Smile for no reason: Stop Your Cat From Using Your Furniture As a Scratching Post

Monday, October 27, 2014

Stop Your Cat From Using Your Furniture As a Scratching Post

Recently, we adopted a 3 month old kitten. Actually, she found us. Pictures of her can be found on my Instagram. In fact, I write this post as she sleeps in my arms.

In our home, we have chosen to decorate with leather furniture. So imagine my concern when the new kitten and her claws were introduced to our furniture and wood work.

We have an older cat in the house, who, when he was first brought home, decided the wood work was a convenient scratching post. With this cat, we sprayed perfume on the wood work and he stopped scratching.

“If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.” ― Mark Twain

Both of our cats have their claws. I have decided not to have their claws surgically removed, so, I was searching and reading anything, anywhere for ideas to stop the new kitten from scratching the couch. I did not want to spray perfume on the leather. Alcohol is used when making perfume, I did not want to dry out the leather.

I happened across an article that said to use a Vapor Rub to repel the cats from scratching on a particular surface.

Cats are not fond of the smell of menthol, so they avoid the areas where the vapor rub is spread.

I was apprehensive, but I spread the vapor rub on the bottom of my couch. The kitten enjoys grabbing on the bottom of the couch with her claws and scooting across the carpet. Very cute, but not a good look for the couch.

Result- She has not used the couch as a propel post since I applied the vapor rub. I have since reapplied. Success, she has stayed away from the couch.

While searching for preventative measures on cat scratching, I discovered that you can make your own vapor rub. Well, imagine my excitement and look for further details about how I made my own vapor rub in a future post.