Most of us not only want to share our homes with our cat, we also want to share our entire lives with them as well. They are frequently given a privileged place in the household and there is much extended in their direction that sometimes is not even extended in the direction of the human members of the household. That being said, there are also some behaviors that many cats take part in that are not necessarily going to be a welcome part of your household. Climbing onto the furniture may be one of those factors.
Teaching a cat to stay off of the furniture is more than just a convenience for many families. It also helps to protect the furniture, regardless of whether it is your living room sofa, your dining room table or even your bed. When your cat is not permitted up on the furniture, it helps to reduce the number of scratches and claw marks that you may see in those areas. It can also help to reduce how much cat hair ends up on the furniture as well.
If you have been trying to keep your cat off of the furniture with little success, there are a few things to do that can solve the problem for you. Typically, it involves either using something to repel the cat from the area or training the cat using clicker training
The first step in repelling the cats from the furniture is to make it less appealing to the animal. If the furniture is near a window, keep the blinds closed so that they are not tempted to lay in the sun. You should also take any excess padding off of the furniture to make it less comfortable. If your cat tends to get up on the kitchen countertops, keep them free of food and other items that the cat might like.
Lining the furniture with tinfoil is also another option, as is using double-sided tape on a large piece of paper. It makes the furniture less appealing, and keeps them from jumping up into the area. You may also want to try a repellent spray that is for that specific purpose. Before you do so, test it on an inconspicuous area of the furniture.
Finally, you may be able to teach your cat to stay off of the furniture by using some positive reinforcement and a clicker. This is done by teaching the cat to follow a stick, choosing a command and then following through by guiding the feline off the furniture when you give the command. It may take some time to change old habits but they can be broken with effort on your part.