How do I keep my cat from scratching my couch?

Question

My g/f is getting pissed at me and my cat! The cat peed on the new couch and is already scratching it. What could I do to prevent this? Help!

Answer 1

get a scratching post.

Answer 2

hey u should buy it a scratching pole! they really work. your cat will run to it all of the time, and have an urge to scratch it and attack the pole which is covered in carpet. very effective solution which prevents the cat from scratching and damaging other things around the house.

Answer 3

Like another answerer said, get a scratching post. You can get one for 10 bucks at walmart [although they are the crappiest kind you can get and sometimes fall apart].. If you put it right by the couch, the cat will go to the post before the couch. If the cat doesn't, start spraying it with a spray bottle with water. If you do this everytime you catch it going to the couch, you can train it to understand that it's wrong.

Oh and don't get the cat declawed. That is a very cruel thing to do... It's the same as cutting our fingers off to the knuckle. Kitties need their claws.

Answer 4

Do not listen to those who say to declaw your cat. Laws are going to act to have declawing be considered animal abuse because it's many disadvantages, (your cat will also lose his or her balance).

Get a scratching post. SmartyKat has a very cheap scratching rug (and other brands have that too) and it comes with catnip to lure your cat onto the rug to scratch. Very great.  

Answer 5

First of all does the cat seem to dislike the couch or the girlfriend? It could be that because he is in a new place he feels uncomfortable and has that chosen as 'his' territory. Also, he could be pissed off at you because you moved him to a new place, but if there are issues between him and your girlfriend he's probably just doing it to p**s her off. You should get his claws trimed also, if he continues to scratch.

To stop him you need to get a spray bottle at the store. Fill it with water and whenever he missbehaves squirt him! Or scream. . .or both.

(Also not to insult your intellegence but if the cat is not fixed then doing so will certainly help.)

Answer 6

if you declaw it it wont scratch the couch, but im not sure about the pissing part

Answer 7

you can get the cats claws de-clawed. then your cat won't be able to scratch any thing. i don't know about the pee problem though.

Answer 8

You can get furniture protection from the pet store - they sell self adhesive strips that will make scratching unpleasant for the cat, they sell sprays like sour apple that will also make scratching unpleasant.

I bought a cloth "blanket" with audible alarm from Carol Wrights Gifts that alarms anytime my cat tries to jump on my couch.  He doesn't go near it anymore.  It was only like $10.  

The cat needs a scratching post, add catnip to attract him to it.  

Do not declaw - that is not humane.  

Clean up the pee with "Kids and Pets" cleaning solution available at Target or Petsmart.  Buy a black light $15 at Petsmart to make sure the stain and smell is completely gone.  Your cat will continue to pee there if he smells his own "scent" there.  

Did you and the cat just move in to your girlfriend's place?  It sounds like your cat is trying to claim some territory.  Give him his own space, like a window seat, a cat tunnel, a bed .... something that is his and his alone.  

You can also pick up a cheap vinyl couch cover from Carol Wright Gifts for when you and your girlfriend are not home.  

To train a cat - get a small water bottle sprayer and when the cat goes on the couch squirt some water at him.  Try to make it seem to come from nowhere.  You don't want your cat to associate unpleasant stuff with you.  He can't know that you sprayed him with water.