My Cat keeps scratching even after I spray her with a spray bottle. What else can I do?

Question

My cat is a gray shorthair tabby. She is a girl. Not afraid of spray bottle. Keeps coming back for more. Any more ways to discipline her?

Answer 1

watch ole' yeller

Answer 2

I agree that a scratching post is a very good idea. Scratching carpet and furniture is completely normal, although it can definitely be annoying. It's important to bear in mind that it's a natural behaviour which, among other things, acts as a method of sloughing off the outer nail shell.

Cats' claws grow in layers. The scratching reflex takes off the outermost layer, sort of like a snake skin. To cats, removing that outer layer is satisfying in the way that humans like scratching a mosquito bite, or an itchy sunburn. It's hard not to do when you feel the need to do it!

Remember, cats do not scratch at things to annoy or offend us, they do it because they need to, and because it relieves them. If they wanted to offend us, they'd pee in our shoes. ;)

OK, back to your problem: how to correct unappreciated behaviour. This might sound kooky, but sometimes, I hiss at my cat when he's doing something he shouldn't be. It doesn't work every time, but more often than not, he stops whatever it was he was doing. Granted, I look like a dork doing it, but it's quick and easy, in a language he seems to understand. It's also pain-free.

I have heard about the idea of gently touching a cat on the nose. That has not worked for me, personally, but maybe you should give it a whirl. Whatever you do, just be sure never to hit or slap. Never, ever strike a cat. Hopefully, you already know this ;)

And now for the part where I voice my opinion on declawing. Hopefully, this is not an option you're considering, but in the event that it does cross your mind. Get the facts (and they are NOT pleasant.)

Declawing is a vicious and undisputably inhumane procedure. I have had the process described to me in detail by two unrelated vets. Both descriptions were terrifying. Declawing surgically interferes with the cats' bone structure. The end of the "finger bones" are actually removed. Removed as in CUT OFF.

It's not just a manicure or a nail TRIM, actual portions of BONE are removed. Moreover, cats who've been declawed almost always bite more and are often less social afterward (since their natural defense mechanism has been surgically altered!)

If you want to know what it feels like when a cat is declawed, try picturing this: grate your fingers across a metal cheese grater until you hit bone (or just chop off the tips of each finger at the firsts knuckle, say, with pruning shears.)

This is the TRUTH about declawing. It is NOT pleasant or humane. I'm glad I finally found out how deplorable a procedure it is, and every cat owner should have the aforementioned information before they ever THINK of doing such a thing to their beloved pet.

OK, rant over.

Like I said 50,000 words ago, before my tirade: I agree that a scratching post is a very good idea. ;) Thanks for reading.

Answer 3

Some of these people that answered your question don't know nothing about cats. It is normal for cats to scratch. No matter what you do they will scratch. They do it so they can sharpen there claws and to get rid of dead claws. Not the claws themself, the outer claw. I call them the outer skin claws. The cat grows new claws every so often and they scratch to get rid of the old ones. I know because I've found them laying around my house a few times. They look like claws except they are hollow. Do you have a scratching post for your cat? If you don't you need to get one. If you do have one, put the cat in the same room with it everytime the cat starts to scratch anything you don't want him to. You need to put the cats paws on the scratching post and do the scratching motion for him. Soon he will get the idea. Make sure you put catnip all over the scartching post also. Some stores sell stuff that you can spary on the things that you don't want your cat to scratch on. If you use a spray bottle, DO NOT use anything but water. You can also ask your vet for suggestions. Hope this helps. Good luck

Answer 4

Well once I got my cat a scratching post she only scratched that. I brought the post home, put her paws on it and she started scratching it immediately and only that from that point on. Don't declaw your cat, it's cruel - I think declawing is done by people who shouldn't own cats cause they don't have a little patience to just teach the kitty where to scratch. Sometimes the water bottle doesn't work for my cat either, try putting some nickels in a coffee can, they HATE that sounds and will run away from it. Also, trim her claws but be careful not to cut the quick. My kitty knows that Saturday is claw clipping day and doesn't give me any problems about it.

Answer 5

Cats have a psychological as well as a physical need to scratch, as annoying and hard on your furniture as this can be. You will never eliminate the scratching behavior - and that's why the punishment isnt going to work, but you can try to direct it more appropriately by encourage her to use scratching posts or perhaps a cat tower covered with a favorite texture. Rubbing these surfaces with cat nip or catnip spray is known to encourage scratching in this areas. Scratching is a way cats define their territories as well as the way that they keep in shape the muscles in their paws and forlegs.

Answer 6

You can get a spray from either your local pet shop or your veterinarian. You spray it directly onto the furniture that your cat is clawing at. The most active ingredients are garlic and clove. I'm not sure if this will help you, but it helped me with my cat and new kitten.

DON'T DECLAW YOUR CAT...it is a very painful experience for your cat. Imagine a person having his/her fingers cut off at the knuckles...now think of the cat going through that pain.

Answer 7

What you're able to be certain what to do is the thank you to place down the regulation and enable her understand who's in fee. you could desire to attempt utilising something like particular sticky tape around surfaces that kitty should not be messing with. Or, the main secure thank you to quit an indoor cat from shredding the furniture - besides a gorgeous scratching positioned up - would be a 2-paw declaw (straightforward technique completed decrease than anesthesia). How some stunning kitty "playstation" - like diverse bins at diverse tiers to cover in? in spite of the certainty that it sounds merciless, do no longer provide kitty interest perpetually; she thinks that "hiya, if I mess with mom's issues, she'll provide me interest!". As for the night visits... the terrific difficulty to do is gently shove her out of mattress ... and if that would not paintings, basically close the door and don't enable her in except she settles down. She thinks she's the boss. As for biting your palms ... know your kitty's physique language and don't inspire her to play extra or less.

Answer 8

Mix some hot sauce with the water in the spray bottle and spray her in the face. It won't injure her but it will sting like hell. Kind of like a mild home made pepper spray. You should also get her a scratching post.

Answer 9

Put some double-sided tape where she is scratching, if that is feasible. Cats HATE stickiness.

Get her a sisal scratching post, if she doesn't already have one. Rub it with catnip. Rub her paws on it and stroke and praise her after you do to give her the idea "It's good to scratch here."

Spray where she is scratching with citrus scent - that is an odor cats can't stand.

Cats scratch not just to "sharpen" their claws - actually, to get rid of the old claw covering - but also to mark territory.

Answer 10

There's a product called Feliway that keeps cats away from wherever it's sprayed.
My cat's vet recommended it to me.

It's available in most pet stores or at the vet. Below is one website where I found it. But you can really try any website, this is just an example.

Answer 11

Declawing is cruel - find and watch a live video on line. Sounds like behavior issues, tapping her on the nose and hissing at her when she misbehaves may help but you have to be consistent. Otherwise try softpaws - they are nail caps - www.softpaws.com They work great! Then you and your cat can live in harmony :-)