Are you ready to say goodby to your flexible, shiny, and fancy leather couch? Your furry little friend is the master of claw art on the furniture. Let it be a couch, your kitchen countertop, or a chair, nothing escapes the sight of your kitty.
Now you neither want to scold your feline nor scratchy furniture. So, what can you do? How to keep cats off furniture? Using cat repellents, vinegar, essential oils, or aluminum foils are some of the effective tips to stop your felines from going near the furniture. Do you want to know those hacks? Read this article to the end.
How to Keep Cats off the Furniture
1. Manual Training
Before trying repellent or any other deterrent to keep cats off the furniture, try to train them. A trained cat will not make the same mistakes again, while the effects of repellents are temporary. There are 3 ways of manual training to keep your cats off the furniture. Such as,
- Say NO: A cat understands its owner’s language to some extent. Say no loudly to your kitty whenever it approaches the furniture.
- Squirt water bottle: Fill a squirt bottle with water and spray it on the feline’s face if it does not get off the furniture. Water and cats do not mix up much. So, spraying water on the face has become a popular form of cat punishment. As some people consider it cruel, apply it only when the feline is not listening to you at all.
- Clicker: People use clickers to train their cats and dogs. This device or technique has been proven effective to influence a kitty’s mind. Use a clicker to teach the feline not to get on the furniture.
When do you think your feline needs this training? If you notice your kitty is spending too much time around the furniture or treating it as a toy, then it is time for your pet to get under training. Make the furniture out of the cat’s access until the session is completed.
2.Cat Mat, Pad, or Carpet
Cats love to find warmth and comfort everywhere. This is the reason why your kitty digs into your couch now and then. Placing a plastic carpet on the top of the furniture will make it difficult for the felines to scratch the furniture. Also, the round knobs at the bottom of the mat are nothing but uncomfortable for the kitty.
Different technologies have been developed to do this task. For example, cat repellent mat or pads. These mats are low in voltage and totally safe.
3. Orange Peels
Orange and lemons are great cat repellents. The citrus smell of these things irritates the cat’s nose. So, the kitties avoid eating or smelling these. Take advantage of this preference and save all the orange peels you can. Then spread them around the favorite furniture of your kitty.
4. Vinegar
Are you surprised to learn vinegar can be used as a cat repellent? To be honest, apple cider vinegar is a great solution and cat deterrent. How to keep cats off furniture with vinegar?
Mix one part of apple cider vinegar with one part of water. Spray the prepared solution on the furniture. The smell of the vinegar will keep the cats off the furniture. Also, it will act as an odorizer.
5. Double-sided tape
When you think about it, using double-sided tape is actually a good idea. Paste the tape on the arms and backs of the chair, a cushion of the furniture, and on the runner. The kitty will not like to put its claw on the sticky tape.
Running on the sticky surface is next to impossible for the felines. Eventually, the kitties will stop approaching the furniture. Then you can take off the stickers or tapes.
6. Cat Repellent Spray
Cat repellent sprays are effective and most popular to keep the cats off the counter or furniture. Various types of cat deterrents are available on the market. You can buy the commercial sprays at any pet store.
It is also possible to prepare cat repellent sprays at home. Here is how to use a homemade spray to keep cats off furniture:
- Mix 2 cups of water, 1 cup of lemon or orange peels, and 2 tablespoons of lemon. Spritz the solution on the favorite furniture of cats. The smell of citrus will make the cat avoid those spots. Overspraying may irritate the cat’s nose and it will feel uncomfortable staying indoor.
- Mixing lemon, garlic, or pepper with water will also work as a cat repellent. Some people discourage using pepper as a deterrent as it may harm the cat. For example, if the pepper goes inside the feline’s eyes, it may damage the sight
7. Clipping Nails
Clipping the cat’s nails will solve the scratching problem. As indoor cats do not practice intense exercise every day, clipped nails should not affect them much. But this is considered inhumane according to some people. Ask your vet before trimming the feline’s claw as it risks infection or further consequences.
8. Essential Oils
You can use essential oils to keep cats off furniture. Lemongrass, peppermint, citronella, orange, and lavender are effective cat repellents. Take essential oils of any of these elements and mix them with water in a 1 to 3 ratio. Spray the solution around the furniture and it will work within a week.
9. Aluminum Foil
Cats do not like the crinkling sound of the aluminum foil. Also, they can not dig their claws if there is a cover of aluminum foil on something. Take advantage of this quality and wrap your counter or couch with foil. Your kitty will start to avoid crossing or walking over the foil.
10. Why not Furniture of its Own?
Maybe your cat loves spending time on the couch or chair. So, why not provide it with one? Get an unused chair and let your feline sit there. You can rub some catnip there to attract your kitty.
Final words
Keeping cats off the furniture is an easy task. You just have to stick to one rule for a considerable period. If that is not working, do not worry. You have 9 more tricks left.
