7 Simple Tricks On How To Keep Cats Off Furniture

Last updated on May 22nd, 2021 at 04:05 am

If you are wondering how to keep cats off furniture naturally, you are not alone. That has been a problem for countless cat owners and is one of the more challenging aspects of owning cats.

How to keep cats away from furniture

How to keep cats off furniture

Cats do not just use the furniture to rest, but may also scratch and tear them. After having spent a large amount of money on home furniture, it is heart-breaking to see your furniture being damaged by  your adorable cat.

It can also be bothersome finding the fur of your cat on your couch, sofa, door mats, carpets and bed  and could be even unhealthy.How to keep cats away from furniture? Well, this needs considerable effort on your part.

Training the cat or your kitten at an early stage can help them keep away from your furniture. Once the cat is familiar with using the furniture of the house, it becomes difficult to train it to keep away from it.

How to keep cats off furniture naturally

Here are 7 simple tricks to keep your cats off your furniture.

1. Use Cat Repelling Mats and Pads 

This is by far the most efficient way to get your cats to avoid your furniture. This is a shortcut of sorts and all it requires you do is put these cat repelling mats where you want your cats to not go. Cats are intelligent creatures and learn which places to avoid quickly. These repelling mats word via different mechanisms and many different companies produce them. I will list my favourite and its details.

Pet Safe’ Scat Mat

The Scat Mat in Action

You can place the Scat mat on your furniture, kitchen counters, garden lawn or anywhere you don’t want your cat. The way the Scat Mat works is by discharging a 3-second static pulse whenever your cat steps on it or touches it. Although this small impulse is not enough to harm your cat, it is enough to irritate it and it will find another location to relax. Over a small period of time, the cat realises that your furniture is not a great place for a nap and will start avoiding it.

Scat Mat’s features

1. It is the most efficient and effective way to deter your cat from your furniture.

2. It has a Safe, low-voltage battery-operated system

3. It has a simple and  transparent design and available in 3 different sizes

4. One 9 volt battery will last approximately up to 6 months or 10,000 activations which means no running costs

5. The best part about it is that it has an activity Indicator which shows when pets are no longer touching Scat Mat and you can then remove it with confidence that your cat will not use your furniture again.

6. It can be used for cats and dogs of all sizes and breeds.

7. It is versatile and  can be used on the sofa, other furniture, counter tops and garden etc.

Click here to buy the Scat mat from Amazon

2. Manual Training 

Wise pet owners after having noticed their cat using furniture as a toy or bedding should ensure that the cat is trained to avoid doing it.If you are around your house most of time and can dedicate time to train your cat, you can use this method. The first step would be to leave your cat out of the room till they are trained. When you find your feline scratching or using your furniture, say a loud NO. Use of a squirt bottle can prove effective. A lot of people perceive using a squirt bottle to be cruel to a cat. So, use it only after other measures fail. Just keep a squirt bottle with water and spray it on the cat whenever it starts to scratch your furniture. After a while, the pet understands that the furniture is out of bounds.

3. Cat Deterrent Sprays

Sprays are available in the market that comes with repelling smells that the cats don’t like. These often include herbs, oils, lemon and cinnamons that are not harmful for pets. Simply, spray the furniture regularly. These come under various brand names.

a)Claw Withrday from Pet Mastermind is one of the popular ones that work effectively. It is made from a floral blend of aromas which feel pleasant to humans but unpleasant to the cats. It is also safe for cats and doesn’t cause any harm. Simply spray it once a day on your furniture till your cat stops scratching and going on your furniture. You can also use it to prevent the cat from damaging other areas of your house like plants.

Click here to buy the no scratch repellant spray from Amazon

b)SSS Automatic Cat Deterrent Spray is one of the innovative products in the market. It is great for stubborn cats that refuse to get trained. We all know how unpleasant it is for us to find the furniture damaged after coming home from work. We can’t be around 24/7 to train and keep an eye on the cat. The SSS Cat spray can do this for us. It has motion sensor and automatically sprays the cat when it comes near the furniture. It is easy to setup and you can set it up in all the areas you don’t want your cat to go to. It works great for stubborn cats.

Click here to buy the SSS Automatic Cat Deterrent Spray

4. Double sided stickers on furniture

Double side stickers come handy while controlling pets. Just paste the sticker like a runner on the couch. Whenever your cats try to get onto the couch the tape sticks to their paws making them feel uncomfortable. Gradually the cat stops moving towards the couch and then the tapes can be removed.

5. Use plastic carpet or runners

Use a plastic carpet on the furniture, to keep your furniture free from dust and prevent cats from using your furniture. They don’t like the textured surface and will probably keep off your couch, chair or tables that are roofed with plastic covers.

Rubber runners are another option that can save your furniture.  Just measure your sofa or chair and buy one from a home improvement store. Place the runner upside down as the lower portion pricks and the cats find them uncomfortable to walk on. When you use the couch, remove the runner. Eventually, cats learn to avoid the area.

6. Use Scratch posts to get rid of the itch

Use commercially available scratch posts or make one at home and encourage your kitty to scratch on it rather than your furniture.

My favourite is the scratch post from the trustable brand of Midwest. It has a certain appeal in the design that draws cats to it and gets rid of their itch to scratch.

Click here to check it out on Amazon

7. Clipping nails as a last resort

Clipping their claws can prove to be effective. Indoor cats do not have the exercise to wear their claws and hence clipping claws can help to avoid damage to your furniture. Ensure that you take your cat to the vet to clip their claws as it could lead to infection and pain at times. Trimming the nails should be used as a last resort as it is unnatural for a cat to be without its claws which make it difficult for the cat in its regular activities.

Trimming a cat’s nail is a delicate process as the blood vessel is present in the nail and you need to avoid clipping it and hence you should not attempt it at home and leave it to the professionals if you don’t have any experience in this.

If you have the luxury of time, keep a watch on your cat. Frequent tutoring can help you train your humanely and safely. 

What Objects Do Cats Scratch?

Cats can scratch anything and everything just to satisfy their scratching instincts. There are no hard and fast rules. They can get onto your couch, damage your carpet and even bring down your upholstery. Cats use their claws to climb onto anything, similarly they scratch to mark their territory. Some like to scratch on vertical surfaces and others on horizontal structures.

How to keep cats off furniture

How to keep cats away from furniture

There may be no reason for a cat to scratch. They often  do it to mark territory, to remove the outer dead layer of their skin and because they simply enjoy it. If they enjoy the scratching post enough, they may lose interest in your furniture.

Always remember that your kitty is your lovable pet and it takes time for them to get accustomed to your home. Do not yell or hit your pet for offensive behavior. What appears wrong to you may not be wrong to a cat. A little care, combined with patiently teaching what they can do will do wonders and eventually your furniture will be safe once again.

Brogan Renshaw
Brogan Renshaw

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