what to put on leather couch to stop cat scratching

Since we have so many cats, one of the most common questions I become asked on our Instagram page when people see our couches and barstools is "How do you stop cats from scratching your furniture?!" and these are steps nosotros've taken to help preclude damage not only to leather only all our furniture. These methods work successfully every bit you can see by the fact that all our furniture is clearly non damaged.

Our cats are not declawed. Declawing is a cruel, barbaric, outdated practice that is now thankfully banned or illegal in many places. There are many humane means to stop cats from dissentious furniture and declawing should NEVER e'er always be considered as an choice. #pawsneedclaws | Likewise please note that all our cats are all spay and neutered for their health and safety. #adoptdontshop

The offset thing to empathise is that the concept of not wanting furniture to be scratched is a human 1. It is instinctive for cats to scratch so, since information technology'due south our arbitrary choice to not want our cats to scratch our furniture, the responsibility falls to us to create an environment where the cats can still get what they need scratch-wise without scratching our furniture. It is very possible, and here'due south how we make it happen:

1. KEEP NAILS TRIMMED: I go on the cats' nails trimmed weekly. Pro tip: if yous do it while they're sleeping they don't even observe. I use a boom clutter similar to this ane (Amazon) and a tip I have is that when they're awake and snuggling with y'all, brand a point to very gently handle their paws — just calmly while you're giving them scritches and pats, run your mitt down their paws too. Exist gentle and soothing and totally chill nearly it so don't draw attention to what you're doing simply rather simply permit it feel like a natural function of their petting. This manner they'll get used to yous touching their paws and when you become to cut their nails while they're sleeping information technology doesn't bother them considering they're used to you handling them and feel comfortable and trusting about the whole experience. This is the All-time preventative measure you can take considering if their nails are not super sharp, they won't cause as much harm even unintentionally when they just jump up or down from your article of furniture.
2. Status & Care: For our leather couches, anytime the cats accidentally or unintentionally scratch the leather, I use this leather conditioner (Amazon) and put a little on a clean towel and rub information technology into the spot vigorously for about 5 seconds and information technology practically removes the mark (especially after a few coats). If the scratch is pretty deep it might turn the scratch a darker color briefly, but don't worry, once it dries in my experience it goes dorsum to normal and the scratch fades. Depending on how bad the scratch is you might have to do this a couple times simply at least in our state of affairs and for our couches, this has worked to "erase" the scratches. I take noticed that it's amend to put the oil on the scratches as shortly after they happen equally possible. NOTE: Be sure yous examination whatsoever conditioner first in an unseen area of leather to be sure information technology reacts with your couch. I also condition the couches every couple months with the same leather conditioner (Amazon). I swear it works miracles!!!
3. HAVE SCRATCHERS Available: We have lots of scratchers effectually the business firm for them as alternative things for them to sink their petty claws into. I use mobile paper-thin scratchpads which are easily to constrict away. These are the ones I utilise: Amazon and I just go along one on each floor or zone in our firm. You tin even get some catnip (Amazon) to sprinkle on it if you want to depict their attention to using them! A little goes a long way so even just a cup of information technology should last yous a while.
4. HAVE A CAT TREE: Somewhere in your business firm, you should accept a true cat tree gear up. Ours is in their cat room and it's basically a piece of article of furniture specifically fabricated for cats to scratch. Since our cats spend half their days in their cat room (they sleep there at dark), they have full admission to information technology and get most of their scratches out of their organisation then. Here are some cat tree options: Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon
5. Utilize VERBAL CUES: Contrary to mutual belief, cats *are* trainable. They're very smart, just also stubborn. Just if you lot're 1) consistent, 2) firm, 3) gentle with your verbal cues, they do acquire. It is absolutely vital that all 3 elements I just mentioned in lodge for information technology to piece of work. Consistency is key. They're not human and they're non mind readers so they don't intrinsically understand the concept of a special piece of furniture that shouldn't be destroyed and then y'all have to be consequent in telling them a house but gentle "No" with the same tone in the same mode for several times before they kickoff to empathize it on their own. Do not spray them with water, yell, or lunge towards them. That merely scares them without actually teaching them annihilation and turns them sour towards you lot. Instead be consistent, firm, and gentle in your exact cues and earlier you know it you and your kitty volition come to an understanding. But it is important that this tip is paired with the one above it (having scratchers) effectually because if you tell them they can't scratch your couch but you don't offer them anything else to scratch instead, then information technology's not fair. Endeavour to understand where they're coming from. Scratching is an innate instinct for them so the goal is to endeavour to requite them a safe, not-article of furniture-dissentious way to do what they were born to do. If you want to learn more on the specifics of how I railroad train out cats, I take a whole detailed mail service on How to Train Cats & Kittens!
6. DISTRACT THEM: When introducing anything new and special to your house (similar our couches, or new table decor, or really anything), I always effort to have something else in the room that is even more attractive to the cats to depict their attention away from any I'g adding. In our case, I kept some of the material wrapping the couches came in pooled on the floor and the cats were way more interested in that. It's too important to note that cats are curious by nature. If you try to keep them away from something, it'll only make them want it more. Let them sniff and inspect things and by you not making a big deal out of it, chances are they'll motion on pretty quickly too.
7. TRAINING: As a side note, I've been around dogs my whole life (these are our get-go cats) then I feel like I'm mentally used to training pets then I've also kinda trained our cats not to destroy our stuff simply using the same business firm but calm methods yous'd employ to train a dog, as mentioned above. They're pretty skillful almost generally listening to verbal cues — they empathise the difference between a firm "no" and warm praise so I've used that with a lot of at-home repetition to train them abroad from our furniture. For more info, read my How to Train Your Cat/Kitten post!
8. CAT ROOM: Our cats slumber in a split up closed "cat room" (room tour here). When we first moved in, we used a spare chamber every bit a "cat room" where we let them acclimatize to our house and then they wouldn't get overwhelmed. I still put them away there at nighttime because they love that room (it's a kitty haven!) so I don't worry what they're sinking their little claws into at night. Remember cats are very active at night so keeping them in a separated room they experience rubber and happy in at night might as well help relieve your furniture. Information technology is very important that the room you lot choose as the cat room is a infinite they feel comfortable in and that going to this room is a positive feel, it'southward besides of import that it be properly prepare with food, water, litter, beds, toys etc so that they have everything yous need while you're sleeping. It's also a groovy room to put your cats when guests come over/during loud holidays etc if your cats are scared of new people/noises. This allows them to accept a zone they feel prophylactic in even though there are people/noises around they don't know or might scare them. Ultimately it's about creating a safe infinite for them, both for their sake, and for your piece of furniture'south sake.

I hope this helps!!

More than cat-related posts that might assist:

• Cat Room Bout: click here
• Cat-related Sources & Cleaning Tips: click here
• Cat Training Tips: click here
• How to Innovate New Kittens to Older Cats: click here
• How to Cope with Cat Allergies: click here
• Cats & Decor Tips: click here

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