I have a 6 year old male cat. He is a great pet except that he has completely destroyed a sofa and love seat. I have tried using sprays, but he ignores them. I have placed different types of scratching posts by the furniture and sprayed with liquid catnip to no avail. The biggest problem is his latest habit, which is that he uses the carpet. Problem is that he uses a different spot all the time. I am finding small pieces of torn up carpet everywhere. He ususally digs in after he wakes up. Trimming his nails doesn't seem to help because he does it more to sharpen them back up. HELP!!!!
2006-12-22 02:38:31 · 10 answers · asked by Jack B 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Sprinkle some catnip on it and hold him up to it so he can smell it. After you hold him up to it put him next to it and pet him, if you see him using it give him a cat trea, praise him, stroke him, etc.
Hope I helped! Have a very Merry Christmas!
2006-12-22 02:47:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, my. Cats do have a mind of their own, don't they? You have received some good suggestions. I was about to ask if you had tried using different types of posts, but I see in your question that you have.
Could you get him his own little carpet squares to place in areas that he seems to favor?
I bought a scratching post online from Dr. Smith and Foster. It was pricey - $70.00 - plus shipping and handling, but my cats love it and have left the furniture alone. The scratching post is called the Ultimate Scratching Post, I believe. It is real tall, so the cats can stretch up to full lenght to sharpen their claws. It is square shaped, covered in a heavy, rough material that they like.
The post does not tip over, no matter how rambunctious they get during the process.
I'm not saying that would work for your kitty; I'm just throwing out another idea to consider.
Oh, another thing you might try is that tape that is made especially for furniture and carpet. It comes in strips, and the surface the cats touch is slick. They don't like it. You can find the tape at pet stores, or from the website I mentioned.
Good Luck.
2006-12-22 03:08:36 · answer #2 · answered by Joyce A 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its really really easy... Every time you see your cat start to scratch on something, pick him up and take him over to the scratching post. Take both the cats front paws and make the scratching movement on the post... The first couple of times you do this the cats going to look at you like your nuts. But after that he will get the point that that's were we scratch. The first couple of time you see him use the post on his own make sure you praise and give treats.
2006-12-22 07:25:02 · answer #3 · answered by babydragonspawn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about if you rub some tuna cat food on the post? My cats LOVE tuna. I don't have a scratching post because I don't have room for one in my house. My cats (I have 3) sharpen their claws wherever they want to. I yell at them when I'm home but I can't stop them when I'm not home obviously. I have to cover my furniture with slipcovers because they have destroyed all of my furniture - but I would rather have my cats and the destroyed furniture than have nice furniture with no cats.
2006-12-22 03:59:22 · answer #4 · answered by Me, Myself & I 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, try real/fresh catnip, not extracts, on the boards. Rub in in real good so the natural oil soaks in to the board and leave the leaves on it too so the cat can eat and roll in them.
Next, try the cardboard scratch boards. They tear the crude out of them and it makes a mess but if it works then at least it's not your furniture.
If all else fails, then you have to go with the declawing. He'll still act like he has claws and paw at stuff, but at least he won't be tearing your living room to pieces.
2006-12-22 02:50:36 · answer #5 · answered by fozbend11 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
good luck with that. I have a female siamese that wants to use the furniture all the time and I have got her 3 scratching posts!! We normally yell at her if we catch her doing it in the wrong spot and I have started playing with yarn around it to maybe get her to use it and recognize it more.. I have tried catnip and it hasn't really worked for me either.. She has never really done the carpet. Good luck with your male!! I have a male and he never really scratches inside I see him on fence posts outside but never inside.
2006-12-22 02:48:15 · answer #6 · answered by kimbo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I somewhat have 3 scratching posts (all presents). Mine does not touch them. She prefers the cardboard field style that take a seat on the floor. I somewhat have them dotted approximately my homestead and he or she is often utilising them. i think of a few cats in basic terms want this style to the upright ones. for the reason that getting them, she in basic terms scratches the fixtures whilst she needs interest. The little minx does it mutually as observing me and is conscious this is faulty. Have suitable to an occasion. extra suitable puppy shops sell them for between £4 - £5. i offered some affordably interior the Ikea Sale a pair of years in the past and as I somewhat have one in each of those lot of, they are nonetheless going sturdy. regrettably they do no longer cause them to anymore. She additionally likes much less high priced coir doomats too, so I somewhat have a pair of those.
2016-12-11 14:15:52 · answer #7 · answered by chaplean 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IF you are there when your cat does this, I would yell at him and punish him. Do this right away so he knows why you are yelling at him. Then I would take him to the post, hold his legs and scratch them on the post. Maybe you have to actually show him how to use it. I would think everytime that he scratched something you should just put him on the scratching post. Good luck.
2006-12-22 03:44:19 · answer #8 · answered by blueroan2000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't get him declawed, it's incredibly cruel. If your carpet is more important than you cat then rehome him. Cat's claw things up, it's what they do.
2006-12-22 03:30:10 · answer #9 · answered by gerrifriend 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get his front paws declawed.
2006-12-22 02:44:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋