We love our kitties because of their adorable faces, their warm purrs, and their fun-loving personalities. But with every joy comes responsibility. Our cats have needs just like we do, and unfortunately, scratching the heck out of every favorable surface is among them.
If they have taken a shine to clawing up your things, you might be paying more money replacing furniture than you care to mention. So what are some ways you can protect your furniture from your kitty’s fierce claws? Here are 10 great preventatives you can try—enjoy the reviews.
We think that the Panther Armor Cat Scratch Deterrent Tape would be the most helpful product—and it’s our favorite overall. If you really have a big-time clawer, you can train them to stop by making the surface undesirable.
This cat training tape, unlike competitive brands, is not rolled—but instead has individualized sheets. This pack comes in 12 double-sided tape sheets that you can attach to virtually any surface. You can add it easily to upholstery on couches, chairs, doors, and carpets.
It sticks very efficiently and is 100% non-toxic and safe for your feline friends. Cats do not like it when things stick to their feet, so they will regret trying immediately. It’s super easy to put on virtually any surface, and it’s easy to take back off as well.
Also, it is 100% transparent, so it won’t stick out like a sore thumb on your furniture. Even though it works on various services, the product clearly states it is not recommended for leather. So, those with leather upholstery must look elsewhere.
Pros
Training tool
Transparent
Means to an end
Easy to place
Cons
Not for leather
2. BOBOM Double Sided Scratch Furniture Protectors – Best Value
If you want a quick solution to your cat scratching problems but you want the biggest savings you can find, check out the BOBOM Double Sided Scratch Furniture Protectors. Of all the products we looked at, this one seems to be the best cat scratching preventative for the money.
This tape adheres nicely to many different styles of fabrics to protect your treasured upholstery. It is double-sided tape that you can easily cut and customize to fit the shape of your furniture. These tape strips do not leave any residue, which we found to be an attractive feature.
This tape is made of non-toxic transparent vinyl, which won’t harm your cat in any way. This product has a company that stands behind it 100%, giving you a satisfaction guarantee. However, this product is not intended for genuine or faux leather.
If you are searching for something that looks quite snazzy, and don’t mind paying the extra, you could always opt for the Sofa-Scratcher Squared Cat Scratching Post. However, you have to keep in mind that you need to buy two separate pieces for full coverage.
This design comes in five different modern colors that match virtually any décor style. You can choose from beige, black, brown, ivory, or moss.
These couch posts are handmade in the USA—100% safe for your feline friends. The company made the design to cover the end of most traditional couches. The soft flap is thin, gently underneath the front post, not obstructing the sofa in any way.
However, this product is not for recliners and some awkwardly shaped couches. So you will want to check the dimensions and make sure that it is a suitable product before purchase. The sisal fabric is incredibly strong and long-lasting, worth the money you put into it.
Pros
Made in the USA
Fitted to most couches
Perfect scratching surface
Cons
Won’t work for all couches
4. One Sight Cat Scratching Tape – Best for Kittens
If you were training your kitten to stay away from trends and fabrics, get the One Site Store Cat Scratching Tape. As a training tape for kittens, this product is pretty perfect. You can put it virtually anywhere to protect all the valuables in your home from tiny, sharp claws.
It is 4 inches wide at 30 yards long. These strips are ideal for kittens because they are 100% pet-safe made of medical-grade adhesive that is entirely hypoallergenic. So you won’t have to worry about your kitten getting into anything that will hurt them.
This tape was straightforward to peel, coming with a white backing to prevent stickiness. Since kittens tend to be all over the place, this tape makes it easy to cut and stick wherever they might be getting into trouble. Soon, your kitten will learn to scratch only services they’re allowed to.
We really enjoyed the Navaris Cat Scratching Mat Sofa Shield. There are so many upsides to this little creation. Firstly, it has fasteners on the bottom portion, so you can easily tie it on and off as you wish. It makes it very easily movable if you want to remove it.
This design has a very strong sisal scratch mat for their clawing pleasures. The arm of the scratching post has a cover that fits over the top of most standard couches. The material is cream in color, while the base is gray—so the neutral visual fits with basically any home since it is very neutral.
Every bit of the fabric is non-toxic and safe for your cats. Since this piece is so fitted, it is absolutely essential to make sure the dimensions of the arm of your couch match the protective pieces to avoid any returns.
If your cat has gotten smart, they might have worked their way around cat scratching tape. If that is the case, you might want to check out the Stelucca Amazing Shield Furniture Protectors—they provide excellent coverage.
These protectors come in large sheets that measure 17 inches long by 12 inches wide. Since they cover such a large area, you can easily fasten these protectors to furniture upholstering, preventing any clawing or damage.
Although these protectors are made of very durable plastic, they’re also quite pliable, allowing them to bend and contort to the shape of your fixtures. To keep this plastic piece in place, you must peel off the adhesive and stick it onto the furniture.
It also comes with twist pins which are very easy to use and require no tools. However, with an appropriate application, it might hurt the fabric of your couch long-term.
The company touts this adhesive to be easy to clean. However, we didn’t have the same luck. It’s definitely more wipeable than some of the competing brands, but it is still a little bit difficult to get completely clean.
Being the type of product this is, we expected it to some degree. Eight sheets in this pack measure 17 inches by 12 inches, meaning it can cover a very large area. It also comes with a 100% money-back guarantee.
If your cats attack the trim on your doors or walls, the KEBE Store Door Scratch Post will come in handy. These protective pieces are highly durable, made of industrial-grade vinyl. It has a very tough adhesive that sticks to many surfaces in your home, protecting it against very aggressive scratching.
This vinyl protects door frames, wood, linoleum, windowsills, and screens, adhering to otherwise slippery surfaces without damaging the material. If you find a whole piece isn’t fitting the area, it’s really easy to cut down to size, too.
This shield protects against cat claws, but it also can protect from canines that like to chew up certain surfaces as well. It is a great way to keep your doors and frames looking top-notch without any visible damage.
Is your cat tearing up your favorite chair? If so, this Kitty Cat Protector Plastic Recliner Armchair Cover is perfect. We didn’t like the fact that this chair was not very comfortable once you put the cover on, but it’s completely hassle-free—you just toss it on and go.
The plastic cover does the job, but it just will not work with every single chair. However, it keeps off cat hair, protects against accidents—and it prevents clawing. So if you have a particular chair that your cat loves to abuse, sometimes this is worth it.
Always make sure to check the dimensions of your chair to ensure a perfect fit. The measurements on this item are 36 inches by 25 inches. If you weren’t quite sure if it will fit, this company offers a 100% money-back guarantee if things don’t work out.
If your furniture legs need a layer of protection, the Nazva Cat Scratcher Sisal Mat works wonders. Even though the scratching post might not work for every situation, we definitely wanted to add them to the list.
Tape can have a tough time sticking to furniture legs—and it might look not-so-hot, too. So, this is a very good alternative to adhesive options. These sisal mats wrap around the legs to prevent any damage to your chairs.
You can always lay them flat also as a play mat once your cat finally gives up scratching the legs. It comes with two scratch mats, each measuring 16 inches by 12 inches, with Velcro adjustable points for adequate protection.
These mats won’t work for walls or couch furniture pieces, but they work to protect tables, chairs, and other bare legs.
Pros
Great for table and chair legs
Doubles as floor mats
Velcro adjustment points
Cons
Only for furniture legs
Only two sold together
Buyer’s Guide – Purchasing the Best Products to Stop Your Cat from Furniture Scratching
If you have a cat, scratching kind of comes with the territory. It’s a totally natural impulse that you can’t train out of your feline. The only thing you can do is redirect behavior onto a surface that is specifically for them.
Luckily, there are ways to coexist with your cat and protect your furniture at the same time. Let’s take a look at the options on the cat market.
Types of Furniture Protection
Double-Sided Tape: Double-sided tape for cats is specifically designed to be kind to your upholstery. The adhesive itself is not harmful to put on certain surfaces, protecting it from your cat’s claws. On the other side, the sticky tape is perfect to prevent your cat from scratching as they despise the way it feels on their paws. A few times of attempting to scratch, your cat will lose interest. Eventually, the behavior will dissipate, and the desire will be out of them. So it is a short-term fix to a potentially long-term problem.
Furniture Corner Post: If your cat tends to dig up the corners of your couch, protective posts can be perfect to fit on the ends. Cats are generally drawn to the ends or edges of a couch. So, if this is a problem area for you, you can gently place the post under the slab of the foot of the sofa to keep it sturdy and in place.
Door Trim Shields: Certain cats love the feeling of scratching up wooden doors, trim, and window frames. If your trims could use some extra security, there are plenty of tape options that you can use. Simply place the tape onto the frames to protect the authenticity of the wood. Many double-sided sticky tapes work, but other designs fit the edges to protect them.
Table Leg Guards: Some kitties prefer scratching on table legs and chairs. These areas can be challenging to cover. Thankfully, there are table leg guards that serve as a barrier between furniture legs and your kitty’s sharp daggers.
Furniture Covers: Furniture covers can be quite attractive if you don’t cover them up—which is a big concern among pet owners. However, they can protect the natural fabrics to make them last longer.
Tips for Cat Scratching
Once you put protective measures in place, your cat still needs to sharpen their claws. These movements strengthen their muscles and help shed old layers of the nail.
Since this is an instinct for hunting, they just need the right outlets available in the home. They need proper materials, both vertically and horizontally—and a variety of attractive materials.
Offer a variety of surfaces to them that they can scratch to pieces. Many common materials for shredding include:
Sisal rope
Sisal fabric
Cardboard
Carpet
You can buy cat scratching posts and place them throughout the home to prevent unwanted shredding of valuables.
Here at Hepper, we love cardboard as a cat scratcher material. We love it so much that we have designed our very own beautiful, modern-looking, and excitingly functional Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher. Purposefully crafted for feline satisfaction from solid birch plywood with a non-toxic gloss coating, it ensures exceptional sturdiness, making it a long-lasting addition to your home.
With three positions, dense B-flute cardboard, and replacement options for even the wildest of scratchers, this scratcher offers style, engagement, and durability in one standout piece. Click here to learn more about our Hepper Hi-Lo Scratcher.
Conclusion
We loved the Panther Armor Cat Scratch Deterrent Tape when it comes to the most versatile option to prevent furniture shredding. We liked that it’s easy to apply, safe for most surfaces, and ultimately a training tool.
If you’re looking to save a few bucks, but have full coverage of problem areas, BOBOM Double-Sided Scratch Furniture Protectors is a good option. You can save some cash while teaching your cat where they can’t claw.
It might be a little trial-and-error at first. Everything depends on where the problem areas are and how you can work to combat the issue. We hope you’ve found a product on our list of reviews that’s most helpful in your household.
