Cure Scratching or Get Rid of Cat - Help!!! Redecorating

hollie9

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I have read Hissy's post about trying everything, would like to hear what has actually worked for you'all. I am desperate.

I am at the end of my rope and my husband is livid. Redecorating with $100+/sq. yard fabric.

My 11 year old cat has already scratched the top of the new chairs 37" up. He has one scratch post which he uses in our presence but secretly scratches furniture when we're not around. He was trained on a scratch post as a kitten but has always secretly scratched the furniture. He is an indoor and outdoor neutered male cat, very sweet disposition.

The chairs are now covered with aluminum foil, husband is complaining about the looks of things, I am so depressed.

We've talked about finding him another home, making him an outdoor cat (would be impossible, he loves us). There is no way to keep him out of the living room with the open floor plan we have.

The options I've thought about so far, please tell me what you think:

Have 2 scratch posts custom made 37"+ tall so they'll be as tall as he seems to like to scratch, cover with sisal (heard sisal is better than sisal rope), put a platform on top with notches so that there are 8 corners to scratch, cover with burlap or other cat attractive weave, sprinkle catnip as often as I can on it. Place them right next to scratched furniture. I have no idea where I can get these built, I haven't seen any over 3' in stores or internet.

Put sticky tape on the furniture, I hope not forever.

Spray lemon air freshener on the furniture.

Try Soft Paws.

If these things fail, I'll have to get rid of the cat.
Any suggestions? Has anything stopped your cats from scratching furniture?

Hollie
 

hissy

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How about giving your cat a designated chair or sofa all his own to scratch? Or finding a sturdy tree limb you can bring inside mounting it on a solid base and letting him have that?

What has worked for me with one problem scratcher was the balloons and the fan trick- Two days of watching those helium balloons bounce around was to much for Rip and she attacked the couch caused one of the balloons to burst and never went near the couch again.
 
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hollie9

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No room for the cat to have a chair or sofa, and certainly wouldn't look good with the designer sofa.

I've tried to get him interested in wood but he walks away.

The balloon idea is great, but what size balloons, how and where do they attach? I guess you're saying the helium balloons bounce around with the fan on, the cat can't resist, attacks and boom, major negative reinforcement. Please tell me the above, I can't wait to try it. I guess you also have scratch posts?

Hollie
 
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hollie9

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I've read they don't work and some say they do work. Has anyone here had experience, pro or con with Soft Paws?

Hollie
 

momofmany

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Find a tall cat tree or condo - the kind that goes basically straight up. I've seen them with shelves off to the sides so that a cat can stretch up on them to their full length. I have 2 of these in my house. It's a fun toy for them and might redirect them away from the furniture to the higher perches.
 

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The cats I am going to write about were adopted from the wild and were both adults when adopted. These two were bad scratchers when we first brought them into the house.

I solved the problem with these two techniques....both of which are VERY easy.

First, I put double-sided tape everywhere they scratched. Then I brought home a bunch of those cheap cardboard scratching pads and placed them next to the furniture and rugs they were scratching. Even though the cats preferred scratching the backs of chairs, they immediately fell in love with these flat cardboard pads.

Once the cats were regularly scratching the cardboard, I began removing the double-sided tape, just a little at a time (about two strips of tape a day). Eventually the tape was all gone.

Now...no more furniture scratching and even though the cardboard scratching pads are ugly, they are real easy to pick up and pitch in the closet when company comes.

If this worked for adult ferals, I am sure you can find something that will work for your sweet boy!
 

hissy

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The balloon trick is easy as well. I used the smaller helium balloons, and ran them on one string, ran the string up the side of the couch, and under the couch cushion,weight down the cushion and set a fan on the balloons on low to blow them around.

My cats also have turbo scratchers, that they love, carboard scratchers, regular scratching posts and a log. They have high cat condos and a couch upstairs that is all their's to scratch to their heart's content. Sometimes, they make a mistake and scratch the ottoman downstairs, but I don't lose it on them. It is part of being a cat owner, I take these ferals in on good faith and understand that I cannot stop their natural behavior. If it means sacrificing an ottoman, so be it, they are worth the sacrifice.
 
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hollie9

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I am looking forward to doing the balloons, but where do you find small helium filled balloons, a party shop?

I tried the corrugated cardboard scratch boxes but my cat just wasn't interested. They were on the floor so I guess he's a vertical scratcher. He also couldn't be persuaded to scratch logs or wood, we have lots by the fireplace and tried to make him interested but no go.

Husband is thinking about making him an outdoor cat but he's such a people cat.

Thanks for the tips, I've also gotten the sticky tape but still have aluminum foil around the chairs, also bought some citrus spray and the citrus stick on air fresheners to hide in the cushions.

Hollie
 

hissy

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Have you thought about finding him another home? Rather than make him an outside cat, that might be an option for you. Cats will scratch, it is their nature, you can't change it , but you can redirect it with time and patience. Also a warning about the foil, if he swallows even a tiny piece of aluminum foil it could prove to be a big vet bill or even deadly, for aluminum foil is toxic to cats.
 
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hollie9

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I'd never heard that before, an interior decorator friend of mine used it on her new furniture for 6 months and it cured her cat's scratching and urinating on the furniture.

I don't think I can find the cat a new home, too attached. I've had him since a kitten, 11 years, 2 years of which I had a serious illness and he was my only company. He is so bonded to me it's almost too needy. To give him away would be a death sentence for him and I don't know if I could handle it.

I just got through a SureFit slipcover catalogue, maybe I'll just buy these covers for the beautiful furniture so we can rarely see it. At least the cat will be happy.

Hissy, didn't you say to get Soft Paws earlier? Don't you think they will work? Also, the double sided tape and balloons may be worth a try, or don't you think so now?

Is there a difference if his scratching is marking behavior or scratching behavior? Theory that marking will not be cured with a cat scratch post.

Hollie
 

hissy

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I haven't used Soft Paws, but I don't see why that wouldn't work. Perhaps someone who does use them can clue you in.
 

jenluckenbach

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Why would you buy such extravagantly expensive "designer" furniture when you KNEW you had a cat that like to scratch?!?! Did you just think the problem would go away?
I mean, I am sure he scratched on furniture during the past 11 years, right?

gets down off soap box


1st, if he likes to scratch, why only 1 scratching post?? They want to make everything theirs. Several posts in good VISIBLE locations will help. (you can't hide them out of sight because that is NOT where cats want to scratch)
Make sure they are tall and sturdy enough and use the substance he prefers (if that is sisal, then don't try bare wood) It doesn't help if he ignores it.

2nd. Keep the nails trimmed as short and as often as humanly possible. I have noticed that they scratch more when they are long.

3rd. Soft paws can work. I have tried them. During my test period of 5 cats 3 could not keep them on long enough to suit me. 1 kept them on for an overly long amount of time. (if your cat is like this, then they could be your answer). and 1 cat kept them on an average amount of time. They DID do what they were intended to do, very effectively, but the reason they stay on one cat but not on another is that they come off as the claws shed. And some simply shed their claws either more often or one at a time making it a daily replacement of just 1 cap. TRY THEM, then you will know.
 

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I think different cats like different textures. Some like fabric, some like wood, etc. You need scratching posts made out of fabric with the same texture as your furniture. I also sprinkle catnip on the scratching posts every so often. I have a bunch of scratching posts scattered around the house. I try to keep them in close proximity to wherever the cats are more likely to claw. I have a couple of cats that love wood. I was able to find a wood scratching post at Tuesday Morning a couple of years ago. I have five cats, but scratching isn't a big problem for us.
 

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Good afternoon,

In response to your desperate remedy for the cat scratching the furniture, I will try. Because of your cats age, these habits are routine and may not be reversible ....but....Catnip may be the answer, or at least one of them.

Rub catnip on your cat scratching play area to direct him away from people furniture. If you can direct him to one specific room....the "fun room" then your life will be less stressful. You will need to reapply the catnip on a daily basis for one week. If that does not work...then the next few suggestions are time consuming, but could assist in retraining the bad habits.

1. Keep a spray bottle of water in the room where the furniture is. Whenever the cat approaches the furniture...grab the spray bottle and say "No" a few quick sprays directed near him will chase him away and eventually you will only have to go for the bottle to get him to stop.

2. Have a dust buster near where you sit. When the cat gets into his scratching mode...turn it on. I have not yet met a cat that liked a vacuum cleaner.

Some may think that these remedies are cruel...but they will not harm him, but your husbands solution to put him outdoors or even to a new home is an answer to anyone that would rather not try this first.

If you send me a small self addressed stamped envelope, ( Dave McDonnell, 83 Valley Road, Needham, MA 02492 ) I will send you a sample of Kittybags.com leaf and Flower Buds Catnip.....Good Stuff!!!
 

hissy

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Bless you Dave! Thanks for the input!
And I can vouch for his catnip- it is some really nice potent blends!
 

ooshaunaoo

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Originally posted by hollie9
I've read they don't work and some say they do work. Has anyone here had experience, pro or con with Soft Paws?

Hollie
I've used soft paws and they work pretty good depending on the cat. One of my cats didn't mind having them on, but the other kept ripping them off. My friend has had luck with them, as has my sister.
 

mishon

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I just came across a new product at the Doctors Foster and Smith website. It is called Sticky Paws, and it is basically double-sided tape that is meant to be placed on furniture and not leave a residue when you remove it. You may want to give it a try, along with some of the other ideas so far.

I can completly relate to your situation, as I found myself in a very similiar situation not too long ago. I ended up opting for the declawing procedure, but DON"T take that as an endorsement. You should try EVERYTHING possible before coming to that decision, and then think long and hard about the possible outcome. Your kitty may, and most likely because of his age will, have a very bad reaction to the procedure and may develop some SERIOUS behavioral issues as a result. You need to decide whether or not you will be able to live with a cat who may have a COMPLETE change in personality and behavior, and if you can't, then don't declaw.

Good Luck,
Mishon
 
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hollie9

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My cat only scratches furniture when I'm not around, I only see the marks. He uses the scratch post when I'm in sight. So I can never catch him to squirt with water or dust buster.

I do use catnip on the scratch post and perhaps I will get more posts however on the Soft Paws site there are testimonials that say even with lots of scratch posts the cats still scratch the furniture.

I ordered Soft Paws but I had cut my cats claws so short they would not adhere. I now have to wait for the claws to grow out a bit. Can't wait to see if they work.

My furniture is now covered with Sticky Paws instead of aluminum foil. The tape is time consuming to put on and doesn't look very good so I would have to take it off and put it on all the time depending on company.

I can't believe I'm the only person here with this problem, do you'all have cats that don't scratch furniture or do you just live with shredded furniture? Or do you only use unscratchable fabrics?

Sorry to be on a soapbox.

Hollie
 
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