How to Stop a Cat From Scratching Furniture

Scratching isn't a behavior problem to eliminate, it's a physical need to redirect. Cats scratch to mark territory and keep their claws healthy. The furniture just happens to be convenient.

What you'll need

At least one sturdy scratching post per cat, taller than the cat when stretched, plus a horizontal cardboard scratcher as a backup option.

Steps

1. Place posts right next to what they're currently scratching

   Location matters more than the post itself at first. Move it gradually toward where you'd prefer it once they're using it consistently.

2. Make the post genuinely appealing

   Sisal rope or rough fabric tends to work better than carpet. A little catnip rubbed into the surface helps in the first week.

3. Make the furniture temporarily less appealing

   Double-sided tape or aluminum foil on the scratched area feels unpleasant underpaw without hurting them, and most cats avoid it after a few tries.

4. Reward every use of the post

   A treat or praise right when they scratch the post, not later, builds the association fastest.

Time and temperament

Realistically: A cat with a strong existing habit usually shifts to a new post within one to two weeks of consistent placement and reward. Moving a post to a new location, once it's established as the preferred spot, should happen in small steps over several more weeks rather than all at once.

Reading them: A cat sniffing and pawing at the post without committing to a full scratch is still deciding, give it a few more days before assuming it's rejected. A cat that goes straight back to the furniture after using the post once or twice usually means the post's texture or stability isn't right, not that redirection has failed.

Staying patient: Relocating a post too quickly, more than a foot or so a week, often undoes weeks of progress. Slow moves hold; fast ones tend to send a cat back to the furniture.

Frequently asked questions