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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / July 2006

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Do cats scratch on leather furniture?

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Kerry - 18 Jul 2006 00:01 GMT
Hi all, just looking for some quick advice.

We have a 12+ year-old female cat who uses a large upholstered chair to
scratch on.  Just wondering; if we buy a leather couch & chair, is it
likely our cat will try to sink her sharp little claws into the
leather?  It's heavy duty, smooth, dark brown leather.

I'm thinking she won't do it, but what do you think?

Thanks very much for the help!

~Kerry.
cybercat - 18 Jul 2006 00:06 GMT
> Hi all, just looking for some quick advice.
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Thanks very much for the help!

Get her a nice scratcher! Start with this:

http://www.petcarecentral.com/cospetprodsc.html

The trick is to give them something they like to scratch more than
your furniture, and this worked for me.

Yes, she will scratch leather, unless you train her not to by giving her
something
she likes to scratch better. Cats need to scratch and stretch. A cat tree
would
be GREAT for her if you have a place for one.
Matthew - 18 Jul 2006 00:10 GMT
In a heart beat
> Hi all, just looking for some quick advice.
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> ~Kerry.
Mike - 18 Jul 2006 00:35 GMT
My girlfriend has a leather couch and for several years had a cat with
claws.  The cat didn't overtly try to scratch the chair, BUT the cat did
inadvertently scratch it with her back paws as she leapt on and off it.

It was clear the cat didn't prefer the leather due to its smoothness,
because once a new, fuzzier couch was purchased, the cat started attacking
the arms like nobody's business!

Mike

> Hi all, just looking for some quick advice.
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> ~Kerry.
Buddy - 18 Jul 2006 01:40 GMT
I have had a leather couch for 20 years and it is badly scratched from
the BACK claws.

> My girlfriend has a leather couch and for several years had a cat with
> claws.  The cat didn't overtly try to scratch the chair, BUT the cat did
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> >
> > ~Kerry.
Jim Vecchiola KR2T - 18 Jul 2006 19:58 GMT
I agree with several posts - my cats don't like my leather couch for
scratching - but they have put a few nicks in it from their BACK paws while
climbing up to rest on the back of it.

kr2t
>I have had a leather couch for 20 years and it is badly scratched from
> the BACK claws.
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>> >
>> > ~Kerry.
Barb - 18 Jul 2006 21:50 GMT
I love my leather furniture.  It is very easy to clean.  There are a few
scratch marks on it, mainly on the ottoman which was the cheaper of the
pieces, anyway.  I think these scratches were from leaping off rather than
sharpening claws.  The cats have a cat tree and several scratch boards.

--
Barb
Of course I don't look busy,
I did it right the first time.
PawsForThought - 19 Jul 2006 03:08 GMT
> Hi all, just looking for some quick advice.
>
> We have a 12+ year-old female cat who uses a large upholstered chair to
> scratch on.  Just wondering; if we buy a leather couch & chair, is it
> likely our cat will try to sink her sharp little claws into the
> leather?  It's heavy duty, smooth, dark brown leather.

We have a leather sofa and the cats don't touch it.  But...you need to
make sure you offer your cat an alternative and something more enticing
like a nice tall scratching post or cat tree.
IBen Getiner - 19 Jul 2006 10:30 GMT
> Hi all, just looking for some quick advice.
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> ~Kerry.

Yes. She will absolutely RUIN your leather. This is because of the fact
that she not only uses her claws to fight and play... she also uses
them for every conceivable exercise that her brain calls upon her body
to do. Such as the simple act of getting up and then moving in off a
direction. The claws come out instinctively to help her grip and hold.
We had all our boy's claws removed right away, since we have leather
furniture as well. The animal rights loonies will have you believe that
they KNOW it hurts the cat, but seriously... how do they know that...?!
I know the cat didn't tell them so!
That's what we did, and we've never had any trouble at all. Our cat is
fine, healthy and happy. He plays well with his paws and still
constantly attempts to 'sharpen' his non-existent claws on his favorite
box! That's how we KNOW that they're wrong.!  LOL...!!
My advice: Find a sympathetic vet... Get his opinion and then get rid
of them... The cat doesn't need them and you sure don't need the
hassle. It's a one-time deal and then it's over..

                                                        IBen Getiner
IBen Getiner - 19 Jul 2006 10:42 GMT
Yes. She will absolutely RUIN your leather. This is because of the fact
that she not only uses her claws to fight and play... she also uses
them for every conceivable exercise that her brain calls upon her body
to do. Such as the simple act of getting up and then bounding off in a
direction. The claws come out instinctively to help her grip and hold.
We had all our boy's claws removed right away, since we have leather
furniture as well. The animal rights loonies will have you believe that
they KNOW it hurts the cat, but seriously... how do they know that...?!
I know the cat didn't tell them so!
That's what we did, and we've never had any trouble at all. Our cat is
fine, healthy and happy. He plays well with his paws and still
constantly attempts to 'sharpen' his non-existent claws on his favorite
box! That's how we KNOW that they're wrong.!  LOL...!!
My advice: Find a sympathetic vet... Get his opinion and then get rid
of them... The cat doesn't need them and you sure don't need the
hassle. It's a one-time deal and then it's over..

                                                        IBen Getiner
Kerry - 22 Jul 2006 19:24 GMT
> Yes. She will absolutely RUIN your leather. This is because of the fact
>  that she not only uses her claws to fight and play... she also uses
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
>                                                          IBen Getiner

Thanks for all the good remarks, people!  Appreciate it.  It'll be
interesting to see what happens.

~Kerry.
 
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