I have three cats that have torn up the sofas. I am about to recover them and do not want this to happen again. I do not want to declaw them.
2006-08-27 07:26:07 · 16 answers · asked by queenofitall94 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
Thank you everyone! These are all great suggestions, and I do beleive i will try all of them.
2006-08-27 09:03:28 · update #1
Don't declaw!!!!!
Buy a sratching post first. And not a dinky little stick covered with carpet. Get them something big they can climb and jump on. Cats love interactive worlds and a sratching post will meet several of their needs - scratching to keep their claws in shape, climbing, jumping and hiding as they would in the wild to play and practice 'hunting'.
If they do not take to the post - or cat tree, as my family always called them, use treats and catnip to get their interest in it. Keep in a place where the family gathers as cats are social creatures and pretend an interest in it. Be excited and praise the cat in the begining when they use it.
There are a few tricks to stopping the sofa issue. You can try to cover the places they scratch with foil, or use masking tape and put the sticky side up so if they touch it with a paw it clings to their pad (cats don't like sticky stuff, but for the safety of your cat only use masking tape).
Some pet shops also carry sprays that may or may not deter the pet from sratching. I would recomend not getting your sofa recovered until the habit is broken.
2006-08-27 07:36:09 · answer #1 · answered by zombie_togo 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know that cats will scratch just about everything but the scratching post! lol.
There is a spray you can get at petshops, read the label before you cover your furniture, make sure the fabric wont react to the spray. You will have to spray the furniture a couple of times a week untill the cats get used to scratching something else...
Cats do that to mark their territory.
Try clipping their nails with a special cat nail clipper. You have to be carefull tough, cats have veins that goes to the mid section of their nails and its not easy to spot the first few times.
Try clipping just the tip of the nails once every 6 to 12 days.
Make a scratching post or buy one and put some cat nip on it.
Do try that spray it really works.
2006-08-27 15:21:17 · answer #2 · answered by Yahoo! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sticky Paws is double-sided tape, and can be used to cover furniture and countertop edges where cats might be tempted to jump. The stickiness is a very unpleasant feeling to the tender paws of most cats, and they will soon learn to avoid that area. Sticky Paws comes in regular size (2" x 12") and in extra large (9" x 12").
4) Bitter Apple Spray
Bitter Apple Spray is exactly what the name describes. It is the same stuff used to discourage nail-biting and thumb-sucking in humans. The taste is unbelievably bitter and cats will soon learn to avoid plants, electrical wiring and other favored off-limits chewing surfaces. It will need to be reapplied regularly.
2006-08-27 14:34:25 · answer #3 · answered by peg 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Get them a scratching post first and then when they try to scratch the furniture give them a spray from a water pistol or spray bottle until they learn to use the post and not the furniture,
2006-08-27 14:37:22 · answer #4 · answered by booboo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They have this stuff called Indoor No in the pet section. When I got a new couch I sprayed it daily around the bottom of the couch. They quit scratching it and eventually I didn't even spray it and they stayed away. Hope this helps.
2006-08-27 17:13:27 · answer #5 · answered by Turtle 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sticky Paws works FABULOUSLY and will not harm your furniture. Cats hate the sticky feeling.
Put a scratching post with catnip right next to the area they were scratching. One deters, the other attracks. Soon they won't do this anymore.
2006-08-27 15:48:50 · answer #6 · answered by Ragdoll Kitty 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get some scratching posts (both vertical and horizontal) and place them near the couch. Also, keep a little bottle sprayer near by with water in it. Any time you catch them scratching the couch or about to scratch the couch you can squirt them with the water.
2006-08-27 15:58:24 · answer #7 · answered by fieldworking 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I haven't found anything that works, but if you keep a spray bottle close to you at all times and spray every time they claw the furniture they will get the message. Mine did !
2006-08-27 14:35:21 · answer #8 · answered by Geedebb 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Peg. Bitter Apple Spray is the best. My neighbor used it for her puppy and a few of us used it for our kittens. They usually have it at pet stores like Pet Smart or Pet co and it really does work. I'm sure there are other things, but I'm not sure if they work so I've never really bothered with them
2006-08-27 14:51:41 · answer #9 · answered by chrissyt2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spray it with citrus smelling spray. They don't like the smell of citrus. Also get a scratching post and put cat nip leaves on it and play with them around the post so they will get used to scratching it.
2006-08-27 14:34:26 · answer #10 · answered by mary lynn 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋