Cats...claws...and the furniture...?

Question

I really want to get a second cat and I have a problem with declawing. My husband says even though we would NEVER declaw a cat, we should try to find one already declawed...it is not easy. So assuming I find a cat I love who happens to have her claws...What are some successful ways that you have taught your lovable cat:) to steer clear of the furniture? Obviously, I know I would have to supply a good scratching post.

Answer 1

For serious scratching, my 2 use the their sisal scratching post, shredding the heck out of it. They only pluck at the upholstery when I commit a dreadful broach of ettiquette, such as forgetting it's dinner time. (How silly of me, trying to nap on the couch on Sun. afternoon! What am I thinking?) This arrangement did take a little sorting out.

Water spray bottle was very helpful. Find one with "stream" setting (for precision) -- excellent deterrent. (I tried a couple of water pistols, but they always seemed to leak when I set them on the coffee table.)

Scratching post made with sisal, not carpet. Positioning this next to upholstered temptations can help to train.

Sprays -- bothered me more than the cats.

Very important -- routine claw trimming as part of their grooming regimen.

A last thought, I don't mean this to sound pompous, but it helped me to make a decision early on as to what was more important, the cats or the furniture. BUT I do have a very casual life style so a few popped threads were aggravating, but not a crisis. If I had French Empire divans, with vintage brocade upholstery, my cats might have had to walk around in galoshes all their lives.

Good luck! (Hopefully not good pluck! Unless it's on the post.)

Answer 2

Clipping claws (not as close as possible, cat claws have quick that can be cut too), SoftPaws (vinyl non-sharp thingies you glue to the cat's claws so the scratching does not do harm), putting aluminum foil on the corners of the sofa (you can check out http://maxshouse.com/feline_scratching.htm and the link to the right, at the bottom, for more info on scratching - information leads to good choices, potentially), or other means to permanently discourage the cat from scratching.

And scratching posts or trees, so that the behavior that is absolutely necessary to the cat, the cat will be able to conduct where you permit (and encourage, and reward). I have a single cat, two scratching posts, a sofa that is no longer bothered, and we are working on the recently acquired carpet - it hasn't taken any damage, but I don't want it to, either.

Answer 3

Pick up a copy of Cats for Dummies. I'm not trying to insult you, I own a copy, and it's a great reference book. There's a whole section devoted to behavior modification.

Water bottles (spraying them when they start scratching), and double sided tape on the couch (they don't like the feel of it on their paws)....or those plastic furniture covers....hmm...oh, an air horn. To use an air horn, you have to make sure your cat can't see you using it or they'll associate the bad sound with you and could, therefore, become scared OF you. But just watch, and if it starts to scratch, just let out a toot on the air horn. But if you live in an apartment like me, this wouldn't be a good idea, lol.

Our male, Blaze, is very sensitive. All I had to do was clap and give a loud "NO!" and he ran.....never to scratch that particular item of furniture again, lol. Our new female, Lotus....hasn't even tried. She's a well-behaved little booger.

A scratching post is a great idea, but I would also recommend putting a few cardboard scratchers around the house. They're inexpensive and my cats LOVE them.

Good luck with the kitty search!:)

(No! You can't cut your cat's nails as short as possible! They have quicks in their nails just like dogs, and if you cut into one, they bleed all over the place. Not to mention it's very painful for the animal. Clip them, but definitely NOT "as short as you can".)

Answer 4

I used a good ol'e spray bottle and reward system.
I bought a scratching post for my cat and would praise her everytime I she used it. When she would scratch the furniture I would give her a spray from the water bottle. It worked if you don't mind spraying your cats with water.

Answer 5

Keep your kitty's claws trimmed, cover the "favorite" spots with clear contact paper, and keep your spray bottle handy. Behavior modification takes a few weeks.

Answer 6

clip their nails regularly . a cats nails can be cut as short as you can unlike a dog. get a spray bottle and spritz them if their scratching on something other than a post. also my older cat really doesn't scratch anything anymore and she really hasn't since she grew from kitten to cat. happy hunting!

Answer 7

Use bitter apple spray on anything you don't want them to scratch on. It works real well and is available at any pet supply store.

Answer 8

well my cat does the same thing and i got her a scratching post and it works.

Answer 9

teach your cat not to scratch. i know, much easier said than done. i clap my hands very loudly and have a key word to tell them they did something wrong. i use "unh unh" like no. good luck!