Have you ever bought a new piece of furniture only to find it completely destroyed by your cat a few hours later? No matter how much you love your pet, it can be frustrating to have a cat that keeps scratching your furniture. If you want a stylish home that cannot be destroyed by your cats, it is important to know why they scratch and how to stop them from damaging your belongings.
Why Cats Scratch
It is important to keep in mind that cats probably are not scratching furniture because they get a sadistic enjoyment out of harming your prized possessions. Cats scratch things because scratching is a biological instinct that fulfills several important purposes for them. Scratching helps to get rid of the dead, outer layer of a cat’s claw, which is similar to the white part of a human fingernail, so it keeps their claws from getting too long and overgrown. It also provides valuable physical exercise and lets cats stretch their legs and paws. Some cats scratch because they feel a need to mark their territory. Cats have scent glands in their paws, so scratching lays down a layer of their scent.
What You Can Do to Reduce Scratching
There are a few things you can do to train your cat not to scratch. Consider covering your furniture for a few days with sticky tape, aluminum foil, or something else cats hate to scratch. This can get cats to avoid the furniture permanently. To reduce a cat’s urge to mark territory, try to keep them from feeling stressed or insecure. If you have multiple cats, make sure there is enough space in your home for them to establish their own spots.
How to Decorate a Home With a Cat
There are ways to reduce a cat’s tendency to scratch your furniture, but as most cat lovers know, these fluffy friends are far too stubborn and independent to give in to everything their human wants. If you have a cat who is determined to scratch things inside the home, there are a few things you can do to decorate your home with this in mind.
Skip Certain Materials
According to the Humane Society, cats tend to prefer a surface that is coarse, textured, or nubby, and slightly soft. According to the Human Society, cats tend to prefer a surface that is coarse, textured, or nubby, and slightly soft. This means that certain items like trendy sisal rugs, leather couches, or linen armchairs might be a target for your cat.
Select Scratch Resistant Furniture
Whenever possible, pick furniture made from materials that are not scratch-able. Metal is a favorite of cat owners because it is almost impossible for cats to scratch. A good option for upholstery is microfiber materials because the tiny fibers are bonded together to create a puncture resistant surface.
Use Accents As Your Main Area of Decor
Of course you might be thinking that it sounds terribly drab and boring to decorate a house with scratch resistant pieces. However, this is not necessarily true. You can still create a stylish and visually interesting interior by picking focus items that are out of reach of your cats. Things like decorative pillows, wall art, or shelves filled with interesting items make a home look full of life without being susceptible to cat scratching.
Decorate With Cat-Repellant Candles and Potpourri
Most people just see candles and potpourri as an attractive accent to be placed on a side table or shelf. However, you can actually use this decor item to make certain rooms unappealing to your cats. Cats typically hate minty or citrus smells, so be sure to use these scents when decorating rooms filled with objects you do not want your cat to scratch.
Create a Cat Scratching Area
Since cats have an instinct to scratch, you probably cannot train them out of this entirely. A good alternative is to find a scratching post for your cat. There are plenty of subtle, neutrally colored posts that can be tucked in an out of the way corner without impairing your design scheme. To convince your cat to use the post instead of the furniture, consider offering a treat when they use it or covering it in catnip.
