This post is part of a paid partnership with Hilde & Phil, who provided their product for review. Together we’re exploring the reasons cats scratch furniture and how their design offers a stylish, cat-friendly solution.
If your cat can’t resist the corner of your couch, you’re not alone. Cats are wired to scratch. Scratching is how they stretch, mark, and feel secure. In this post, I’m breaking down why couches become their favorite target and how thoughtful design can guide that instinct toward something better for both your cat and your furniture.
Understanding the couch corner appeal
I know it’s not easy and feels down right baffling sometimes why our cats would choose one of our most expensive investments in our house—the couch. However, I think it’s easy to forget our cat’s perspective and how they view the home we live in with them. But once you understand why your cat is behaving the way they are, it’s easier to redirect the undesired behavior. Here are some possible reasons I’ve learned that might give you some insight behind your cat’s preference for the couch corner.
Stretching
Like humans, cats get stiff if they don’t move their bodies. Have you ever used a chair or wall to really get a proper stretch? That’s essentially what your cat is doing with your couch corner to achieve that full-body satisfying stretch.
Security
Our cats may live indoors, but they’re still deeply connected to their wild instincts. In nature, animals mark their territory to feel safe and secure, and our cats do the same at home. Without scratching, many cats can feel uneasy or anxious.
Your couch, which is central to your home or in a high-traffic area, becomes the perfect place to leave both visual and scent markers. It’s their way of saying, “I live here. This is my domain.”
Stability
Possibly the main reason behind the appeal of the couch corner and why it’s difficult to get them to move to replacements like standalone scratchers is the stability of a couch’s solid frame. Having very little movement and maximum resistance is more satisfying to a cat than a floppy sisal mat or a lightweight post that maybe even has fallen over in the past and scared them.
Texture
Another reason for the appeal is the texture of the couch fabric. Many have a weave that is a perfect blend of resistance and give that is irresistible to cats. The satisfaction of shredding these materials can’t be matched by the more durable, tough textures of sisal or weaker materials like corrugated cardboard so even if you mount a sisal scratcher to the wall they come back to the couch corner.
Why deterrents fail
I commonly see cat guardians try to use deterrents to keep their cat away from the couch corner without providing an alternative. But the hard truth is that sprays and other deterrents like tape or plastic don’t usually work long term because they don’t address a cat’s core need to scratch. If you’re only saying no to the couch, but not offering an equally satisfying alternative then your cat is going to continue to come back to your couch.
We need a solution that says “No, don’t scratch this.” as well as one that says “Yes, scratch this.” And the key to protecting your sofa is replacing the texture and vertical resistance they love with something they’ll love more.
Even if you are providing them alternatives like pole scratchers, sisal mats, and cardboard scratchers and your cat still continues to use the couch then these alternatives are not quite satisfying your cat's scratching needs.
A cat-centered solution
So what will your cat find satisfying to scratch instead of your couch? And how do you keep them off the couch corner? The cat-centered solution is a corner cat scratcher.
Corner scratchers work because they recreate the exact combination cats love: a firm vertical surface, the right height for a full stretch, and a stable base that doesn’t wobble. Most standalone posts don’t offer the same resistance or confidence, which is why many cats ignore them—even when they’re placed right next to the couch.
The corner cat scratcher I would recommend and that I’ve personally used for the last year and a half is the Cat-e-Corner.
What is the Cat-e-Corner?
Jeremy from Hilde & Phil recognized this scratching need in his cats and created a solution called the Cat-e-Corner.
This corner cat scratcher is incredibly clever because it both hides the couch corner which is our “No” and provides a “Yes” which is a giant sisal mat that wraps around a sturdy wood frame. And as an added bonus it’s a space-saving side table for us as cat guardians as well. You can learn more about the inspiration behind this creative solution here.
Do I have the right type of couch for the Cat-e-Corner?
The Cat-e-Corner sits flush against the outside arm of your sofa for extra stability, so if your couch has a square or gently rounded corner, it’ll fit. Just be sure to measure from the floor to the top of your arm to confirm it aligns with or below the arm height of the sofa as well as the depth of the couch. It can be shorter than the couch depth and still work. Couch designs that may not work well are heavily curved arms or sofas without defined corners or couches that are not very deep where the Cat-e-Corner would stick out.
Does the Cat-e-Corner teach my cat that it’s okay to use the couch as a scratcher?
Not in my experience. In fact, I think it teaches them not to target the couch. When I moved the Cat-e-Corner away from my sofa and to a wall corner, instead of scratching the couch they just went to where the Cat-e-Corner was and scratched it instead.
Setting up the Cat-e-Corner
Set up is simple and took me around 15 minutes. You can even watch me build it:
Once it was set up, my cat was a bit hesitant to use it. Cats can be a bit suspicious of new furniture at first, however within 30 minutes she realized it was a great scratching outlet for her.
Most cats adjust within a day or two once they realize it gives them the stretch and resistance they crave. Just be patient as they get used to their new scratcher and only use positive reinforcement. And also, rubbing a little catnip on the mat or running your fingernails on the sisal never hurts for extra encouragement.
What does Cat-e-Corner cost?
At the time of writing this post, a left or right Cat-e-Corner side table cost $379.00 for the Maple and $395.00 for Black Walnut. Getting a pair for both sides of your couch cost $758.00 for Maple and $790.00 for Black Walnut.
Where to buy the Cat-e-Corner
Currently, the Hilde & Phil website is the only place you can purchase the Cat-e-Corner.
Is the Cat-e-Corner worth the investment?
For me, the Cat-e-Corner is definitely worth the investment. I’ve had it for about a year and a half and it’s now Luna’s daily morning ritual to wake up, go to the living room, and scratch the Cat-e-Corner. Ultimately though, it’s going to depend on you and your cat’s needs.
Designing for instinct is the best solution
When we work with our cat’s instinct—not against them—we protect our furniture as well as strengthen our bond with our cats. The Cat-e-Corner by Hilde & Phil is a great example of how thoughtful design can honor your cat’s natural behavior while keeping your space beautifully intact.
Every cat scratches for a reason. When we understand that reason, we can design spaces that support both our cats and our homes. Redirecting scratching starts with curiosity.
My biggest tip? Observe and experiment. Every scratcher your cat ignores isn’t a failure, but instead feedback. Each attempt brings you closer to discovering what they’ll actually love to use (and save your sofa).
So what have you learned about your own cat’s scratching preferences? Leave me a comment. I’d love to hear what has and hasn't worked for protecting your furniture.
