Should You Declaw Your Cat?

The scratching surface should also be stable and stay in one spot while your cat scratches it. Those doorknob cat scratch carpet pads are good in theory, but you might find that your cat uses them more if you secure it to the wall with Command strips instead of just hanging it from a doorknob, as intended.

If you find your cat still prefers the couch over a scratching pad, they might need a little more encouragement and training. If they love the couch, try to mimic that feel with a scratching area for them. You can use a feline pheromone plug-in or spray, and talk to your vet or a cat behavioralist if you aren't making any progress.

Keep Your Cat's Nails Trimmed

Keeping your cat's nails trimmed can also help minimize destructive scratching. Most vet offices offer cat nail trims for a nominal fee if you can’t trim them yourself. There are also nail caps that you can apply to your cat’s freshly trimmed nails to prevent destructive scratching. As the nail grows out these either fall off or they can be trimmed off with the nail.