!44: How to Save Your Sofa From Cat Clawing, Scratching

!±8± How to Save Your Sofa From Cat Clawing, Scratching

Pet-friendly sofas are particularly important for pet owners who have frisky felines that like to spend their time clawing their owner's favorite things. Cats who like to scratch wherever they choose always seem be drawn to the exact piece of furniture you would least like them to ruin, which usually ends up being a sofa. Replacing or repeatedly reupholstering a sofa that has been clawed is expensive and wasteful, particularly when there are other options that can help you and your cat live in harmony, while allowing your cat to continue to pursue her natural need to scratch.

First and foremost, it is essential that cat owners understand that clawing is a natural behavior of cats and actually does serve a purpose. Cat clawing may be annoying to their owners, but to them they are simply marking their territory, removing the outer sheaths on their claws and partaking in a bit of therapeutic stretching and relaxation. Of course, knowing this does not save your sofa, but it does help you understand why your cat is destroying your furniture.

Aside from the obvious step of getting a pet-safe sofa, you can also help your cat learn to scratch on appropriate items. Keep in mind that punishment is not something that cats respond to well, so shaping their behavior with positive reinforcement and repeatedly moving them from your sofa to their scratching mat or post will produce more satisfying results. One tried-and-true way to teach your cat where to scratch is to find a scratching post or mat that is similar in texture to what she likes to scratch on now. Place this item next to the furniture she is scratching, and move her from your sofa to her scratching tool each time she starts clawing it. Some cat owners have also had success using double-sided tape on the furniture to discourage scratching or by placing specially made plastic caps on their cat's claws to prevent damage.

Some people are able to teach their cats to never claw their furniture again, but many cat owners are not that lucky. It can be difficult to keep a cat from clawing things that they really like to claw, and your sofa is no exception. This is why many pet owners opt for pet-friendly sofas, which is the surest way to avoid replacing or reupholstering your sofa on a regular basis.

If you have a cat who loves to claw, or plan on bringing a new cat into your family at some point, sofa selection becomes an important consideration. To save yourself time, money and headaches, choose a pet-safe sofa from a company that allows you to purchase replacement fabric for your entire sofa or for just one part of it. When you choose a sofa from a company offering this type of renewability, you will quickly find that your cat clawing your sofa does not have to mean expensive upholstery repairs or complete replacement of your couch. This is an inexpensive option that is as simple as making a quick phone call to order replacement sofa fabric from the manufacturer.