Cats are awesome, but they can be a little destructive when it comes to furniture. Show It’s not that they mean to be destructive: Cats scratch to sharpen and remove the worn outer covering of their claws, to mark objects in their environment with scents from glands on their paws (they are very clean animals) and for exercise. However, just knowing this doesn’t help you feel any better when your cat is shredding your new leather couch or making scratches all over your coffee table. Luckily for us there is an easy solution that will save our furniture and keep our kitty happy: vinegar! Vinegar is a fantastic way to keep cats off your furniture, and it’s completely safe for both you and your cat. Plus it’s cheap! After reading this post, you’ll know:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Why Cats Hate the Smell of VinegarI remember when I was a kid, my mom would clean out of the coffee maker with vinegar about once every couple months. And I always knew it was Coffee Pot Cleaning Day the instant I came downstairs for breakfast, because the smell would hit me like a ton of bricks. It was not a pleasant smell. Well, guess what? According to Paws Chicago, cats have more than 200 million odor sensors in their noses. (We humans have a measly 5 million.) Their sense of smell is 14 times better than ours is. So if you or I hate the strong smell of vinegar, imagine how desperate your cat would be to get away from it! How to Stop your Cat From Scratching Furniture With VinegarExcited cats suggests this easy solution for a vinegar-based deterrent spray:
Simply combine, add to spray bottle, and shake vigorously. More Deterrent Spray IdeasIf you really hate the smell of vinegar yourself, even when it’s diluted, you might want to try this home remedy repellent spray from Feline Answers:
Mix the ingredients together for either of the solutions listed above in a water bottle and begin spritzing your furniture. Start with an area that your cat seems the most drawn to and dab thoroughly. Colorglo suggests two more recipes for natural cat repellent:
A few things to keep in mind when using these sprays:
Store-Bought Cat Deterrent SprayPetSafe SSSCAT Spray Pet Deterrent for Cats and Dogs I found the PetSafe SSSCAT Spray on Amazon, with over 5,600 5-star reviews at the time of this writing. The coolest thing about this spray is that it contains a motion sensor, so you don’t have to be on guard constantly to catch your cat when he decides to go to town on your favorite couch. This isn’t like the above homemade sprays, where you apply it to your furniture and then your cats avoid it because they hate the scent. Instead, this is more of a “Gotcha!” when cats are scratching something that they shouldn’t. Did you ever try shooting your cat with a water pistol when they go somewhere they shouldn’t? This is that same concept, without you having to be available to watch them 24 hours a ay. Simply place SSSCAT Spray Deterrent on a countertop or table. When your cat comes within 3 feet of the spray deterrent, the motion-activated sensor releases a quick burst of odorless and harmless spray. Each can hold about 80-100 sprays, and you can buy a replacement can when it runs out. The motion sensor requires 4 AAA batteries to operate, which are not included. Amazon reviewer Jesse Byahh says that whether or not this spray “works” depends on what you’re using it for:
While there were many people who were happy with this product, there were well over 1,000 people who were not. You can read all the negative 1-star reviews here. Other Ways to Keep Cats from Scratching FurnitureSofisti-Cat Scratch Deterrent Tape MS!MAKE SURE Scratching Posts for Indoor CatsYMCCOOL 100pcs Cat Nail Caps/TipsThere are some additional ways you can discourage your cat from clawing up your furniture. (For more in-depth info about each of these strategies, check out my post about alternatives to declawing your cat.)
More ways for cat owners to use VinegarMy mother always swore by vinegar being able to clean anything. She used it on toilets, floors, stovetops, And, of course, Mom was right. Vinegar makes a great cleaner for multiple reasons:
Here are just a few ways cat owner can use vinegar around the house:
We hope you found our cat scratching remedies helpful. If not, don’t give up! Cats are very particular about what they like and may respond better to one or more of these solutions than another. You can always try a few different methods before deciding on the best solution for your furry friend(s). Good luck! |