How to Stop a cat From scratching Furniture

 You may find that your cat scratching furniture and other objects with its claws is purely absurd in your opinion, but it is not from the cat's point of view. For cats, this behavior is normal to maintain the health of their claws and to leave distinct visual and odor marks on items, which determines the cat's influence in relation to other cats and animals. In addition, scratching is an exercise for cats as they lengthen their shoulders, legs, and claws. Since scratching is a natural activity for cats, protecting furniture and other items may require some effort on your part, but it is not impossible.

1-1Understand and redirect scratching behavior

 1-Estimate the purpose of scratching or using claws. The cat does not scratch things to make you sad, but it does so as a training of its muscles, from the claws to the legs, shoulders and back.] In addition, scratching sharpens a cat's claws and cleans its outer shell.

Cats also scratch objects to leave their distinctive scent and mark their places of influence with their claws. These claws contain scents that are indistinguishable to humans and can be recognized by cats, dogs, and animals.

2-Be patient and understanding. You love your cat and the close bond you both have for sure. The cat knows you care and shares that feeling. Cats do their best to please their owners, as long as they know you support and appreciate them.

With more friendly behavior from you and over time, the cat will get used to leaving the furniture and get used to using other alternatives to scratch it.

3-Buy at least one scratching board (or other scratching device) for your cat. A scratching board is the perfect solution to your problem, but you will need some time to encourage your cat to use it.
There are a few things to think about first before buying a scratch board. When your cat is at least standing on her hind legs, find a scratching board that is at least as long as your cat is standing. Make sure that the board is stable and does not vibrate when the cat presses on it, and make sure that the scratching board is not too heavy or long so that it does not fall on your cat.
Scratching boards and posts come in different sizes and uses with some being flat on the ground and some being raised. Some boards are made of grass, so try different types. It is better to have more than you need than not to have enough.
Some cats like to use horizontal scratching boards that are shaped like a rug, so having a board like this may be your cat's preference. You'll find horizontal scratching boards that look like cardboard, sisal or carpet.
Avoid using anything that is fluffy, no matter what type you choose. The scratch post should resemble tree bark (the cat's natural scratching site), rough and thick. It is preferable to use poles on which the sisal fibers are wrapped, and the more rough they are, the less scratches caused by the cat will appear.

4-Place scratching posts in strategic places. Find out where the cat has scratched and locate them. Make sure that the scratcher is clearly visible in the room and is located next to the items the cat likes to scratch.
If you've owned a cat for a short time, place the pole where you expect the cat to scratch it.
If your cat scratches and is scratching multiple places, choose suitable scratching spots around these places. It's a good idea to have more than one scratching post, especially if you have upstairs and downstairs, if your house is large, or if you have more than one cat. This will make it less likely that the cat will scratch furniture in other rooms without using a scratcher.
If the cat is constantly scratching the chair you're sitting on, place the scratching board next to that chair. You can also leave some soiled clothes on the scratching post for a while, or use the top surface of the post as a place to put personal belongings so that the cat sees it as a convenient place to locate it, such as a chair. This is especially important if the cat is attached to someone in the house. Placing a scratching post or scratching board near your cat's favorite chair or sofa will increase your cat's desire to use the scratcher.

5-Train your cat to use a scratching post. Train your cat to use the scratching post only when she wants to scratch. Encourage your cat to scratch the scratching post by gently placing it in front of it. Pat the cat at the same time and wait for it to respond to the pole in front of it.
If you want to increase the cat's desire to scratch the shaft, rub the catnip on it or spray it with catnip oil.
Praise your cat every time she uses the scratching post and give her a treat and a pat. Some advise to encourage the cat by gently placing its claws on the pole and even moving it up and down, but know that cats do not like to be forced to do something and this may have negative effects on them.
You can also teach the cat how to scratch the shaft by scratching it with your fingernails.
You can also swing a toy on the pole to hit it. This will draw the cat's attention towards the pole, 

as her interest in the toy may prompt her to discover the pleasure of scratching the pole behind her.

Another way to get your cat used to scratching the post is to delay greeting the cat until you reach the scratch post. Stand at the pole and scratch it with your fingernails, letting your cat know you're happy to see it. When the cat approaches the pole and starts to scratch it, stop scratching the pole and start patting the cat while it is scratching and praising it for its good behavior. 

6-Adjust the position and type of the scratch post as needed. If the cat isn't paying attention, you can move the pole around the room. Don't try to force the cat to love the pole and instead customize the pole so the cat likes it.

For example, you can tilt the pole on its side if you notice that the cat does not like it or is nervous about it. This column appears smaller as the cat gets used to it. 

Cats like some things about scratching objects or surfaces. Use the surface your cat prefers. This could be sisal rope, a piece of carpet, cardboard, curtains, or something else. Diverting your cat's attention to scratching the pad or other object instead of scratching surfaces is more successful if you act according to the cat's desires, rather than against them.

2-2 Disable bad scratching behavior

1-Use your tone of voice to correct the cat's behavior. You can say "no" in a sharp voice to reduce the cat's desire to scratch. [10]

Another way to reduce scratching is to toss a packet of pebbles or small coins on the ground near the cat (not on it) to catch it. Try not to let go of the cat and toss the can until you realize that scratching is what's causing the issue and that it has nothing to do with you. This way, the cat will scratch less when she is away because she has associated scratching with punishment.

After doing this, pick up the cat and place it next to the scratching board to scratch on as an alternative.

If you don't want to act aggressively with the cat, move a can of coins or clap your hands to discourage the cat from doing so. Next, lift the cat and place it next to the scratching post to get used to. You shouldn't sound angry or aggressive towards your cat because you know that your cat is already following its instincts and that you are the one who can control your emotions.

Never abuse your cat when she is near the scratching board. A cat needs to feel safe and happy when it is around the scratching board.

2-Use the water to stop the cat's bad behavior. If you have a water sprayer, you can try sprinkling a little water on the cat when it gets close to the furniture and starts to scratch it. Try to do this before the cat starts scratching, but also use water if the cat starts scratching. This won't hurt the cat, but it will help her associate the furniture scratch with the unpleasant feeling of the water splashing on her.

You can also use a mixture of citrus oils to repel the cat. Some cats are averse to the scent of orange oil. Mix equal parts, roughly 1 cup, each of eucalyptus oil and orange oil in a water sprayer. You can test the effect of the mixture on the cat by placing a small amount of it on a piece of cloth and bringing it close to the cat's nose. You must shake the atomizer before each use because the water will separate from the oil after a short time. Using this will not only prevent the cat from spoiling your furniture and walls, it will also give your home a nice scent.

Here, too, the cat may associate your presence with spraying, which encourages her to scratch when you're not around, so don't let her see you spraying.

3-3Limit your cat's access to things you want to scratch

1-Cover furniture that the cat has scratched. You will need to cover some parts of the furniture because your cat is showing a special interest in it. In this case, you can try several options:

Use double-sided tape on the furniture.  Cats don't like sticky textures and will stop scratching when they feel it because the hairless layer on a cat's paws is very sensitive to touch. 

For larger pieces of furniture, use tape on the arms, the back, and in places where the cat enjoys playing (and hiding from splashes).

For larger areas such as rugs or carpets, leave the sticky surface facing out over the surfaces you want to protect. 

You can also buy a product called "Sticky Paws," which is a medical tape in the form of a tape that can be used on curtains, carpets, and anything else your cat wants to scratch

Use the protruding part of the plastic or vinyl cover on the back of the sofa to prevent the cat from scratching it. Your cat will not like the feeling of the raised surface on its feet.

2-Also consider creating a repelling zone by using a motion detector with an atomizer or ultrasonic noise. This helps to keep the cat away without your intervention so that you do not associate the negative behavior with you or anyone else. Removing the cat yourself creates a fear of humans and secretly scratches things.

You can buy these products through the Internet or from some stores.