DH and I are catsitting two older cats for a friend of ours that's TDY in the Phillipines for a month and I've already caught one of them clawing at our furniture! They have plenty of things to claw on with catnip (which they absolutely love). Thing is, it's been only their 4th day with us and they still hate us. They're two adult males and have camped out in a little makeshift tent that I had made out of two chairs and a sheet on the far side of the apartment to make them feel comfortable.
I know, this isn't really the best situation for them but the owner didn't really have much of a choice since it was a family matter and she needed to be there ASAP. At least they have their own food and water bowls and litter box with them and thank god that they're using it!
Angel is very curious about them and hasn't hissed once. She continuely stalks up to them like a little kid and when they hiss she bounces back! It's quite entertaining to watch becuase we call the two adults Old Grumps. They're getting more adventurous though and coming out more but Tiger doesn't care for them much. He tries to avoid them unless they come between me and him, which he will hiss.
So, back to the clawing furniture. Should I use the spray bottle on them like I had to do with Tiger and Angel to train them not the claw it? Snapping my fingers seem to work for now since they're still fraidy cats but I'm wondering about in the future when they start to ignore it but I also worry about them hating us even more. I've just now got them to the point that they'll let me pet them a bit. Help?
I know, this isn't really the best situation for them but the owner didn't really have much of a choice since it was a family matter and she needed to be there ASAP. At least they have their own food and water bowls and litter box with them and thank god that they're using it!
Angel is very curious about them and hasn't hissed once. She continuely stalks up to them like a little kid and when they hiss she bounces back! It's quite entertaining to watch becuase we call the two adults Old Grumps. They're getting more adventurous though and coming out more but Tiger doesn't care for them much. He tries to avoid them unless they come between me and him, which he will hiss.
So, back to the clawing furniture. Should I use the spray bottle on them like I had to do with Tiger and Angel to train them not the claw it? Snapping my fingers seem to work for now since they're still fraidy cats but I'm wondering about in the future when they start to ignore it but I also worry about them hating us even more. I've just now got them to the point that they'll let me pet them a bit. Help?