Help they are scratching everything.

When I first got Max he was a good boy, and he used his cst scratcher and didn't bother anything else. We have had him since September and he is 6 months old now. We also have Ollie who is 3 moths old, we got him just a month and a half after max. They are both scrstching everything they should not be scratching. It's mostly max, it started with the carpet, I would wave my hand and tell him to stop, the he actually did damage to the carpet in my daughters room, and made a big hole in the door way. They really like those fabric cubes that go on shelves, they have damaged a few (we have them in every bedroom.) the scratch at the couch, the wall, one of them put a hole in my youngest daughters table and chair set (that we just got for Christmas.) Max likes to sit on the tv stand and watch tv, now he scratches at the screen. They scratch at our box springs on our beds too. I don't know what to do. I shoo them away, I pick them up and move them out of the bedrooms when they are in them. They have scratchers, they have toys, they play with each other. I got Ollie so Max would have someone to play with (since we work and I knew after a while the kids wouldn't want to play as much as when we first got him) and they get along very well, but I'm wondering if this is what is causing all the scratching.

When Max first destroyed the carpet i covered that area with tape, but I can't go covering my whole house with tape. When I am home I can stop them, but I work and I'm worried they will destroy something when I'm not home. I already want to get more scratchers,I just have to wait till my husband gets paid ( he just got a new job so we are broke at the moment.) should I try to trim thier nails? I used to have guinea pigs and I trimmed their nails. I ha d a at before but never though to trim her nails, though we really didn't have a problem with her scratching.

Try double sided tape. It's sold online or at major pet stores. It works, though you may have to apply it liberally.

Have you tried trimming their claws?

Edit: try going out and getting some cardboard boxes, and spraying with catnip spray.

misterwhiskers said:

Try double sided tape. It's sold online or at major pet stores. It works, though you may have to apply it liberally.

Have you tried trimming their claws?

Edit: try going out and getting some cardboard boxes, and spraying with catnip spray.

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But they scratch everything they can get their paws on. I can't cover everything in tape. We actually had a ton of boxes around from Christmas, that they did like to scratch but it didn't keep them from scratching other things. I put a scratcher in the hall, and there is 1 in the laundry room (where one food dish and litter boxes are) I'm going to buy 2 for the living room maybe a cardboard one and a post, and maybe one to hang on a door. I just need extra cash first.

I don't know if it goes against site policy but there is a kind of surgery that releases the tendons so that, although the cat keeps their claws, they can't extend them to scratch.

When did this start happening?

When was their last vet visit? Rule out medical issues (perhaps something is wrong with their paws/claws) first.

Ask your vet about Soft Claws. These are little clawpads that your vet (or you) can attach to their claws so that they still have full use of their claws, but won't do any lasting damage.

We have an article for problem scratching, see if there's anything in there you could try:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/problem-scratching-and-how-to-stop-it

What types of material are used on their scratching posts? Is the texture similar to the items they are scratching at in the house?

Are they intentionally going and scratching surfaces or are they scratching the surfaces while they play?

And, yes, do you trim their nails?

misterwhiskers said:

I don't know if it goes against site policy but there is a kind of surgery that releases the tendons so that, although the cat keeps their claws, they can't extend them to scratch.

Click to expand...

A tendonectomy is just as bad as declawing. It doesn't amputate the toes but does cripple the cat.

You did not specify what size scratching post you have.

IMO, things like this are a complete waste of money:

http://www.petsmart.com/cat/furnitu...r66gi98pT78yROMdMTR-Qh2qo1bGK?_t=pfm=category

The cat needs something which permits her to stretch out, and up.  So the cardboard one will do well if it is one of the long ones.  The trees do fine rather than the short posts.

Next, I use catnip, rub it on the cat items.  At the same time, use a pray bottle filled with equal amounts of white vinegar and water, and spray the furniture -- corners of chairs and sofas, etc.  This is mild enough that we humans do not smell it.  Yet up close, a cat smells it FINE and is repelled.  I did try the double sided tape . . . my cat moved over an inch and scratched.   So it didn't work for me.

Periodically (maybe once every 3 to 4 weeks ) redo BOTH the catnip and the spray.

misterwhiskers said:

I don't know if it goes against site policy but there is a kind of surgery that releases the tendons so that, although the cat keeps their claws, they can't extend them to scratch.

Click to expand...

Yes, tendonectomy is against site policy.  Here's an article on these issues: http://www.thecatsite.com/a/declawing-and-alternatives

Apart from it being a really unpleasant thing to do, if the claws are not attended to regularly it becomes a nightmare for the cat.  Soft claws are a much safer alternative.