🐾 How Do I Stop My Cat Scratching the Sofa?

Kim Manners
6 hours ago
3 min read

If your cat is scratching the sofa, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common concerns for UK cat owners — and one of the most frustrating.

The good news? Scratching is a completely natural behaviour. The key isn’t stopping your cat from scratching — it’s redirecting them to a better surface.

Here’s how to do it properly.

🧠 Why Do Cats Scratch Furniture?

Cats scratch to:

Maintain healthy claws
Stretch muscles and tendons
Mark territory (they leave scent as well as visual marks)
Relieve stress or boredom

Sofas are particularly attractive because:

Fabric offers resistance
They’re positioned centrally in the home
They carry your scent

So your cat isn’t being naughty — they’re following instinct.

🚫 Why Spraying or Shouting Doesn’t Work

Punishment rarely solves the issue. It can:

Increase anxiety
Lead to scratching elsewhere
Damage trust

Instead, successful solutions focus on providing a better scratching option.

✅ Step 1: Provide the Right Scratch Surface

Many cats ignore small or flimsy scratch posts because they:

Wobble
Tip over
Are too short
Offer weak resistance

For effective redirection, your scratch furniture should be:

Stable and sturdy
Large enough for full stretching
Positioned near the sofa initially
Made from dense material

High-density corrugated cardboard often provides the ideal resistance that indoor cats prefer.

📏 Step 2: Make Sure It’s Large Enough

One of the biggest mistakes UK cat owners make is buying scratchers that are too small.

Larger breeds such as Maine Coons — or even average-sized adult cats — need space to:

Fully stretch
Shift position
Lounge comfortably

If your cat “spills over” small round beds, they’re unlikely to choose them over your sofa.

Generously sized scratch furniture dramatically increases usage.

📍 Step 3: Position It Strategically

Place the scratch furniture:

Near the area where your cat already scratches
In a central part of the home
Along walking routes
Near resting areas

Once they consistently use it, you can gradually move it to your preferred location.

🐾 Step 4: Encourage Use

You can:

Gently place their paws on the scratch surface
Reward with treats
Use catnip
Praise when they use it

Consistency matters.

🛋️ Step 5: Protect the Sofa Temporarily

While retraining:

Use sofa throws
Apply scratch guards
Trim claws (if appropriate and advised by a vet)

But remember — protection alone won’t solve the problem. Redirection is key.

🏡 Why Larger, High-Density Scratch Furniture Often Works Better

Cats prefer surfaces that feel substantial under their weight. High-density cardboard scratch furniture:

Provides satisfying resistance
Doesn’t wobble
Offers larger lounging areas
Protects sofas, carpets and walls

Many UK cat owners find that once a sturdy, generously sized scratch lounger is introduced, sofa scratching significantly reduces.

🐱 What If My Cat Still Ignores It?

If scratching continues:

Check placement
Try a vertical + horizontal option
Ensure it’s tall or wide enough
Consider multiple scratch areas in multi-cat homes

Different cats have different preferences — some prefer vertical stretchers, others prefer horizontal loungers.

🧡 Final Thoughts

You can’t stop a cat from scratching — and you shouldn’t try to. But you can give them a better, more satisfying alternative. When scratch furniture is: