my cats are driving me crazy?

Question

so i have 2 cats..boy and a girl. they both just love to scratch at the couch. i have bought little cat nip mates that they can scratch at, a scratching pole and even those big cat scratching condo...they still use my couch. and there just vindictive about it to. they know i dont want them doing it but when they do they look right at me and wait for me to yell then run. its driving me up the wall. my couch isnt even payed for yet..ahhhhh has anyone ever heard of a spray i can get that will atract them more to the scratching post. im in california is you know the store its sold at i would really appreciate it.

Answer 1

There is this product called sticky paws. It used to come in strips, but the last time I got some it was on a roll. It's like double stick tape, but I think stickier, but designed to be safe for most furniture and surfaces (read the package). It works really well, and can also be used to keep cats OFF places like counters, etc. I bought mine at PetSmart, but it's available at many locations including the on-line store at the Sticky Paws website.

Also, the water bottle idea is good - a squirt gun works just as well, but doesn't have the storage capacity and the cheap ones leak (I'm NOT talking super soaker here). Even cats that like to play in water generally hate being SQUIRTED with water.

As for encouraging them to scratch somewhere else, get catnip and rub it into their scratching post GENEROUSLY. You can show them by demonstrating with your hands and if you see them scratching somewhere inappropriate - and don't have the water bottle - take them to the post and encourage them to scratch there. You could even try giving them a treat or a form of reward - attention - verbal encouragement, etc. when they are 'caught' using the scratching post. (Positive Reinforcement)

Answer 2

I used to have this problem too. There are several things you can do. There is no need to get your cats declawed. It will just take some time and patience.

This is what I've tried and he no longer scratches the couch:
1. Tall scratching post with sisal rope. Sometimes it helps when you catch them scratching the couch to take them over to the scratching post so they know to use that instead of the couch.
2. I have this toy called a cat scratcher. It's circle shaped and in the middle is cardboard and he LOVES to scratch this. On the outside is a ball in a track and he plays with it all the time.
3. I praise him by saying "good boy" and pet him when he scratches his scratching post or cat scratcher.
4. I trim his nails
5. If he does scratch the couch (which is very, very rare anymore) I firmly tell him "no." Sometimes a squirt of water helps too, but you have to catch them in the act. It does no good to scold them or squirt with water after the fact.
6. I bougth this pheremone spray called Feliway. It's supposed to help modify bad behaviors...including scratching. Back when he used to scratch the couch I would spray a little on the couch every other day or so and it would keep him away.

Good luck and be consistent!

Answer 3

i have two cats as well and i pretty much have the same problem. i do several things to keep them from scratching...

i clip their nails on a weekly basis. you can get the clippers at petco, petsmart, target... or, there are these things called "softpaws". they are basically a plastic covering you put on their nails. you might ask you vet about these though. cats tend to not like them and have been known to chew them off.

i also have several scratching posts and stuff for them. the best one i've found though is this cardboard scratching pad that has catnip in it. they love it!

but, they still scratch the couch. when i don't have people over, i drape decorative blankets and throws over the areas where they really like to scratch. this helps A LOT!

as for the spray, there is one in existance, but i've never used it. they also have this at any pet store. you might give it a try.

i find the best thing is just keeping up with clipping their claws. you just have to do it regularly.

hope that helps!

Answer 4

i was once given such spray, but it smells so horrible, not strong, but just plain very strange and unpleasant that its impossible for me to use it indoors, it is meant for preventing dogs crapping on your doorstep rather. once the cats started to prefer the couch, yelling is not enough. u have to slap it (gently, just to get the message across) say firml loud NO and throw it out (i mean the cat, not the couch). or condition them like u get ready a water sprayer and spray them with water in face. meanwhile get them a functional scratcher - personally i think that these pet shop cat houses and poles are just waste of money, nevr seen a cat using it if it can use anything else. The more it resemles nature, the better. next time you go outdoors get a chunk of wood with bark on from forest, mount it on the wall or make it stand upright, whatever u wish - it sort of smells like the real thing and not as if it was bought in a shop . at first you will have to clean the floor untill the loose parts go away, but later on it is no trouble

Answer 5

I went through that, and mine shredded my furniture to the wood, and it took YEARS to replace it. I had JUST ordered new furniture last year when SURPRISE -- a pregnant kitty found me. So, now have her and 3 not-so-little kittens to train. I bought slipcovers for my furniture, not to take any chances this go round. These are pretty good about not scratching furniture, but that extra layer seems to help. The faux suede material seems to not be good for scratching - although the rougher "brocade" type material on my DINING chairs is highly appealing!!!

You can put cat nip on the other stuff and try to attract them. I tried EVERYTHING from spanking, swatting, spraying, screaming, throwing things, etc. to get my first batch to stop. Nothing worked. NOTHING. Although there are newer things out now like attachments (hard plastic) you can put on the corners of furniture, etc. that weren't available before. However, my best answer for the moment is SLIPCOVERS.

Just remember how much you love them. Just remember how much you love them. Just remember how much you love them.... =)

Answer 6

Oh boy do I ever feel your pain. I have 2 cats myself and have tried everything from a cat condo, alpine scratcher, spray.. you name it. There is a spray that they sell at PetCo or Pet Smart but to be honest they probably won't pay any attention to it like mine. The key is to start them off young. Using a spray bottle at them when they scratch and repremanding them. But sometimes even that (like my cats for example) doesn't work. Sometimes you just have to get to the point where you either decide, hey i love my cats and i chose them over my furniture. Or you have to get them dceclawed.
For me, I have come to the realization I can not get any good furniture until they pass.

Answer 7

i live in California and my friend has 8 cats ( mom had kids recently) they love to scratch their couch too. my friend uses water in a sray bottle. it won't attract them to the condo or scratch posts but pretty soon they will want to stay away from the couch

Answer 8

#1 Rub some citrus skin over the fabric (Orange/Lemon), cats don't like the smell.
#2 Put double sided sellotape down the corners, or wherever they scratch, they won't like getting stuck to it.
#3 You can buy lemon spray.

Answer 9

Try some double-sided tape. Most pet stores sell it. Or do what I've done and just give up and accept that you can never have nice furniture ever again.

But don’t get them declawed like a few people have mentioned, that’s just mean. How would you like someone cutting off your fingers?

Answer 10

This is a common problem. Squirt bottles with water teach cats not to climb on the counters, so it could help. I assume the real problem is that they do it all day when you are gone? Declawing is very painful, so I vote with the person who said to use a slipcover.