Cat help!!!?

Question

Okay I have got a 29 week old kitten and its as rotton as ever I would never hurt her but I need some way to train her my friends smacks her dog and i think that is so wrong well anyways my cat gets on the table while we are eating she climbs the certains and claws the crap out of the couch how can i stop her HELP?????????????

DID U NOT READ WHAT I SAID I WOULD NEVER SMACK A ANIMAL I WANT TO BE A VET I LOVE ALL ANIMALS AND IT WAS MY FRIEND NOT ME AND I DONT LIKE HER ANYMORE CAUSE HOW ABUSIVE SHE IS I WOULD HATE TO BE HER KID OKAY SO WOULD U STOP SAYING NEVER HIT CAUSE IT AFFENDS ME

Answer 1

Why Do Cats Scratch?
It's normal for cats to scratch objects in their environment for many reasons:

To remove the dead outer layer of their claws.
To mark their territory by leaving both a visual mark and a scent -- they have scent glands on their paws.
To stretch their bodies and flex their feet and claws.
To work off energy.
Because scratching is a normal behavior, and one that cats are highly motivated to display, it's unrealistic to try to prevent them from scratching. Instead, the goal in resolving scratching problems is to redirect the scratching onto acceptable objects.
Training Your Cat To Scratch Acceptable Objects
You must provide objects for scratching that are appealing, attractive and convenient from your cat's point of view. Start by observing the physical features of the objects your cat is scratching. The answers to the following questions will help you understand your cat's scratching preferences:
Where are they located? Prominent objects, objects close to sleeping areas and areas near the entrance to a room are often chosen.
What texture do they have -- are they soft or coarse?
What shape do they have - are they horizontal or vertical?
How tall are they? At what height does your cat scratch?
Now, considering your cat's demonstrated preferences, substitute similar objects for her to scratch (rope-wrapped posts, corrugated cardboard or even a log). Place the acceptable object(s) near the inappropriate object(s) that she's already using. Make sure the objects are stable and won't fall over or move around when she uses them.
Cover the inappropriate objects with something your cat will find unappealing, such as double sided sticky tape, aluminum foil, sheets of sandpaper or a plastic carpet runner with the pointy side up. Or you may give the objects an aversive odor by attaching cotton balls containing perfume, a muscle rub or other unpleasant odor. Be careful with odors, though, because you don't want the nearby acceptable objects to also smell unpleasant.
When your cat is consistently using the appropriate object, it can be moved very gradually (no more than three inches each day) to a location more suitable to you. It's best, however, to keep the appropriate scratching objects as close to your cat's preferred scratching locations as possible.
Don't remove the unappealing coverings or odors from the inappropriate objects until your cat is consistently using the appropriate objects in their permanent locations for several weeks, or even a month. They should then be removed gradually, not all at once.
Should I Punish My Cat For Scratching?
NO! Punishment is effective only if you catch your cat in the act of scratching unacceptable objects and have provided her with acceptable scratching objects. Punishment after the fact, won't change the behavior, may cause her to be afraid of you or the environment and may elicit defensive aggression. Used by itself, punishment won't resolve scratching problems because it doesn't teach your cat where to scratch instead. If you do catch her in the act of scratching inappropriate objects, remote punishment is best, in which you do not directly interact with her. Ideas for remote punishment include making a loud noise (using a whistle, shaking a pop can filled with rocks or slapping the wall), throwing a pillow at her or using a water-filled squirt bottle. If punishment is interactive, she'll learn to refrain from scratching in your presence but will continue to scratch when you're not around.

How Do I Trim My Cat's Claws?
To help keep them sharp, cats keep their claws retracted except when they're needed. As the claws grow too long and become curved, they can't be retracted completely. You should clip off the sharp tips of your cat's claws on all four feet every week or so. Clipping your cat's claws will also help prevent them from becoming snagged in carpets, fabrics and skin. Before trimming your cat's claws, accustom her to having her paws handled and squeezed. You can do this by gently petting her legs and paws while giving her a treat. This will help to make it a more pleasant experience. Gradually increase the pressure so that petting becomes gentle squeezing, as you'll need to do this to extend the claw. Continue with the treats until your cat tolerates this kind of touching and restraint. It may take a little longer if she's not used to having her legs or paws handled. Apply a small amount of pressure to her paw, with your thumb on top of her paw and your index finger underneath, until a claw is extended. You should be able to see the pink or "quick," which is a small blood vessel. Don't cut into this pink portion, as it will bleed and be painful for your cat. If you cut off just the sharp tip of the claw, the "hook," it will dull the claw and prevent extensive damage to household objects and to your skin. There are several types of claw trimmers designed especially for pets. These are better than your own nail clipper because they won't crush the claw. Until you and your cat have become accustomed to the routine, one foot a day is enough of a challenge. Don't push to do all four at once, or you'll both have only negative memories of claw clippers!

Should I Declaw My Cat?
We strongly discourage cat owners from having their cats declawed. Scratching is a natural behavior for cats and can be directed to appropriate items.

Answer 2

Definitely give her alternatives. Put a scratching post near the couch she scratches. If it is one particular place on the couch (I had this problem!), I found that duct tape works. I basically pinned a piece of paper to the arm of the couch and hung duct tape strips from it (sticky side out) covering the part of the couch where the kitten was scratching. She doesn't scratch the couch anymore! I tried a Pet Organics 'no scratch' spray from Petsmart, but it had no effect. You can also put aluminum foil (or duct tape, sticky side up, or 2 sided tape) anywhere you don't want the cat to be. It might work to put this around the couch so she can't get close enough to scratch it. Will also for the table (put around the edges). My cat used to try to get in my gas fireplace (it has fake logs and little pebbles on the bottom) to get the pebbles out and bat them around the floor. Once I put foil down to block her (I left it about a month), he has pretty much left it alone, even with the foil gone.

Answer 3

I know from experience that kittens are crazy! I've had kittens scratch up curtains as well as wallpaper. But don't worry, they will probably outgrow that. It's more than likely just a phase, once they get older they aren't small enough nor do they have the energy they used to when they were younger. None of my cats do that anymore, they've calmed down to an extent so give it some time.

Answer 4

Do not smack animals! and way about the curtains and couch, buy some lemons and mix it with water put it in a spray bottle and spray the sofa and curtins it will smell nice and stop the kitty .. when the kitty climbs the curtins and couch spray the kitty with freezing water spray. when the cat gets up on the table keep putting her on the floor dont allow this its very un hygenic.

Answer 5

Smacking gives the opposite results. What you must do is to grab her gently, say NO, and put her on a place where she is supposed to play. You must give her an alternative. It needs patience, you have to correct her every time. Also, remember that this is the naughtiest age. Untils she gets one year old, you have to be patient. She will become calmer and less naughty then. My cat at this age used to drop everything from my desk, etc. Now he is the calmest cat around!

Answer 6

Never hit a cat with your hand. Ever. This will upset them and most likely make them not want to be around you. Instead, when your kitten is doing something wrong, surprise it with a loud noise, such as a clap or rattling a tin can with something in it. This should sufficiently scare your cat to stop it from doing what it's doing, but not enough so that it will avoid you.

Answer 7

NEVER hit an animal. Im not saying you would, please don't flip out. Just here trying to help you out.
She sounds like she needs some "soft claws" from the pet store or vet (for a proper fitting). They are covers for the nails.
Also, plenty of scratch toys help.
Lastly, FELIWAY is a great spray/plug-in that releases calming pheromones to calm them.
http://www.catfaeries.com/feliway.html
you can get it at pet stores.

P.S. Use some punctuation, you went to school, right?

Answer 8

Give her something else to claw. They make posts for that. All in all, she's being a cat - and short of declawing her or capping her claws, there's not much you can do. You can have her claws clipped, just like a dog. Hitting her is only going to make more problems. Good Luck.

Answer 9

Your cat will grow out of some of this behavior. Be affectionate with the kitten when he does things you like, play with him more, maybe with a fishing pole kind of toy (if you know what I mean) cats love them and burn a lot of energy playing. Cats are very sensitive to your tone of voice, establish an angry tone when the cat does things you don't like, but be sure to use a friendly tone whenever the cat does what you like. My husband also knows how to make the same noise as an angry cat...it's worth a try!

Answer 10

I suggest a water bottle. when she misbehaves give her one squirt on her body. Dont hit her face as it may get in her eyes. Use of clean bottle that has nothing in it. Its best to buy an empty one. Cat suprise by this and learn what is okay and what is not, plus it doesnt harm them. Also if your having problems with it scrathing buy a toy for it to use and put catnip on the toy. Keep fresh nip there and your kat is certian to scratch there as it will already scratch at the catnip.

Answer 11

theres a spray u can buy that makes them not want to go near the furniture or curtain. my cat did the same thing when he was younger but now he knows not to do that. he sits on the chair with us and looks at the food and if he ever puts his paw on it we say "NO!" and he steps down. another thing i read that works is by putting rocks into a bottle and shaking it if they do something bad. they hate the noise and will learn not to do it. it works for dogs too.

oh... and get a bigger scratching post if u have one. they said cats like to mark the bigger things.. and if u have a tiny scratcher then more than likely she will rather scratch the furniture.