Things You'll Need
Scratching post
Cardboard
Double-sided tape
Enzyme cleaner
Bed ruffle
Citronella spray
Warning
Choose a sturdy post and not a scratching post that attaches to a door knob. Your cat can get hurt if it uses an unstable scratching post.
Tip
Watch your cat to find what and how he likes to scratch to figure out which post to buy. Different cats prefer scratching different materials or scratching from different locations. Should your cat not like one scratching post, try a different type of post. If you don't like citronella, you can use another scent you like but your cat doesn't. If double-sided tape or the bed skirt don't work, try taping tinfoil to your box spring.
Cats scratch for a reason. If your cat is scratching your box spring, it is probably doing so for one of two reasons. Either it wants to leave its scent, which comes from the sweat glands located on its paws, or it wants to sharpen its claws. Giving your cat an approved way to do these two things will help keep it from scratching your box spring.
Step 1
Buy a scratching post made of materials your cat likes to scratch and put it near the box spring. Move it a little further away each day until it is in a more suitable location.
Step 2
Add a bed skirt to your bed to cover up the box spring and make it less attractive to your cat. Taping cardboard to the bottom of your box spring can help if your cat scratches the bottom of your box spring.
Step 3
Place double-sided tape in places where your cat likes to scratch if you don't want to use a bed skirt. Most cats do not like sticky surfaces against their paws, so this discourages scratching.
Step 4
Get rid of the cat's scent with an enzyme cleaner. Spray citronella spray on your box spring to cover up any lingering scent. Removing the scent discourages the cat from returning to the box spring, and cats typically do not like the smell of citronella.