I think the first thing many of us think about when getting a cat is… its just gonna scratch up the furniture. Am I right?

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Let’s start with a tip from our Kit-Tip card (included in your starter kit).

Kit Tip #5: Get a scratcher

• Your kitty will likely want to scratch your furniture. But you CAN deflect them from doing so. Use a cardboard or a carpeted scratcher. We include one in our Smitten Kitten care package. If you prefer a carpet scratcher you can pick those up at your local pet store. They will likely have other variations of scratchers as well.

• Purchase sprays to detour from scratching. I’ve done this with my previous kitty (RIP Biddy). If your kitty scratches your furniture, you can spray those areas it’s attracted to. THEY don’t like the smell - and YOU won’t notice it. Typically, they are scentless to us humans.

• Keep a spray bottle of water handy. When kitty scratches, spray him/her. They don’t like it and will stop.

Now that we’ve covered what to do when your kitty scratches, let’s ask this…
Do you know why they scratch? The main reason cats scratch is to sharpen their claws. The tension and height provided by a piece of your furniture is “pur-fect” for your kitty. It’s also their way of leaving their “mark on the world” and leaving their scent on our objects - like furniture.

So don’t hate. Just help them adjust. FYI - I’ve used these tips my entire life and never had a cat scratch my furniture.