My cat won't use a scratching block and is tearing up the carpet - any suggestions?

Question

PS - I am gone all day so I can't squirt her with water when she starts. I do say "NO" when I see her, but I don't always see her.

Answer 1

I could not declaw a cat; goes against my nature. But you can get the claws trimmed every six months, which will break the habits and be cheaper. Our cats started as kittens with clipped claws, and they didn't learn to tear up the furniture. I have also heard of a polymer that can be applied to the tips of the claws that prevents damage but does not hurt the cats, I think they're called "caps".

If you pour some fresh catnip in the scratching blocks, the cats will go nuts on them. I did not have luck rubbing it on a scratching post, but in the block worked very well. We also put little treats on the blocks to reinforce the behavior.

We have leather furniture; not a scratch in two years. We had to chase them away from one chair, but they learned soon enough that it was more fun to go for the blocks. Granted they are good cats; I know some are devious. So I guess it depends on each cat.

Answer 2

PLEASE DO NOT DECLAW. It is a cruel means to an end. Declawing means amputating their toes at the first joint. How would you like to have your fingers amputated? It's a painful recovery, and things could get worse- if your cat experiences pain in his paws as he steps in the litterbox, he'll associate the pain with using the litter box and stop using it, and choose to use the bathroom somewhere else -like your carpet or closet. Then your problem doubles.

Do you trim your cat's claws? That would help protect your carpet. Also, did you actually teach your cat how to use the scratch post? They won't know what to do if you just set it in front of them and walk away. And another thing- if you do catch your cat scratching the carpet, use a spray bottle at him.

I personally use Soft Paws on my cat. They're little vinyl caps you glue on their claws to cover them up. Yes, it's a struggle to glue them on, but so is trimming their nails. Besides, they eventually get used to it. I saw my cat trying to scratch the carpet the other day, but she can't do anything to it since her claws are covered. Yes, they're expensive, but you can buy them on Ebay for much cheaper, not to mention that they're a lot cheaper than replacing your scratched up carpet.

Answer 3

My kitty has been tearing up everything in sight, curtains, carpet and my couches. I went an bought softpaws from Pet Supplies Plus and they are awesome! They are little caps that cover the nail to keep her from causing damage to things she scratches. She does not act bothered by then, she plays and scratches things just like normal. She picked at them a little on the first day and that's it..... check it out:

http://www.softpaws.com/soft_paws_kit.htm

Answer 4

If you're cat is an inside cat - as in it does NOT go outside, get it declawed. Some people think that is horrible, but it really isn't. When i first got my cat (12 years ago) she was terrible, any closed door, even a closet, she would tare up the carpet by it completely, and I was renting. It was either get rid of her, or get her declawed, so out came the claws. I took her to the vet, and after they did it, they didn't even need to wrap her paws, - front paws only, she still has the back ones. She was running around like nothing even happened. It really was worth it, I think once they start clawing stuff like that, it's impossible to get them to stop. My cat still "scatches" stuff, like she doesn't even know they're gone, but my funiture and carpet are safe.

Answer 5

You could try spraying the block with catnip spray, or put real catnip on it. I bought a scratching post for my cat, she ignored it. So I returned the post. She loves scratching on our basement stairs. Sometimes she is on her back scratching and pulls herself across the stairs with her paws while she is on her back. Priceless!! She is pretty good at not scratching our furniture and scratches our upstairs carpet sometimes, but doesn't pull it out too much.

Answer 6

A scratching block? I would get one of those carpeted cat houses and coat it with catnip to encourage your cat to use it.

Also, another tip is to trim your cats nails. They will not get caught on stuff and (to me) it seems that they don't try to sharpen them as much.

Please don't declaw. How would you like it if your fingers were amputated at the first knuckle? There are other ways to resolve the problem.

Answer 7

i would try when it was doing something bad getting a little squirt bottle and spray it everytime it dose something wrong. i know it worked for my 2 cats.

Answer 8

use a spray bottle. if that doesn't work, then buy some claw covers at the store. some cats won't mind them, but others will. if that doesn't work, then you might want to think about getting its claws removed.

Answer 9

water bottle. Squirt her every time you you catch her doing this, but try not to let her see you doing it.

Answer 10

Get it declawed, my cat was ruining my furniture, and now Im totally happy I had it done. Better to have a declawed cat than have the cat at the pound.