Are you one of those people who take an issue with cat hair on their furniture?
If so, here are several effective tips on how to keep a cat off the couch or any other piece of furniture, for that matter, so your home stays clean and fur-free!
How to Keep a Cat off the Couch
For all its pros, having a cat also has some downsides, such as the incessant meowing come dinnertime or all the cat hair on your chairs and sofas. Luckily, by applying one or more of the following common practices, you’ll be rid of one of these problems!
1. Lay down aluminum foil
Perhaps the best way to discourage your cat from scratching your furniture is to use aluminum or tin foil since its crinkly sound deters and even scares away most cats.
The foil’s texture is also much less appealing for your cat to sink its claws into than something soft and cushy like your pillows or even your hand.
2. Use double-sided tape
The sticky surface discourages cats from climbing on your couch in the first place, and similar to the metal foil, it makes a startling sound when peeled off.
Another benefit of double-sided tape is that you can also use it on other surfaces, such as walls, floors, tables, or other non-fabric surfaces.
3. Place plastic carpets
If you place plastic carpets on top of your furniture pieces, cats will most likely stay away since the knobs on the carpet’s surface irritate their paws.
Yet again, the rustling noise these covers make is off-putting and frightening to some cats, so they will typically avoid climbing on them.
Moreover, the first three methods, which are all recommended by ‘All Paws Express’ (an excellent pet relocation service), are particularly helpful if your kitten has fleas; fortunately, these pests can be quickly eliminated with the right products.
4. Spray the couch
Most online pet communities, including CharityPaws, also recommend using spray bottles as an effective remedy to keep cats off your furniture!
Simply spray the area with water, vinegar, or citrus oil as a temporary deterrent. You can also spray your cat when it’s especially naughty as long as you are using water.
However, remember to test spray the liquid before using it on your furniture to ensure it does not leave any stains when it dries out.
5. Utilise a motion-activated noisemaker
This device emits a loud noise when it detects motion and will ultimately train your cat to keep off the furniture or kitchen countertops without any human input.
Over time, your cat will associate these specific spots with the unpleasant noise and avoid them, and you won’t have to constantly chase after your feline friend.
6. Get a scratching post
Cat trees are fantastic! They serve as the go-to scratching area, a climbing perch, and an exercise corner—all of which makes them much more appealing than a couch.
You can also place the scratching post near a window, thus giving your cats an elevated vantage point that will keep them occupied throughout the day!
After all, even if these fluffy trees chip away at your cat’s budget, you should really invest in them since it’s one of the best things you can do for your cat and yourself.
7. Implement clicker training
As one of the most productive pet instruction methods, clicker training can help you teach your cat commands like “no” and “get off”. The process is also straightforward: you merely press a clicker when the cat does something good, then give it a treat.
In due course, the cat will identify the clicking sound with the reward, and it will behave correspondingly in order to elicit another rewarding response from you.
8. Play with your cat
We saved the best for last: playing with your cat!
Most cats enjoy playfully attacking their owners or chasing a ball of yarn, activities that will keep them entertained, healthy, and most importantly, away from the furniture.
Furthermore, energy-draining playing sessions, particularly those involving running, pouncing, and jumping, will quickly have your cat curling up an afternoon siesta—not surprising in the least when you learn that cats can jump 5 to 6 times their height.
Bottom Line
Now that you know how to keep a cat off the couch with our tried-and-true methods, the only thing that remains is to exercise patience since training your feline friend may take some time. Eventually, you’ll both be better for it, especially if treats are involved!
| Did you know that some of these methods work on dogs, too? Read all about it! |
Frequently Asked Questions
How to keep cats off the furniture with vinegar?
Pour a small amount of vinegar into a spraying bottle (preferably a colorless one to avoid staining), and spray any furniture spots you want your cat to stay away from.
What smells keep cats away from the furniture?
Besides vinegar, citrus and peppermint are the most common scents used to keep cats away from your furniture since they create uncomfortable sensations in their noses.
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