soft-paws...an unfair advantage to the other cat?

I'm pondering putting soft-paws on the kitten, as he claws Everything. He says hello by clawing my shoes, jumps down from the bed claws-out, plays claws-out, and as much as it doesn't seem as though he's trying to hurt anyone, and he isn't destructive.....he's just so accustomed to using his claws that I feel that he may have to learn to do without them before he learns not to use them. I'm tired of the accidental scratches which require first aid  

Now I don't know if this is a side-effect of being born feral, or just a kitten thing, but I know that soft-paws worked well with Matt in teaching not to play claws-out and claw the furnature. My only concern is whether or not this action on my part would give Matt an unfair advantage in their little spats, and if perhaps I should cap Matt while I have Midnight capped, to make things fair?

I'm also open to suggestions on how to teach him not to use his claws. He's a scaredy-cat, so I'm afraid of sending him into hiding if I discipline him(with Matt I would yelp or tap his face or hold the offending paw...these tactics would scare the kitten)

I like to think of soft paws as a last resort because once you use them you've pretty much given up on teaching hi proper scratching behavior.  And since you have to trim his nails to apply soft paws, you might as well just trim them as a way of protecting you and your stuff and then take him through a training regimen.

If he likes vertical scratching then a tall sturdy post with at least some rope or sisal fiber, if a horizontal scratcher then either a sisal mat or a corrugated cardboard scratching "box".  Think about re-directing his behavior by making the furniture unattractive and the scratching post/pad very attractive.  Double sided sticky tape (office supply store or big sheets in a pet store) at strategic points on the furniture for a couple of weeks usually goes a long way to make the furniture no fun, yuck sticky paws!   The play time and positive reinforcement at the post with treats offered every time you see him using the post so he really gets the idea, scratch here get treat.

Later you can move to what's called "the irregular schedule of reward" - this is when you sometimes treat him at the post, and sometimes don't.  The effect is often to cause him to engage in more post scratching so as to "get the lady to give me my darn treat".  Make the post area a fun place with toys and attention.

Don't play with him using your hands - never - play is mostly predatory behavior for cats and you will teach hi that your hand is the mouse.  instead play with toys, pet with hands.

A great article is here: http://www.thecatsite.com/a/problem-scratching-and-how-to-stop-it

As far as the other cats go, soft paws make no difference he will be fine.

We have a scratching tower, but he doesn't use it. What he does use(and Matt too) is the "scratching chair"..a courdroy chair which we were given along with our new suede furniture and were going to pass along until we realized just how much the cats loved it. They both play, leap, scratch and sleep on this big ugly chair, and leave the other furniture alone, which works for me. I kept it just for them. 

As far as problem people scratching goes, it's mostly the instinct to "hold on" or "dig in" which is a big issue....it's like he doesn't know how to leave them sheathed so when he kneads, you pay for it, and when he perches on your shoulder, you come away perforated....he doesn't claw you on purpose, but it hurts and sometimes bleeds nonetheless....especially when he decides to go over your shoulder to get down instead of letting you let him down, and slides down your back, claws-out!

.we don't "play hands" with him, having seen the bad habits that that can create when we adopted Matt and had to try and break him of his bad habits and claw  usage. Midnight's biggest play issue is using my running shoes as scratching pads by way of saying "hello"

"playing hands" is a big no-no in our house- Matt will gnaw on people's knuckles while holding the arm with claws if allowed(I don't think his owners-before-he-was-stray taught him any manners at all  Nor do we let him chase people with strings, lest he learn to pounce people(another Matt habit when we got him) He uses the laser pointer instead, or plays "fetch" with ponytails.

Here are a few suggestions you might want to try. Trim your kittens claws regularly, to prevent too much damage to you. Say "ouch" don't yell it though as this will scare him, once you have got his attention move your hand slowly from his grip, if you move your hand too quickly he will think it's play and grab it again so go slow.  Your kitten could be bored and need more interactive play with you i love the cat dancer toy , 15 min. of interactive play is a good length of time 2 or 3 times a day and remember to end the play session with a meaty treat so the kitten feels satisfied. Hope these ideas help

kittyfostermom said:

 
Here are a few suggestions you might want to try. Trim your kittens claws regularly, to prevent too much damage to you. Say "ouch" don't yell it though as this will scare him, once you have got his attention move your hand slowly from his grip, if you move your hand too quickly he will think it's play and grab it again so go slow.  Your kitten could be bored and need more interactive play with you i love the cat dancer toy , 15 min. of interactive play is a good length of time 2 or 3 times a day and remember to end the play session with a meaty treat so the kitten feels satisfied. Hope these ideas help

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Thanks, I'll try the ouch routine with Matt's 'hand play' 

I've taken to gripping the kitten's scruff as he moves to go over the shoulder, then putting him down properly-maybe he'll get the message that this is the preferred method of descent? It is possible that kitten is bores...he hides most of the day from the kids up on the bed of the eldest, who understands his cues. And he spends the night cooped up in 'his room' because if I let him roam the house he will keep the whole family up with his chattering play fights with Matt. No one sleeps if Kitten runs free at night. He loves ponytail fetch, and has killed all of his feather toys(I must get him some more). He's so skittish that we have trouble playing with kitten, but he's getting braver His feral mom did a very good job of fostering the flight instinct in him lol

Oh yes kittens can for sure get bored, and sometimes it can take a while to figure out what type of play your cat enjoys. I've cared for kittens/cats where some are happy chasing a straw around the room for a half hour and others that won't do a thing unless i play with them. Right now i'm caring for a kitten that LOVES the cat dancer toy and will drag it over to me to play with her. lol. I always have treats in my pocket to give her, after she does her "kill" so she feels she has completed her task. I was going to mention the scruff hold, when you do it make sure to push downward as you do it and only hold for 3 sec then release. If your lucky your kitten should just slink away knowing he was bad. To me it sounds like he's bored. Try having the kids engage in interactive play with him, they don't even have to say a word to the kitten also they can give him treats. At night you could try having different food puzzles around the house for both felines and/or hide kibble and treats around the house and in the cat tree for them to find. Lots of times i here munching coming from behind my furniture and there is a cat eating the hidden food. Hope this helps

So i looked at some of your pictures and first i want to say that your cats are sweet and i love the black kitten just darling. I think i found the clawing problem, part of it is, you play with a ribbon on your lap and the kitten claws at it. So in fact, the kitten is playing with you and the ribbon. All toys must be kept away from your body, it is possible that your sweet kitty thinks your body is an extension of his toys.keeping his toys away from your body when you play with him might help, also he might be the type of feline that your hands can't be holding onto the toy so close to his claws and teeth, so i would suggest you use only wand type toys with him for now anyways, until he learns. Or he might just be the type of cat that you might always need to use wand type toys.

Thanks, that makes sense- especially since he claws my feet in play, and eats my shoelaces. I have to get him a new toy anyway, I think perhaps a feather on a stick is in order this time. And of course his favorite game is treat-pounce. I toss the treat and he kills and eats it. This keeps him away long enough for Matt to have his treats lol, since the little guy hasn't got the hang of sharing yet, and Matt is a slow and deliberate treat-eater who gets confused at the black streak darting about him at food time 

Keep me posted