Teaching an old cat new tricks: Stop scratching, Smokey!?

Question

My 14 year old cat, Smokey, has a nasty habit of scratching the furniture. We've tried various methods over the years to deter her from this habit: spraying her with water, yelling when she does it, Softpaws, not to mention the wide variety of scratching posts that have been available at one time or another in the house. My youngest cat is post-trained just fine, but her mother refuses to budge. This is now becoming a serious problem because my mother is getting new furniture for our new house, and she's made it very clear that if my eldest cat even LOOKS like she's going to take a swipe at it, the claws will come out on both cats. She knows the warnings and risks of declawing, but she REALLY doesn't want her new furniture destroyed. Is there any way to train my cat to stop taking tearing into our chairs and sofas, or will the life of her claws be cut tragically short?

P.S.: She's a semi outdoor cat who likes to scratch tree bark; are there any posts that simulate it?

We tried a Sisal rope post, once. It sat in the living room for three weeks without either of them using it, so we moved it outside where the neighborhood wandering cats had a field day.

Catnip on the post works for my youngest cat, and it worked for Smokey once upon a time, but now she just tries to pick it out and eat it as opposed to actually scratching the post. I think part of the problem is that she's a vertical scratcher, and the posts we get may not be long enough for her-- though this doesn't explain why she snubbed both of the cat trees we brought for the two of them in prior years.

Answer 1

she may feel insecure about something--make sure she's not being overlooked in the snuggles department. make a place for her to use, tell her while you make it that it is just for her--introduce her to it by scratching on it yourself--put catnip inside while you makeit--and just let her know she is still your favoorite--even if she is not--so she will relax again. after all, the other kitties might be threatening her position, and she might be upset by that.

Answer 2

Sisal rope posts would be the closest to natural wood, or bring a log inside. Cats are creatures of habit and a habit this old will be hard to break. Soft paws and keeping them cut short are the two best ways to limit the damage. Declawing is better than losing her home, only the front ones would need to be done and a good vet will be more than happy to send her home with pain medication. It will be a rougher recovery at this age than if she were still a kitten, a good vet will work with you on this.

Answer 3

Well, sisal rope works for some cats. But why not get a tree trunk with the bark on it and nail a base to it (nice and wide for stability), put it somewhere that she can get to it, and let her shred that?

Answer 4

If you know that Smokey likes using bark as a scratching post, get some fire logs for her to have inside.

Answer 5

y don't u spray the furniture with a citrus spray - this will deter the cat from coming anywhere near the furniture.
we have done this on our leather sofas and beds - it's fine....