My cat is really pissing me off! It has ruined my favorite sofa, and I don't know what to do to keep it from doing that!
2006-07-15 03:53:45 · 21 answers · asked by jekodama 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
I haven't found a scratching post in any pet store, because I don't live anywhere near one! Geez, I had already thought of that one! I live in a farm, the bloody cat has wood everywhere around but he just loves the sofa! I love him, but really, he's going to ruin the sofa, and then move on to something else! What can I do to stop him? the only thing I haven't tried is getting rid of the sofa!
2006-07-15 04:35:12 · update #1
Cats scratch to mark their territory, sharpen their claws and stretch their muscles. Here's how to help your cat curb the urge (or at least redirect it away from the sofa).
You can order a scratching post from www.ltdcommodites.com they have one, or from www.drsfosterandsmith.com it delivers to your door. Or Walmart sells them.
Or you can make one, take a square piece of wood, and then attach a round or rectangle piece of wood to that, with a screw, or whatever you need to use to attach it, wrap it with twine, or wrap it with carpet. Then show your kitty cat the scratching post, and put a little cat nip on it. Then your carpet will be saved. Hope this works for you.
2006-07-15 07:54:19 · answer #1 · answered by sapphire007 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Get a cat scratcher tower or box, and train the cat to use them. My two cats are trained to use the scratch box and the carpeted tower, but one still likes to use the banister at the foot of the stairs and the kitchen table leg.
The trick is to catch them when they're doing it in the wrong place, say no, and then grab them and place them on the scratcher.
For the furniture, I know there is a spray that is supposed to repel cats from the fabric, once you've sprayed the material. You can buy it at any pet store. I haven't tried it myself, tho. Good luck!
2006-07-15 04:00:46 · answer #2 · answered by shutrbug13 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cats shed their claws like bugs shed their exoskeletons. A "sheath" cracks and sheds about once a month to make a shiny, sharp new claw. it's instinctual therefore for cats to sharpen their claws to remove this sheath, and also to sharpen their new claws. In the wild this is of the utmost importance because they need sharp claws to hunt, but domestic cats just do it out of instinct.
So what can you do? A permanant solution is declawing. Because the new claw grows at the quick (a little piece of tissue under the claw) this is all cut off. However, this is extremely painful for the cat, if it is done wrong it can cause a new claw to grow in deformed and cause infection, and you permantly take away a cat's defenses, so if you NEED to declaw, declaw only indoor cats.
I hate declawing, so my cat wears softpaws, little nail caps that are superglued to her claws. They shed them every month when they shed their claws so they have to be reapplied, but I love my kitty too much to declaw her.
As always, keep a good scratching post available, train her to use it instead of furniture by bringing her there and rubbing her paws on it, or get "stickypaws" (or a similar product) to discourage her bad behaviour.
Good luck.
2006-07-15 04:31:59 · answer #3 · answered by jennysweetheat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok cats scratch to mark their territory, to stretch, to exercise, and just for pure pleasure. I see that you don't live near a pet store, they sell scratching posts at walmart...or you can make your own. Cats LOVE sisal rope. So you can just get some rope wrap it around some wood and hot glue it all on there. Also to discourage your cat from scratching on the sofa you can squirt him with a water bottle...try and make sure that he doesn't see you do it...element of surprise is best. Then eventually the cat will associate being squirted with scratching on the sofa.
Another idea for scratching post: look on ebay...sometimes you can find super cheap ones on there...just watch out for the shipping costs. Also they have these things called "Soft Paws" they are these lil nail caps that go over the nail...all kinds of different colors and you can find them online too at www.softpaws.com
2006-07-15 04:47:33 · answer #4 · answered by Manny 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a scratching post and place it next to the scratched area. Scent it like the sofa (rub the sofa cushions on the post). Cats are smell territorial. Then, go from there. Slowly (over days) move it away from the sofa- to a corner or something. Then spray the sofa with fabreeze or something to descent it. This will take patience and time. Also, get a CLEAN spray bottle and when the cats scratches to sofa spray the cat.
2006-07-15 04:38:38 · answer #5 · answered by keep_up_w_this 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do it to shead there nails, get some tape and put it on the couch where the cat is scratching, cats do not like sticky stuff on there paws. also like someone else has mentioned a squirt bottle would work. Don't let them see you squirt it because they will put 2 and 2 together and figure it out that they can do it when your not around, but if you do it sneaky sneaky then they wont know.
2006-07-15 04:01:59 · answer #6 · answered by BigDaddy82 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you live on a farm you got it easy:
take a log that you use for the fire-place rope or tape a rope or some fabric like the one on your sofa around it, you've got a home made post.
there are special sprays you can spray on the sofa, doesn't like stains and you can't smell it just your cat, cats hate those spray's smell he should stay away from your sofa.
most online shops sale it, you can have them delivered to you with some posts. you can use regular mail it shouldn't cost you much.
there pet smart and petco.
now the reason why cats file their nails:
there are two reason-
one to Sharp their nails
two that's another why establish their territory.
2006-07-15 05:55:35 · answer #7 · answered by hot_for_georgeclooney 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have Trader Joe's where you live? They sell these inexpensive trays of corrugated cardboard that my cats love. I put them near all the couches and the cats have been gradually trained to scratch the cardboard and not the couches. If they stray, I spray them lightly with water. They like the cardboard better anyway b/c I sprinkle it with a little Nip.
2006-07-15 16:10:08 · answer #8 · answered by katzchen75 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats evolved in the desert. They are used to burying their feces to keep it moist in case they cannot find water and need moisture. This tearing at furniture is almost an involuntary reflex like a heartbeat.
2006-07-15 03:57:23 · answer #9 · answered by Keith 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an instinct they have. Get your cat a scratching post from a pet store, and some catnip. Sprinkle the catnip on the post and she will go to it.
2006-07-15 03:56:59 · answer #10 · answered by isabel_ro1981 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋