Be patient. If you feel like you can no longer tolerate your cat's behavior, ask your veterinarian for the advice of a behavioral specialist. A trainer and claw removal may not be necessary if you train your pet patiently and persistently.

What do you need

• Horizontal or vertical scratching post (depending on the preference of the animal)
• Catnip, catnip essential oil
• Double-sided tape
• Cat toys
• Spray bottle with water
• Blanket to make clipping the nails easier (if needed)
• Orange essential oil (optional)