My Cat Is Ruining Our Furniture Suggestions on Natural Repellent

Hi R.,

I completely understand your frustration - none of our cats are declawed. Some cats like to scratch vertically and others horizontally, so you probably want to try offering yours a vertical and horizontal scratcher. Ours all do fine with horizontal scratchers - and I like the scratching 'mats' they sell at Petco and Petsmart. They're sissal mats with a fabric edge - not the most attractive things, but they work. THey're around $10-$15. I'd lend you one of ours if you'd like to try it but it would smell like our cats which might not be ideal.

I've also used a spray called 'Feliway', which is available at Petsmart for around $25-$30 (pricey but worth it!). I've sprayed it on corners of furniture periodically, and it seems to keep the cats calm so they don't scratch. It comes in a plug-in diffuser but I think the spray works best for deterring scratching because you can spray it directly onto things (test it first - I've never had any problems with it and I've used it on fabric, carpet and leather).

Another idea is to try 'sticky paws', which is essentially wide pieces of double-sided tape that you stick onto the furniture - and kitties don't like the feel of it so they avoid scracthing there.

Believe it or not, we've managed to clip our cats' claws regularly (about every couple of weeks) which seems to help a lot. We've adopted adult cats and they weren't too keen on the idea at first, but after a few times they were alright. You might try that and see if your cat will be agreeable to it, because that would probably help. We've never used the soft paws - seems like a lot of work and kind-of expensive too.

One last idea (that I haven't tried but heard it's effective) is to bolt or otherwise attach clear plexiglass on the corner of your couch. That idea seems rather extreme to me but maybe it would be an option for your situation.

Make sure there are 'OK' places to scratch, because scratching is a natural thing for cats (as I'm sure you know). Good luck and let me know if you'd like to borrow a scratching pad, the Feliway spray, etc. :)

J.

I am in total agreement with Kelly W. Cats can be VERY trainable if you are willing to stick with it and give it some time. I've had cats all my life. Currently we have three and they all have their claws. Although it's easier to start when they are little, I believe you can still train her. Scratching posts need not be expensive. Try Ebay or Craigslist and I highly recommend that you buy a NEW one only because cats can be so very territorial and if she smells another cat she may not use it. Petsmart and Petco have the cardboard scratchers. They are very small only about 6" x 20" or so and about 4" high. It's like a flat box with corregated cardboard in it and catnip to attract them. They run about $8.00. My cats love these.

When the cat scratches in the wrong places, you need to pick her up right away and take her to the appropriate scratching area and gently put her paws on it and do the scratching motion for her until she gets the idea.....she will, in time...you'll have to be patient with her. I also recommend a spray formula called 'Boundary'. It's an indoor/outdoor repellent and it's safe on nearly all surfaces. You can purchase it at the pet store as well. Not sure how much it costs, but it works. You can also try citrus peels....peel an orange or lemon or grapefruit and put the peels where she's scratching. It's a natural repellent but doesn't always work.

Good luck!

Cats do not like the smell of cloves, try sprinkling the spice, putting a spice pouch, or spray with diluted clove oil on the areas the cat is scratching. Perhaps, catch the cat in the act and spray them with a water bottle. Or, put scratching post/pads laden with cat nip in the areas that she scratches. Never let kitty scratch furniture, whether old or not! Only let kitty scratch cat intended items so that the cat is not confused as to what it can/cannot scratch.

Hi R..

A lot of people don't realize that declawing is considered inhumane and is illegal in about 20 countries. It is an amputation of the joint. It was even outlawed in Hollywood, CA.

http://www.pawproject.com/html/

I hope you find solutions. I am against declawing and only under extreme circumstances should people consider it. I figure, if somebody wants to amputate a cats fingertips, it better under only extreme circumstances.

Here are some websites that may provide info to you:
http://www.declawing.com/
http://www.declawing.com/htmls/outlawed.htm
http://www.declawing.com/htmls/declawing.htm

So, with that, here are some things you can try.

You can wrap your cat in a beach towel. Trim the nails and/or put on the soft-tips. That is how I do my cats nails.

Secondly, can you add a shower curtain liner or tape some foil to the "area" temporarily?

Get a scratch post. My cats love them. I keep them in a few rooms. Get some cat nip and crush it and sprinkle on post.

Try bitter apple spray.

I am part of the "rescue community". Your question is an excellent one. If nothing works for you, email me and I will put out an email question to many rescuers. They, most certainly, will have additional solutions.

Good luck for you and your kitty.

Here's my experience: I also agree that declawing is not a humane thing to do and would never have considered it until my cats got very destructive. We had a family cat that would use a scratching post and a scratching wall and that was great. No problem.

In college, I got a cat and had no problems with her - she used a post occasionally, but just didn't seem to be too interested in it or the furniture. I then inherited cat #2, who had come from a bad, abusive situation, and although they were not the best of friends they tolerated each other and were okay for a while.

About 2 years later, they became terribly territorial and destructive. Of course, I couldn't bear to give one of them away, but they were not only destroying furniture, they were absolutely ruining carpeting, too. I was renting apartments at the time and I would have let them ruin my cheap furniture but I couldn't afford to replace the landlord's carpet! I tried everything - cayenne pepper spray, citrus, foil and nothing was working. Also, I was at work most of the day, so I wasn't there constantly to reinforce the training and discipline.

I was at my wit's end and talked to my vet. He knew what I'd been going through and he brought up declawing. He said he didn't like to do it, but if the alternative was getting rid of the cats, I should consider it. They were exclusively indoor cats. I did not try the soft-tip nail covers as I had not heard of them at the time (20 yrs ago.) Finally, I did the front claws only. The cats were ages 8 and 5 at the time. Cat #1 was jumping to the top of the fridge on day 1 and cat #2 walked gingerly for a day, but that was it. Honestly, having them spayed was a more difficult recuperation. I wish I didn't have to do it and would say you should try everything else before you do it, but I don't regret it now. They both lived to ages 16 or more and had good lives.

It is worth noting that declawing of big cats is different than house cats. Many big/exotics are rendered incapable of walking properly after such surgery. It is not usually a problem with house cats. Also - yes, it is an American thing... because most Europeans/Australians would not dream of having their animals live inside and be on the furniture, upstairs, etc. This is true of both dogs and cats. My in-laws are appalled that people let their pets sit on the furniture and beds and live in the house!

Anyway, that was my experience. I would try the soft-tips and see if that works. I would never declaw a cat easily or lightly. It is a serious thing. But it ended up being not so horrible and the cats didn't seem to be bothered a bit after the first day or so.

Dear R.; I heard that cats don't like citrus smells, especially oranges. There are some sprays available at places like Carousel Car Wash that might do the trick. D.