How To Train A Cat Not To Climb On Furniture

If you have a cat who loves climbing on your furniture, you will want to do all that you can to break this habit. Especially if you have just invested in new furniture, or you have a high-shedding breed that cannot help but to deposit lots of fur everywhere they go. So, what can you do to keep your furniture cat-free? How long will it take before your cat stops climbing on your furniture? And what else do you need to be aware of? Well, today, I am going to be covering all.

So, how can you train a cat not to climb on your furniture? You can train a cat not to climb on furniture by offering alternative places to climb. Cats need to climb and jump, so it’s a matter of redirecting their behavior rather than trying to stamp it out entirely.

Best Ways To Train A Cat Not To Climb On Furniture

The best way – and the easiest – to train a cat not to climb on furniture is to provide suitable alternatives. In addition, cats who love snacking can get their tidbits from sources other than the kitchen counter, and if all else fails, you can try environmental deterrents.

Provide Dedicated Climbing Furniture

In the wild, cats climb trees and leap over long distances to hunt for food and escape danger.

It’s only natural for our domesticated cats to try and satisfy these climbing and jumping instincts, even when they’re inside.

One of the most effective ways to deter your cat from climbing on the furniture is to offer them an alternative, such as a Frond Modern cat tree.

Cat trees provide endless hours of entertainment as well as a safe place to rest and observe the world from up high.

Cat trees, such as the Frond model mentioned above, often have the central pillar wrapped in something your cat can scratch, such as sisal rope.

Your cat needs to scratch as well as climb, so having one piece of furniture that serves both purposes can be quite practical.

The advantages of a cat tree like the Frond Modern are:

• A wide base for stability, with optional feet so you can use them or not depending on your flooring
• Movable platforms
• Plenty of places to scratch along the central pillar
• Looks beautiful, so it will suit many home décors

If you have a large home, you may want to provide a cat tree (or similar) in each room so that your cat always has an approved space to climb.

Another option for climbing furniture for cats is a “playground.” Playgrounds are very much like cat trees, but they emphasize opportunities for play and discovery to maintain their physical and mental health.

The Milo Modern Cat Tower is an excellent option here.

They are great for indoor housecats.

Whichever option you choose, placing it next to a window will encourage your cat to use it often since cats love watching the world outside from a high and sunny spot indoors.

Provide Hungry Cats With Alternative Ways To Snack

If your cat is used to climbing on furniture to get crumbs of food or they want some treats, provide them an alternative way to get their snack fix.

Here are a few things to try:

• Feed your cat several smaller meals throughout the day rather than one or two large meals (this is better for their digestive tract).
• Use hunting toys that you can fill with small amounts of kibble. This encourages your cat to use natural hunting instincts to get food. This fish bone is absolutely ideal. The fabric holds the scent of the catnip (provided) for an active playtime.
• Keep counters and other surfaces clean and free of food so your kitty won’t be tempted to ‘counter surf’.

Use Environmental Deterrents

Once you have put alternatives in place for your cat, you may still see them climbing on furniture and countertops.

Some persistent cats might require a deterrent to areas that you have declared off-limits.

A deterrent is something that your cat won’t like but that will not hurt it. Try things like:

• Putting sticky tape along the edges of the furniture (sticky side up) – your cat won’t like the feel of it on their paws
• Putting plastic carpet running along the surfaces of the furniture or countertops. Put it with the nubs facing upward to make the surface unpleasant for your cat
• Hanging towels from the edge of furniture or countertops so that your cat slides off if they try and jump up
• Balancing cookie sheets or baking trays on the counter or furniture. When your cat jumps on them, they’ll make a loud noise, so your cat will most likely not want to repeat the experience!
• Placing cotton wool pads soaked in an odor your cat doesn’t like (try citrus, pine, or cinnamon, all of which are known kitty deterrents)

Note: Avoid anything that can cause your cat stress, like spray bottles (which cats find frightening), pushing (your cat could get hurt), or yelling (which cats don’t understand). If you yell at your cat, your cat will associate the yelling with you, not with climbing on the furniture. The only result you’ll get is a broken bond with your cat, as they won’t trust you not to yell again at unpredictable moments. You will then have to work hard to regain their trust.

How Long Will It Take To Train A Cat Not To Climb On Furniture?

The amount of time it will take to train your cat not to climb on furniture depends very much on your cat’s individual circumstances and personality. Some cats adjust within days, while others need a few weeks: as long as they’re given alternative things to climb on, they will adapt.

Remember that cats love to hunt birds, and birds are usually found in trees.

Your cat’s instinct is to climb to find prey as well as get to high ground to jump on scurrying mice from above.

The more places you can provide for your cat to engage its natural climbing instincts, the faster the process will be for your friend to pick other places to climb besides your furniture.

Decide which places are acceptable for your cat to climb and which aren’t.

Curtains, tall bookshelves, window ledges and kitchen counters (which often have crumbs of food) are all natural temptations for your kitty.