It's natural for cats in the wild to scratch; since they use their claws for hunting. Unfortunately some cats want to scratch your couch into strings, like mine. That was hard to explain to my husband. I guess the excuse that the “sun was eating away at the fabric of the couch” didn't convince him. So I solved it with getting a large Cat Tree Condo for my cats. They absolutely adore it.
Indoor cats have a need to scratch, and not just for the exercise. Cats have sweat glands between their paw pads, scratching lets them leave their scent behind. This is the way they mark their territory.
It's impossible to persuade cats not to scratch. But it is possible to direct them to the area of your home that they can scratch. By providing a Cat Tree Condo, you are giving your cat an area to use for scratching. Many Cat Tree Condo's have scratching posts as part of their features. Along with other features like, Luxury sleeping quarters, a lavish play area, a cat gym, and the best one's have a cat hammock, for those lazy days.
If you need some other solutions, here are a few ways to keep cats from scratching where they shouldn’t.
• Get a Cat Tree Condo – This will give your cat an area they are allowed to scratch. With all the different textures, it will keep your cat satisfied.
• Use standard deterrence methods, like putting nasty substances on what they’re scratching to keep them away from it. Or putting things around the area that will break loudly, like balloons.
• Decorate with leather instead of nubby cloth, which cats prefer to scratch.
• Put soft Paws or caps on your cat’s claws.
• Trim their nails.
• Have them declawed –which I personally think is inhumane, and most other cat owners do also. I would try all other methods before this last resort. I like a happy cat, and I feel this breaks their natural spirit.
Here are some ways to persuade your cat to use a scratching post:
• Smear catnip on the cat’s post.
• Hang a dangling toy from the top of it.
• Move the scratching post so it’s next to something they like to scratch.
• Put the carpet nap-side-out on the scratching post, since some cats prefer rougher surfaces.
• Guide her paws over it, showing her what to do. Be careful with this, some experts think this idea can backfire, turning cats against scratching posts permanently because of their abhorrence of being manipulated.
• Make the scratching post a pleasant place for them to go by putting their toys or a treat nearby, or even a smelly old sock there. You might also play with your cat near the post.
• Try a log instead of a scratching post.
So far, the Cat Tree Condo is working and my cats are happy and content. Sometimes they look like statues, it is a sight.
