Dealing with Destructive Chewing and Scratching

If your sofa looks like a tiger’s trophy or the baseboards resemble a kitty’s personal art project, take a deep breath—you are far from alone. Chewing and scratching are normal ways pets explore, relieve stress, or simply burn off excess energy. The good news: with consistent, practical steps you can protect your home and teach your pet better habits without turning your life into a strict boot camp.

Below are empathetic, real-world tips to stop (or greatly reduce) destructive chewing in dogs and scratching in cats. Think of this as a friendly toolbox—pick the tools that fit your pet and your lifestyle.

Why pets chew and scratch (the short, friendly version)

• Dogs chew because they’re curious (everything smells interesting), bored, teething, anxious, or just need to wear down a surplus of energy. Picture a toddler with a teething ring and an endless curiosity about the living room.
• Cats scratch to mark territory (visual and scent), stretch, keep claws healthy, and relieve stress. Imagine sharpening a pencil and stretching at the same time—most efficient.

Understanding the “why” makes solving the problem easier.

First steps: Safety, observation, and a quick vet check

1. Safety first: Remove small or toxic items (plastic, electrical cords, medications, houseplants that are poisonous). If your pet is actively ingesting dangerous items, contact your vet or an emergency clinic.
2. Observe for patterns: When does it happen—after you leave, right after meals, late at night? What items are targeted?
3. Rule out medical causes: If the behavior is new or extreme, a quick vet visit can check for dental pain, skin irritation, parasites, or other conditions that can increase chewing or scratching.

A simple plan: Prevent, provide, and praise

Think of handling chewing/scratching like solving a puzzle: prevent access, provide acceptable alternatives, and praise the good behavior. Here’s how to do that in everyday terms.

Prevent: Pet-proof your space

• Keep tempting items out of reach: shoes, cushions, charging cables, children’s toys.
• Use cord protectors for cables, put shoes in closed closets, and store small objects in drawers.
• For cats, cover furniture corners temporarily with double-sided tape or a vinyl runner (cats dislike the sticky feeling).
• Crate or confine puppies when unsupervised—crates are safe dens, not punishment.

Provide: Better outlets (toys, posts, exercise)

For dogs:

• Durable chew toys: Kong, rubber toys, braided rope, or certain safe chews. Avoid cooked bones and rawhide that can splinter or choke.
• Rotate toys weekly to keep novelty—pets get bored with the same thing like we get sick of the same playlist.
• Mental exercise: puzzle feeders, treat-dispensing toys, short training sessions (5–10 minutes) throughout the day.
• Physical activity: a tired dog is less destructive. Walks, fetch, or a quick run before you leave the house reduces anxiety and energy.

For cats:

• Scratching posts in multiple locations (near sleeping spots, by windows, and next to furniture they target).
• Offer different textures: sisal, carpet, cardboard—cats have preferences.
• Vertical options: tall posts and cat trees let cats stretch fully; many cats prefer vertical scratching to horizontal.
• Catnip, silvervine, or pheromone diffusers can encourage use of the scratchers.
• Nail maintenance: regular trimming or soft nail caps (like Soft Paws) can protect furniture while preserving the cat’s natural behavior.

Praise: Reward what you want

• Catch and reward. When you see your dog chewing a toy or your cat using a post, immediately praise and give a small treat.
• Use short training sessions: teach “drop it” and “leave it” for dogs with treats and consistency.
• Avoid harsh punishment—this can increase anxiety and make the problem worse. Redirect and reward instead.

Step-by-step for redirecting (a quick how-to)

For dogs chewing something they shouldn’t:

1. Calmly say “leave it” or “off” (use a word you like).
2. Offer an acceptable chew toy instead.
3. When the dog takes it, give a treat and praise within 2 seconds so they link the swap to the reward.
4. Remove unsupervised access to the forbidden item.

For cats scratching furniture:

1. Gently move the cat to a nearby scratching post as soon as you see the behavior.
2. Rub catnip on the post or dangle a toy near the top to encourage use.
3. When the cat uses the post, praise softly or give a treat.

Consistency is the magic ingredient—everyone in the household needs to use the same words and responses.

Home-proofing checklist (quick wins)

• Put shoes and laundry away.
• Use cord covers and block access to baseboards or fabric with temporary barriers.
• Provide at least two different chew toys per dog and rotate them.
• Place scratching posts near problem areas; replace or add new textures.
• Keep cleaning supplies handy to immediately remove the scent of destroyed items (this prevents re-targeting).

Dealing with separation anxiety or boredom

If chewing or scratching spikes when you leave:

• Gradually desensitize departures: pick up keys, put on shoes, and then sit down—repeat until these cues aren’t stressful.
• Leave engaging items like puzzle feeders or safe frozen treats to occupy your pet.
• Consider short training sessions to build calmness, or practice leaving for very short periods and increase time slowly.
• If anxiety is severe (non-eating, panic behavior, vomiting), talk to your vet—there are effective behavior strategies and sometimes medical options.

When to get professional help

• The behavior is sudden and intense, or accompanied by other worrying signs (loss of appetite, hiding, aggression).
• Redirection, enrichment, and vet checks haven’t helped after a few weeks.
• A certified positive-reinforcement trainer or behaviorist can create a targeted plan. Think of them as a personal trainer for your pet’s brain.

Quick troubleshooting — common scenarios

• Puppy chewing everything: ramp up exercise, give a chilled Kong to soothe teething, and supervise constantly.
• Cat only scratches one chair: move a post near that chair, cover the chair with tape temporarily, and reward the cat for using the post.
• Dog chewing at night: increase daytime activity, consider a bedtime routine with a calming toy, and ensure the sleeping area is comforting (crate, blanket).

Final pep talk

You didn’t adopt a pet expecting to redecorate constantly—and it’s okay to feel frustrated. Remember: chewing and scratching are normal behaviors. With patience, consistency, and a few clever swaps (toy for shoe, post for couch), you can protect your home and still let your pet be a happy, healthy animal.

Think of the process like training a child to use utensils—gradual, repetitive, with lots of praise. Celebrate the small wins (your cat using a new post, your dog choosing a toy over your slipper) and keep going. You’ve got this—and your pet is learning from you every day.