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Digging at furniture, when no one is around.

post #1 of 9
12/16/10 at 12:00am
Thread Starter 
We have a scratch post that the cats use...when we are there. Today I noticed a spot on the living room chair thats been shredded! I caught Buddy AND Parker doing it. I also caught Buddy using the sofa as well. However, if I am in the living room for any considerable length of time, they will stroll in and use the post.
I'm kind of confused as to why they suddenly want to dig at the furniture when no one is around. Parker was never one to do that either...
We keep their claws trimmed at all times but the material is still no match.
What can I do to stop them? The chair is a mess...but I am not OVERLY concerned about it as it was almost time for it to go anyway, but the sofa is still practically new and was very expensive.
I was thinking about asking my stepfather to make a post made out of thick logs, do you think that would appeal to them more?...I don't even mind cleaning up bits of bark, lol...I just want to save the furniture but its hard when I don't really see them even clawing at it.
Help, please
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post #2 of 9
12/16/10 at 12:12am
Double sided pet tape is what you need. Put it on all of the areas that are worn, and other common areas like corners, etc. Cats hate that sticky feeling and after a while, they will associate scratching there with that and stop it.
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post #3 of 9
12/16/10 at 12:43am
Thread Starter 
I was thinking that. It might work with Parker, but Buddy is a little on the slow side and sticky stuff doesn't bother him at all. That was one of many failed attempts at keeping him from counter surfing too. He walked on it like it wasn't there.
I wonder if I do that, if they will just move to a spot that doesn't have any. Covering all the furniture in tape wouldn't be very practical.
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post #4 of 9
12/16/10 at 4:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rad65 View Post
Double sided pet tape is what you need. Put it on all of the areas that are worn, and other common areas like corners, etc. Cats hate that sticky feeling and after a while, they will associate scratching there with that and stop it.
That would look so tacky though, bleh.

Perhaps try more angles and varieties of materials for scratching posts/pads. A couple 45o angle cardboard, some vertical stuff, a horizontal piece there, just give better options and cross your fingers.
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post #5 of 9
12/16/10 at 10:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ducman69 View Post
That would look so tacky though, bleh.
I would rather have a couch look "tacky" (i know, bad pun on sticky/tacky) for a week than have to replace it with something new, or buy new scratching posts when they're already available.
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post #6 of 9
12/16/10 at 6:44pm
Oh, they are temporary? What stops the cat from just scratching there as soon as you take the icky-off?
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post #7 of 9
12/16/10 at 6:56pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, thats a good point. I mean, it might work in the short term, at least for Parker but I do need a more permanent solution for Buddy seeing as how he's on the dumb side. I've tried putting stuff in front of where he claws at the sofa and putting towels and the like, but he will pull it off and claw anyway. I just wish I knew why the post is only good enough when someone is watching.
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post #8 of 9
12/16/10 at 7:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LuvMyParker View Post
I just wish I knew why the post is only good enough when someone is watching.
If you've ever corrected em, Buddy and Parker probably just know what they are doing is wrong but don't think of the consequences unless you're actually there.

When Wesley looks at me fast, hunches down with head low, trills and runs away, I have to look around and figure out what he just did wrong for example. Guilty look is a dead giveaway.

Benefit of dogs though is that they stay "guilty" even hours later, heh.
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post #9 of 9
12/16/10 at 8:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ducman69 View Post
Oh, they are temporary? What stops the cat from just scratching there as soon as you take the icky-off?
The cat doesn't associate the stickiness with the tape, they associate it with that couch, and in their mind they begin to dislike scratching that couch. So when the tape is removed, the cats still act like they did. It's simple conditioning.
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