Is There Still Hope for Our Furniture…and Our Cat?!
International Cat Day is August 8th and we can’t wait to celebrate! To honor all those cool cats out there, we listed 5 ways that can help you, your cat(s) and your furniture live peacefully under one roof.
image source: revistacasaejardim.globo.com
Create Distractions
Cat towers and toys are a better alternative then your sofa. Place them in areas where your cat likes marking the most. Scratching posts, cat trees, carpeted shelving units, or hanging toys on door knobs or doorways, anything that will show your cat or cats that there are better things out there than your precious sofa or accent chairs.
image source: https://www.daviecreekanimalhospital.com/
Mark Your Territory
That’s right! If cats do it, you can do it too! Cats mark their territory by clawing, spraying or the classic side cheek swipe. You can mark your territory by rubbing your hands over areas they like to mark. But if your cats are attracted to your smell, then take a used shirt and place it on their cat tree or somewhere else that they can’t ruin. Your used shirt will create a distraction and hopefully they’ll forget about the comfy chair.
image source: https://mydecoratingtips.com/2018/11/14/where-to-find-cat-friendly-fabric-sofa/
Leather Pros & Cons
Pros: Leather is easy to clean. Fur, urine, and vomit won’t absorb into leather.
Cons: Cat claws can easily puncture through the leather and a scratch is visibly seen.
image source: https://www.wallpaperflare.com/
Microfiber Fabric
Microfiber fabric is the best type of fabric if you have pets. Microfiber fabrics are stain and spill-resistant because the tiny polyester and nylon threads are tightly bonded together creating a lightweight, dense, water-resistant material. They are also easy to clean with a lint roller and vacuum.
image source: familyhandyman.com
Double Sided Tape & Aluminum Foil
If your cat is only scratching one particular spot on your sofa or chair, cover it with double sided sticky tape or aluminum foil. Leave it on for a week or two so they stop the habit of scratching in that area. They don’t like the feel and sound of their claws on tape or foil. Meanwhile, place a more attractive scratching post next to their original favorite spot. This should train them to start scratching the post and not the arm of your sofa.
