How to Deter Cats From Scratching New Furniture

Scratching is a natural behavior for cats. It helps to sharpen their claws, stretch out their muscles, and keep them entertained. Of form, this is disastrous in the dwelling house, especially if y'all own leather furniture. Cats don't specifically target leather, but they don't avoid it either. Even faux leather tin fall victim to a cat, which leads to an expensive and unsightly problem.

To deter cats from scratching leather furniture, get-go past offering more scratching posts. You may need to buy different models, sizes, and textures to make them more appealing to the cat. Afterwards that, begin training the cat to never pace on the leather article of furniture, using positive reinforcement. You lot can safeguard your leather with protective covers, such equally scratch guards, driblet cloths, or slip cloths. That tin can be topped off with anti-scratch sprays or your own smell-based deterrents.

Trimming your cat's nails will assistance forbid it from scratching upwards the leather by accident. Fifty-fifty walking over your furniture could leave tiny pocket marks, so go along your cats away from the leather whenever yous can. Leather can't exist completely repaired, but you can mask the damage. Using a colorant on small scratches will help disguise little pocket marks. Yous may eventually have to supervene upon unabridged areas of the leather for direct scratches or have it reupholstered.

Do Cats Like Scratching Leather?

There is no definitive inquiry to say if cats single out leather to scratch. Some people claim that the smooth texture is pleasing to their claws. Indeed, cats volition intentionally sharpen their nails on the sides of leather couches and armchairs if given a chance.

Others say that cats will avoid leather considering of that very texture. Your individual true cat may target your cloth sofa long before information technology goes for the leather recliner. While cats tend to like some resistance in their scratching posts, whatsoever object will practise if they're bored or out of options. Fifty-fifty a cat that's avoided leather in the by will resort to information technology if there are no bachelor scratching posts.

Overall, there is no one breed of cat that avoids or targets leather. Likewise, there's no mode to tell if your true cat will take a preference until you test it out with a piece of leather. It is natural for cats to acuminate their claws on different objects. It cannot be fully trained out of them, nor is it healthy for a cat to never scratch up items.

Why Do Cats Scratch Leather Article of furniture?

Cats scratch leather furniture as a way to maintain their claws. The gentle resistance that it provides can:

Sharpen the claws
Strengthen the joints that hold the nails within the cat'south paws
Stretch out muscles in the cat'southward paws

Because of that, scratching will even serve as a form of exercise and enrichment. In the wild, cats utilise copse, discarded bark, and other objects they notice to sharpen their claws. Rather than letting them become dull and stiff, cats regularly utilize them so that they're primed and ready for hunting when needed.

In your business firm, cats don't have these natural materials. Instead, they employ anything upright, stiff, and with a texture that gives them some resistance. In some cases, this will include your bedding, curtains, carpets, and of course, your leather furniture.

The Periodical of Feline Medicine and Surgery surveyed cat owners about their cats' inappropriate scratching. According to their findings, 81.v% of cats scratched chairs or other furniture, and 64.vii% scratched carpet. Therefore, an overwhelming majority of cats tend to scratch non only leather but all types of furniture. This is likely considering information technology mirrors copse they would find in the wild.

Cats may also scratch up your leather by accident. Although felines tin retract their claws, these nails often sally when they are jumping or climbing. This gives them extra stability and makes the creatures nimble, only it spells bad news for your furnishings. A true cat springing from one sofa to the next may accidentally exit hook marks behind. Even if they're negligible at first, afterwards a few weeks, at that place will be no hiding the presence of a true cat all over your leather.

Practise Cats Scratch Faux Leather?

Some owners believe that cats just target real leather. Supposedly, the texture and smell feel more natural. This encourages cats to scratch upwardly authentic hibernate similar they might observe on carcasses in the wild. Unfortunately, research is uncertain if cats are drawn to leather, and so real or fake doesn't make a divergence.

Your true cat may target your faux leather equally readily as proper leather. Your cat may also dislike the aroma, texture, and feeling, therefore giving it a wide berth. Sadly, you can't invest in false leather every bit a loophole for dealing with a cat in the business firm. Information technology would be a crapshoot in any instance.

In fact, real leather and imitation leather are very similar in texture. Even if your true cat did purposefully target leather, this isn't guaranteed to scare it off.

At that place are advantages to faux leather over real leather, though. Fake leather is much cheaper. Perhaps you absolutely love the aesthetic in your home décor but don't want to throw several chiliad dollars away just past sharing it with a cat. In this case, faux tin can lower your replacement costs.

Likewise, faux leather has many of the same advantages as real leather. Information technology's easy to clean and won't collect a lot of fur. That can make tidying up a pet-friendly home much simpler, fifty-fifty if the article of furniture gets clawed up anyhow.

How to Protect Your Furniture from Cats

Since leather furniture can be very expensive, it is of import to protect it from cats. Of course, at that place is no way to entirely cat-proof your sofas and chairs. Cats may scratch up leather fifty-fifty by blow, only by walking on it. A certain corporeality of damage is guaranteed.

Even still, there are safeguards you can put in place. This can reduce the corporeality of damage and discourage cats from totaling your leather on purpose. It's a proficient middle-basis when yous don't want to replace all the article of furniture or watch information technology get destroyed.

Trim Your True cat'due south Nails

If your cat scratches the leather seat cushions just past walking on them, and then the problem may be that its nails are too abrupt. In that event, trimming your true cat'south nails will assistance reduce the amount of damage information technology can exercise by accident. The tips volition be dulled, so even if they emerge when the true cat jumps, they won't pierce the material as hands.

As a bonus, the cat will be less able to scratch other objects or even you (unless it's trying). To trim your cat'southward nails, use:

A pair of smash clippers designed peculiarly for cats (which is helpful if your cat squirms)
Normal nail clippers (if y'all accept a practiced hold on your true cat)

Cats will make a fuss when yous're trimming their nails. The best time to practice it is while they are sleeping or just afterwards a nap. They will exist far more than docile at these times. Hither'southward how:

Gently press on your cat'due south mitt until the individual boom pops out.
Only cutting the sharp signal of the hook, and don't become too deep.
To be safe, always cut the very tip – you need the claw dulled, after all.
Avert the quick at all costs. The quick is a darker section near the base of the nail.
Trimming your true cat'south nails should never hurt, and then if the true cat is crying out when you press downwardly with the clippers, you're cutting also high upwards the blast.
Keep the cat very even so every bit you make the trim to avoid missing the mark.

It may seem like a hassle to trim your cat's nails. Even so, it will dramatically reduce the level of wear and tear on your leather furniture. Yous tin update the trim whenever you lot notice they are abrupt again. This is commonly every two weeks or then.

how do i stop my cat from scratching my leather furniture?

Don't Permit Your True cat on the Furniture

Patently, if the true cat is unable to touch the leather, it cannot impairment it. This is easier said than done, of grade. Cats tend to go wherever they delight, and information technology isn't piece of cake to maintain a close eye on your furniture at all times.

The good news is, y'all tin can train a cat to stay off certain furniture with a reasonable success rate. It won't be 100%, simply information technology can give your leather a amend lifespan. To train your true cat not to jump on the furniture:

Provide an alternative lounging spot for your cat that's well-nigh the piece of furniture.
When your cat jumps onto the leather, choice it upwardly or shoo it off gently.
Try not to frighten the cat, as it may dig in its nails as a reflex.
Once the cat is off the leather, place it in the designated spot.
Reward your cat with praise, chin scratches, and a treat if possible.
When you see your cat using the designated spot without your help, reward and praise it.

Over fourth dimension, your cat will realize it can obey you, receive good things, and still go a prime number lounging spot. It doesn't need to sacrifice much. Staying off your leather recliner is a small toll to pay.

Of course, your cat may revert if you're non watching. It may too demand its training updated every few months. However, it does slash the amount of time the cat spends on your piece of furniture by a wide margin.

Just exist certain to avert negative reinforcement whenever you can, such every bit yelling, hitting, or scaring the true cat. At the very least, your true cat is more likely to scratch upward the leather by accident as it retreats from you.

Provide More than Scratching Posts

Cats will choose quality over quantity. A scratching post that's the correct size, texture, and fifty-fifty smell volition be a far amend choice than your leather sofa. If your cat keeps intentionally scratching the sides or back of your piece of furniture, then it may experience information technology's out of options.

Even if you have scratching posts already, they may be worn-down or placed in the wrong spots. Peradventure your cat doesn't desire to traverse to the back bedroom to stretch its claws.

Likewise, the cat may not have plenty scratching posts and is using your leather as a substitute. Co-ordinate to The Periodical of Feline Medicine and Surgery, cats don't scratch inappropriate surfaces as much when more scratching posts are added into the home.

In the above report, researchers determined that near cats preferred rope-based scratching posts. However, geriatric cats preferred carpet-based. With that in mind, your cat may need more specific posts to exist happy. Try buying a few dissimilar kinds and placing them throughout your firm. When the cat is spoiled for choice, your leather should become a afar, hands ignored temptation.

If your cat doesn't requite up on your leather furniture after all that, you may demand to train it to use scratching posts. Some cats are tedious learners, while others won't recognize them as a toy. Attempt redirecting your cat to the new scratching posts every fourth dimension it touches your leather. If it complies or starts using the posts equally a office of its routine, praise and reward it.

Spray to Finish Cats from Scratching Piece of furniture

Cats have powerful noses and are deterred by certain smells. If you coat your leather with these aromas, the cat will think twice about approaching. You lot tin purchase "true cat scratch sprays" or "anti-scratch sprays" online or in pet stores.

Y'all tin can also try making your own spray. Start past mixing a solution of h2o with vinegar, essential citrus oils, garlic, or peppermint. These scents are strong and offensive to cats but won't harm leather. A light misting over your article of furniture every few days should drive the kitty off. Over time, even if yous no longer spray the odour, the cat should know to steer clear.

This isn't a perfect solution. Some cats don't mind the odor, and others will overcome it when bored enough. That makes it best when paired with the other methods in this list.

Furniture Protection from Cats

If you don't listen the look, you can effort covering upward your leather piece of furniture with a scratch guard. These can be used independently or (if you lot're extra conscientious) paired with a drib textile or slip cloth.

Leather Scratch Guard

Scratch guards are equanimous of a sheet of thin plastic. They can be stuck or mounted to the sides and corners of your leather furniture. Depending on the brand, they will strictly adhere to the furniture with thin record or be mounted with picayune pegs. No matter the case, they create a barrier that's more difficult for your true cat to pierce with its nails.

Since these guards merely attach to the sides and corners of your leather, they cannot protect the cushions. However, most cats target the corners and sides, as they're the almost annoying parts of a sofa or chair. That makes them first-class for sharpening claws, just all the joy is taken out of it with the sparse plastic.

You tin can purchase these sheets or make your own past putting heavy-duty tape onto your piece of furniture. They may need replacing if your cat is persistent, or they may terminal for years. No matter the case, i downside is that they are unsightly to some people, fifty-fifty if they're see-through.

Drib Cloth or Slip Cloth

A drop cloth or slip cloth covers the total length of your furniture. This not only protects it from dust simply as well scratching claws. If yous're concerned about aesthetics, this is the least invasive pick. With a tight plenty fit, yous may hardly notice the cover (and note the sound as you sit or move).

Unfortunately, these won't protect the sides of your article of furniture equally much. The thinner material is less resistant to a dedicated true cat, and the corners will withal be a prime target that your cat puts attempt into. Still, if you lot pair it with grooming and strong-smelling deterrents, it can keep your furniture alive until the true cat learns ameliorate. It also works not bad against accidental scratches if your cat walks beyond information technology.

Do Cat Claws Ruin Leather Article of furniture?

Whether or not cats prefer leather, nosotros know for certain that cats can inflict irreparable damage on leather. That has to do with the porous nature of the textile.

Unlike cloth fibers, leather has very little tension and tin't "squish together" to seal or mask holes. Any blemishes, scratches, or tears will remain prominent and obvious. For owners, this usually leaves a binary pick: choose to own a cat or choose to own leather piece of furniture.

Leather as well has different coloring in its layers. For example, a tiny scratch on black leather could reveal the paler shades beneath, making the damage obvious. If the cat manages to get downward into the stuffing, that color deviation will be hard to ignore. This makes even tiny blemishes a huge problem.

While it'south possible to "repair" leather, this usually involves replacing large chunks or coloring the damaged areas. This can make the scratches harder to discover with the naked eye, but leather can't be fully repaired. The leather aesthetic is too very unforgiving when it's damaged.

Although a textile sofa that's been scratched can just await aged past a few years, leather can go from "brand new" to "trashed" in an afternoon with a defended cat. Too, the scratches may expand equally yous sit on or move the piece of furniture since leather is very pliable. It doesn't take much pressure for a sparse cleft to aggrandize across the entire arm or cushion. With that said, some scratches are more than damaging than others:

best way to stop your cat from scratching furniture

Direct Line Scratches

These are institute most commonly on the sides of leather article of furniture. Cats that are sharpening their claws volition coffin the nails deep within the material and pull down. This creates long, sharp lines that oft overlap, specially if the cat has been busy for a while.

These types are the hardest to repair. At the very least, you will demand to replace large chunks of the leather. The scratches are very likely to aggrandize and "fray" over time.

Stubbed Holes

These are most unremarkably establish on seat cushions or the back of the article of furniture. Cats may extend their claws gently as they walk to remain stable. This lets the nails create little pocket-marks as they walk. If you happen to scare the cat, it may create larger holes or "tear-drop" holes. This happens when the cat extends its claw further and is pulled out with force as the cat runs.

These scratches are normally adventitious. While "repair" is a strong give-and-take to use, these can exist more than easily repaired. Applying a colorant will assist mask the impairment. As long as it's non exacerbated, your leather furniture may appear mostly undamaged.

How to Repair Leather Damaged by Cats

As mentioned, leather can't exist "repaired" every bit yous might await. The holes or straight-line scratches can't be sewed dorsum together as you might do with fabric. Instead, y'all'll be trying to isolate the damage and colour it until it'southward difficult to see visually. Your master options will include:

Using a re-coloring balm on the affected areas
Using a repair kit to supervene upon chunks of the leather with new pieces
Hiring a professional person to reupholster the piece of furniture for you

Cats tin't be entirely stopped from scratching leather piece of furniture. However, you can discourage your cat from ruining your favorite chairs and sofas with the to a higher place tips. If you railroad train the true cat while information technology'south young and employ protectors over the furniture, you may even buy the décor several years before it shows serious wear.