Herding Cats At Home - October 2004

A: It's just Ayesha's personal preference. Every cat is an individual, and every cat has her own ideas about what kind, and how much, interaction they need and want from humans, other cats, etc. Not all cats want to be lap cats. Ayesha seems to be one of them.

However, at 10 months old, she's a teenager. And you know how they are! (A 10-month-old kitten is roughly equivalent to a 14-year-old person.) She may be feeling a need to declare her independence for awhile (like a lot of kids that age).

Be patient and loving with her, and happily accept the amount and kind of interactions she's comfortable with. Whatever you do, don't try to force her to stay on your lap -- that will certainly backfire!

You might find that as she grows to adulthood and settles down, she'll start seeking out your lap more often and for longer periods. Or, maybe not. (She's a cat, after all.) You might try encouraging her by placing a soft pillow or cushion on your lap, or even offering her favorite treats or a pinch of catnip ONLY when she's on your lap. But never insist.

I had one calico cat in particular, Petunia, who would sit on my lap ONLY if there was a "barrier" between us -- a pillow or blanket. Who knows why? Calico logic, maybe!

My 18-year-old cat, Dominique was NEVER a lap cat for most of her life. She would make short "courtesy calls" on my lap, but in general preferred to hang out elsewhere. Now that she's elderly, she INSISTS on sleeping atop me every night.

Discovering and respecting the myriad individual feline quirks and preferences is part of the joy and mystery of living with cats. Enjoy the adventure.

A: A new rug in the house, especially if it's made of wool or other natural fibers (as are many orientals) is an irresistible attraction to many cats. Do your cats happen to have any Siamese, Burmese or similar lineage? Many Siamese and other oriental breeds, in particular, are susceptible to a habit called "wool-chewing" -- they chomp on, and even consume, articles made of wool such as sweaters, blankets, rugs and the like. This is called "pica," and its causes are not well understood.

You need to do two things: 1) Limit the attractiveness of the rug to your cats; and 2) Provide them with an irresistible substitute for their scratching and chewing activities.

To accomplish #1, try any of the following:

1. Deny your cats access to the room where the rug is. (This may or may not be possible, but is the most effective solution.) If you can’t make it totally inaccessible, make your cats' access to the area as difficult or unpleasant as possible.

2. Make the rug area unpleasant or unattractive for your cats. (Remember, these are temporary measures, until you can break the bad habits and interest the cats in better alternatives.):

-- Cover the rug with chicken wire temporarily (yes, this will look weird, but it will slow down those claws and teeth).

-- Cover it with plastic garden netting (the kind with ½ to 1-inch square openings).

-- Cover the spots they mostly go for with a product called "Sticky Paws," which is much like wide, double-sided sticky tape.

-- Plain double-sided sticky tape works too, though it may leave some residue on the rug.

-- Tape some blown-up balloons to the rug. The loud pops may spook 'em.

-- Drape the rug temporarily with a clear plastic tarp (available very inexpensively at discount stores and home centers).

-- Cover most or all of the rug with plastic carpet runner, pointy-side up.

-- Place some cotton balls soaked in a strong scent such as a flowery perfume or citrus oil on or around the rug.

-- Tape several pieces of fabric-softener sheets ("dryer sheets") together and drape them over the rug. Many cats dislike the scent.

Even with these deterrents in place, your cats might simply attack another part of the rug. But if you're vigilant, AND offer wildly attractive alternatives, in locations they hang out frequently, you can divert their interest in the rug.

Remember that punishment (yelling, squirting, etc) simply doesn't work with cats. If the activity is sufficiently pleasurable or interesting, they'll just keep doing it -- when you're not around. What DOES work is offering a better deal -- in this case, one or more extremely sturdy scratching post and climbing trees, as well as old fabric or rug scraps (treated with catnip, maybe) that you don’t mind them wrecking.

So… divert them from their current target (the rug) and offer them the "better deal" all cats are always looking for -- their very own cat furniture, rugs, scratch surfaces, etc.

If the cats have been scratching on the rug for any length of time, they've already "marked" it with a "personal scent" produced in their paw pads. This pheromone scent tells them, "This is my preferred scratching site." You need to remove this scent (which you can't detect). You can wipe down the rug with an enzyme-based cleaner. (Follow product directions carefully -- and BE SURE to test the product on an inconspicuous spot on the rug first, as it can make colors run on some fabrics and carpets!)

So remember: your best bets are exclusion, diversion and substitution. Offer a cat a better deal, and he'll take it every time.