Expert: Dear Tabbi - 10/1/2009

Question
Is there anything I can spray through the house to deter the cats from scratching up the walls, door jambs, furniture, cupboards and furnishings?

Answer
William,

There isn't a magic spray that will stop scratching. There are some general cat deterrent sprays that you can buy, but I really don't know how well that would work inside. It may deter your cat to your neighbor's house!

The first thing is to keep the cat's claws trimmed! Here is a website that shows with photos how to trim a cat's claws:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into the address bar)

http://www.cat-world.com.au/catclaws.htm

Do not declaw! Declawing is an agonizingly painful procedure that may destroy a cat's trust in people for life. Declawed cats may stop using the litter box because it hurts them to walk on uneven surfaces. Declaw wounds may continue to cause pain for months or years. (Note that declawing cats is illegal in many countries, and in some municipalities in North America.)
Here are a couple articles to read about declawing:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar)

http://www.declawing.com/
http://www.hdw-inc.com/declaw.htm
http://cats.about.com/cs/declawing/a/declawing.htm

The best way to prevent furniture being scratched is to get the cat a scratching post with hemp rope on it instead of carpet. Wood is what attracts the cats to scratch so hemp (or sisal) rope is best. Or get a cat perch that the cat can get up on and look out the window. Rub cat nip on it to help start the scratching on it. Then if the cat uses the furniture, take the cat, saying "no!" and put it on the scratching post. Let the cat know it is OK to use his post but NOT the furniture. A rolled up newspaper handy helps get that point across. Bop the cat with the newspaper if he starts scratching while saying loudly "don't scratch". Wait a few minutes, then love on the cat. You want the cat scared of the noise of the newspaper so that he will begin to associate the newspaper with scratching, but NOT scared of YOU!

It is a cats nature to sharpen their claws. It helps them shed the excess claws that grow. They do need an alternative available besides the furniture though or they will use that. It is also a psychological trait where even a de-clawed cat with scratch his non-exisitant claws!

Tabbi