We've tried shouting and a spray bottle. She does it anyway, and now she's scared of me.
1 answer
BilluBnB team
Scratching is natural — it stretches the body and marks territory — so the goal is to give her somewhere better. Put a tall, sturdy sisal post right next to the sofa (cats scratch where they sleep and where the family is), sprinkle it with catnip or silvervine, and reward her every time she uses it. Cover the sofa corner temporarily with a throw or double-sided tape. Trim her nails every couple of weeks. Punishment only teaches her to scratch when you're not looking.
Scratching is natural — it stretches the body and marks territory — so the goal is to give her somewhere better. Put a tall, sturdy sisal post right next to the sofa (cats scratch where they sleep and where the family is), sprinkle it with catnip or silvervine, and reward her every time she uses it. Cover the sofa corner temporarily with a throw or double-sided tape. Trim her nails every couple of weeks. Punishment only teaches her to scratch when you're not looking.