How to stop your cat scratching the couch: a South African guide
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If you want to stop your cat scratching the couch, the answer is not to suppress the scratching instinct. It is to give that behaviour a better surface in the same location, temporarily protect the couch and reward the new choice.
For South African cat owners, that usually means choosing a scratcher that suits both the cat and the available space—not ordering a mysterious imported device that arrives after the sofa has entered witness protection.
This guide explains why cats scratch furniture, which type of scratcher to choose, where to put it and what to do when the behaviour suddenly becomes more intense.
Quick answer: how do you stop a cat scratching the couch?
Use this five-part plan:
- Watch whether your cat scratches vertically, horizontally or at an angle.
- Put a stable scratcher with the same orientation directly beside the damaged area.
- Temporarily cover or protect the couch section so it is less satisfying to scratch.
- Encourage the scratcher with play, catnip if your cat responds to it, and immediate rewards.
- Once the cat uses it reliably, move the scratcher only a few centimetres at a time—if it needs to move at all.
Do not shout, spray the cat with water or force their paws onto the post. Scratching is normal feline behaviour, and punishment can add stress without teaching the cat where to scratch instead.
Why your cat targets the couch and not the scratching post you already bought
Cats scratch to maintain their claws, stretch their bodies and leave both visual and scent marks in their territory. A sofa arm is often tall, stable, textured and located in the busiest part of the home. From the cat’s perspective, it is premium infrastructure provided by management.
The couch may be especially attractive because:
- It does not wobble when the cat leans into it.
- The fabric offers satisfying resistance.
- It is prominent and carries familiar household scents.
- It sits near a sleeping or social area.
- Its height allows a full-body stretch.
Scratching may increase when a cat feels unsettled by a move, renovations, visitors, another animal or a change in routine. Some cats also learn that scratching the sofa produces instant human attention. The motive matters because a scratcher can redirect a normal habit, while stress-related scratching may also require changes to the cat’s environment.
How to stop your cat scratching the couch: choosing the right scratcher
There is no single best scratcher for every cat. The useful question is: how is this cat already scratching?
| What your cat does | What to provide |
|---|---|
| Stands upright against the sofa arm | A tall, stable vertical post |
| Scratches rugs, carpet or the couch base | A broad horizontal cardboard scratcher |
| Pulls at the sloped edge of furniture | An angled or curved scratcher |
| Scratches in several positions | More than one orientation |
| Scratches after waking | A scratcher beside the sleeping area |
For vertical scratchers, height and stability come first
A vertical post must be tall enough for the cat to stretch fully and sturdy enough to stay still under body weight. A short or wobbling post is not a convincing replacement for a couch.
For adult cats that scratch upright, the PetRebels Maine 90 scratching post provides a 90cm scratching height with a compact base. Before ordering any vertical post, compare its height and base dimensions with your cat and the intended position in your home.
For horizontal scratchers, surface area matters
Cats that scratch low or flat surfaces often prefer corrugated cardboard. The Cat Scratcher Bed provides a wide horizontal surface that can also be used for lounging, while the Catstages Cat Tunnel Scratcher combines a curved scratching surface with a tunnel and play elements.
For a lower-cost starting point, the Pawise Corrugated Cat Scratcher with Catnip is a simple cardboard option supplied with catnip. The important point is not the product name or price: it is whether the orientation and texture resemble the surface your cat has already chosen.
Browse the Cat Scratchers and Scratching Posts collection to compare the options currently available in South Africa.
Sisal, rope or cardboard: which scratching material is best?
Cats have individual preferences. Sisal, rope, cardboard, carpet and wood may all appeal to different cats. If your cat ignores one material, that does not mean they refuse scratchers in general.
- Sisal fabric or rope is useful for durable vertical scratching.
- Corrugated cardboard suits many horizontal and angled scratchers and is easy to replace.
- Carpet can appeal to some cats, but it may be less helpful in a home where the cat is already targeting carpeted floors or furniture.
- Wood can work if it is untreated, stable and free from splinters or unsafe coatings.
Where possible, offer two different textures and see which one attracts the cat without prompting. The cat will submit its findings by destroying one more enthusiastically than the other.
Stop cat scratching couch: a step-by-step training plan
Step 1: Put the scratcher beside the couch
Do not hide the new scratcher in a quiet corner simply because it looks neater there. Put it immediately next to the damaged section of the couch. Cats often scratch in socially important places and after waking, so location can matter as much as material.
If the scratcher blocks the walkway temporarily, accept the administrative inconvenience. Once the new habit is established, move it gradually rather than relocating it across the room overnight.
Step 2: Make the couch less satisfying
Temporarily cover the targeted area with a suitable furniture protector, thick plastic sheeting or another surface your cat does not enjoy scratching. Always patch-test adhesive products and sprays on a hidden area first, particularly on leather, velvet or delicate upholstery.
The Sticky Paws furniture strips create a temporary sticky texture on suitable furnishings. The Nature’s Miracle cat scratch deterrent is another option for compatible indoor surfaces, but it must be used according to the label and tested before wider application.
A deterrent is not the complete solution. If you make the couch unavailable without providing an acceptable scratching surface beside it, the investigation may simply move to another chair.
Step 3: Attract the cat to the new surface
Play with a wand toy around the scratcher, place a few treats near it or add a small amount of catnip if your cat responds to catnip. Not every cat does, and kittens may show little or no response.
Do not lift the cat’s paws and drag them over the surface. Let the cat investigate voluntarily so the scratcher develops a positive association.
Step 4: Reward the correct choice immediately
When the cat investigates, paws or scratches the new surface, reward the behaviour straight away with calm praise, a small treat or a short play session. Consistency matters more than a dramatic reaction.
If the cat returns to the couch, redirect without punishment and check the setup again. A rejected post may be too short, unstable, the wrong texture or simply in the wrong place.
Step 5: Keep more than one scratching station where needed
One post may not be enough in a larger home or multi-cat household. Scratching surfaces should be placed where cats spend time, particularly near sleeping areas, entrances and previously scratched furniture. Each cat may also prefer a different orientation or texture.
In a compact flat, this does not require a forest of cat furniture. A tall post beside the couch and a horizontal cardboard scratcher near a favourite bed can cover two common scratching styles without occupying every remaining square metre.
Protect the couch: stop cat scratching the couch with short-term deterrents
Catnip, furniture tape and deterrent sprays can support the training plan, but none replaces an appropriate scratching surface. Use them to make the new choice clearer while your cat changes the habit.
These products can support the plan, but none replaces an appropriate scratcher.
Catnip
Use catnip to encourage investigation when your cat is responsive to it. A small amount on or near the scratcher is enough. Too much can create excitement rather than calm engagement, and some cats simply do not respond.
Furniture tape or strips
Sticky strips can make the old surface less pleasant while the cat learns a new route. Follow the product instructions, keep them away from loose fur and patch-test the upholstery first.
Deterrent spray
A cat-safe scratch deterrent may help on suitable surfaces, but scent-based products vary in effectiveness. Never apply essential oils or homemade mixtures containing ingredients that may be unsafe for cats.
Pheromone products
Pheromone products may be worth discussing with your vet when scratching appears linked to anxiety or a household change. They are not a substitute for scratchers, placement and environmental changes.
A practical all-in-one option
If you need to address the couch from several angles at once, The Apartment Cat’s Anti-Scratching Kit for Cats brings the main parts of the plan together. It is intended to pair appropriate scratching outlets with temporary furniture protection and a practical setup guide, rather than pretending one spray will negotiate a settlement on its own.
The kit is being completed for release. Until it is available, you can build the same approach from the scratcher collection and furniture-protection products linked above.
When should scratching be checked by a vet?
Speak to your vet if scratching changes suddenly, becomes unusually intense or appears alongside signs such as hiding, appetite changes, overgrooming, toileting changes, limping or sensitivity around the paws and claws.
If health causes have been ruled out and the behaviour continues despite an appropriate setup, a qualified feline behaviourist can help identify stressors or conflicts in the home.
Frequently asked questions
Can you completely stop a cat from scratching furniture?
You can often redirect furniture scratching successfully, but cats still need to scratch somewhere. The goal is to make an appropriate surface easier and more rewarding to use than the couch.
Where should a cat scratching post be placed?
Start directly beside the furniture being scratched. Other useful positions include near the cat’s bed, at entrances and in rooms where the cat spends time.
How tall should a scratching post be?
It should allow the individual cat to stretch fully without wobbling. Measure your cat’s full upward reach and compare it with the product dimensions rather than relying only on a generic label such as “large”.
Is cardboard or sisal better for cats?
Neither is universally better. Cardboard is commonly used for horizontal scratching, while sisal is common on vertical posts. Your cat’s existing scratching angle and texture preference are the best guide.
Why does my cat scratch the couch even though there is a post?
The post may be too short, unstable, the wrong texture or placed somewhere unimportant to the cat. Move it beside the damaged section and provide the same orientation the cat already uses.
Will a deterrent spray stop couch scratching?
It may make a suitable surface less appealing, but it works best when an attractive scratcher is placed beside the couch and the cat is rewarded for using it.
The short version
The most reliable way to stop your cat scratching the couch is to match the scratcher’s angle and texture to the existing habit, put it beside the damaged area, protect the couch temporarily and reward the new choice. If the setup is wrong, the cat will continue using the stable, conveniently located scratching post you bought from a furniture shop.
For South African homes, the Cat Scratchers and Scratching Posts collection offers vertical, horizontal and compact options currently available from The Apartment Cat.
Sources: Cats Protection: cats and scratching and Feline Veterinary Medical Association: setting up the environment for success.
This article provides general cat-care and product information, not individual veterinary advice. Last reviewed on 19 August 2026.