Cat scratching help?

Question

Well, I just got a new cat, and I'd like some tips on how to keep her from scratching my furniture. I've heard of SoftPaws, where you glue bits of plastic on the cat's nails, but is that comfortable for her? And does it work? Are there other ways to keep her from scratching the furniture up?

Answer 1

Scratching is a HUGE problem for most cat owners. My husband and I just struggled with it ourselves - just after purchasing brand new leather furniture, one of our cats stood up on his back legs and popped all ten of his front nails through one of the arms of a new chair.

It is a natural behavior for our cats. They scratch to shed long, broken pieces of nails, and to spread pheromones from small glands in their paws. It's also assumed that scratching was a sign of marking territory - "I am scratching this so that you can see it is mine." But, just because it's natural doesn't mean it's acceptable.

SoftPaws are, if fitted correctly, a great way to put a quick stop to scratching. They shouldn't be uncomfortable as long as your cats nails aren't getting to long as a result of the plastic. Make sure you keep an eye on the length of her nails, and be sure to change the SoftPaws as directed by the manufacturer (I believe it's about every four weeks).

It's a good idea to designate a scratching post or carpeted cat condo as an appropriate place to stretch and scratch. Use appealing objects like toys and catnip to attract your cat to this area. When your cat does scratch in a place that is not acceptable, make sure you interupt the behavior by tossing a toy or using a squirt bottle in the direction of the cat instead of stopping her yourself; she must learn that it's not just your presence that mean 'no scratching', but that it's not acceptable whether you're around or not.

You can also put something that the cat doesn't want to walk or stretch on over the area that's commonly scratched. Cats are particularly objectionable to sticky things (for example, a few strips of double-sided tape are a big deterrent), but put an upside-down carpet runner (feet-side up) where the cat normally stands to scratch. That should keep her off that patch of floor.

There's another great over-the-counter product that might help you out, and worked wonders for us. It's a product called Feliway - it's a synthetic pheromone that helps cats with general anxiety and destructive behaviors like urine marking and scratching. You can buy it in a spray bottle form to administer directly onto scratched surfaces to discourage further scratching, or plug in an electric diffusor form of the product (like a Glade plug in!) to disperse over about 550 square feet. This product is nice because it's easy to get (at most pet specialty stores like PetSmart) and it's affordable (around $25).

Good luck with your kitty cat!

Answer 2

I would try the Soft Paws before you get put off by the fact they could be tricky - every cat is different. If they're no good then depending on what sort of furniture you have you could spray a little citronella onto it (cats hate the smell of lemon) or wrap some double sided tape around it (cats also don't like sticky stuff - this is what we have on the fish tank). Also growling & saying "no" very firmly right up into the cats face will help. As long as it has something that it's allowed to scratch on your cat will much prefer to be praised for using the post or whatnot than being told off for going the furniture.
Do not get your cat declawed - it's not needed & you can find other ways to solve the problem rather than the lazy way out of mutilating the poor cat.
Be patient & consistant & you should see results fairly quickly.

Answer 3

You will probably get some tips from people here who have used the Soft Paws. I think using them prevents the cat from having the natural experience of sharpening her claws on anything.

I have used the Sticky Paws strips which are about $10 from a pet store. I just put them on the ends of my furniture where cats might like to scratch. You get a lot of strips in a package and after you have trained the cat to a post you can take them off.

Then you need to get a really good scratching post with sisal rope at the bottom. A cat tree is wonderful because the cat will love to perch up high on it and will become "her" special piece of furniture. Some cats like the inexpensive cardboard scratchers that lie on the floor. I would get one of those too.

If the cat is a year old you can use catnip as an attractant to the post. You should praise her extravagantly when she uses her post and I mean silly stuff like, "Oh you are such a beautiful cat. Such a wonderful kitty, the best in the world, etc." Really lay it on with a trowel. Your cat will really respond to this praise and associate it with using the appropriate scratching place.

Answer 4

Claw caps are the most humane and please don't consider declawing the animal which is basically amputating the first digit of their fingers and toes. If you call or go on the web site for Drs. Foster and Smith.com you will find certain products/sprays that may help you and them but the best solution is to provide them with a really good scratching post or may two or three of them. A vertical one and flat one etc. Make sure it is really stable since some of the cheaper models are just plastic and carpet and your cat will not like it. (A "CAT TREE" is always a good idea if you have the room in your house which is basically a cat play ground )They basically need to scratch in order to shed their claws... I have 12 cats and provide them with about 6 scratching areas. I've used in some cases just a small log or thick tree branch about 4-5 inches in diameter and 3 ft long laying flat. they love it. You can also buy catnip spray on the log or item to entice them to the scratching post. that will get them going. Once they get into the habit with that site/log or post. they will skip your furniture. let me know how things workout [e-mail]

Answer 5

I've tried soft paws and they worked okay, but I got tired of replacing them so frequently and after a while my cats were not very cooperative about the effort to replace the tips. Some vets will put them on for you for a fee. I have some sort of scratching post or scratcher in almost every room of the house. Sprinkle some catnip on it and your kitty will be in heaven. I have 5 cats and only 2 have been declawed and I will never do that again. Even the declawed kitties will go up to the scratchers and make like they are sharpening their claws.

Answer 6

Please dont declaw your cat.. its so painful and traumatic for them. I hear softpaws work very well but i havent used them myself. I have 2 cats, almost 11 years old and with me since 8 weeks. When they were little i satisfied their need for clawing with a scratching post (or my leg while i was making dinner.. LOL). As they got older and bigger, they got bored. A cat gymnasium (or tree as they are sometimes called) works well, but expensive. And again, not that large. I have found the best solution to be a relatively inexpensive scratcher box. It is corrugated cardboard, and comes in attractive shapes and colors. The one I buy is Cosmic Catnip Alpine scratcher (on an angle for kitty comfort) or a flat box with cute little cartoons on the side so its not hideously obvious in your living room. Refills are pretty cheap, sometimes come with a little bag of catnip for added fun! You can get them at your larger grocery stores and pet stores. Only downside is bits of cardboard everywhere in the vicinity. But i do have to say i am a proud owner of pristine carpet and fabulous furniture without even so much as a pull.
Have fun with your new furry friend!

Answer 7

Cats need to scratch at something for the health of their claws.
Provide a cat condo or scratching post of some sort for an alternative for your cat, also their is spray that can be used on
the furniture to keep your cat from scratching.

Answer 8

A suitable vaccinated cat won't transmit rabies. All US vets are required to maintain song of each and every animal's vaccinations besides because of the fact the vaccine producer and lot style of the actually vaccine. The cat proprietors vet can easily pull up this information if it is going to help placed your recommendations comfortable. the genuine difficulty with a cat scratch is termed in layman's term "cat scratch fever" it rather is shorthand for a myriad of infections brought about by potential of cat scratches. in maximum circumstances the an infection is gentle and retaining the wound sparkling and dry is all you will desire to do. In different circumstances the micro organism can unfold and you will would desire to look for scientific interest. in case you have a fever -even low grade, lingering discomfort on the scratch website, the wound smells or you notice any discharge, or in case you notice redness spreading removed from the an infection website, you will desire to touch your well-known practitioner at recent. Like I suggested earlier maximum scratches are minor, yet in simple terms shop a watch on it and understand whilst to ask for scientific help.

Answer 9

If u get a scrathching center and rub it with cat nip she probably wont scratch anything else for a while. you should rub it once a month or as soon as she starts eyeing the furniture again.

DO NOT DECLAW YOUR CAT!!!!!!!!!
it is like cutting of your fingers/toes. Would you like if your momma did that to you! All they want is a little TLC! Please, dont listen to what other people tell you until you do further reserch. you should not declaw your cat, and it may be illegal around were you are from.

Answer 10

Regularly trimming the cat's nails helps, too. I started clipping my cats' nails when they were kittens, using little clippers I got for that purpose or you can use sharp people nail clippers too. By clipping the nails you help them shed the painful outer layer and that will reduce scratching.

If you don't know how, just search for it in any search engine or ask your vet to show you.

I will sneak up on them when they're sleeping, and by the time they wake up I'm done with a whole foot. At that point they're groggy and don't really care, so I pet their heads and kiss and coo over them and they don't even notice. Most of the time they even purr.