My cats love scratching furniture!

We are getting a new couch tomorrow( the old one was thrown away after our cats started to spray everywhere before they got spayed) and I have some concerns. We have three cats that LOVE to scratch. We have plenty of scratching post and scratching boards that go on door knobs. They are strategically placed throughout the apartment so every room has one. They love to scratch furniture, especially couches. I have tried so many things to deter them but it doesn't work. 

I have tried double-sided tape and aluminum foil but they love it. I have tried vinegar and water in a spray bottle but that rarely works.I have also tried conditioning by stopping the scratching and taking them to a scratching post .

Does anybody have any suggestions?

I should also add that our cats use the scratching post all the time. We spay the post with catnip spray and they love it. I tried multiple Feliway products and none of them worked with any of the cats. 

You could have them declawed, but I don't really recommend that due to the fact that it can cause an array of its own problems...
Have you tried soft claws?

I've considered declawing them but I've heard too many horror stories. I have not tried soft claws but wouldn't cats just eat them if they fall off? 

Declawing isn't the worst thing you can do to a cat...yes it's bad but not torturous. Laser declawing is better than traditional declawing. I've never declawed though.

No, cats usually do not eat them. Only do the front paws. I paid $20 per cat for 2 weeks in Maine when I did not want to be held liable for ruined furniture.

Heavy duty double sided tape. (The kind used to hold carpet down not the type bought at the dept store)   Just attach it in the places where they like to scratch and the scratching will stop because they don't like the sticky feeling on their paws.   Provide alternatives: scratching posts smeared with cat nip, corrugated cardboard scratch boards or my former feral's favorite 3 feet of a 2 by 4 piece of lumber from Home Depot.  Once your cat has moved on, you can remove the tape.    IMO declawing is not an option.

Almost forgot, keep their nails clipped.   One of my cats starts to scratch inappropriately when I forget her pedicures!

Also, it might be easier with a new couch because there won't be the smell from the spraying and so they might not be as adament about adding their scent to the new couch.   You might consider spraying the new couch with Feliway.   Good luck!

My last post, I promise.

No thank you! I need all the advice I can get! I'll try the heavy duty tape next.

They are not scratching furniture, they are scratching everything!!

You can get a wood for their scratching then they won't target your furniture.

Plz don't declaw them

Get some of those inexpensive cardboard scratchers and tilt them up where the cats like to scratch. Mine always headed for the corner of a chair or the side of the couch, for instance. I put the cardboard scratchers there, and now they prefer the cardboard to the furniture. You can get replacements for the inserts when they wear out after flipping them over. My cats will run across the room to scratch the cardboard. None of my furniture has any damage. They love the sisal scratching posts, too.

I have heard that many cats do not like the door knob scratchers because they aren't steady when they use them. Some cats prefer vertical scratching posts; others like horizontal. My 2 like a horizontal cardboard one. They sit right on it while scratching. One of my cats growing up was indoor/outdoor. She loved to use a tree. She'd stretch herself up it and work her way down a bit. She also liked a scrap piece of carpet my parents had in the garage.

TCS in general is anti-declaw. A quick search here and online can give you many articles on the subject. I have had both declawed and clawed cats over my lifetime. Understanding it better; I see why more and more places are outlawing it.

Redirecting and providing alternatives, regular claw trimming and nail caps are all good steps to take. I agree with placing scratching posts/pads right in front of where you do not want them to scratch. I have heard a number of members come back and say that helped solve their furniture scratching problem. Cats are all different; so some will be trial and error till you find out what works for your fur crew.

I really wouldn't recommend declawing. It does create a lot of other health and behavior problems, including litter box aversion and biting.

Have you tried spraying your furniture with an anti-scratch spray? I make my own from lemon juice, citrus oil and water. The cats don't like the lemony smell on their paws so they don't scratch where it's been sprayed. You have to remember to spray every day though.

You can also buy anti-scratch sprays.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Smartykat-Scratch-Not-Training-Spray-13.5-Fl-Oz-Cats/10804641

Is your new sofa made of fabric? The first cat we had was a female who lived inside with us. She kept trying to scratch the front and back corners of the sofa. On the places where she scratched. I sewed on washcloths with tiny stitches. I left them there until she had an established post that she would use all the time. Eventually I was able to remove them and she was trained to do something else.

Declawing is pretty terrible. I'd go with claw caps (which you can get for cheap on eBay).

blueyedgirl5946 said:

Is your new sofa made of fabric? The first cat we had was a female who lived inside with us. She kept trying to scratch the front and back corners of the sofa. On the places where she scratched. I sewed on washcloths with tiny stitches. I left them there until she had an established post that she would use all the time. Eventually I was able to remove them and she was trained to do something else.

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What a clever idea!