Advice For Your Cat Not To Damage Your Furniture

Cats are sweethearts, but sometimes they have attitudes that can drive us crazy; We will give you some advice so that your cat does not damage your furniture  and forget about this horrible habit.

However, don’t assume that your cat acts like this to annoy you, these situations go beyond a simple feline fixation, and part of fixing the problem is understanding why it’s happening.

a matter of instinct

In a natural environment, and this is seen in “wild” cats (which live in semi-wild areas and spend a lot of time outdoors), cats scratch tree trunks and the ground. They do this mostly where they feel most vulnerable, or when they detect the presence of an attacker.

Before tackling the destruction problem, so that your cat doesn’t damage your furniture, you should understand that your feline is possibly one of the most territorial pets out there,  and these marks are a way to leave signs to others. cats that this territory belongs to them.

They mark their territory because,  in doing  so, they leave their scent, as well as their physical signs,  in addition, the sound they produce when performing this action can also have a communication function.

This makes it so that as soon as other  cats  enter their territory, they know what their size, gender and what stage of the heat cycle they are in. It is especially important in cats, as they are the ones who go out to fetch males in their territories.

Cats also use the surfaces to sharpen their claws, as this helps them to remove worn outer layers and renew them when the new ones are ready.

Surfaces they prefer to scratch

It varies greatly depending on the tactile experiences the cat has had. For example,  the overwhelming majority seem to prefer wrinkled areas,  especially when they are elements recently incorporated into the house, as the feline will be tempted to renew its territory.

On the other hand,  some cats prefer to scratch flat surfaces, such as pillows, so for this type of pet, the ideal is to purchase a horizontal scratcher.

On the market you will find a wide variety of toys and  accessories  that can help you with this problem, including some structures that allow him to climb and hide, preferably choose those that have different levels and textures.

What can you do so that the cat does not damage the furniture

You can improve your pet’s sense of ownership indoors by gently rubbing the entire area of ​​his face with a damp cloth, as this will help you collect your  own scents, and then apply them in the place that you want it to scratch.

Never punish your cat for scratching furniture. If you catch him in the act, it is more appropriate to distract him with a toy, or make a loud noise, such as clapping his hands. Ideally, get something that moves, like a toy tied to a string, to distract your attention and encourage you to chase.

And as for your sofa,  trim the jagged edges and wipe it with a damp cloth to get rid of the smell your cat has left behind. This will make it understand that it doesn’t belong to you and will slowly stop scratching those regions.

One thing we advise is to cover the sofa with some protector, but this will only protect the area and will not deal with the problem in depth, nor will it prevent your cat to stop damaging the furniture.

If your cat scratches your furniture, you need to provide a scraper alternative so he can mark the interior of your home. Look for something that is sturdy, such as a cloth-covered post or a  scratching post  that is tall enough to allow the cat to stand upright on its hind legs.

If he  continues to scratch compulsively, the best thing to do is to seek support, as he may be stressed or bored. So, distract your cat so he doesn’t damage the furniture and try to offer him a happy life to avoid extra problems with the cats.