Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
It started with one claw. Then the couch. Then the chair.
By the time we figured out what worked, and what didn’t – it had cost us real money and real frustration. Here’s what I wish I knew from the start.
Our Cat Family in a Small Condo
It’s me, my husband, and our two cats — Sami and Phoebe — in a two-bedroom condo.
We both work from home. So we’re all here. All the time.
Our friends say we haven’t really “grown up.”
We do have nice furnitures, just mostly shredded.
My favourite $3,000 couch? Wrecked in a week.
It’s been four years with Sami and Phoebe.
We’ve tried a lot to stop the scratching.
Some things helped. Some didn’t.
I’ve made peace with it. My husband never minded.
Still, I wanted to share what we’ve learned —
in case it saves someone else a couch.
Why they scratch (we asked too)
We used to wonder if Sami and Phoebe were just being destructive.
But scratching is natural. It helps cats stretch, mark their space, and keep their claws healthy.
That didn’t make it less frustrating – but it helped us stop taking it personally.
Quick wins: what helped right away
This is what worked the fastest for us, to stop further shredding of my beautiful white couch.
Couch Protector Sticky Tape for Cats
I was stubborn not use it and I regret it. It really works! (with bit sacrifice on the look). I end up got from here at Amazon and it stopped them shred the corner more.
Cat Scratch Mat Sofa Protector
To make it bit more fun, I added scratch mat to another couch corner, it does stand out more, but at least, Sami and Phoebe have fun with it. I got it here.
Anti Cat Scratch Tape
Then I got this cat scratch tape, to tape around other spot that fun to scratch. Now my couch looks bit ridiculous but well “protected”.
Other products I use at home to stop cat scratch, and works!
After many, many experiments, these are products I’m using.
🐱 Cat Scratcher Cardboard
This is a very good value item, because I have to replace them often, I like this price and value.
🐱 FELIWAY Classic Diffuser Refill 3-Pack
This classic diffuser comes handy, I kept them in the house to deal with stressful days for Sami and Phoebe, e.g. when plumber is here.
🐱 SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post
Tall, sturdy, actually gets used.
🐱 Dohump Cat Scratching Post, 33″ Tall
I also have this one, as it is pretty.
🐱 A Giving a treat right after they scratched the right thing
Just one small treat. Only when we saw them do it. Especially helped with Sami – he responds more to food than words.
None of these works 100%, but they re-direct Sami and Phoebe’s scratching energy.
The only furniture that survived, material/fabric matters!
Here only one piece of furniture they never scratched.
Our La-Z-Boy recliner.
We bought it two years ago. I asked for something cat-proof. The salesperson gave me a fabric sample. It felt very smooth.
I picked it.
The material line called “Pet Friendly”.
Now, two years later – it still looks new.
No rips. No threads.
Sami sleeps on it. Phoebe too. But no scratches.
It’s the only thing that survived.
Here is the fabrics. When we replace couch next time, this will be what I will pick!
What Didn’t Work (At Least for Us)
We tried a bunch of things. Some sounded promising. Some were just wishful thinking. Here’s what didn’t help – so maybe you don’t have to waste your time.
- Spray deterrents: We used citrus ones and “no scratch” formulas. Phoebe didn’t care. Sami scratched right through it.
- Aluminum foil: It slid off. It crinkled. They played with it. Didn’t stop the scratching.
- Clapping or saying a loud “no”: Startled them, sure. But they came back later when we weren’t looking.
- Putting scratchers in the corner: If it’s not where they want to scratch, they’ll ignore it.
Every cat is different. But if you’re thinking of trying these first — maybe don’t start here. None of them made a real difference for us.
Final thoughts
Scratching won’t go away – it’s part of being a cat.
Scratching can be redirected. With the right tools.
With some patience, you can keep your home (mostly) intact.
Claw marks and all – this is still home. 💛
If you’re in the same boat, I hope this helps. Some links are affiliate — I might earn a small commission. Sami and Phoebe say thanks (in snacks or trying out new furniture to scratch).
From other cats parents
💬 From Jennifer:
“I have two cats too, and this post felt like you were inside my condo. My favorite couch got shredded in a week, and I’ve been trying everything since. What really helped was hearing what didn’t work and most blogs just skip that. I’m going to try that tall post next. Fingers crossed. Thanks for keeping it honest.”
💬 From Mark:
“We tried tape, sprays, and yelling, nothing worked until we finally moved the scratcher right where she kept going. Honestly wish we’d done that sooner.”
💬 From Elise:
“Thank you for being real. So many blogs pretend there’s one magic product. Your post made me feel normal for still figuring it out!”
More stories and tips about big subject Litter – I have figure it out a very good one to use called Pretty Litter. You can see my experience here.
DM to share your experience! I’d love to share it here to help more cat parents.