We all undoubtedly love our furry little friends, however, many of us aren’t so fond of the damage that they can do to our furniture. If your cat is scratching and damaging your lounges, the most important thing to understand is that clawing is a perfectly natural behaviour for cats and that they’re doing it for very good reasons. Once you understand the reasons for the behaviour, you are able to then take preventative measures to control it and keep your lounge looking beautiful.
WHY YOUR CAT CLAWS AT THE LOUNGE
- To look after their claws. Scratching is used to shed the top layer/sheath of their claws and condition them.
- To mark their territory. Your cat’s paw contains scent glands which are used to mark territory as a natural method of communication.
- To stretch. After a long nap who doesn’t like a big stretch? Using your lounge gives your cat enough support to stretch, which does wonders for the spine and shoulder muscles.
- To get attention. Cats are clever little creatures and some learn that scratching attracts their owner’s attention…even if that attention is negative.
- Cats are also known to scratch furniture when they feel stressed out after having recently encountered another pet.
In order to protect your lounge for damage and allow your pet to do what comes naturally to them, we’ve put together 4 handy tips.
1. GIVE THEM A SCRATCHING POST
Now that you know the reasons why your cat scratches and why it is healthy, it is time to purchase a scratching post your furry friend will love. The scratching post should be tall and sturdy enough to give your cat a full stretch.
2. PLACE THE SCRATCHING POST IN A STRATEGIC LOCATION
If you want your cat to utilise the scratching post, your best chance is to place the post in a location of your house that your cat frequents often. Does your cat love to laze about by the sliding door and catch the days sun? Pefect…place the post there as cats love to stretch after a big sleep.
3. MAKE YOUR LOUNGE SERVICE UNATTRACTIVE FOR SCRATCHING
Test some different methods which may discourage your feline friend from wanting to scratch the lounge. This includes spraying the lunge with citrus-scented spray, as cats have an aversion to citrus odours. Another method is to cover the lounge or area the cat scratches with a sheet or throw rug, this will encourage the cat to seek out an alternate scratching spot…like the brand new scratching post you bought!
4. TRIM YOUR CAT’S CLAWS
If you’re worried about your cat’s sharp claws, and the damage they are doing to your lounge, trimming them is the most effective way to minimise the damage your cat can cause. There are numerous products which assist you to clip your cat’s little claws, but if your cat is particularly difficult, adding a visit to Sparkles Spa Grooming on your next cats next stay at Cat Utopia is in order.
