Last modified on April 5th, 2021 at 8:17 am

How to Stop Your Cat from Destroying the Apartment

Stopping a cat from trashing your apartment can be a challenge. Our feline friends are nothing like our other four-legged canine friends. Nine times out of ten, if a dog has done something naughty in your home, you’ll notice it by how guilty they look. Dogs will also respond to training. Your sweet cat will have no idea that it’s done anything wrong and, if punished, will likely get even more aggressive with its destruction. 

Cats enjoy scratching, and they scratch for several reasons, from simple play to keeping their claws sharp to mark or defend their territory. Unfortunately for us they often choose to scratch our furniture, carpets or curtains. Some cats have even more destructive tendencies and like to chew on our houseplants or fabrics! 

Calming your cat down with natural means may be worth looking into — finding the best CBD oil for cats could be a decent temporary solution, but teaching them to be less aggressive in the long-term may be much more challenging.

Don’t despair, though; in this article, we will share some strategies to manage your cat’s behaviour to stop it from destroying your precious belongings.

How to Stop Your Cat from Scratching the Furniture

Cats love to scratch as a way to mark their territory and sharpen their claws, so to stop cats from scratching, you’ll need to devise an alternative way for your sweet kitty to express it. 

Finding a good scratching post will be the first step. You want to choose one that is sturdy, tall and wide enough for your cat to stretch out on. It should also be covered in a material that appeals to your cat. Cats usually like sisal because it feels rough; some cats enjoy carpet or foam-covered posts, as well. A scratching post should be placed in an area where your cat spends a lot of time. 

Make sure that you put the scratching post where you don’t mind your kitty marking his territory. You may want to place it under a window or near a door. Start by encouraging your cat to use the scratching post by rubbing a little catnip on it. If your cat doesn’t respond to this, try placing an item it likes near the post, like a toy or treat. 

Once it starts using the post regularly, you can move it closer and closer to the area that it’s been scratching. When your cat has used the post for a while,it will understand that it is his new scratch spot and no longer needs all those other things. 

How to Stop Your Cat from Chewing on Houseplants

Cats are natural hunters; they love snacking on bugs and grass, and sometimes they even enjoy chewing on houseplants! This can be tricky for cat owners, especially if you have precious plants in your home. 

If you have indoor plants, make sure that they are hardy enough for your cat to chew on. Shrubs and trees should be placed out of reach of any pets in the household. Some owners have success with growing cat grass indoors — this is not only a great way for them to get fresh greens, but they also enjoy nibbling on it! You can also create an indoor garden with cat grass or pot up some plants just for your kitty. 

You can also try spraying a bitter tasting deterrent around the areas that your kitty loves to chew on. One option is to use citrus spray; cats do not seem to like this taste so they will likely avoid these areas in the future. Another idea is to use Bitter Apple spray. This spray works great when sprayed on furniture, plants or carpets — it will leave an unpleasant taste that will help deter your cat from chewing again. 

How to Stop Your Cat from Chewing on Your Furniture

Cats love to chew and one of their favorite places is on our furniture. They often choose wood surfaces like our tables, chairs and shelves because they have a nice texture and smell. This can become quite annoying when we realize that we have spent hours polishing or sanding those surfaces only to find later that they’ve been ruined by our furry friend! 

To prevent this behaviour, you must teach your cat what is acceptable and what isn’t! Just like with the scratching problem, you want to put up an acceptable scratching place for your feline friend. You can choose any kind of tall, narrow object that fits in your space and allows your cat room to stretch out. Put this scratching pad in an area where your cat spends lots of time – perhaps near the window or under the couch! Take some catnip, rub it into the surface of the scratching pad and encourage your kitty to explore it by giving it treats when it uses it. As soon as it starts using it regularly, move it closer and closer to the areas it’s been destroying. 

Another option is to talk to your veterinarian about getting something called a scat mat. This is a product similar to a home security system that shocks pets when they cross the boundary wire. It can be set up in high-traffic areas of your home like under tables or behind couches; once your cat crosses the line, it will get a painful shock through the mat and will probably avoid that spot in the future!

The Bottom Line 

Bringing a cat into your life won’t only bring you joy and entertainment. If you don’t pay enough attention to raising your cat from a young age, it might result in a myriad of destructive behaviors that will make living with your pet almost unbearable. This is why you have to ensure that you introduce good habits and discourage behavior like chewing on furniture or scratching up various surfaces from the very beginning. Hopefully, the tips outlined in our article will help you avoid these issues going forward and keep your cat happy. Good luck!