Since the birth of my son four months ago, my old cat has started clawing the couch.How can I stop this?

Answer 1

you should pay him a little more attention, and i think you should buy for him those special cat toys to replace your couch


good luck

Answer 2

Hi there! The reason your cat is clawing your couch is so that it can mark its territory. Since this new little man has come into your household, I imagine the cat hasn't got as much attention as he's used to? Not that you don't love your cat - I'm sure you love him very much! You point out that he is old - this means that *he* (or she!) is used to being the master of the house - now he has something new to compete with. He would act the same way if you got a new cat or dog. It is also a compliment that he sees your home as his space and has a bond with you that he does not want to lose.

I'm not sure I agree with putting SoftPaws on your cat - particularly if he is allowed outside. If he gets into a fight, he will not be able to defend himself. They also need to be glued onto the claws, which doesn't seem quite right to me. Sorry, to the person who posted that, no offence meant!

Most importantly, you need to make sure you don't start resenting your cat for being 'troublesome'. You need to give him some extra love and attention, and set aside time that's just for him - so he knows that he is still important to you. He is not trying to 'wind you up' or get your attention by scratching your furniture. Cats leave their scent on everything they scratch and rub their cheeks against - he is trying to replace the scent of your new baby with his own scent again.

One thing you could try is to have a quiet space set aside for your cat, if you don't already. Try to have at least one outside the living room and one inside it. In the living room, try placing a fleece on the sofa that is ONLY for him and nobody else. Don't let baby anywhere near it! This way, your cat will smell himself on the sofa and hopefully feel less need to scratch it. Similarly, you could try placing a few of his toys around the room so that he knows it's still his.

You could also invest in some foul-smelling anti-scratch spray to direct at his scratch spots, if the problem doesn't improve. I'm sure if you just make him feel like he's still no.1 this problem will improve.

I hope this helps :-)

xx Emmie

Answer 3

He's probably feeling neglected right now and clawing the couch is his way of showing his displeasure.

Get him a scratching post and show him how to use it.
Everytime he goes for the couch, clap your hands and say "NO" very loudly and firmly, take him the the scratching post and sort of move his paws on it...he'll soon get the idea that the couch is off limits but the post is where he should be scratching.

Good luck and congrats on the new baby.

Answer 4

Jealously watch your cat does not try and sit in your sons cot or get in his pram. Cats are strange creatures and he trying to attract your attention away from your son by clawing the couch.

Have you tried him with a scratching post though I doubt this would make an awful lot of difference. My cat does the same when my husband comes home at the week-end (works away during the week) and he gives me a kiss and we sit and talk. So what I do now is make fuss of the cat and give him a cuddle then make him a special bed near the radiator so he has his own space and place to sleep. Cats are so very human in their behaviour at times.

But always be on your guard with them when round small children and babies, he/she just might lash out.

Answer 5

What butterfly says is correct. Also try http://www.softpaws.com
, they sell quite cheap claw caps that don't hurt the cat but solve the problem. Plus they protect the baby from potential accidental scratching. Also, wehn the cat scratches the couch, take him from there softly , say No and put him on his scractching post.

Answer 6

your cat is marking its teritory. cats have sent glands on there paws as well as under there chins. He probably feels that his teritory has been invaded. try miking their sents by taking a dry towl that you have dried the baby with but not washed and rub it over your cat. give you cat someplace else to mark such as a scratch pole. To stop the cat from scraching the furnature buy some bitter apple spray from your local pet shop and spray it on the furnature were the cat marks it, if you cant find and bitter apple then you can use watered down fresh lemon juce. Also make sure that you spent 5 mins a day with the cat so that it gets the atention that it is craving.

Answer 7

hes needs plenty of love and attention right now....he's clawing the couch because he is probably upset he's not getting the attention he used to. when th baby is sleeping try giving them cat some one-on-one time.

Answer 8

You can get sticky strips to stick to your sofa that wont damage it but will really deter the cat. These are really cheap, and can be ordered in for you by your vet. I had the same problem with my cats, and since i got the strips they have never done it since.

Answer 9

Yr cat may b feeling confused bcos of the new Baby, my cat hid for mnths, went off her food and attacked me. I was worried that she would coil herself around my Baby's warm head, so i kept her away from my Baby and i think this really upset her. But u shld watch out for that, cats have been known to harm Babys just by trying to snuggle up to them,

Answer 10

your cat is shredding his old claws, an easy remedy is to provide a scratch post for him.

Answer 11

he is feeling left out get him something that he loves an loads of attention will help , i now it is hard because you got a baby an they do come first but your couch is going to get ruined he will stop, just fuss fuss an some tuna an treats will calm him down..