SSscat? Didn't work for our cat

I'm trying every possible thing to keep our kitten from tearing up our $2000 living set. I even tried Ssscat but all she did was figure out how long she has between the beep and spray and she makes her move then. Either I have the smartest cat in the world or that product is worthless. I know my cat is real smart but I think it's a worthless product. So now I'm running out of ideas. Distracting her with toys and such is fine and dandy but that doesn't stop here while we are at work. I've searched and searched through these forums but have yet to find anything that is effective. Even water doesn't bother her, maybe our kitten is a cyborg? Does anyone have an idea?

paul

She is a kitten and she does`nt know the difference between $2000 furniture and a ratty old couch.
I`d suggest you use slip covers for awhile til she is older and has calmed down a bit..and maybe keep her out of the livingroom while you are not home...so that when you are there you can work on training her.
Firming saying "NO" while you are clapping your hands at her (Cats hate loud , startling sounds)will probably help her to understand that you are not pleased with her actions. If she is scratching, then when you catch her trying to do it where you don`t want her to, then say "NO" and pick her up and take her to where it is appropriate for her to do so, and make the scratching motiong with her paws on that.
Cats are smart...she will learn if you are persistant.
Linda

Do you have a scratch post in the room and do you redirect her to it each time she goes at the furniture? Place the scratch post a few feet from the furniture. When you see her go at the furniture, pick her up, give her a firm "NO", take her to the scratch post and place her in the scratch position, and move her arms in the scratch motion. Do the same motion yourself to show her what you want her to do.

I compare training cats to housebreaking puppies. First rule is to never let them out of your site until they are fully trained and IMMEDIATELY redirect them to the outside if they start to squat. Puppies eventually get it, although it can take a while. Lots of patience in the meantime and you just don't give them the opportunity to fail.

Originally Posted by Momofmany

Do you have a scratch post in the room and do you redirect her to it each time she goes at the furniture? Place the scratch post a few feet from the furniture. When you see her go at the furniture, pick her up, give her a firm "NO", take her to the scratch post and place her in the scratch position, and move her arms in the scratch motion. .

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I did something similar with Luna when she was Kitten. If I caught her scratching the furniture, I would firmly say "NO" pick her up move her paws on the scratching post. I would then re-enforce with a positive by saying "Good Girl" when I was moving her on the scratching post.

When she did start to use the scratching post on her own, I would again re-enforce it with a treat.

Have you thought about trying softpaws?
www.softpaws.com

Also unless the tree is bark or wrapped in sisal rope or sisal carpet they will find your furniture much more appealing than the usual carpet covered posts. It also needs to be long enough for her to stretch her whole body. A cheapie to start with if you don't have one is some corrugated cardboard you can get at Petsmart or Petco, kitties love scartching this!! You could have a couple strategically placed if you don't have trees. This is a great inexpensive option, a good tree can get expensive.

I second the slip-covers for the sofa. Just until she learns what is hers and what isn't.

Soft Paws work really great! But I'd only use them as a last resort.

Well, they don't like us to say a product is worthless here, because it probably does work fine for some people, and the manufacturer might take offense at that kind of a generalization. I've tried that device, too, and it was effective only for one of my three cats. But the two who weren't deterred by it are both unusually determined cats. Nothing will stop them, so it's not surprising that device didn't stop them, either. I have to say it is a novel idea, though.

Originally Posted by stampit3d

Firming saying "NO" while you are clapping your hands at her (Cats hate loud , startling sounds)will probably help her to understand that you are not pleased with her actions. If she is scratching, then when you catch her trying to do it where you don`t want her to, then say "NO" and pick her up and take her to where it is appropriate for her to do so, and make the scratching motiong with her paws on that.
Cats are smart...she will learn if you are persistant.
Linda

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Well that never worked either. Cause this --> is Chip (the scratching kitten in question). She takes after her mommy (me) and pretends not to hear no matter how loud you are. And water guns....it's just like a trip to the waterpark for her! She's like our very own teenager saying, "whatEVER."

But she has an adpoted sister now so they don't scratch on the sofa so much anymore. Now she's like a teenager saying, "Daaad, scratching on the sofa is like SOO yesterday."