Beautiful new to me couch-how to protect from kitty claws?

[islandrider]

I got a BEEYOOT sectional for FREE on a local list-now it sits covered in whatever I could find to cover it in hopes of protecting from my 2nd kitties’ claws. This was my brother’s cat which I adopted after he died. She is an inside cat and was used to being able to scratch on just about anything.

Last night she started in on the couch and I went after her with a loud clap.

I sat here with scratch posts and everything ready-luckily she didn’t go after it again-just wondering tho, aside from deterring with loud noises or spray bottles, and covering couch with something protective, what are some good techniques (and couch covers?) to help? thanks in advance

[SquishTheBunny]

Keep her nail well trimmed (do them 2x week) and if you notice her scratching at the couch you can keep a spraybottle with water close by. Since you cant watch her 24/7, the short blunted nails will at least prevent major snags in the couch.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

Yup, super short nails and scratching post options. Also can try the glue-on nail covers. They do work, just too much work for me to bother with. But my friend used them forever.

This is why I have a cheap couch until the cats die. Which won’t ever happen because my cats are immortal. (She says tongue in cheek). What’s worse, is the back of mine is exposed (the back corner of the couch screams “scratch me!”).

[suz]

start with short nails, spray bottle and loud negative consequences.

add irresistible scratching posts rubbed with catnip oil and lots and lots of praise and positive attention when she uses it.
carpeted ones and logs with bark are very appealing to most cats.

try aluminum foil on the areas of the couch she’s likely to scratch, cats hate aluminum foil.

and good luck!

[2tempe]

One of my cats (now deceased…) used to claw my couch right at the corners. Clear packing tape pretty much stopped it, and really didn’t show.

[sorrelfilly721]

Short nails and if you see her trying to scratch on the couch, YOU go to the scratching post and scratch furiously (sounds crazy, but the cat will come over and scratch there too).

[SmartAlex]

Double Sided Tape. Sticky icky to kitty tooties

[evenstar]

I agree with keeping the nails trimmed and the double sided sticky tape as needed.

That said…some fabric is just irresistible to kitties. I have a kitty that had never touched my cloth-covered (and ugly) loveseat. I finally bought some grown up furniture and chose a really nice moss green chenille upholstery.

He LOVES chenille! My love seat has some fabric pulls and only doesn’t have more because I covered the attractive spots with quilt throws. The accompanying chair is a wreck. My only hope is to completely reupholster it after my kitty dies (which I sincerely hope is many years away,), Meanwhile, it sits there right next to two scratching posts of various types, threads hanging, stuffing showing, and mocking me.

So, anybody with cats - DON’T choose chenille (aka kitty crack).

But I would never declaw my cat just because the fabric was destroyed (not that you would do it!) I’m just living with it. Too late for my poor chair, though I may look for a throw of some sort to hide the damage.

[vxf111]

Soft Paws may be an option.

[HeatherCK11]

Soft claws for sure. Just put them on my cat. Works like a charm. First time putting them on is a bit frustrating but it gets easier. Lol…my cat is wearing pink and blue sparkles.

[islandrider]

Hmm, soft claws, will look into that. I have scratch posts everywhere and I do dive into them when she even looks at the couch. Luckily she is so sensitive that a loud yell seems to do wonders. Right now I have the whole couch covered in thick sheepskins that are left over from my saddle pad making days. Another thing I’ll do today is get more catnip-that does seem to make the scratch boards more intriguing.

Thanks! I have never been a “cat person” so need the wisdom!

[ChocoMare]

I, too, got a brand new/high-end reclining chair that two of the cats wanted to try their claws on. I had just gotten a new bottle of Odo-Ban Lavender scent and mixed some up with water in a spray bottle.

After clapping and chasing them off the chair, I sprayed it (like Febreeze) and since then, they’ve not touched it. Since we do know scratching is also a means of scent marking, perhaps the scent of the Odo-Ban made it less appealing to them.

[islandrider]

I didn’t find Odo-Ban at our pet store yesterday, but got some “No Stay”-not sure it that is going to do the job, but we are off to a great start with putting all the cat scratch boards in front of the couch under the table, rubbing them with catnip AND spraying with catnip oil. Little miss Billie sharp nails is happy as can be. Great suggestions, thanks so much!

[ChocoMare]

You can get Odo-Ban in all the scents at Home Depot. I love that stuff… very versatile!

[KateKat]

[QUOTE=SmartAlex;7647473]
Double Sided Tape. Sticky icky to kitty tooties[/QUOTE]

This. Works great, you just have to constantly replace.