You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Cats make great pets - but when they start destroying furniture by scratching they become a nuisance

Scratching is a normal part of cat behaviour and it is used to :

• Mark territory - cats can be seen scratching tree trunks around the periphery of their territory. 
• To sharpen nails by removing the outer, blunt layer of the claw

An increase in marking behaviour (which also includes spraying urine, defaecation and rubbing scent glands on the head and face onto objects) is seen under certain circumstances , for example :

• When an aggressive neighbourhood cat encroaches into a cats existing territory
• When a cat is introduced into a new environment and has to establish the boundaries of it's new territory
• If there has been a major disruption to the cats usual daily routine - for example the timing of day when the cat is allowed outside
• If the cat is under stress because of an underlying medical disorder

Anything that increases stress and territorial marking can increase damage to furniture through scratching. In general scratching furniture or fixtures and fittings (such as doors, skirting boards, wallpaper)  should be discouraged from the earliest stages...because sooner or later the cat will damage precious or valuable items, such as a new leather suite !

One way to avoid damage to furniture is to train your cat to use a scratching post in the house. This should be introduced when the cat is a kitten. There are several considerations to make :

• Where to locate the scratching post - cats often scratch objects close to where they wake up -  so near their sleeping place is a good location
• What position to place the post in - some cats prefer a vertical surface to scratch, others a horizontal surface. Watch your cat to decide which it prefers
• What texture the scratching post should be made out of - some cats prefer rough surfaces (carpet, rope), others prefer smooth surfaces (cardboard, wood).
• Adding a sac of cat nip or a toy to the scratching post may increase its attractiveness to the cat
• Encourage your cat to use the scratching post, and praise it when it does

If your cat does start to use an object that is unacceptable protect it by denying the cat access to the room, or covering it with a plastic sheet, foil or other material. The objective of this  is to stop the cat using it habitually and diverting the cat to use something else, as well as physically protecting the object..

Aversion therapy to discourage the cat from using furniture may also help, but if it increases anxiety and fear it could make the behaviour worse in some individuals. Methods to discourage scratching include :

• Shouting at the cat when it starts scratching furniture
• Making a loud noise when the cat starts scratching furniture
• Shooting the cat with a water pistol when it tries to scratch furniture.

Updated October 2013