All cat and dog parents know how painful it can be to watch your favorite sofa being shredded to pieces by your kitty or to discover a large chunk of your new coffee table missing because your dog decided that it was bought for him to have something significant to chew on. While it is half-expected from a kitten or a puppy who are still learning good manners and how to tell right from wrong, when your adult furry family members destroy your furniture, shoes, and fittings, it can be really expensive and upsetting. Therefore, below, we put together some tips for you for the two most common issues: cat scratching and dog chewing.
However, please bear in mind that, very often, pets damage your items to draw your attention to an underlying issue that they are unable to communicate to you otherwise. For instance, your cat may be eating your house plants because she needs vitamin supplements, and your dog may be chewing your favorite shoes while you are away because he suffers from separation anxiety. Therefore, we recommend that you monitor when these ‘accidents’ happen to see if there is a pattern and mention the issue to your vet next time you see him/her.
Until then, consider using calming collars, hemp oil, and room diffusers to help your pet relax. And if everything else fails, hire a cat or dog behavior coach – you will need only a couple of sessions for them to meet your furry baby, analyze why they are destroying your home, and come up with effective strategies to help you and your pet. Their services are more affordable than most people think, and definitely more affordable than buying new furniture!
Cat Scratching
It is no secret that cats just love finding the most expensive piece of furniture in the house and using it to sharpen their claws. They often do it to get your attention because you will immediately focus on them once they get their claws into it, and often do it when they are bored or feel that you should be spending more time showing them your love. There are several tricks that can help:
Please don’t buy silicone anti-scratch cat boots or cat nail caps, and don’t consider declawing your cat – this is animal cruelty. If you don’t love your furry baby enough to accept them unconditionally, claws and all, you should find a loving new home for them. Also, many people try spraying their cats with water when they start sharpening their claws in unsuitable places, and we recommend that you never do this, please, because it destroys your kitty’s trust and will damage your relationship with your cat.
Dog Chewing
While cats pick the most expensive piece of furniture to sharpen their claws, your dog will probably find the most expensive pair of shoes or an exclusive antique wood statue in the house to chew on it. The good news is that it is usually much easier to stop your dog from chewing your valuables than your cat from scratching your furniture, as dogs are happy to learn and follow your lead. Here is what to do if your dog loves chewing everything he can find:
Another way of getting your dog out of their bad habit is to install a pet monitor camera and watch what they are doing on your mobile app while you are away. Once you see your dog getting his teeth into something inappropriate, you can use the vocal command function to tell them off. This will teach your dog that you know what he is doing, even when you are not at home, and make him much less likely to chew your shoes and furniture while you are away. Please also bear in mind that it is crucial to stay consistent at all times – if you allow your dog to chew your old shoes but don’t want him to touch your new Adidas trainers, he will not understand the difference and will continue to consider your shoes to be his chew toys.