Reasons why cats tear up the sofa
If a cat is tearing up the sofa, what to do depends on the cause of the condition. Cats don't just ruin furniture. There are many reasons for this. Having learned about them, the owner can guess the most correct one.
Many cats destroy furniture
- The border of your territory. Cats in their home mark boundaries where they consider themselves masters. This is especially true for those houses where not one, but several cats or other animals live. They consider the sofa or chair to be their place, so they mark it for all other residents.
- Sharpening claws. Cats are predators by nature. They need claws to hunt. This is inherent in nature and genetics, even if the pet is a domestic animal. Therefore, he needs to sharpen his claws daily to keep them sharp.
- They stretch their paws. Pets remain motionless for long periods of time. To become more active, cats begin to damage furniture with their claws. This is a kind of physical activity for them. Young individuals, who are full of strength and energy, especially like to stretch their paws. They are not able to sit still for a long time, so they splash out their energy by scratching.
- Relieves stress. Many owners believe that the only way to properly raise an animal is through aggressive behavior. They scream, beat, and may not feed the animal. This results in cats experiencing severe stress. They can scratch and bite. He needs to do this to protect himself from a cruel owner.
Note! After the owner identifies the true reason, it will be easier to choose a method to stop the cat from tearing up the sofa.
It is important not to resort to aggressive and cruel methods that can aggravate the situation.
How to remove scratches from a leather sofa
Here are some popular methods that will tell you how to restore a leather sofa from cat scratches.
Olive oil
Before you start restoring furniture that was torn up by a cat, you need to check the reaction of the sofa leather to the oil. To do this, apply oil to an area that is invisible to the eye and wait a while. If the skin has not lost its shine, this method is suitable.
We wet the sofa with oil and then polish it well with a cloth.
What to do:
- dip a cotton pad or cotton swab into the oil;
- wipe the scratch area, slightly going beyond it;
- let dry;
- repeat the procedure if necessary.
This method perfectly removes shallow scratches.
Iron, textiles and oil
If the first method was not effective enough, you can try an “improved” version of the method. In addition to oil, you will need a cloth and an iron.
How to do:
- lubricate the damaged area with oil;
- apply cloth to the scratch;
- wait until the oil is absorbed into the fabric and remove it.
If the cat scratched the sofa shallowly, the traces of the cat’s crime will disappear after the first manipulation with the oil.
Did not help? The second part of the method should solve the problem:
- take the same piece of cloth, moisten it with water;
- apply to the damaged area;
- wait until the water is absorbed a little;
- take a warm (precisely warm) iron;
- iron the fabric for 10 seconds;
- repeat until effect is achieved.
This method allows you to cope even with deep scratches. It is worth considering that 2-3 repetitions are necessary to remove some damage.
If the tracks lie deeper than expected, the steps described above will have to be repeated three to four times.
Shoe polish
Sometimes an old, perhaps slightly forgotten remedy comes to the rescue: shoe polish. Products intended for natural leather have an oily base and thick texture. They can be useful in repairing furniture. The most important thing is that the shade of the upholstery and the product matches. As a last resort, you can mix two different shades to get the desired one.
The shoe polish should match the shade of the leather sofa.
How to repair scratches on a leather sofa using shoe polish:
- apply a small amount of cream to a cotton swab;
- Rub it into the scratched area in a circular motion.
It is better to soak the remaining cream with a napkin. This method is suitable if the cat decides to sharpen its claws on the bottom or side bar. It is not recommended to remove scratches on the seat using this method.
If the color of the cream is chosen correctly, you will be able to perfectly disguise scratches on the surface of the sofa.
Rubber glue
Rubber glue, which does not contain acetone, is suitable for this purpose. It will fill in the damaged areas and the sofa will be restored. Carefully fill the scratch area with glue. This can be done with a toothpick so as not to leave marks on “healthy” areas of the furniture. When the glue dries, the strip is painted over with a matching marker or wiped with shoe polish.
When the scratch is sealed, paint over the damaged area on the sofa with a special paint that matches the color of the leather furniture.
Nail polish
There are two difficult points in this method: you need to choose a varnish of the same shade and texture as the sofa, and also apply it very carefully. The easiest way to “fix” a black glossy sofa in this way.
For matte skin, matte varnish is suitable.
Instead of a standard brush, it is better to use a toothpick or a special brush for drawing on nails. The varnish is applied in a thin strip, strictly into the scratch.
You can use nail polish of a suitable color.
Marker
The most suitable would be a waterproof marker (for example, for drawing on glass). It is matched to the tone of the sofa. In order not to make a mistake with the color, you can take a piece of upholstery or take a photo of the sofa. The color rendering of the smartphone should be adjusted as well as possible: furniture should be photographed in sufficient daylight. The marker is used in the same way as varnish or shoe polish: it is applied strictly to the scratch. If the cut is deep, you can first fill it with rubber cement.
You can quickly veil the scratch with a marker of a suitable shade.
Wax
What to do if the cat scratched the leather sofa quite deeply? In this case, you should arm yourself with wax. Natural bee or special furniture material will do. The product is heated in a water bath or in the microwave (10-20 seconds is enough, depending on the power). Then, using a soft cloth or cotton pad, apply to the damaged area. It is best to take flannel - it is a very soft and delicate fabric that is suitable for polishing.
Wax can also help fill damaged areas on leather upholstery, only a special one - for leather or bee wax.
After the wax hardens, the scratch will be invisible. This method is universal: it is suitable for upholstery made of genuine leather, and for dermantin or eco-leather.
Liquid skin
It is better to remove damage in the most visible places using liquid skin. You can buy it in specialized stores that sell building materials or leather goods.
This composition, reminiscent of gouache in consistency, is sold in sets of several colors or individually.
Apply the product with a soft sponge using patting movements. When the liquid skin is completely dry, the damage will not be visible. This method is suitable for all types of leather: natural and leatherette. Again, the most important thing is to choose the right shade.
If your furniture is a non-standard color, you will have to buy several of the desired colors in order to achieve the desired shade by mixing.
How to stop a cat from tearing up furniture
How to stop a cat from tearing up wallpaper and furniture: causes and solution to the problem
If a cat sharpens its claws on the sofa, a veterinarian or an employee at a pet pharmacy or store can tell you what to do. There are many different methods, each of which a person can try for his animal.
- Scratching post. This is a special device that has a similar structure to a sofa and an armchair. The cat can sharpen its claws on it, forgetting about the table, chairs and other pieces of furniture. Scratching posts come in completely different sizes: from small to large. They can be part of large houses for cats. The animal will climb on it and scratch the scratching post.
- Repeller spray. They use special liquids that are sprayed onto the object that the cat or kitten is scratching. The disadvantage of this device is the impregnation of soft materials. Therefore, it is not suitable for wallpaper, curtains and upholstered furniture. The liquid can be used to treat a leather sofa or chair. You can ask the pet store how to spray the furniture to prevent the cat from tearing up the corner. The substance should not harm the pet.
- Folk methods. In those places where the cat is accustomed to damaging household items, you can set traps. These include rustling, sticky materials that the animal is afraid of. You can attach tape or foil to the sofa, but only choose a place that the animal is used to scratching. Another method is to create your own noise at the moment when your pet spoils objects. It is important that he does not see that the owner is making the sound. If both methods do not work, the cat is sprayed with a water spray bottle at the moment when it spoils its favorite corner.
- Claw covers. These devices are made of silicone material. They are put on the claws by the veterinarian during the next examination at the request of the person. The device is designed to protect not only pieces of furniture, but also surrounding people whom the cat may scratch. This method will help protect small children, whom a cat can seriously harm, for example, by scratching their face.
Important! Each cat needs a different approach.
If the chosen method is useful for a certain animal, it will not work for another. You can start with the simplest methods, gradually moving on to serious options. However, hitting and yelling at your pet is not recommended. The owner must accustom the kitten to normal behavior immediately after he gets into the house.
What not to do if a kitten scratches the furniture?
There are a few things you don't need to do.
Don't use your kitten's name to scold him. Especially during the period when you are just teaching your baby his name. If you catch a kitten at the scene of a crime, do not say its name in a raised voice. This way you will reinforce an unpleasant association in the kitten and it will be more difficult to accustom him to the name. It’s better to make some kind of sharp sound, for example, “Hey!”, “No!”, “You can’t!”
Don't punish the kitten . Cats don't understand physical punishment, yelling, or having water splashed at them. This worsens your relationship with your pet. Instead of punishment, take time to raise the kitten.
Don't do Soft Paws. This is a declawing operation. A kitten's claw is part of its paw. During the operation, part of the animal's fingertip is literally removed (it's like having one phalanx on each finger removed on a human). After this surgery, many cats experience chronic pain. Pain causes cats to become more aggressive. It is also difficult for them to go to the litter box because digging causes discomfort. Such an operation will bring more problems than solutions.
Training to a scratching post
How to stop a cat from tearing wallpaper, furniture and walls
It is recommended to buy a scratching post when you have a small kitten. This eliminates the possibility of any damage to the furniture. It is better to immediately show the animal the ability to sharpen its claws than to wean an adult cat.
Training takes place in several stages.
- Install the device in a place where the kitten could start tearing up furniture. If the owner has an adult, it may already spoil it. That’s why the scratching post is placed right next to her. Once the cat learns to use the device, it can be moved to any location.
- Show the animal how to use the device. To do this, a person can demonstrate scratching movements with his own hands. If this does not help, you can take the cat by the paw and lightly press on the pads to make the claws appear. You need to show how to scratch and how to sharpen your claws correctly. You can also take your cat's favorite toy and move it across the fabric so that he starts hunting.
- If interest has been shown, you should reward the animal by giving it food, petting it or scratching it behind the ear. Gradually, with an adequate approach and affection, the animal will understand what the owner wants from him.
Many people are interested in why the cat couldn’t get used to the device. You should buy a quality scratching post, as the use of chemical materials and glue can scare away your pet. Therefore, the owner should carefully study the assortment of the cat store.
Accustoming to a scratching post is a long and painstaking process.
Bonus: how to choose a scratching post?
In order for the kitten to really like the scratching post, you need to choose the right option. There are horizontal and vertical scratching posts. They are also made from different materials: cardboard, wood or rope.
When choosing a scratching post, you need to rely on your pet’s preferences. For example, if he likes to sharpen his claws on the carpet, there must be a horizontal scratching post in the house.
Basic parameters of a good scratching post:
- tall or long enough for the kitten to stretch out during the process;
- a high scratching post should be stable, not dangle or fall;
- natural materials.
If you have several scratching posts, it is good if they are made of different materials. Cats prefer natural materials: wood and sisal rope.
An excellent option would be a scratching post-house. This way you will provide your pet with a place to sleep and a place to stretch and train its claws.
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Cover furniture with covers or tape
Instead of swearing at your pussy, block access to her favorite scratching spots. The easiest and most effective way to do this is to cover these areas with double-sided tape . Cats don't like to touch sticky surfaces, so your cat will stop trying to sharpen her claws in that area.
If you have already provided her with enough quality scratching posts that she uses, she will quickly forget that furniture can also sharpen her claws. After this you can remove the tape.
If you do not want to use tape, you can cover the furniture with a special cover.
Manufacturers and prices
Which of the modern manufacturers can offer us high-quality anti-vandal coating at the best price?
Estimated cost for the most common anti-vandal fabrics.
Galaxy
This is an excellent anti-vandal microfiber with Teflon impregnation. The colors are mostly neutral and pleasing to the eye. Slightly vintage shades are suitable for classic interiors in a traditional style. Microfiber is very pleasant to the touch. Cost - 1107 rubles/m.
Anti-claw
Flock anti-vandal material. The material is very pleasant to the touch, the colors are delicate, pastel, classic, mostly light in color.
Anti-claw flock is impregnated with a Teflon composition, thanks to which it has unique performance properties. Price - 790 rub/m.
Verona
Teflon material, durable and damage resistant. There are bright colors, beautiful and cheerful. Cost - 890 rubles/m.
Panda
In this case, anti-vandal velor of the highest category is presented. A very beautiful palette of colors - from light, delicate to bright, catchy. Cost - 740 rubles/m.
