How can I stop a kitten from sleeping on the sofa?
Expert Answer
To keep a kitten off the sofa, try these strategies. First, prepare a comfortable, warm, properly sized cat bed and place it somewhere quiet, out of drafts, and a bit elevated. Second, put some favorite toys, catnip, or old clothes/towels with the cat’s scent in the bed to make it more appealing. Then, when the kitten gets sleepy, guide it to the bed with food and soothe it with gentle petting so it falls asleep there. Finally, you can spray scents the cat dislikes but that are harmless—such as citrus, lemon, or vinegar—on the sofa to make it lose interest.
My kitten claimed the sofa until I made his own bed way more tempting: warm, quiet, slightly raised, with his scent and a catnip toy. Then I'd redirect him there every time he got sleepy, gentle pets and all. Took about a week. Don't scold, just make the bed the better deal. If he still insists, a harmless deterrent like double-sided tape on the sofa edge breaks the habit without stress.