10 year old not-declawed cat now with BAD scratching habits -?

Question

My cat has never been declawed and used to be very good with her scratching post. Now I have new furniture and she has turned her attention to it (YIKES). One room can be closed off so she's only in it w/supervision, but the other ones can't be. I don't want to declaw and old cat - but I also don't want to have my furniture deccimated while I'm at work. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Answer 1

I have the best answer for you yet! It's called SOft Paws. They are made of vinyl, inexpensive and you get about a 6 month supply. They go over your cats nails and allow your cat to retract and extend its claws without causing any difficulty or pain, but the vinyl tips are dulled and rounded so it can't scratch anything. You can buy them at your vet or for about $17 online for 6 months and they come in many colors. Check out the website. I bought them for my cat and they work wonderfully!!

*A Safe, Effective and Humane Alternative to Declawing!
The Purrfect Solution for Problem Cat Scratching.
Developed by a veterinarian, Soft Paws are vinyl nail caps that are applied to your cat's claws.

Answer 2

I'm so glad that you are not going to de-claw her & agree that it is a real pain that she's decided your new furniture is more fun than her old scratching post.

Perhaps you could treat her to a new activity centre or scratching post?

In the meantime try sticking some double-sided sticky tape onto your furniture where she is scratching. Hopefully the tackiness will put her off & help to break the habit.

I'm sure that I've also heard that cats don't like tinfoil - certainly mine have never chewed it though they have had wonderful fun & games with the kitchen roll. How about putting some of that onto the furniture where she scratches (tape I suppose) or on the floor where she stands to scratch & see if that makes a difference.

Good luck, I do hope that this helps to solve the problem.

Answer 3

I agree with not declawing such an old cat. Try someting called soft paws. You can get them at pet stores or petsmart. They are just plastic caps that fit on your cats nails. They come in differnet sizes and colors. All you have to do is put a small amount of glue in them and slide them on. They do have to be replaced often though. Good Luck!

Answer 4

Confine your cat to one room when you are not there. She won't mind that at her age.

She just wants to mark her new stuff (it is HERS you know). You can get a packet of Sticky Paws strips for $10 from a pet store. They work wonderfully to keep kitty claws off the ends of the furniture where they like to scratch. Usually it is the first corner available to them when they enter a room that they want to mark the most. You don't have to leave them on forever - probably a couple of months will do the trick.

Answer 5

Don't DECLAW:
Train and Trim, Instead!!!

I never met a cat (of any age) who COULD NOT be trained, just owners who WOULD NOT.

Yes, it does take time to learn how to trim nails correctly and you do have to make an effort to train, but, while some cats present more of a challenge than others, it CAN be done! (And YOU can do it!)

Ask questions; assess a variety of approaches if the first ones you hear about don't seem like they'd work in your own situation; once you determine what method you and your cat will use, BE CONSISTENT!

First, TRIM:
Get your cat accustomed to having you touch its paws. Decide where you will do nail trimming; you will need to have a good source of light and you will want to be able to gently, but firmly, control your cat.

Hold the cat as you later will for trimming, but just gently examine the nails on each foot for a moment. Then immediately reward the cat. Do this a number of times until your cat is at ease before you do the manicure, itself. You want your cat to be very relaxed and comfortable with this activity before you even consider trimming nails.

You may want to have a partner for manicuring, so that one holds, and the other clips. Depending on your cat, this may be easier, although some cats do best when distractions and activity are minimized.

You may want to initially do only one nail at a session. By rewarding your cat immediately following that single snip, you'll increase your cat's willingness to participate. After a few "quick clips", you'll be able to do additional nails in a single session and your cat will be reasonably calm and accepting (since it will know that it has nothing to fear from the experience).

Get a pair of clippers or nail trimmers designed specifically for cats; look for a well-made product. If you've ever tried to use dull or misaligned clippers on your own nails, you'll know why you want to invest in a GOOD pair! Ones made from surgical steel may be a bit more expensive but will tend to stay sharp and do an easier, more efficient job of trimming. There are a number of types; hold each and determine which would be most comfortable for you to use and easiest to control and manipulate.

Learn the proper procedure.
(Additional information is available in the DECLAWING RESOURCES section.)

If you are at all unsure of how to correctly trim nails, it would be good to observe an "expert". Ask your vet, a pet groomer or someone else with experience to demonstrate (a local breeder or animal shelter may be good places to check). You want to be certain that you know how to correctly extend the claw without causing discomfort to your cat by pressing too hard. It's also useful to be able to locate the vein inside the claw. (You want to stay well away from it to avoid great discomfort to your cat and a shower of blood!) When in doubt, trim only a tiny bit from the very tip.

Then, TRAIN:
Determine when and where the "bad" behavior occurs.

Provide an appropriate alternative that is inconsistent with the "bad" behavior (for example: A scratching post instead of the couch; a toy instead of human flesh).

Discourage "bad" behavior when you are present (water from a spray bottle or squirt gun; noise from shaking a can of pennies; loud "OUCH!" if personally 'attacked', etc.).

Prevent "bad" behavior when you're out (eliminate temptations by keeping the cat in a cat-proof area or by covering 'desirable' furniture or carpeted areas with plastic or other materials).

Praise "good" behavior (using the scratching post or playing gently, etc.).

Finally, BE CONSISTENT:
Don't permit undesirable behavior "sometimes". Be clear what you will and will not allow and make sure that everyone in the household (including your cat) knows, and follows, the same rules.

Behavior modification techniques are very powerful and will work with your cat if used correctly.

Answer 6

Please do not get him declawed. They literally amputate the first joint of their toes and it can cause problems. Check at petco or petsmart. They have something called "soft paws" They are little plastic caps that you glue to the nails and they help stop everything from having scratch marks all over them. They usually last from 3 to 6 months.

Answer 7

I truly have a 12 week previous kitten who does an same ingredient. She is going in spurts: very loving and purring for better or less 15-20 minutes, and then waiting to attack for the subsequent 15-20 minutes. it truly is their version of playing. in case you tell her "No" quite a few cases and she nonetheless doesn't settle down, positioned her in kitty day vacation. we've a kennel that she has to sit down in at the same time as she's undesirable. That'll supply her time to settle down. Squirting her with water might want to artwork besides, yet i do not advise it until eventually she receives a touch older. sturdy success!

Answer 8

kitty is trying to make the new stuff smell like her. remind her she is not to be scratching on the furniture--keep tking her th=o the scratching post whenever she makes a mistake, and keep her away from the new stuff when you are not home.

loud noises, squirt guns, flyswatters do good help for training--as deterrents to the crime.

Answer 9

u can try tohave the vet file them or while ur at work or out have only one room all to the cat like have a special room with all the cat things u have it has to have doors too though so it won't get out just make sure the litterbox is in there too cuz u wouldn't want ur cat peeing all over. i hope i helped

Answer 10

ummm maybe you could get a scratching post and put catnip or something like that on it or around it so maybe it will get back to using it instead of your new furniture