I have two cats. Previous to my boyfriend moving in, my cats had free reign.. I let them up onto the furniture. Well, my boyfriend came from a dog house and likes to lounge around on furniture more than I do, so we're trying to (gently) train my two 8 year old cats to stay off.
I have purchased them a carpeted cat playground (three levels to scratch and lay around, about as tall as a medium sized bookshelf) and a fairly comfy pet bed, and they used to use them both (I've had the cat playground for about three years and the pet bed for about a year) but have now decided they prefer the furniture.
We usually spray them with a water bottle when we catch them, and I've tried guiding them to the cat furniture, but nothing seems to be working. I have also tried organic stay off furniture spray, but it doesn't bother them. I prefer to stay organic and not use a lot of harsh chemicals in the house. Does anyone have any further suggestions?
2007-10-28 12:34:41 · 8 answers · asked by Kylie 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
P.S. -
My boyfriend is very supportive and loving, so I would appreciate no more comments about getting a new boyfriend. He does not mind the cats in the house and would never dream of asking me to get rid of them, but he does like to be able to lay down without a face full of fur. Thus the reason for him not wanting cats on the furniture. Their dog was trained from a puppy to NEVER be on the furniture, and she wasn't. I was more looking for a suggestion for something the cats might like to lay on as opposed to the furniture...
2007-10-28 13:35:09 · update #1
Ok, you can keep with what you are doing, but here is what i suggest. Step one, buy a few large tee-shirts and wear them for a day, then put them down where you want your kitties to sleep. If I have an item of clothing on my bed, both my cats will try to curl up on my clothes, rather than the actual bed, I think they like to smell their owner.
Step two - buy a cheap queen size sheet, and cover your boyfriend's favourite couch with it every day. When he gets home, he simply folds it up, and voila, a clean couch to lay on. You can then wash this sheet once a week. I really think that these are your only alternatives, trying to change an animals habit (especially a cats) of 8 years, is going to be tough!
2007-10-29 03:45:40 · answer #1 · answered by Karring Kat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really don't mean to be rude at all; but cats do as they please. It is part of the whole kitty-package. You really can't train a cat to stay off the furniture. Cats like high places, comfortable places, and to be where they want to be. The couch generally fits that description perfectly.
Personally, I'd suggest telling your boyfriend to get used to sharing with the cats (as I do, and my friends and family do when they come over), or you may consider finding a boyfriend who doesn't mind just picking up the cat when he sits down, then placing it back on the couch when he finishes getting situated, so both he and the cat can be comfortable.
Please keep in mind; the cats were there first. Your boyfriend is the intruder, and you and your cats shouldn't have to change your routines and behaviors just to make him more comfortable.
I do have a question, though. What does your boyfriend coming from a dog-home have to do with the cats staying off the furniture? I ask this because my dogs are on the couches all the time, and even sleep with me at night, so I honestly don't understand how him being a dog person equals cats being unwelcome in their own territory.
Good luck with you kitties, and I truly do hope that you will continue allowing your cats on the furniture; whether your boyfriend likes it or not.
2007-10-28 13:10:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can try spraying our furniture with a citrus spray or putting double sided tape on it (though double sided tape all over the furniture may train the boyfriend to stay off it too.)
I think you are going to have an extremely hard time breaking eight years of training - cats like routine and tend to be resistant to change. You spent eight years telling the cats that going on the furniture was okay - you may not be able to effectively undo that.
Personally, I'd tell the new boyfriend to learn to deal with it. It'll be easier to retrain him than it will be to retrain the cats.
2007-10-28 12:57:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anlina S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's one - get rid of the boyfriend!
Why can't he share the furniture with the cats? I would never choose a guy over my pets and he's a jerk to expect you to. And you're a doormat to follow his rules! How is that fair to your cats?
Be VERY wary of a man that doesn't like cats. It usually means they're very controlling and since cats are independent they naturally don't like them.
Get... rid... of... him!
How do you get a "face full of fur" laying on the sofa? Does he tend to lay on it face down? And are you really that untidy? If your cats are shedding a lot it's because you're not combing the dead hairs out of their coats. It's really not that hard to do. You're obviously just making excuses.
Do you really think it's fair to choose a boyfriend - who's most likely quite temporary - over your cats that have had eight years of being allowed on the furniture? If that's honestly how you think then please surrender these cats to a loving home. Yours definitely isn't that.
2007-10-28 12:42:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I also had tried everything you suggested and nothing worked to keep them off. I suggest that you keep a Dustbuster vacuum handy and when your boyfriend is in the mood to lay on the couch hand him the vacuum. Dogs shed hairs just as much as cats do. I have two dogs and a cat. In the autumn they're shedding their summer coats and growing their winter coats.
2007-10-28 14:02:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's hard cats will go where they want to go and not much will stop them. They are used to the furniture now. Keep putting them down and they will stop. It will take a lot of time and patience though! Why do you have to keep them off the furniture anyway? I don't understand????????
2007-10-28 12:46:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You brought an intruder (boy friend) in the cats house, where they so graciously let you live - and now him too - and now you expect them to stay off their furniture ?????
Get real - they are cats. Dogs have owners, cats have servants.
2007-10-28 12:44:36 · answer #7 · answered by Nigel M 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Never try to out-stubborn a cat.
One of mine has taken to sitting on my lap to watch DVDs (but he falls asleep unless they involve lions hunting or something like that).
2007-10-28 13:20:16 · answer #8 · answered by Howard H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋