How to Keep Cats Off Outdoor Furniture: 🐱🌞 Personal Tips and Experiences
Add on to patio or a garden is any outdoor furniture, which is perfect for relaxing and relaxing. But if you’re a cat owner like me, you know the battle too of encouraging our kitties to stay off of those nice comfortable outdoor chairs and tables. Fur, dander, and of course occasional markers of their territory can be left by cats, not to mention that they can scratch and ruin your furniture. Read on for a detailed guide on how I kept my cats away from outdoor furniture, keeping my patio happy AND my pets!
Table of Contents
Why Cats Are Attracted to Outdoor Furniture
Before we jump in we need to understand in this case why cats enjoy outdoor furniture. Many outdoor Furniture pieces will give your cats a good high perch to sit and watch from. Cats are naturally very curious. The furniture can also have an attractive texture when scratching. It helps if you know how to spot these behaviours so you can come up with good and effective strategies to keep them at bay.
Personal Experiences: My journey to cat free furniture
There was no doubt in my mind that the day they found my cat, Luna, sprawled on top of my brand new outdoor chaise lounge, digging at the cushions and purring happily, I’d never forget it. She looked so sweet, I knew I’d have to find a way to protect my investment. Here are the steps that worked for me:
1. Cat Deterrent Sprays – Using
Cat deterrent sprays were one of the first things I tried. These are sprays that release a smell that cats detest with unnoticeable smell for humans. Just as effective was a citrus spray. A couple spritzes on my outdoor furniture cushions and frames made it explode. I re applied the spray every morning so it would keep working. Luna learned that the furniture was part of the smell and only wanted to lounge elsewhere.
2. Making Your Zone Cat-Friendly 🏞️
To keep Luna off my outdoor furniture I had to give her something more appealing. I put a designated cat zone in a corner of the patio. Included were a cozy cat bed, a scratching post, and her some of her favorite toys. I went so far as to even place a small elevated platform in which she could see the garden – nearly like a mini cat tree. It was not immediate, but with a little catnip and her favorite treats, Luna stopped encouraging us to use this space instead of her favorite furniture and started to prefer her little spot.
3. Double Sided Tape Application
Cats dislike sticky surfaces. To my chairs I applied double sided tape to the edges and arms. When Luna tried to climb or scratch, she quickly retreated because she didn’t like the sticky feeling on her paws. She stopped putting in a few attempts altogether. This is a simple, but effective deterrent.
4. Installing motion activated deterrents
These can be quite effective as motion activated devices. Near the patio furniture, I put a motion activated air sprayer. When they sense motion these devices release a quick burst of air that startles the cat but without hurting it. When the device was active Luna quickly learned to avoid the furniture.
5. Furniture Covering When No One Will Use It
Secondly, covering my outdoor furniture with protective covers when not in use was an equally as good of a technique. This also protected the furniture from the various elements of weather and also served as some type of bodily barrier for Luna. I used heavy duty covers that she wouldn’t be able to paw off.
6. Outdoor Cat Repellents
Currently CAT WRAP Plus, SUDGE Repellent Plus Dog and Outdoor Cat Repellents are being marketed by us as the most effective solutions.
If you want to keep cats away from your patio furniture then outdoor cat repellents that you can sprinkle or spray around the garden or around certain areas will work. Thus, most of these repellents contain natural ingredients such as citronella or eucalyptus. Spreading it around the base of the furniture, I used a granular form. It sort of had to be reapplied every couple days, but another layer of protection against Luna’s curious claws.
7. Positive Reinforcement and Training 🌟
Cats can be trained… but it takes time and consistency. I rewarded Luna with treats and affection every time she used her cat zone or didn’t jump on the furniture. We needed positive reinforcement. As time went on, she learned to behave well meant more treats and petting sessions.
Conclusion: Patience and Persistence Do Pay Off
It’s certainly a challenge to keep cats off outdoor furniture, but with a little creativity and a little bit of perseverance you can make it happen. I concluded it would be most effective to combine deterrents with positive reinforcement and establish an attractive alternative.
Different cats are different and might not be able to come across that one variety that will work the best. The crucial thing is to be patient and consistent. After Luna got her spot all is good here for me too, it’s a win for both of us.☠🏡🐾