How do you make vinegar spray for cats?
How To Keep Cats Off Furniture
How To Keep Cats Off Furniture – Cats are lovable pets that pet owners can’t imagine living without. However, they can wreak havoc on the surfaces of your furniture, countertops, and window sills. Cat owners face even more challenges as these flexible creatures can climb and jump to high places. Have you ever woken up to find your cat in the kitchen on top of your refrigerator? Are you wondering how to keep cats off furniture? Is it even possible to train your cat? Let’s find out.
First Things First About How To Keep Cats Off Furniture
- What do they scratch?
- When do they scratch it?
- How do they scratch?
- Identifying these points will help you to train your cat to keep off certain surfaces.
Tips On How To Keep Cats Off Furniture
Cat scratching is a common problem for cat owners. A cat’s sharp claws can damage a number of textiles such as cloth and leather. To protect your furniture from cat scratches, there are a few things you can do.
Place plastic car mats on furniture
Pet owners can put down plastic floor mats on furniture when leaving the house to prevents their dogs and cats from scratching. The results can be surprisingly successful since the round knobs on the bottom of floor mats can feel uncomfortable to the paws of your pet. This can deter many pets from scratching furniture.
Line your furniture with aluminum foil
Cat owners should take advantage of aluminum foil as a means of protecting your furniture from your cat’s claws. Generally, cats try to avoid slippery surfaces. Aluminum foil is a good cat deterrent when applied on smooth surfaces such as small furniture pieces or tables that are not in use [1] .
Make apple cider vinegar spray
How to keep a cat off furniture? Try apple cider vinegar. The smell of cider vinegar mixed in water may prevent cats from jumping on your couch, bed, or even your window sill. Add some apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz the areas you want your cat to avoid. Another plus to using the cider vinegar and water combination is that it can also act as a deodorizer to combat pet odor [2] .
Try citrus spray
Are you wondering how to keep cats off furniture? Cats hate the smell of citrus, making citrus spray an excellent natural cat repellent that’s great for use on furniture and other surfaces. Consider testing lemon or orange citrus sprays on the fabric of your furniture, bed linens or other surface areas to ensure that they won’t get damaged while using this cat repelling technique [3] .
Use aluminum pans
Aluminum pans can be of particular help in the kitchen area. However, this technique is only recommended if you have hardwood floors, otherwise, the pans may damage your flooring. Place an aluminum pan on the edge of a counter so that when your cat jumps on it, the pan will fall down from the weight. The loud noises will surprise your cat and deter them from jumping on countertops in the future [4] .
Try manual training
Did you know that you can train your cat to stay away from your furniture? If you find that your cat likes to spend time sleeping, stretching and scratching at your furniture or bed linens, you can correct your pet in real time as the undesired behavior occurs. Use a squirt bottle filled with water to chase them away or a clicker for cats and dogs to correct them so they will learn to avoid your furniture. This will take time but it will be well worth it to see that your cat knows where it should and shouldn’t play.
Humane Society Suggestions On How To Keep Cats Off Furniture
Another suggestion for cat repellent for furniture is to change the texture on your cat’s favorite surfaces temporarily. The Humane Society suggests that cat owners place no-residue, double-sided tape to deter your cat. It leaves your cat with sticky paws but does not harm them. They also suggest leaving sandpaper, sheet plastic, or aluminum foil on your furniture to deter your cats from using their nails or leaving their smell or scent on your favorite pieces [5] .
A word about declawed cats and pet owners that are considering declawing. Some pet owners consider this method after all else has failed. It’s important to note that according to the Humane Society, declawing is an unnecessary surgery that provides no medical benefit to the cat and traditionally involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe. Educated pet owners can easily train their cats to use their claws in a way that fosters a happy household without utilizing this invasive procedure.
Other Helpful Hints To Keep Cats Off Furniture
Here’s some other ways you can prevent your cat from making your furniture their favorite cat scratcher or landing pad.
Cats love to play. Supply your cat with plenty of play toys, boxes and tubes with which to play. Above all, take the time to play with your cat every day.
Place catnip down in any area where you want to encourage your cat to frequent. This is where you should put their toys as well.
Buy a scratching post. Cats love to scratch from time to time. Encourage your cat to use a cat scratching post instead of your carpet [6] .
Our pets have a special place in our hearts and our homes. But, the kitchen tabletop may not be one of them. Learning how to keep cats off furniture is well worth the effort.
How To Keep Cats Off Furniture Resources:
[1] Wiki How; How to Keep Cats Off Furniture, Deanne Pawlisch.
[2] Life Hacker; Keep Cats Off the Furniture With a Spray of Vinegar, Eric Ravenscraft, September 26, 2013.
[3] Hunker; How to Keep Cats Off Furniture, Lorna Hordos.
[4] The Humane Society Of The United States; Cats: Destructive scratching.
[5] A To Z Pet Care; 7 Simple Tricks On How To Keep Cats Off Furniture, Saniya Ali, October 01, 2016.
[6] CatAppy; How to Keep Cats Away from Furniture
Summary
Article Name
How To Keep Cats Off Furniture – Proven Tips From The Humane Society
Description
[QUESTION] How to keep cats off furniture? [ANSWER] The Humane Society suggests that cat owners place no-residue, double-sided tape to deter your cat. It leaves your cat with sticky paws but does not harm them.
How do you make vinegar spray for cats?
You know that bottle of vinegar in your cupboard? It’s not just for cooking. Dog and cat owners are using this inexpensive pantry staple in a variety of ways.
Vinegar can be safely used for treating many common health issues that affect pets, says Dr. Judy Morgan, a holistic veterinarian and certified veterinary food therapist from Clayton Veterinary Associates and Churchtown Veterinary Associates in New Jersey. The sour liquid also comes in handy for cleaning the messes and neutralizing the smells that are part of the deal when you live with critters. Here are seven vinegar uses for pet owners.
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Aiding Digestion
Pets on grain-based diets can have trouble digesting their food, resulting in higher-than-healthy levels of pH, says Morgan. “If you add vinegar to the food, they’ll digest it better and lower the pH, which allows good bacteria to thrive in the body,” she says. Morgan suggests grinding up raw fresh vegetables, covering them with organic apple cider vinegar and letting the veggies ferment in the refrigerator. Add a spoonful of the mixture to your pet’s food. The veggies will increase the nutritional value of the food and help with digestion. “It’s really good for them,” she says. You can also add vinegar to your dog or cat’s drinking water, about one teaspoon per quart of water. Of course not all pets will accept the taste so Morgan suggests having two water bowls out, one with vinegar and one without, to ensure that your pet gets enough water.
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Keeping Fleas and Ticks Away
Vinegar repels fleas and ticks, says Morgan, who has used vinegar mixed with a popular skin treatment for humans on her horses. To make your own flea and tick repellent, mix one part vinegar with one part water and spray it on your pet’s fur. You can also add a few drops of vinegar to your pet’s drinking water to help repel fleas and ticks from the inside out. Morgan recommends one teaspoon per quart of water.
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Cleaning Ears
Ear infections are a common problem for dogs, especially those with floppy ears. You can clean your pet’s ears with a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar, Morgan says. Put the solution on a cotton ball and wipe the inside of your dog’s ears with the mixture, only applying it to the areas you can reach. “If you have ear canals filled with bacteria and yeast, the pH is too high,” Morgan says. “If your dog has chronic problems, wiping out the ears will change the pH in there.” Try diluting the vinegar with more water if your pet’s ears are extremely sore and raw, or she shies away from the treatment.
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Relieving Urinary Tract Infections
Vinegar can help dogs and cats that suffer from urinary tract infections. However, before trying a vinegar remedy, you will first need to find out what the pH is in your pet’s urine, Morgan says. “If the pH is above 7, then apple cider vinegar is your best friend,” Morgan says. “The vinegar will lower the pH and dissolve the crystals. If the pH is lower than 7, then I wouldn’t recommend vinegar. You could make the problem worse.” It can be dangerous to try to treat a urinary tract infection at home as it can easily progress from a simple bladder infection to a kidney infection. To find the pH level, collect a urine sample in a sanitized container and take it to your vet. The urinalysis will give your veterinarian information about pH, white blood cells, blood in the sample, concentrating ability, crystal formation, and possible bacteria in the urine. Once the values are known, your vet will be able to advise you on the appropriate treatment.
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Treating Hot Spots
Organic apple cider vinegar can be used to treat hot spots, Morgan says. Unlike white distilled vinegar, unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar contains “mother,” strands of proteins, enzymes, and friendly bacteria that make the vinegar appear cloudy. Morgan recommends mixing equal parts vinegar with water and spraying the mixture on your dog’s hot spots. “You can massage it into the areas,” Morgan says. “If you have a raw hot spot, it could sting a little. You want to test it on your dog.”
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Not a Cure-All
For all the good it does, vinegar is not a cure-all. A professional examination may be necessary if, for example, your dog’s skin sore does not improve after a couple of days of using a vinegar treatment. “If the problem is getting worse, seek out veterinary care so you are not overlooking something,” Morgan says. “A sore could be cancer. You’ve got to get it looked at.”
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Neutralizing Odors
If your pet’s odor is bugging you, distilled white vinegar can make the smell go away. Maids by Trade, a pet-friendly Portland, Oregon-based cleaning service, recommends spraying a thin layer of vinegar over the carpet and letting it evaporate, If the odor remains, shampoo your carpets and add vinegar to the carpet cleaner instead of carpet cleaning soap. Vinegar may not be safe on all upholstery fabrics. Check the label on the furniture first before applying a vinegar solution says Mollie Swayne, content manager for Maids by Trade.
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Cleaning Messes
Accidents are bound to happen in homes with animals. For urine stains on carpeting, Swayne recommends treating the stained area with baking soda and distilled white vinegar diluted with water. “We use vinegar in our clients’ homes all the time,” Swayne says. “It’s very safe for pets.” The cleaning company does not recommend using vinegar on wood floors or on marble, granite, or other stone countertops, since the acid in vinegar could harm the surfaces, Swayne says. To freshen and clean, mix vinegar with water and spray the solution over your dog’s bed, or add vinegar to the washing machine when you launder the pet bed, Swayne says. Vinegar can also be used to clean your animal’s food and water bowls. “For general cleaning, vinegar is pretty good,” Swayne says. “It’s very versatile.” Source: petMD, LLC. This article was reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Katie Grzyb, DVM.
