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How to stop the cat scratching furniture?

5 replies

Nolarbear · 30/01/2024 19:59

Our cat has just turned 12 months old and has started going outside. She has two scratch posts and one scratch mat. She doesn’t use the posts but she does use the mat a lot. However, she has now started scratching the rug in the living room. She didn’t do this as a kitten, she used her scratch mat straight away and seemed fine with that until now. She has suddenly just become obsessed with it and won’t levee it alone. Every single time she steps foot in the living room she is straight over to the rug. I have no idea where it’s come from. We have to put her out of the room but now she has started scratching on the door too. There’s claw marks on the bottom of the door. How do I stop her from doing this? I give her the scratch mat every time she goes to the rug to try and redirect her but it’s not working. She prefers the rug to any of her other scratch things. Please help!

(pic of the demon on said rug for tax)

How to stop the cat scratching furniture?
OP posts:
FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 30/01/2024 20:08

If you find out tell the rest of us.

She looks the determined type who’ll look you dead in the eye while doing it too.

lifeispainauchocolat · 31/01/2024 23:13

A lot of it is scent marking so I would try and give her as much furniture as possible - mats and scratch posts and cat trees and beds so that she doesn't feel the need to scent other things.

goodnessmeits2024 · 31/01/2024 23:39

Get a medium sized cheap rug and turn it upside down.

They love sharpening claws on this and it's a go to rather than furniture.

If they are scratching soft furnishings you can get shiny fablon type sticky backed plastic and cut to size for troublesome areas. They don't like the smooth feel.

This along with the upturned rug will break the habit.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 01/02/2024 13:28

You could trim her claws, I do my elderly girls claws using human nail nippers.

I was nervous at first considering I do it professionally but you get used to it.

Nolarbear · 01/02/2024 16:11

Thanks everyone! We had some offcuts of old carpet that we have turned upside down (we are in the middle of renovating) and I also bought a spray from Amazon that is supposed to stop them scratching… so far so good! Since I sprayed the rug she hasn’t been on it since and is using the upturned carpet and her mat 😄

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