**Sapphire**
08-11-2008, 01:48 PM
Does the side of your couch look like shredded wheat? Are the table legs on your coffee table resembling toothpicks because of claw action? Are you contemplating declawing your cat thinking you have tried everything else? Well DON’T! Here are some tips to help you reprogram your cat to scratch on appropriate surfaces:
It is instinctive for cats to scratch. They need to keep their claws sharp, as well as to shed the outer casings of their nails from time to time. You getting angry because a cat is following instinct, is a no win situation for you. Scratching also is important to them because they have sweat glands in their pads, and they want it known that they were here. So they leave their mark.
If the side of your couch is being assaulted try attaching one of the following deterrents:
Sticky Paws http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_20586.shtml
Bubble wrap- with the bubbles facing outward
Balloons- once they pop the cat will be startled and go away
Aluminum Foil
Shelf paper, with the sticky side out-
Spray the couch with a lemon scented air freshener once a day
Empty soda pop cans, tie a string around the pop top of several cans, add a few marbles or ball bearings inside- drape the cans over the couch so they hang down the side, and tuck the string down under the cushions, securing it with duct tape.
Here’s an idea, find an old armchair at a garage sale and let that be the designated scratching chair. Smear catnip on the sides so the cats know they can scratch there, hang toys all over it and let this chair be the Cat’s chair. Or take an old wooden step stool and tie toys to it, and give it to your cat as a scratching post present.
“But I bought a scratching post and he won’t go near it...”
Hmmm- there has to be a reason for this, because cats love to scratch. First, it has to be tall enough so the cat can lean up into it and stretch his back at the same time.
Is it sturdy enough? If it wobbles, brace it, screw it down to the floor if you have to, but make it so it will not move. Does your couch move? Nope, this is why cats go to couches and chairs. Immobile objects do not move. So get to work and fasten that post right down.
Place the post near an open doorway. Start feeding the cat on the base of the pad for cats love a good scratch after a nice meal.
Hang toys on it, to encourage him to start using it.
Or buy a cat condo- yes, they are expensive, and if you buy one cheap, you might as well save your money. One of the best ones I have found on the market are found at http://www.cozycatcondos.com/ even while putting it together, it is sturdy enough that the cats are on it before it is finished being assembled.
Give your cat more than one option for scratching. Buy vertical and horizontal scratching pads, posts. One of the favorite scratching toys with my crew is the turbo scratcher . Buy a couple extra cardboard inserts when you make your initial purchase. http://www.lockepet.com/itm00087.htm Use the type that hang off of doorknobs, experiment with the different styles, there are plenty to be found.
"But I don't want to buy a scratching post or condo, they are too expensive!" Then visit www.cat-tree-plans.com and order a CD that tells you how to make your own!
Or try this product: http://www.birminghamind.com/Scratchaway/index.html
Don’t hide this post in a room off the back of the house; place it in the room that gets the most traffic.
And don’t get mad at your cat! Put away the squirt bottle, stop yelling and getting frustrated. Trying to keep a cat from scratching is a fruitless pursuit. Even declawed cats will go through the motions of scratching, because they cannot help themselves.
Think about soft paws:
http://www.softpaws.com/
Please know that if you are stressed out at your cat scratching your furniture that stress can fold-over to the cat and make the behavior worse. Again, we have asked these cats to adapt to our world, and in time they have. But we cannot stop innate behavior and trying will only frustrate. Instead give the cat or kitten more options, even if it is going out to the Local Park or beach and dragging home a tree limb or piece of driftwood. One of my cats’ favorite places to play is on an old piece of driftwood we found on the beach. I brought it home and hosed it off and scrubbed it down and let it air dry, then took it upstairs to put in the cat room. The cats all love it.
It is instinctive for cats to scratch. They need to keep their claws sharp, as well as to shed the outer casings of their nails from time to time. You getting angry because a cat is following instinct, is a no win situation for you. Scratching also is important to them because they have sweat glands in their pads, and they want it known that they were here. So they leave their mark.
If the side of your couch is being assaulted try attaching one of the following deterrents:
Sticky Paws http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_20586.shtml
Bubble wrap- with the bubbles facing outward
Balloons- once they pop the cat will be startled and go away
Aluminum Foil
Shelf paper, with the sticky side out-
Spray the couch with a lemon scented air freshener once a day
Empty soda pop cans, tie a string around the pop top of several cans, add a few marbles or ball bearings inside- drape the cans over the couch so they hang down the side, and tuck the string down under the cushions, securing it with duct tape.
Here’s an idea, find an old armchair at a garage sale and let that be the designated scratching chair. Smear catnip on the sides so the cats know they can scratch there, hang toys all over it and let this chair be the Cat’s chair. Or take an old wooden step stool and tie toys to it, and give it to your cat as a scratching post present.
“But I bought a scratching post and he won’t go near it...”
Hmmm- there has to be a reason for this, because cats love to scratch. First, it has to be tall enough so the cat can lean up into it and stretch his back at the same time.
Is it sturdy enough? If it wobbles, brace it, screw it down to the floor if you have to, but make it so it will not move. Does your couch move? Nope, this is why cats go to couches and chairs. Immobile objects do not move. So get to work and fasten that post right down.
Place the post near an open doorway. Start feeding the cat on the base of the pad for cats love a good scratch after a nice meal.
Hang toys on it, to encourage him to start using it.
Or buy a cat condo- yes, they are expensive, and if you buy one cheap, you might as well save your money. One of the best ones I have found on the market are found at http://www.cozycatcondos.com/ even while putting it together, it is sturdy enough that the cats are on it before it is finished being assembled.
Give your cat more than one option for scratching. Buy vertical and horizontal scratching pads, posts. One of the favorite scratching toys with my crew is the turbo scratcher . Buy a couple extra cardboard inserts when you make your initial purchase. http://www.lockepet.com/itm00087.htm Use the type that hang off of doorknobs, experiment with the different styles, there are plenty to be found.
"But I don't want to buy a scratching post or condo, they are too expensive!" Then visit www.cat-tree-plans.com and order a CD that tells you how to make your own!
Or try this product: http://www.birminghamind.com/Scratchaway/index.html
Don’t hide this post in a room off the back of the house; place it in the room that gets the most traffic.
And don’t get mad at your cat! Put away the squirt bottle, stop yelling and getting frustrated. Trying to keep a cat from scratching is a fruitless pursuit. Even declawed cats will go through the motions of scratching, because they cannot help themselves.
Think about soft paws:
http://www.softpaws.com/
Please know that if you are stressed out at your cat scratching your furniture that stress can fold-over to the cat and make the behavior worse. Again, we have asked these cats to adapt to our world, and in time they have. But we cannot stop innate behavior and trying will only frustrate. Instead give the cat or kitten more options, even if it is going out to the Local Park or beach and dragging home a tree limb or piece of driftwood. One of my cats’ favorite places to play is on an old piece of driftwood we found on the beach. I brought it home and hosed it off and scrubbed it down and let it air dry, then took it upstairs to put in the cat room. The cats all love it.