kitten scratching sofa
One of the most common challenges those of us who have feline friends in the family face is trying to protect our furniture from those sharp, unforgiving claws. While some cats head for the couch the moment our back is turned, others are a bit more audacious, choosing to ignore the best cat toys we’ve laid out for them and scratching right in front of us while glancing at us. challenging. .
If you’ve been pulling your hair out trying to figure out how to keep your couch from being attacked, behaviorist Jackson Galaxy comes to your rescue with some simple ideas that will help your kitty learn proper scratching behavior. You can check out his full TikTok video below, or read on for the top two tips from him.
Galaxy’s first suggestion is to create a strong ‘no’ in the form of a deterrent. “If you wear something like Sticky Paws, that’s always been my best friend,” he says. “It’s a big no because most cats are going to feel it and say, well, this isn’t giving me what I want at all. There’s your no.”
For her second tip, Galaxy suggests that you always balance your ‘no’ with a ‘yes’, which in this case would be providing your feline friend with the best cat scratching post. This gives them a dedicated space to sharpen their claws, plus they’ll get a wonderful stretch in the process.
You’ll want to place the scratching post next to the scratching post, but rest assured, you won’t need to leave it there forever.
“A lot of times, if you think about it, your cat is scratching the couch or your bed, those are the big two,” Galaxy explains. One of the reasons is that your scent is really strong in that area, so they will want to compliment that scent. So yes has to be very close to no. It works and it’s not permanent, it’s just a training tool.”
It’s important to note that your cat may keep trying to scratch where you placed the Sticky Paws (the ‘don’t’) multiple times, which is to be expected. However, if he notices that after a few unsuccessful attempts they begin to go to the scratching post (the ‘yes’) he placed nearby, he will soon be able to remove the ‘no’ and move the ‘yes’ to a more appropriate location.
Remember, training your feline friend in a new behavior takes time, patience, and consistency. If, after a few weeks of trying this technique, your cat continues to scratch the furniture, we recommend that you contact a professional behaviorist for further assistance.
For more training tips, check out our guide on how to train a kitten to use the litter box.
Source: news.google.com