So I have 2 1/2 bengal cats. They are brother and sister that I got from pets mart. I’m not sure on what to do about my furniture. It gets torn up all the time. I have a cat tree that they only se it to sleep in. I’ve gotten other things for them to scratch on but they don’t use it. Any advise would be great. They also like to chew on cords and get into drawers. I believe they are bored but I don’t know what to buy for them. Thanks again

Mine really love the cardboard scratchers and rope posts. The trick to getting mine to use it is to put catnip on them. Keep in mind the placement of the scratching posts. They may not want to use it if it is off in a corner somewhere. Mine is in an area they walk by a lot so they just stop and use it on their way to the next room.

I would also buy some cat toys like da bird or other interactive ones and play with yours. Bengals are active and they thrive on play. Even just a cardboard box with some holes cut in it can provide a lot of playtime.

Re: furniture

I think the way to think about it is that cats have a need to scratch. They must do it, so they are going to scratch the things that seem most natural to them. Big sturdy things that don't "give" when you put their weight on them, and then smell right and feel good to scratch, and in convenient, "socially significant" locations (because they are also depositing their scent on the things they scratch).

So here are your choices:

1. Provide them "approved" things to scratch that will be more attractive to them than what than the furniture that you would rather they not scratch.
2. keep their claws trimmed, so there is less of a need to scratch, and when they do, it will be less far destructive
3. Put the furniture somewhere where they can't get at it
4. Replace the furniture with more "cat friendly" stuff that is more resistant to scratching, and you're not going to freak out about it as much.
5. You'll inevitably need to compromise some. If nearly every piece of furniture in your house needs to be a "no" place for cats, you really should re-think having cats. For example, I have one really nice, expensive, extremely comfortable chair that is my "work chair" in my home office room. Serafina loves to jump up there when I'm working, and "perch" right by my head. It's nice having the company, and it's very much "her spot". Downside? It gets scratched up. It's ok, not gonna fight that, as I'd rather have a cat there, then have a prestine chair top.

Ideas:
a. I've had a lot of success putting nice "cat approved" scratching posts right next to furniture that I'd rather them not scratch.
Something like this:

https://smile.amazon.com/SmartCat-3832- ... ching+post

b. Cats often will scratch the heck out of cat trees bases, provided they meet their criteria. It's funny, some of the trees that I have, I've had for over 10 years, and are for the most part still going strong and in good shape, but I'll probably need to replace some of them soon just because the bases have been completely destroyed by cats sharpening claws. That's ok though, I want them to!

c. You can make any individual surface less or more attractive to a cat by manipulating the smell. Put catnip on the "yes" places, and bitter-yuck on the "no" places.

See other threads on cord chewing. That can be really dangerous for the cat, and really expensive for you. Better to put electric cords in cord protectors, and spray with bitter yuck. Once they are "trained" to dislike chewing cords, you can probably get rid of the cord protectors.

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The little monsters 3

My bengal has always used the scratchers on the cat trees and I have put the cardboard scratchers next to his cat wheel and he loves using that. My DSH decided to start scratching the rugs, so I got another cardboard scratcher and put it under the coffee table that they both use. The key is distracting them to use something that is approved for cats. Cats are going to scratch -- that is a fact. And it does not take long for them to destroy a piece human furniture. There are so many types of scratching posts that you could put the all around your house. There are catnip sprays that will attract the cat there.

I do not trim my cats nails. The vet will do it when they are there for dental work or ultrasounds that put them to sleep. I prefer to keep them sharp just in case they need them. The bengal stays inside and gets walks on a leash, but the DSH has been an outdoor cat all of his life.

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The little monsters 3

I second getting cat trees that have scratching posts on them. My cats were scratching my chair up. I had tried scratching posts - items that were just scratching posts, not cat trees. My cats ignored those scratching posts, kept scratching up my chair. When I got a cat tree, though, they suddenly loved scratching on that ... and have left my chair alone. In hindsight, I think that the scratching posts I got wobbled when the cats put their weight on them? The cat trees are much more stable.

I saw a picture yesterday of a kitten that had the sharpest claws. Wonder how that works in the womb! They seem to be born with sharp claws. My DSH welcomed me this morning by clawing down my leg! He does that to the back door waiting to be let in. But today he continued on me as I was closing the door after him. Bled and hurts like crazy!!! So I would much rather he do that on furniture than my leg. LOL