I have 2 nine week old kittens and they occasionally will scratch on our sofa or bed. We bought them a scratching post, and they will use it but only sometimes. How do we encourage them to use the scratching post and NOT scratch on the couch? I don't want them to develop that habit and i thought now would be a good time to stop it.
2007-01-27 05:21:29 · 19 answers · asked by Miso 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
put tape that wont hurt the furnature on the spots and rub a little vicks vapor rub on the tape they wont go near it and after awhile you can pull the tape off, because they will associate the furnature with a nasty odor. this way you dont have to hang around with a squirt gun or spray bottle, cause when your not home they will scratch it.use a little piece of masking tape and put the vicks on it and put it on the spot and put your cats over buy it and watch. itll work.
2007-01-27 05:27:45 · answer #1 · answered by jelandjer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try putting double sided sticky tape where they are scratching, they don't like the feel of it. It wont look pretty but after about a week try taking it off and see what happens. They should stop. Also Kittens and cats are very social, put the scratching post in a room where you hang out the most. Cats have scent glands on the underside of their paws so I bet what they are doing is trying to put their scent down to say to people coming into your house, "hey we live here"! Putting the poast in a communaly used room will help along with the sticky tape.
2007-01-27 13:35:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, the only way we go our cats to stop scratching on the furniture was to remove their front claws. Now they just rub their feet against the door frame and couch as if they still have claws. If they are not going to be outside cats they do not need their claws. I have heard though, that you can take a spray bottle and squirt them with water when you see them in action. The negative reinforcement in time will turn them off scratching the sofa and bed. This could be beneficial for you if you have time to follow them around. One last remedy I have heard is to keep catnip on your scratching post...this will make it much more attractive for them.
2007-01-27 13:30:44 · answer #3 · answered by j_eppley 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This worked for me ,, I put catnip toys and hug them on the top of the scratching post. You can purchase these at Walmart, or a pet store. Cats love the smell and theirfore they use the post to scratch. I also bought a container that you can spray water with, spray them with water when they start scratching on things you do not want them on. Water doesn't hurt them,, and most cats hate water on them. Use the bottle on MIST when spraying, you don't want to hurt them,, just scare them. Good Luck hope this helps.
2007-01-27 13:31:24 · answer #4 · answered by nc_debi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could try confining them to a small area with their scratching post so they get the idea of what it is for. I also agree with the squirt bottle of water, I've heard that works wonders for corretcing cat behavior such as jumping up on counters, ect. When all else fails, sometimes the easiest solution (and cheapest in the long run considering the price of furniture) is getting them declawed.
2007-01-27 13:28:34 · answer #5 · answered by cowboys21angel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a cat owner in Europe I cant believe what is suggested here: Removing the front-claws of a cat? This is perverse, cruelty to animals and so (thanks god) not allowed over here.
Try to make it clear to the kittens that they mustn't scratch on furniture by proposals already mentioned (spray water, say no and take them away). But do not do such a disgusting thing to these poor animals - they have feelings and rights too.
2007-01-27 15:29:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This one is too easy!I have 4 cats and would never get them de-clawed.When you catch your kitten clawing on furniture etc.gently smack their little paws and say in a firm voice NO.Then take them to where they can scratch(scratching post)and show them how to claw on that while telling them how good they are.
2007-01-27 13:30:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you see them scratching tell them not to scratch there and pick them up and take them to the scratcying post and tell them its ok to scratch there. Make sure you keep it constent. Animals are like kids, they need to be taught over and over until it sticks in there heads. Same with potty training for puppys.
2007-01-27 13:29:23 · answer #8 · answered by Daniell 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most think cats scratch things to sharpen their claws. this is myth. cats claw items to leave their scent markings, same reason why they rub their head up against things and us, leaving their scent mark.
the only way to cure this is to declaw the cats or to get a "no spray" and spray down every last thing you don't' want scratched.
even with the spray, they will still scratch something...even if its just the carpet or rugs. its in a cats nature to leave its scent markings for its territory...and that is what they are doing.
get them fixed as well. for one this will make them live longer, not be acceptable to a few cancers, etc. but its really important to fix a male cat as they will claw and SPRAY their territory.
2007-01-27 13:27:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try cutting their nails. Use finger nail clippers and be careful not to cut the quick. The pink part is the quick. It will bleed and be painful for the cat. They wont like you cutting their nails at first but will get used to it. Also try cat nip. Put some on the post and rub it in. They do need to sharpen nails, also it releases stress for them, not you.
2007-01-27 13:33:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋