Cat Scratching Furniture

This requires a little extra work but it can be done. Simply take three or four balloons and blow them up. As you cat approaches, and believe me, he will, pop the balloons. Cats do not like startling noises, so just watch him take off. The idea is to condition your cat to dislike the sight of any balloon he sees. Do this on three or four different occasions.

Once you cat stops approaching the balloons, place some around or on top of your furniture and leave them there for about a week. That's about all it will take. Remove the balloons after that time. Your cat will learn that it's not a good idea to go near, let alone, scratch the furniture.

Cats use smell to communicate but they do not like strange or strong smells. When you have a
cat scratching furniture you need to use a smell that your cat hates but one that you can put up with.

Purchase a can of scented bitter apples, bitter oranges, or bitter lemons from your local pet store.

Make sure you spray the area around your furniture. The scent will not harm your furniture but will keep your cat away.

Sticky Paws is a transparent double sided adhesive strip that you can easily apply directly to fabric and made to stop cats from destroying furniture. Since cats do not like to scratch on or like the texture of sticky surfaces, the scratching will soon end.

Stick Paws are easy to remove and will not harm your cat or leave a sticky residue.

You have to see this to believe it. Ssscat is simply a can of pressurized spray with a motion detector inside of it.

Place the can on your furniture and at the moment your cat gets near, the motion detector senses his movement and out comes a loud burst of non toxic spray. The cat gets startled and runs away. No more cat scratching furniture.

After a few bursts of this noisy brisk spray, your cat will stay away.

Cats need to scratch in order to stretch and strengthen their muscles. They are motivated by smell, sound, texture and movement.

Mental stimulation is nothing more than redirecting your cat away from your furniture and toward play by using his body and brain.

Here's a small list of items you can use to mentally stimulate your cat:

1. Boxes, boxes, and more boxes - Go to your local grocery store and get some empty boxes. Cats love to jump on them and play inside them.

2. Laser Beam - Your local pet store sells these little gadgets with a laser beam inside. Just push a button, move the lase beam around, and watch your cat go crazy trying to chase it.

3. Scratching Post - A scratching post makes an excellent substitute for your furniture. The scratching post should consist of a fairly smooth material that your cat will not get it's claws stuck in. Natural fiber rope wrapped tightly around the post seems to appeal to many cats.

4. Train your cat to fetch - Yes, it can be done but it takes time. Initially, your cat will probably be more receptive to retrieving rather than chasing.

5. String toys - String toys to cats are like rubber balls to dogs. Cats love the movement of the toy on the string.

Here is some useful information to keep in mind when training your cat away from ANY cat behavior problems:

1. Train your cat as early as possible. Kittens are like children and much easier to teach than older cats.

2. Cat training should be structured using a system of rewards and appropriate punishments.

3. What you do in terms of training or not training your cat will determine your cat's behavior.

4. Good cat training information should consist of your cat's thinking, your part in training, and your cat's natural behavior.

5. You need to check out Anthony Nerman's " Easy Cat Training Home Study Course "
which fulfills steps 2 and 4 listed above.

Anthony Nerman's course makes training your cat fun and rewarding. Click on the link below and you'll also receive a free bonus entitled " Pampering Your Cat ".