Why is my cat scratching my chair?
Your cat is scratching your chair instinctively. It’s normal cat behavior. They need to scratch to express emotions, like stress or excitement. For cats, scratching is a way to mark objects with their scent (they have scent glands in their paws). Scratching is also functional. Cats use it to get a good stretch or remove the dead part of their nails.
Cats would never think that scratching on your desk chair is wrong. As a matter of fact, in their mind, nothing they do is right or wrong. Cats only do things to serve their needs. When a cat needs to scratch, they are not particularly selective. Cats find an object like your desk chair and scratch.
Understanding why cats scratch can help you in preventing this behavior. In the wilderness, cats scratch their claws to remove the dead layers, keeping their claws sharp for hunting and climbing, vital to their way of life as an agile predators. Scratching is also a way of marking territory. Cats have scent glands between their claws, and the scratch marks are a sign to other cats that an area is occupied.
Scratching also helps cats stretch and keep their bodies in good shape. In addition, it’s a way of releasing their physical and emotional energy, which is why they often scratch when they’re bored or excited. And finally, cats just enjoy scratching! Like people, cats have various strategies for relieving stress, and scratching is one of them.
Why does my cat scratch the chair I am sitting in?
Your cat scratches the chair you are sitting in to express emotions. Excitement is one reason your cat would scratch the chair you sit in. Imagine your cat alone all day. Your cat missed you all day, and now you are at home sitting at your desk chair. After a long day alone, your cat is just showing excitement. By scratching, your cat is communicating her feelings to you.
Your cat might be scratching your chair to get your attention. She wants you to spoil her, to play with her. It’s more fun to play with you than to try playing alone. So, by scratching your chair while you are sitting in it, your cat is just asking you to play with her.
Why is my cat scratching my desk?
It’s an innate, natural behavior for cats to scratch your desk. But, you might ask, “Why is my cat scratching MY desk?”
Scratching helps relieve pent-up excitement, anxiety, and other emotions. In addition, your cat is scratching your desk to keep claws filed and healthy.
Keep in mind that cats are naturally territorial animals. So when adopting a cat, it’s worth considering this before moving them into an entirely new home. Change can be pretty stressful for cats. And scratching can be anything from marking their territory to stress relief.
Cats also prefer to scratch trees, so a house cat may naturally head straight to a wooden desk. However, rougher surfaces like concrete, brick and wood also act like files to remove the dead outer layer of your feline’s paws, keeping them pain-free.
How to stop your cats from scratching your furniture?
To stop your cats from scratching your furniture, place a scratching post right next to the furniture. Placing a scratching post next to the furniture the cat is currently scratching will deter the cat from scratching furniture.
You can also place double-sided sticky tape on the furniture as a deterrent. This is a great way to stop your cats from scratching your furniture because they find the stickiness of the tape unappealing.
Offer food rewards and praise and whenever your cat scratches her scratching post. In addition, you can use clicker training to capture the cat as she engages inappropriate scratching behavior to train her to scratch on the preferred objects.
Offer various scratching substrates; don’t offer just one carpeted scratching post. For example, offer one of the inexpensive cardboard scratching posts or one made from sisal rope. In addition, I recommend an untreated wooden log, which naturally attracts cats to scratch in the wild.
You need to ensure this all-natural scratching post is secure. Secure the wood post to ensure it can’t tip over and hurt your cat. You could buy fabric similar to the furniture the cat likes to scratch and make their scratching posts. Then you can place sticky tape on the furniture your cat scratches and place the new scratching post (with the fabric)) next to the furniture. Then, as your cat starts to scratch the new scratching post, you can gradually move it to a more desirable location in your home.
And remember, if you’ve tried all these recommendations and your cat is still scratching the furniture, seek professional help from your veterinarian.
Can cats be trained not to scratch desk chairs?
Cats can be trained not to scratch desk chairs. But, most importantly, it’s important to be understanding and patient with your cat while teaching her to stop scratching on your desk chair.
To get her to halt scratching chairs, you need to make or buy a suitable scratching surface for your house, such as cat gyms, cat posts, or scratching pads.
But even if you purchase or make a scratch post, your cat may not take to it immediately. It may take patience and convincing to get your cat to start using the new scratch post instead of your desk chair.
You could place a blanket or her food bowl right by the scratch post to encourage her. Providing positive reinforcement and treats as rewards for approaching the scratch post should train your cat.
It’s important to remember cats do not scratch chairs for no reason, and this behavior shouldn’t be discouraged entirely. Instead, it should be redirected and rewarded in the appropriate circumstance.
For cats still interested in your desk chairs even after you’ve provided an alternative place to scratch, try to discourage the gently from sharpening claws on chairs.
You should try putting wide double-sided sticky tape over the desk chairs because cats find sticky surfaces unpleasant. But, never use physical punishment like hitting your cat to discourage them from scratching desk chairs.
Can cats be trained not to scratch furniture?
Cats can be trained not to scratch furniture. Indoor cats require outlets for their scratching, but hopefully, you can train yours to stop scratching your furniture.
Therefore, your goal shouldn’t be stopping the scratching behavior but to deter the cat from scratching the furniture. Work on focusing your cat to scratch appropriate areas and items in your home. Keeping your cat away from potential problem areas, buying, designing, building cat condos or scratching posts, and providing appropriate play toys will generally deal with most scratching problems.
Think about why your cat is scratching the furniture. Remember that kittens use their needle-sharp claws not to be intentionally destructive.
How to cat-proof desk chair?
You can cat-proof your desk chair. Even if you have a well-behaved cat, one day, she might still destroy your desk chair. But, of course, it wouldn’t be her fault. To a cat, your chair is just one giant scratching post.
The good news is that there are ways to cat-proof your chairs. All it takes is time, preparation, the right supplies, and some positive reinforcement training.
Use double-sided tape to cat-proof your desk chair or any other furniture. Cats have an aversion to sticky things. So place the double-sided tape on the desk chair and refer cats to a scratch post instead. If you place the scratch post right next to your desk chair, your cat will eventually learn where it’s OK to scratch. Once your cat learns, you can remove the tape from the chair.
You can use apple cider vinegar to cat-proof your chair. This cat deterrent works because felines dislike the smell of apple cider vinegar—mix eight ounces of apple cider vinegar and water. Then, use a spray bottle to apply it over the desk chair. To ensure your cat deterrent spray doesn’t harm the fabric, you can first apply it to a small area.
If you don’t want to mix your own homemade cat deterrent to cat-proof your desk chair, you spray it with an air freshener. Choose a citrus air freshener because cats have an aversion to citrus-based scents. Also, using a cat deterrent on your office chair will force them to find another place to practice their scratching.
DIY cat-proofing
The easiest DIY option for cat-proofing your desk chair is to make a mixture of water and lemon juice. You can make this simple mixture by mixing the juice of a whole lemon with 16-ounces of water. You can also add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to your DIY cat repellent if you have it.
How do I keep my cat off my furniture alone?
You can use aluminum foil to keep your cat off the furniture. This simple ca repellent works because they don’t like the feel or sound of aluminum foil. If your cat is afraid of the sound of ruffled aluminum foil, once she jumps on it, she will jump right off and run away.
Taping some strips to the chair handle or placing it on your desk chair should do the trick to keeping them away. But, this repellent may not work with all cats – as some felines are less fearful than others.
Cat repellent for desk chair
A cat repellent is an excellent way to tell your cat to stay off your desk chair. And applying your homemade cat repellent may be the best way to stop your cat from scratching your desk chair.
Most importantly, if your little furry companion has its claws, then she’ll need to satisfy the natural urge to “scratch.” So you might have the most comfortable office chair that is precious to you – but princess has no problem using it as a cheap cat scratcher.
Cats are very loveable, but they can quickly become destructive. They don’t intentionally harm your office furniture. But, it’s in their nature to leave their scent and mark territory. Using a cat repellent will deter your cat from scratching your chair.
Cat mittens to prevent scratching
Cat mittens or cat socks can prevent your cat from scratching your desk chair. Making or purchasing cat mittens is the best alternative to declawing your feline. These cat mittens work well for some cats, but not all will tolerate them. Some cats remove them. But, if you are lucky and keep them on, cat mittens will limit the damage if your cat does decide to scratch your chair.
Does vinegar stop cats from scratching my chair?
Vinegar is safe to use to stop cats from scratching your chair. Because white vinegar is colorless, it won’t stain most fabrics. And the best part is that most households already have vinegar.
Homemade spray to stop cats from scratching office chair
You can easily make the best homemade spray to stop cats from scratching your office chair or any other furniture. All you need is an equal amount of white vinegar and water. Mix the two ingredients and apply the mixture with a spray bottle. For greater effect, you can add some freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Final thoughts on stopping your cat from scratching your desk chair
There are many reasons cats scratch desk chairs. As a cat owner, you need to consider your pet’s needs. However, you should also be conscious of your decisions and how they impact your cat’s life.
You can stop your cat from scratching your desk chair if you provide her with appropriate and appealing places that meet her need to scratch. If you do a good job, and with a bit of luck, and she’ll leave your desk chair alone. There is never a need to declaw your cat to stop her from scratching your desk chair.
