Second thread about Shayla, 8 weeks tomorrow and scratching

[sophie & shayla]

since she is only a little baby, should I really be concerned about her scratching and biting? Despite all the fluff which makes her appear larger, she is such a little thing. Yesterday, supervised, she was in the living room with us, scratching up a storm on the couch when she wasn't using my hands and legs. Sometimes she is climbing, and ofcourse doesn't know the difference between flesh and fabric, but she does scratch up a storm. In the living room, I tried to guide her to sisal but she preferred the couch, she likes the upstanding sisal in the bedroom, but she LOVES the mattress.

Since she is so young, should I put off trying to guide her to use 'certain' things. At what age, should I implement a more rigorous 'scratch this, not that' regimen. she is just so cute, but ofcourse if it can be helped, I would prefer her not do this once she's older, as in 12 weeks or more. sophie, amazingly never cared for couches, as she was 10/11 weeks when I brought her home, she tore up the sisal and the carboard and never stopped. now blinds are another thing...lol!!! I digress

I need to know what you do for baby kittens, besides drooling over them, thanks!!

 

[amyscrazy]

You should start discouraging the scratching now. They mark that way (their scent). If you start now, although it may take her a little longer to figure out, she will be using her scratching post or cardboard all the time. You will notice they like to use the same areas so if you allow her to scratch the furniture now, she will want to continue.
Never to young to start teaching good kitty manners! (well, unless they are really little)

 

[kittiesx2]

Hi again

I would clip her nails now to get her used to having it done (they are like needles at that age *ouch* ) and re-direct her to a cardboard scratcher if you have one. My kittens seemed to like the cardboard the best when they were little.

 

[sophie & shayla]

Hi again

I would clip her nails now to get her used to having it done (they are like needles at that age *ouch* ) QUOTE]

You are SO RIGHT!!! It hurrrrrrrrrrts.

That is why I posted

 

[kittiesx2]

I forgot to post about biting. My kitten Tucker bit alot when I brought him home. I started giving him a toy everytime that he would bite me so that he would chew on it instead of me. When he got a bit older I would put him on the floor every time that he would bite me and say "No, that hurt's!" He soon figured out that he wasn't going to be petted if he bit me and now he is very gentle when he play's with people. They learn...eventually

 

[carolpetunia]

I agree -- tiny though she is (and hard as it is to say no to such a little dollface), you really have to start right away. I failed to do that with my Pearl, and she still doesn't seem to realize that her claws penetrate my clothes! Her intentions are pure, but I'm always covered with tiny little scratches from her. ~sigh~

Actually, I went to the doctor the other day, and when he was checking my heart with the stethoscope, he noticed the scratches and asked very seriously, "You're not being... abused in some way, are you?"

 

[momof3rugratz]

Stop her now or it will get worse. Try getting her a tree or a post with nip in it.