There are many tips out there on how to deal with cat scratching, so to help you out, we’ve chosen our top five tips.
1.
You can’t stop cats from scratching, so don’t try. Cats scratch for several reasons. One being exercise, another is to mark their territory. They have small glands in their paws, and leave a scent that humans can’t notice. A third reason to scratch is that it feels good. Instead of stopping your cat from scratching, use your energy to help them find more suitable places to scratch.
Tasty Tips
2.
To give your cat an alternative, you need to find something they can scratch that won’t drive you crazy. A scratch post is a good alternative, but make sure you get a post that’s solid enough to handle an adult cat exercising on it. If it starts wobbling, you can be pretty sure they’ll remember and stay away from it. Start by putting the post close to a place where they normally scratch, and if you see your cat get ready to scratch something other than the post, gently guide in the right direction. Reward with treats when your cat makes the right choice.
3.
If you find you can’t keep watch all the time and your cat is pretty insistent on scratching a certain piece of furniture, try to cover that part with something they won’t like, use double-sided tape to make the surface sticky, or fix some aluminium foil to make the surface uncomfortable.
4.
There’s much to be said on the subject of scolding cats, both verbally and physically, and generally it’s nothing positive. However, if you really need to give your cat a firm signal that scratching certain places is a no-no, a water spray bottle can come in handy. A short squirt of water won’t hurt, but it will give clear and quick feedback that scratching that object isn’t tolerated.
5.
Be patient. Cats are creatures of habit, and you probably want your cat to stop destroying your furniture right now. However, if you push things too hard and get angry, it might affect your relationship, and not for the better. If the scratching issues continue, get your vet’s advice as other underlying conditions may be affecting your cat’s behaviour.
Related products
Light Adult Cat Food
Chicken recipe dry cat food with L-carnitine and fewer calories for ideal weight management in adult cats. Packed with high-quality protein, omega-6s, and vitamin E for shiny fur and healthy skin.
Hairball & Perfect Coat Adult Dry Cat Food with Chicken
Hill's Science Plan Hairball & Perfect Coat Adult Cat Food with Chicken is formulated to effectively help avoid hairball formation in adult cats while promoting a beautiful coat. Thanks to its mix of essential omega-6 fatty acids, this food benefits the cat's skin and fur, keeping them healthy and shiny. Our Advanced Fibre Technology helps reduce hairballs by naturally promoting their passage through the gut. This food is formulated with high-quality protein for a perfectly balanced, great-tasting recipe.
Sensitive Stomach & Skin Adult Cat Food
Hill's Science Plan Sensitive Stomach & Skin Adult Wet Cat Food with Turkey is a complete pet food for adult cats, aged 1–6 years. This highly digestible wet food comes in a pouch and supports healthy digestion, as well as nourishes skin and promotes a thick and lustrous coat.
Sterilised Adult Cat Food
Hill's Science Plan Sterilised Adult Dry Cat Food with Salmon has a unique weight management formula to help burn fat, build muscle and keep sterilised cats lean. Made with high-quality, easy-to-digest ingredients.
Related articles
Hill's Cat Foods: A Healthy Choice for Your Cat
Selecting the right food for your kitten is a key to quality nutrition and a long, healthy life. Learn more about how to select the right kitten food.
Cats Need Good Nutrition In Order To Stay Healthy
Good nutrition is about the right balance of nutrients. Learn more about health issues when feeding a cat food that has an improper nutritional balance from your friends at Hills Pet Nutrition.
How Often Should You Feed A Cat?
Feeding time can be a wonderful bonding opportunity for you and your cat. Find out how to make the most of it and create a healthy habit with HIll's Pet UK.
Hill's Cat Foods: Nutritional Balance Just for Indoor Cats
Find the right Hill
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.