Anti scratch-furniture spray?

[phesina]

Here's a question I got from a friend:

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I wondered if you or any of the feline refuge cat experts knew of an effective spray to keep kitties away from furniture- I just bought a living room load -full (finally after 4 years of having none...) and I think I need to be pro-active judging from the look of a few older pieces here....
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I told her about Bitter Apple and also Sticky Paws(?) and such. I also told her to be sure and have good places they can scratch on, such as pads and cat trees and condos. However, inasmuch as I've never had any furniture I felt needed to be kept cat-proof , I wonder if any of you have any tactics you have found to be effective.

Please pass along whatever tips you might have, and I will pass them on to her.

Thanks so much!

Pat

[Moesha]

I know of some that have used aluminum foil and put it on corners of couches and wrapped table legs. Not a really attractive option, but it's an option.

[phesina]

Thanks, Moe. I'll pass that along to her. Seems to me worth a try. Even if it doesn't look great, you'd find out pretty soon if it works and then maybe save yourself a lot of time and money searching for other possibilities.

[Medusa]

The only tactic that has worked for me is when I see one scratching where they shouldn't, I immediately remove them to the scratching post and gently rake their paws downward a few times and repeat this until they get the point. I have almost all leather furniture now and was scared of puncture marks but they all learned their lesson quickly, w/the exception of Creamsicle. I catch her occasionally and she knows she's wrong, too, because she looks around while she does it and if she sees me coming towards her, she runs, the little brat. She hasn't done that in a long time, though, so even she knows what to do and what not to do.

One thing, though: the problem w/cat condos that are covered in carpet is that the kitties don't understand why they're allowed to sharpen their claws on that carpet but not on the carpet that they walk on. It's good to get some sisal scratching posts. Most cats really like it. I used to have scratching posts on every floor and my RB Peeka would come downstairs to use the sisal one.

[Freedom]

Couple of ideas to pass along:

1. have plenty of scratching posts. Tall ones preferred, lol.

2. Periodically, rub catnip on the posts, lets kitty know that is HER place.

3. At the same time you do the catnip thing, make a spray bottle of white vinegar and water, equal parts. Spray that on the furniture. Dilute enough that humans don't smell it, sharp enough that the cat does.

4. Go to a craft store, buy some double sided sticky tape and put that down the sides of the furniture. Be sure to do BOTH sides at corners. Cats don't like having their nails "sticky."

I've done all of these at one time or another. Sometimes, they even worked for me!

[phesina]

Thank you, Mary and Sandie. I'm adding these to the list of suggestions I'm passing along to my friend.