How to stop a cat from scratching the mattress when water fails?

This is such a frustrating battle. Here are a few suggestions that may or may not work. You can try giving him something else to scratch on like a tall scratching post or a piece of wood from outside. The scratching post needs to be tall because they like to stretch while scratching. Feliway also make a product now called feliscratch to help redirect the scratching to the scratching post. You can also apply soft paws to their nails so that even if they try to scratch, they won't do any damage. I hope this helps!

This can be a tough problem - I can sympathize! There are a few things you can do to help. First, make sure that you are providing really good, attractive scratching posts in the areas that your cat wants to scratch - many of the small, carpet-covered ones in pet stores aren't very good. A good scratching post should be at least 3-4 feet tall so that the cat can stretch all the way out when scratching. It should also be heavy and solid - if the post feels flimsy or tips over when the cat scratches, he won't want to use it. Finally, most cats prefer rough coverings like sisal rope or something similar rather than carpet. I would try to get several really good scratching posts and ideally also a few cat trees/climbing structures so that you can have at least one in every room where Pepper spends time. To help discourage scratching on furniture and door faces, you can use double-sided scotch tape over these areas - the tape sticks to their paws when they try to scratch, so they normally choose to go elsewhere. If you would like more specific suggestions for your situation, feel free to consult with me - I'd be glad to try and help out.

Hi, thanks for using Petcoach! Cats scratching your furniture can be the worst! You can consider putting nail caps on your cats while training them: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYGODXH/ref=asc_df_B01MYGODXH5167683/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B01MYGODXH&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198073792559&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=740752911514439939&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007368&hvtargid=pla-318807050319 Purchase several different types of scratching posts and have some that are vertically oriented like your couch. Place them where your cats mostly sleep so when they wake up and want to scratch it is there. Also place them front and center in your house so they can do it where you mostly relax. Place one near the couch. Get your cat interested in the scratching posts by sprinkling them with catnip or spraying them with honeysuckle. Learn more about catnip and honeysuckle. Get your cat even more interested in the post(s) by using a wand toy. Start by playing with the wand toy a few feet away from the post. Once your cat is playing along, sweep the toy so that its end drapes over the post. Often, when cats "discover" their post this way, especially when it's covered in a great scratch-worthy material like sisal fabric, they will come back to it again and again. Make the couch an unattractive place for scratching. You can accomplish this by using one or more of the following techniques: Tuck a sheet around the scratched area of the couch tightly so your cat can't get under it to scratch the couch. Use double-sided tape or aluminum foil on the couch. Spray the couch with a citrus-scented spray because cats have a natural aversion to citrus odors. Consider adding the product Feliway to your anti-scratching arsenal. Feliway is a product that mimics the feline facial pheromone that makes cats feel calmer. If your cat is scratching your couch because she is feeling stressed, Feliway can help. Spray the sofa and any areas that your cat normally hangs out. Continue to play with your cat near the scratching post, and reward her with praise and treats when she uses it. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_7?url=search-alias%3Dpets&field-keywords=feliway+spray&sprefix=feliway%2Cpets%2C137&crid=KU58Z21UQBZV I hope this helps!

Here is a link to an article that explains this problem and how to rectify it. I have also linked some Feliway products and some Soft Paws that you may want to try. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-behavior-issues/destructive-scratching https://www.feliway.com/us/Why-Use-Feliway/how-to-stop-a-cat-scratching-furniture https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/feliscratch-by-feliway https://www.softpaws.com/soft-paws-cats/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7CDkqZAqIc

I recommend trying Soft Paws. They are nail caps that you glue onto your cat's claws, and it prevent damage to the furniture when they try to scratch. You can order them online, and you may be able to find them in a pet store. I hope this helps!

She is probably stressed and/or bored. I recommend you put some Feliway diffusers in your house and do some environmental enrichment for her. Usually these two things help tremendously. ( https://www.feliway.com/ca_en/Products/FELIWAY-CLASSIC-Diffuser ) ( thedrakecenter.com/materials/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats ) ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AejmrLa_Cs4 ) Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.

Cats will scratch where ever they see the opportunity. Unfortunately, it is not always where we want them scratching. I would encourage him scratching appropriate areas by attracting him with food, treats and/or catnip on/near his posts. Cats hate if sticky things touch their feet. Often just a piece of tape (made into a loop with the sticky side out) placed in the corners will stop them from scratching the carpeted stairs. Some stores sell specially made double sided sticky strips as well. I would recommend giving those a try.