Happy cats

Scratch-Scratching Away

Q: My daughter has two cats, both of which seem intent on destroying new furniture, which looks like rattan but is seagrass, I believe. She has tried various sprays, without any success. She doesn’t want to wrap the legs of the furniture, and we are hoping you can help. — Penny S., via e-mail

A: Ah, the luxury of the woven-reed furniture leg. Such wonderful texture; such beautiful space to sink one’s claws into! What cat could possibly resist such a tempting structure, so clearly made for them?

Unfortunately, that’s the mentality you’re fighting right now. Cats love to scratch — it’s a way of exercising, sharpening their claws and marking their territory. You can’t punish them; they’ll just scratch more. You shouldn’t declaw them; that can have consequences far worse than a few scratch marks. What you can do is a) deter them, and b) redirect their attention.

You’ve got to take every available measure to deter the cats. That means, in addition to scented sprays, temporarily wrapping the furniture legs with masking tape (packing tape worked for me) or tinfoil to create a texture they don’t like. You should also hiss at the cats whenever they put their paws on the legs, and carry a spray bottle of water or a can of pennies. Either squirt a little water at them or shake the penny can anytime they start to scratch.

At the same time, a viable scratching alternative should be made available. Purchase two scratching posts — one for each furniture leg (more if necessary) — preferably made of a rough, knobbly material like sisal and with a stable base. Place them near or directly in front of the furniture. Make them attractive by rubbing them with catnip or placing treats nearby. Place the cats next to the post and pet them, so they associate the scratching posts with pleasure. As they get used to the posts, move them farther away from the furniture until they are out of the way but still accessible.

For a few weeks or months, the furniture legs will look unsightly. But stay consistent, and you’ll eventually have an uncluttered room populated by healthy furniture AND healthy cats.