I just got a new kitten, and she absolutely LOVES to "sharpen" her claws on the carpet... I trimmed them and tried to file them so they weren't so sharp... when she scratches the carpet can she still rip up pieces? I spray water at her when I see her do it but I know she probably still does it when I'm not looking... I've had cats before and they did it but I didn't cut their claws... they ruined the side of one of my couches and two rugs... but I was just wondering if she will ruin the carpet/furniture if her claws are cut... she's only 10 weeks old so I don't want to get her de-clawed yet. Will rubbing her claws on the carpet sharpen her claws again?
2007-08-16 03:35:32 · 11 answers · asked by Irish_Girl860509 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
Your kitten scratches the carpet because she hasn't been trained to scratch the scratching post. I do hope you have one of those. Kitties have a natural tendency to sharpen their claws to be ready to pounce on their prey, whether that be a toy mouse or a real one in the wild. Outside kitties use trees and even large rocks for that. Inside kitties need scratching posts for that reason. Training your kitty to use the post is easy. Make sure that it will be tall enough for an adult cat to stand up on its hind legs and scratch. That is how they prefer to do it. I buy those highrise condo cat beds for that reason, making sure that at least one post on it is good and tall. Local pet stores like petco and petsmart have them. Online try Dr. Foster and Smith. Get some catnip and rup it really good into the side of the post several places up and down it. You can do that even on an all wooden post but I have found that the ones that have the sailors twine wrapped around it are the favorites of cats. So when I get my cat condo's I make sure one post is always wrapped with one of those. Several times a day take your kitty to the post and help him scratch it. Then give him a kitty treat and tell him hes a good boy for scratching there. Every time you 'see' your kitty scratch it, have a treat ready (I keep them in my pocket for training anyway) and give him a treat and tell him good boy (or girl or whatever you with to say). Just so they don't think they will always get a treat, after a while of doing this and you seeing them really scratching there, then start a good hug and pat idea some of the times so that they can be weened off the treats for that. Too many treats aren't good for them since they don't have all the nurtients in them for their diet. You should have kitty using the post within a two week period. Everytime you see them scratching somewhere you don't want them to, use a stern voice, pick them up and take them to the post. Make them scratch and then give the treat. They will get the message very quickly. Cats can be trained easier than dogs can but most people just don't know that so they don't try. My cats do more things then my sister's dogs do and they went to training school to learn. Your cat will learn to come when called, know the word bedtime and 'suppertime' and can learn laydown, sit, jump, etc. if you take the time to teach them. My cats also play hide and seek, peek a boo and red light, green light as well as chase and catch ya. They run after me and tag me and then run away so I chase them and tag them. They have played that so long that they now start the games when they want to play. I know a girl that has her cat trained to fetch her school supplies for her like her pencil and her mobile phone too.
2007-08-16 03:57:41 · answer #1 · answered by 'Sunnyside Up' 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely buy her a scratching post - depending on the size of your home, perhaps several. Typically, they will instinctively use these b/c the surface is much better for them.
However, if you keep her claws trimmed, you will probably find she "claws" alot less. This tends to be their way of managing their own claw length.
Also - make sure what you're seeing is "clawing" and not kneading. In clawing they are actually doing a full dig in and pull up motion. In kneading, they are just "flexing" normally with their paws mostly staying on the surface or just lifting slightly between flexes. Kneading is normal too and just a sign of pleasure, contentment, etc and will not damage your stuff if the claws are properly trimmed.
2007-08-16 10:47:01 · answer #2 · answered by rose1077 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are very inexpensive ($10-12) floor scratchers made of cardboard that you can get at any pet store. Some cats are "up-scratchers" and some are "down-scratchers". Some cats are both. The sticky paws doubled-sided strips work well on furniture and are not unslightly.
The scratching is a totally necessary feline activity and she can be taught to scratch in appropriate places. A kitten usually does not respond to catnip until older and some cats don't respond to it at all and training does work - water spraying does not.
It is important to find appropriate cat scratching material (posts, etc.) and training the kitten to use it.
2007-08-16 10:50:56 · answer #3 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
trimming them will help...it's natural for cats to want to sharpen their claws. my best advice is this: at the pet store they now sell something called a super scratcher which is just a flat cardboard box filled w/ cardboard...cats LOVE to scratch this. I have 2 cats w/ claws and they scratch these all the time and leave the carpet alone. and they are cheap!
2007-08-16 10:43:27 · answer #4 · answered by Jennifer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best thing would probably be to get a scratching post to save the carpet/furniture, trimming should help to reduce the damage though.
2007-08-16 10:45:57 · answer #5 · answered by Em 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had this same problem...buy a scratching post. I hear that declawing a cat is an extremely painful process. And in the event that they need to go outside, they cannot defend themselves if they were ever required to, because they do not have anything to fight back with. I think that you should just gently spank it when it does it and say NO firmly.
2007-08-16 10:47:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Uh.... I don't think so. I have kittens and when you trim their claws, that usually means they don't have anything to scratch it with? Anyways, if it doesn't stop it then it should defanitly reduce it.
I have no idea what i'm talking about. D:
2007-08-16 10:41:47 · answer #7 · answered by Abfootballjock 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't think so. Buy her a scratching post and when you see her scratch the carpet, move her to the post and put her paws on that.
2007-08-16 10:41:28 · answer #8 · answered by jen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This kinda sounds dumb but I think it's cool.
Go to: http://softpaws.com/
Whatever you do for your kitten, don't declaw it. It is a very painful thing for cats. Imagine your fingers being pulled off.
2007-08-16 11:08:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes she still can, she needs her own scratching post
2007-08-16 10:41:45 · answer #10 · answered by Loris Ann 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋