Scratching

lisakmusco

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Of all of my cats, only Pepper is an incessant scratcher. She has three favorite targets that I need to dissuade her from: leather pockets of pool table, aquarium stand, and underside of kitchen table. She(they) have a cat tree and 2 condos which she scratches at, too. I've tried some of the different training/boundary sprays with not a lot of luck...especially with the pool table pockets cause there's not much to spray on in that area. My husband is getting rather upset with her, and even though neither of us believe in declawing, he is starting to reconsider....but just on her. I'm going to try the soft claws, but am wondering what else I can do. I've heard some good things around here about the Feliway spray, and specifically the diffuser, but am unclear as to whether it will help with this kind of situation. What do you think? Pepper's scratching is about the only real problem we have, that is hard to put up with. I would also like to try and stop her (and Salt) from getting on counters and cabinets, but that's not necessarily a critical issue...the pool table is. And no, I can't keep her away from the table. There is no way to close off that part of the 'greatroom'.
 

kitytize

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I screw a board with sisal on my walls near the places the cats like to scratch. The cats perfer the sisal so they end up using it alot.
 

beckiboo

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Is there a way to hang something by the corners of the pool table so she won't be attracted? Like a jingly chain or something else.
My cats love sisal doormats. Maybe if you buy a few (very cheap at K-mart), and lay them under the pool table, under the kitchen table, and near the aquarium, she will start scratching them instead. Then, in time, you can move the rugs to a better spot.

Cats do like a vertical surface, so if you have a place you can hang a rug, it would help a lot.

Feliway helps in a lot of ways. It certainly wouldn't help to get some!
 

catdvm

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Can you cover the pool table pockets with something that wouldn't be as appealing (i.e. plastic or something) just for the time being until she learns not to go there. Also I would put stuff on the aquarium stand and table, (sticky tape or maybe some googy stuff that you can wipe off later). You just need her to try to scratch the area a few times, but instead of scratching all she does is touch sticky stuff. It is all up to you on how much you want to put up with. It is a pain temporary, but once she learns that scratching here is no fun anymore she will stop.

And counter jumping is harder. You can try hitting some pots and pans or dropping a large book, or using a squirt bottle, when they are about to jump, but that only works when you are around. To make them not do it when you aren't around too, you need to get more invasive like the scratching idea. Fill the counter with items, so they would have a hard time jumping and if they do make it something would fall off scaring them. You could also try the sticking tape all around the counter, but this is hard and I find cats are more clever with this on the counter then the scratching part. You can try having blown up balloons around the counter. Don't laugh. I know it sounds and looks silly, but cats hate balloons and I pretty much guarantee they won't be counter jumping. Like with the scratching, it is all about how much you are willing to go to put an end to the behaviour. Some people will do anything, some only want to do what is easy and convenient.
 
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lisakmusco

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Well, those are some great ideas. I have numerous throw rugs around the house, though none are actually under the pool table, or too close to the aquarium. The problem isn't so much that she doesn't have acceptable places to scratch....because they do: two condos and one tree. I tried the stickytape on the couch, but the aquarium stand was a bit large to try and cover with it. And hubby was not agreeable in the slightest about putting anything on the pool table. So, what I ended up doing, for now at least, is I put SoftClaws on her. I bought them weeks ago, but only just put them on her a couple days ago. So far it seems pretty good. She's been sulking and avoiding me, which isn't good, but I haven't really seen her scratching at anything. When this set comes off I'll see what she does, and since I only used half the package (no need to do the back paws), I can always reapply another set and evaluate then.
 

malakaiii

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In addition to what the others have suggested, I'd say try clipping her claws.

We've done this to my cat since she was little, and as long as you are careful, it doesn't bother them in the least!

Of course, I don't recommend it if she will need her claws for protecting herself against the other cats or a dog (or if she goes outside).
 
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lisakmusco

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Originally Posted by lisakmusco

When this set comes off I'll see what she does, and since I only used half the package (no need to do the back paws), I can always reapply another set and evaluate then.
Oh how naive of me.....I actually thought I could use one package as two complete sets. Silly, silly me. Within two days I found she'd managed to get two of the caps off and had to replace them. Now more have come off. Guess it's really just a rotating package once the first full set is applied.
 

solaritybengals

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It takes a while for the cat to adjust to them and not pull them off.

Are your scratching posts covered in sisal or wood? If it is carpet then she won't be interested. Also it needs to be in close relation to the places you don't want them scratching as they are marking the territory as theirs all over the house. So she needs some way to show it I guess.
 

abigail

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Your husband wont let you even spray the spot on the pool table with a citrus spray? my cats avoids an orange or lemon smell like the plague. ANd bringing the scrtach surface to her works wonders. my cat like to take a big long stretch st the top of the stairs before heading down the mountain and was using the carpet. I put a sisal rug there and she was happier to dig her trimmed claws into that.

And learning to trim claws isn't as formidable as it seems. If she stood still long enough for soft paws to dry, she'll be a great candidate for trimming. Mine wriggles like crazy but she endures it.
 
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