Almost no one can resist a cat, but plenty of people hesitate before bringing one home for a single reason: the fear that a new pet will shred the sofa or peel the wallpaper off the wall. The good news is that cats’ reputation for destroying furniture is exaggerated. Set up the right spot for your cat to scratch, and your fresh paint job and favorite armchair can survive just fine. Here’s how to make that happen.
Key Takeaways
- Scratching is a natural, healthy instinct, not misbehavior. Punishment doesn’t work and can damage your bond with your cat.
- Introduce a scratching post early, place it where your cat wants to scratch, and reward your cat for using it.
- A little catnip on the post makes it far more appealing to most cats.
- If your cat targets furniture, make that spot unattractive (deterrent sprays, citrus, texture barriers) while making the post the obvious better option.
- If your cat ignores a post, experiment with location, orientation, and surface material before giving up on it.
Why Cats Scratch in the First Place
The urge to scratch isn’t a whim or a behavior problem. It’s a hardwired instinct. Cats scratch to shed the worn outer layer of their claws, to stretch the muscles in their legs and back, and to mark territory with scent glands in their paws. In the wild, sharp, healthy claws are essential for hunting and survival, so this drive runs deep. According to the ASPCA, scratching is a normal feline behavior that owners should redirect rather than eliminate.
Scolding or punishing a cat for a natural need is not only unkind, it’s also useless. The real question is different: how do you teach your cat to scratch in a specific spot so the wallpaper and furniture stay safe?
In practice, the answer is fairly simple. Most of your success will come down to a patient, consistent approach rather than any single trick.
Starting Fresh With a Kitten
If you’ve recently brought home a kitten who hasn’t yet developed a taste for the wallpaper or the couch, get a scratching post right away and place it in the kitten’s area. Then watch what happens. Many kittens take to a post on their own; others ignore it at first and need a little encouragement.
One reliable trick is to use play. Tease your kitten with a wand toy and lead the game toward the post. As your kitten lunges to catch the toy, it will naturally reach up against the post or climb onto it, discovering the surface in the process.
Try rubbing a few drops of catnip onto the post. The scent is highly appealing to most cats, and there’s a good chance your pet will start scratching with real enthusiasm.
If, despite your best efforts, you catch your kitten heading for a door frame or the back of the sofa with obvious intent, tell it a firm, clear “No!” and carry it over to the post. When your kitten scratches in the right place, praise it and offer a small treat. You can also position the post right next to the spot your kitten keeps targeting. Don’t worry about placement being permanent. Once your cat is reliably using the post, you can gradually move it to a more convenient location.
What to Do When a Cat Already Scratches the Furniture
What if your cat has already learned to scratch the wallpaper or furniture and does it enthusiastically while you’re out of the room? The approach shifts, but the goal is the same: make the wrong spot unappealing and the right spot irresistible.
First, limit your cat’s access to its favorite scratching target. Pet stores sell deterrent sprays made for exactly this purpose, and many cats also dislike strong scents. Cats tend to avoid overpowering smells and usually won’t sacrifice their comfort to scratch a “smelly” surface when a clean post is nearby. As a natural alternative, orange or lemon peel often works well, since many cats dislike the smell of citrus.
That said, scents don’t deter every cat. Some pets happily keep scratching a favorite spot even if you’ve doused it in your best perfume. If that describes your cat, block access to the “danger zone” entirely while you build the scratching-post habit in parallel. Sometimes simply keeping your cat out of a particular room solves the problem. When that isn’t practical, cover the targeted areas with a physical barrier the cat won’t enjoy: cardboard, boxes, gauze, bubble wrap, or aluminum foil all work. Don’t worry, these are temporary measures. Once your cat discovers how much better the post feels, it’s unlikely to remember the uncomfortable chair it was scratching just a few days earlier. For persistent or sudden changes in scratching behavior, the Cornell Feline Health Center is a useful resource for understanding what’s normal and when to consult your veterinarian.
When Your Cat Refuses the Post
If none of this seems to help and your cat still ignores the scratching post, the post itself may be the problem. Consider whether it’s in an awkward spot or whether your cat simply dislikes the material. Posts come in many surfaces, so try offering a different model, or re-cover your existing post with a texture your cat clearly prefers, such as carpet, rope, fabric, or even a strip of the wallpaper it keeps targeting. Stability matters too: a post that wobbles when a cat leans into it will often be abandoned in favor of a solid piece of furniture.
Through all of this, don’t underestimate consistency. Gently interrupt your cat when it scratches where it shouldn’t, and reward it warmly every time it uses the post correctly. Positive reinforcement is far more effective than punishment.
Give it time, stay patient, and let the process of guiding your cat be an enjoyable one for both of you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my cat scratch furniture instead of the post?
Usually it comes down to location, texture, or stability. Cats want to scratch in prominent, high-traffic areas, so a post tucked into a far corner gets ignored. Try moving the post next to the furniture your cat already targets, choose a surface your cat likes, and make sure the post is tall and sturdy enough for a full stretch.
How do I get my cat to use a scratching post?
Place the post where your cat naturally wants to scratch, rub a little catnip on it, and use a wand toy to lead play toward it. Reward your cat with praise and a treat every time it uses the post, and gently redirect it there whenever you catch it scratching elsewhere.
Is it bad to declaw a cat to stop scratching?
Declawing is far more invasive than most people realize. It involves amputating part of each toe, and leading veterinary organizations discourage it as a solution for normal scratching. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends behavioral training, appropriate scratching surfaces, and routine nail trims instead. Talk to your veterinarian about humane options.
Should I punish my cat for scratching the wallpaper?
No. Punishment doesn’t teach your cat where to scratch, and it can make your cat anxious or damage your relationship. Instead, make the wrong spot unappealing, provide an attractive post nearby, and reward your cat for using it.
How many scratching posts does one cat need?
At least one per cat is the baseline, but more is better, especially in multi-cat homes or larger spaces. Offering both vertical posts and horizontal pads in different rooms gives your cat appealing options wherever the urge strikes, which keeps that energy off your furniture.
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