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plethoraofpets
Jan 24, 2009
I have two cats, one that I adopted at two years old and was already declawed. My other cat never started scratching furniture & carpet until she was two years old. She has a scratch post and a cardboard scratch board, but she seems to prefer the carpeting. She's a small cat, but has done enough damage to warrant partial replacement of our carpet. Whenever she starts scratching, we gently pick her up and take her to one of the cat scratch boards. It also helps to rub catnip on the boards/post, but be sure not to drop any catnip on an area that you DON'T want her/him interested in. This has worked well for us and our carpeting has remained intact. -
plethoraofpets
Jan 24, 2009
I have two cats, one that I adopted at two years old and was already declawed. My other cat never started scratching furniture & carpet until she was two years old. She has a scratch post and a cardboard scratch board, but she seems to prefer the carpeting. She's a small cat, but has done enough damage to warrant partial replacement of our carpet. Whenever she starts scratching, we gently pick her up and take her to one of the cat scratch boards. It also helps to rub catnip on the boards/post, but be sure not to drop any catnip on an area that you DON'T want her/him interested in. This has worked well for us and our carpeting has remained intact.
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plethoraofpets
Jan 24, 2009
I have two cats, one that I adopted at two years old and was already declawed. My other cat never started scratching furniture & carpet until she was two years old. She has a scratch post and a cardboard scratch board, but she seems to prefer the carpeting. She's a small cat, but has done enough damage to warrant partial replacement of our carpet. Whenever she starts scratching, we gently pick her up and take her to one of the cat scratch boards. It also helps to rub catnip on the boards/post, but be sure not to drop any catnip on an area that you DON'T want her/him interested in. This has worked well for us and our carpeting has remained intact.
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plethoraofpets
Jan 24, 2009
I have two cats, one that I adopted at two years old and was already declawed. My other cat never started scratching furniture & carpet until she was two years old. She has a scratch post and a cardboard scratch board, but she seems to prefer the carpeting. She's a small cat, but has done enough damage to warrant partial replacement of our carpet. Whenever she starts scratching, we gently pick her up and take her to one of the cat scratch boards. It also helps to rub catnip on the boards/post, but be sure not to drop any catnip on an area that you DON'T want her/him interested in. This has worked well for us and our carpeting has remained intact.
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daelin914
Sep 01, 2008
My cat used to do that and yelling at him works once in a while. He's been using scratching posts since he was a kitten. When he goes to scratch the furniture, I go and scratch his scratching posts. He gets annoyed that I'm touching his things and goes over and starts scratches the post to reclaim his territory. Keep in mind that this is a male cat, so your mileage may vary with a female cat.
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daelin914
Sep 01, 2008
My cat used to do that and yelling at him works once in a while. He's been using scratching posts since he was a kitten. When he goes to scratch the furniture, I go and scratch his scratching posts. He gets annoyed that I'm touching his things and goes over and starts scratches the post to reclaim his territory. Keep in mind that this is a male cat, so your mileage may vary with a female cat.
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KLP4902
Jun 26, 2008
I agree on the declawing being the last if not a completely unacceptable resort when it comes to stopping a cat from scratching.. I have a cat that insist on scratching my (new) furniture.. I have worked with her since she was a kitten.. I have tried everything from Soft Paws(awesome product-if your cat isn't mine! Many friends use them and they work wonderfully! ).. The double sided tape-I came home to find my cat playing with a ball of the tape that she had pulled off the couch.. The spray-all natural.. Multiple scratching posts and such.. I've tried a water bottle when she was caught in the act.. Ahhh! I have finally moved furniture so that she doesn't have access to all the corners and do just as DjKing suggest.. by leaving a throw on the corners... She isn't as bad as before... But still hasn't stopped!... Any other suggestions???
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KLP4902
Jun 26, 2008
I agree on the declawing being the last if not a completely unacceptable resort when it comes to stopping a cat from scratching.. I have a cat that insist on scratching my (new) furniture.. I have worked with her since she was a kitten.. I have tried everything from Soft Paws(awesome product-if your cat isn't mine! Many friends use them and they work wonderfully! ).. The double sided tape-I came home to find my cat playing with a ball of the tape that she had pulled off the couch.. The spray-all natural.. Multiple scratching posts and such.. I've tried a water bottle when she was caught in the act.. Ahhh! I have finally moved furniture so that she doesn't have access to all the corners and do just as DjKing suggest.. by leaving a throw on the corners... She isn't as bad as before... But still hasn't stopped!... Any other suggestions???
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djking
Jun 08, 2008
The comments from people who support declawing have not educated themselves on the painful mutilation that this procedure is. If your cats are now okay, I feel they are fortunate. But I assure you they were in pain for quite awhile and many cats suffer problems for a lifetime. Realize that there is a reason it is illegal in England. Pets require effort and sacrifice.
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djking
Jun 08, 2008
You can also buy wide strips of double-face tape. This works really well on sides of furniture because you can't see it (good alternative to the aluminum foil). Also, when you see them scratching the furniture, gently pick them up and set them by the scratch post. Pick up their paws and imitate scratching, but don't force. You can scratch with your fingers to make the sound. When you go to bed, throw a blanket over the area where the problem is. It's quick if you usually keep a throw there anyway.
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djking
Jun 08, 2008
You can also buy wide strips of double-face tape. This works really well on sides of furniture because you can't see it (good alternative to the aluminum foil). Also, when you see them scratching the furniture, gently pick them up and set them by the scratch post. Pick up their paws and imitate scratching, but don't force. You can scratch with your fingers to make the sound. When you go to bed, throw a blanket over the area where the problem is. It's quick if you usually keep a throw there anyway.
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PrinceEric
Sep 25, 2007
As soon as I married my young bride she imediately wanted to move her two cats in with us, this was a concern because my home is full of 18th century furniture with silk uphosterly, and she had mentioned that the cats do claw furniture at her house as well as ocasionally claw guests from church. We decided to get them declawed for the sake of the furniture and also that we wanted to start a family and we don't want any cats clawing the kids. everything has been fine since we declawed the cats four years ago, no scratches anywhere, and now that our daughters are 2 and 3 we can report we are happy the cats have been declawed because otherwise the girls would definately be scratched up, the cats live happily and i don't see what all the fuss is about when it comes to declawing cats.
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PrinceEric
Sep 25, 2007
As soon as I married my young bride she imediately wanted to move her two cats in with us, this was a concern because my home is full of 18th century furniture with silk uphosterly, and she had mentioned that the cats do claw furniture at her house as well as ocasionally claw guests from church. We decided to get them declawed for the sake of the furniture and also that we wanted to start a family and we don't want any cats clawing the kids. everything has been fine since we declawed the cats four years ago, no scratches anywhere, and now that our daughters are 2 and 3 we can report we are happy the cats have been declawed because otherwise the girls would definately be scratched up, the cats live happily and i don't see what all the fuss is about when it comes to declawing cats.
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Bizman
Jun 01, 2007
We protect our new furniture by placing duct tape along the corners. Cats avoid the area After a couple of weeks they leave it alone. If you move the furniture though...replace the tape for a few weeks
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Bizman
Jun 01, 2007
We protect our new furniture by placing duct tape along the corners. Cats avoid the area After a couple of weeks they leave it alone. If you move the furniture though...replace the tape for a few weeks
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happybunny
Feb 06, 2007
Well I am now laden with catnip, a dozen oranges, red peppers, cloves of garlic, carpet remnants, roll of foil, double sided tape, sticky back plastic, order for soft claws, three scratch posts (cardboard,sisal and carpet, of course!)rattling soda can, drift wood from the local beach, sandpaper, paper towels, newspaper, clove oil and a bottle of vinegar! Supershooter water gun and clapper in hands with camouflage outfit and night vision goggles ready for one weeks vacation requested to coincide with the arrival of my New red leather sofas and the pursuit and commitment to prevent my three cats night time scratching!"Bring it on Kitties". P.s declawing out the question!
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happybunny
Feb 06, 2007
Well I am now laden with catnip, a dozen oranges, red peppers, cloves of garlic, carpet remnants, roll of foil, double sided tape, sticky back plastic, order for soft claws, three scratch posts (cardboard,sisal and carpet, of course!)rattling soda can, drift wood from the local beach, sandpaper, paper towels, newspaper, clove oil and a bottle of vinegar! Supershooter water gun and clapper in hands with camouflage outfit and night vision goggles ready for one weeks vacation requested to coincide with the arrival of my New red leather sofas and the pursuit and commitment to prevent my three cats night time scratching!"Bring it on Kitties". P.s declawing out the question!
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Aug 08, 2006
While searching for an alternative to declawing, I stumbled onto a product called SoftPaws. These are nail tips that fit over the claws and is bonded in place with super glue. They are great!! They come in colors, too!
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Aug 08, 2006
This works for my female Bengal, who has recently decided she prefers our new leather suite than her scratch post. Tip - always keep the scratching post in the same place if possible (don't move it around suddenly, cats like familiarity). Which is what I didn't do in the beginning and I've learned the hard way that sofas can get wrecked quite quickly! Cover the specific problem area with tin foil, dab on some vinegar and place the cat scratch post(s) in front of the problem area(s). When the cat begins to use the post, reward them with treats and be sure to give them lots of fuss. Also, sprinkle some catnip powder on the scratch post to encourage your cat to use the correct area. If you need to move the post to a more suitable area, be sure to only move it a few inches every few days or they will fuss that you have moved it and the problems will begin again!
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Aug 08, 2006
While searching for an alternative to declawing, I stumbled onto a product called SoftPaws. These are nail tips that fit over the claws and is bonded in place with super glue. They are great!! They come in colors, too!
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Aug 08, 2006
This works for my female Bengal, who has recently decided she prefers our new leather suite than her scratch post. Tip - always keep the scratching post in the same place if possible (don't move it around suddenly, cats like familiarity). Which is what I didn't do in the beginning and I've learned the hard way that sofas can get wrecked quite quickly! Cover the specific problem area with tin foil, dab on some vinegar and place the cat scratch post(s) in front of the problem area(s). When the cat begins to use the post, reward them with treats and be sure to give them lots of fuss. Also, sprinkle some catnip powder on the scratch post to encourage your cat to use the correct area. If you need to move the post to a more suitable area, be sure to only move it a few inches every few days or they will fuss that you have moved it and the problems will begin again!
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Aug 08, 2006
My 8 year old cat suddenly started scratching the arms of our upholstered furniture. Sometimes when she is looking my way I pretend to scratch the sofa arms and chair arms and also nudge them with my chin. She looks at me with great interest and has not scratched them since.
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Mar 26, 2006
We bought carpet samples (they have finished edges). Simply nail the samples to the walls at different heights. We keep ours in the hallway and in bedrooms if needed. Our guys are allowed to sleep in our bed and get lots of loving. We also have a sisal strip on the floor (non of them liked it on the wall) and a couple of free standing posts. All are treated with catnip on a regular basis to keep them encouraged to use them. There is one spot on my love seat that my oldest cat tries to use. I think I am going to try the sticky tape and foil to discourage him. I think I need to raise one of the carpet samples for him as well. He is a really big guy and likes to stretch a lot. I hope the carpet sample idea helps you as well as it has helped me and my cats.
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Mar 26, 2006
We bought carpet samples (they have finished edges). Simply nail the samples to the walls at different heights. We keep ours in the hallway and in bedrooms if needed. Our guys are allowed to sleep in our bed and get lots of loving. We also have a sisal strip on the floor (non of them liked it on the wall) and a couple of free standing posts. All are treated with catnip on a regular basis to keep them encouraged to use them. There is one spot on my love seat that my oldest cat tries to use. I think I am going to try the sticky tape and foil to discourage him. I think I need to raise one of the carpet samples for him as well. He is a really big guy and likes to stretch a lot. I hope the carpet sample idea helps you as well as it has helped me and my cats.
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Mar 15, 2006
I had read once before to rub red pepper flakes on the area where your cat likes to scratch, like the sofa. The smell is what the cat doesn't like. I did try it, it works for about a day, then you also have the mess of the bits of pepper flakes to clean up. Give it a try, if you have tried everything else. You never know, your cat may totally hate it.
