How to Stop Cats from Scratching and Damaging Leather Furniture

Are you frustrated because your cat is scratching and ruining your leather furniture? Your cat likely doesn't understand or care that its behavior is causing damage to your home items. If that's the case, it’s time for your cat to find another place to sharpen its claws. Cats can't change their behavior on their own, so you’ll need to figure out how to adjust their scratching habits in a way that makes both you and your cat happy.

Learn About Scratching Posts. Cats enjoy scratching a variety of materials, including corrugated cardboard, carpeted surfaces, and sisal (a type of rug). Scratching posts come in both vertical and horizontal options, though cats generally prefer vertical posts. These posts also come in different shapes and sizes.

• Sisal is a popular material for scratching posts. You can find sisal at carpet stores, or check with your veterinarian or pet store to find out where to buy it.
• Scratching posts are ideal for stretching muscles. While cats prefer vertical posts, horizontal ones can also help them stretch while scratching.

Buy a Scratching Post. With the wide variety of scratching posts available, it's a good idea to buy a few and see which one your cat prefers. Keep in mind that both humans and cats have different ideas of what an ideal post is. Therefore, it's important to allow your cat to choose what works best for them.

• If you opt for a vertical scratching post, choose one around 0.5 meters in height to give your cat enough room to stretch its body while scratching.
• The scratching post needs to be sturdy and durable. If the post falls over while your cat is scratching, it will no longer use it. If your cat prefers a horizontal post, secure it beneath furniture to keep it stable while in use.

Don't throw away worn-out scratching posts. Over time, scratching posts can get worn and damaged. While you might want to discard them due to their poor condition, your cat actually finds the worn-down texture ideal for scratching.

Understand why cats scratch. Cats scratch for many reasons, including marking territory, stretching muscles, sharpening claws, or simply for fun. Scratching is a natural behavior, so it's not necessary to stop your cat from scratching altogether, but you can guide them toward more suitable places to do it.

Make leather furniture less appealing. While you can't entirely prevent your cat from scratching, you can train them to avoid using leather furniture. There are various methods to deter your cat from damaging your leather items:

• Sprinkle orange peels near the leather furniture. Cats dislike the smell of this fruit.
• Dip a cotton ball in a solution with a scent cats find unpleasant (such as perfume or mint cream) and place it near the leather furniture.
• Attach materials to the leather furniture that make it hard for the cat to scratch, such as aluminum foil, double-sided tape, or sandpaper.
• Spray a small amount of water on your cat when you catch them scratching the furniture. This will temporarily discourage them, but they may resume the behavior when you're not around. This method is not a long-term solution.
• Spray Feliway on the furniture. Feliway is a mist that contains a scent that keeps cats away from the areas you apply it to. You can buy it at local pet stores.
• Eliminate the cat's scent on the furniture. Cats tend to scratch areas where they've left their scent, so cleaning the furniture to remove the cat's scent can prevent further scratching. You can find deodorizing sprays at pet stores to help with this.

Place items that cats find unpleasant near the areas you want to prevent them from scratching. Preventing cats from scratching leather furniture may take several weeks or even months to show results. As your cat starts to avoid the leather, you can gradually remove one deterrent at a time. By the time you've cleared all the deterrents, your cat will have learned to stop scratching the furniture.

Do not punish your cat by hitting. While it can be frustrating to see your cat scratching and ruining your furniture, physical punishment will not solve the issue. Worse, it will likely backfire, as your cat will start associating you with negative experiences. The most you should do is spray a small amount of water on your cat to deter them, but keep in mind that this is not a long-term solution.

Place the scratching post in an accessible spot. It's important to place the post where your cat tends to scratch. If your cat frequently scratches the leather furniture, position the post nearby.

• You can also place the scratching post in areas where your cat spends a lot of time, such as their resting area or a favorite window. If you place it in a corner of the room or in a place your cat rarely visits, they will likely ignore it.
• Cats often scratch when they wake up, so placing the post near their bed can encourage them to use it.

Guide your cat. This means that when your cat starts scratching the furniture, you should gently lift them and move them to the scratching post. It will take time for your cat to understand why you’re moving them, and they may not immediately scratch the post when placed there. However, if they start using the post, reward them with a treat.

• By using positive reinforcement, your cat will learn to use the scratching post instead of damaging the furniture.

Make the scratching post appealing. Sprinkle catnip leaves or powder onto the scratching post to encourage your cat to use it. You can also attach their favorite toy to the post. After playing with the toy, they will likely scratch the post and have a wonderful time.

Feed and play with your cat near the scratching post. A great way to motivate your cat to use the scratching post is by spending quality playtime near it. The more enjoyable experiences your cat has around the post, the more likely they are to enjoy using it.

Don’t “teach” your cat how to scratch the post. You might be tempted to guide their paws to show them how to use the scratching post, but your cat won’t appreciate it as they already know how to scratch. Even though you’re trying to stop them from damaging the furniture, it’s important to give them some space to figure out how to use the post on their own.

• However, some suggest placing your cat’s paws on the scratching post to leave their scent. The scent glands on their paws will transfer to the post, encouraging them to continue using it.