Does anyone know of a way to break a cat (he's almost two years old) of scratching the furniture and carpeting?
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Does anyone know of a way to break a cat (he's almost two years old) of scratching the furniture and carpeting?
Declaw him :D
LOL. Actually this summer we are going to have him declawed! :D We just need something to buy us alittle time until we do. (We are getting a new couch and I don't want Archie to ruin it!)
The do make bitter apple spray that you can get at your local pet store cats hate the smell..
They now have silicone--or something like that, tips to put on the claws. I think that is a better way to go if not expensive. Personally I have tried to break my kitties from scratching the furniture and the furniture they insist on scratching I have just put a throw over the arms. When you get a kitty or dog or any animal one needs to pet proof the house for it just like a person would baby proof the house for that.
My neice has a declawed cat--it was that way when she got her. She refuses to use the litter box but she is such a loving cat and wouldn't hurt a flea. My neice has to keep her outdoors most of the time cause she will go on the floor. I think the litter box hurts her paws cause she doesn't have any claws. She needs to use the dirt outside. My neice would like to let her in but she can't with her going on the rug. Believe me you may be making more of a problem declawing then you know.
Does he have lots of things to scratch like scratching posts? Put them in the area he likes to scratch and when you catch him scratching the floor take him and put him on the post and tell him to scratch there. Take his paws and make a scratching movement with them until he gets the idea. I have a scratching pad that lays flat and is easy for my cats to scratch.
They will still scratch sometimes where they shouldn't but they will also jump up on the counters when they know they shouldn't but that's just part of pet ownership. I'd rather put up with a little annoyance than to not have them.
Quote:
Originally posted by Ravenlost
Please do not declaw the poor kitty. There are products you can buy that will make him stop clawing. Declawing is cruel and inhumane. We have one declawed kitty...hubby had him done before I met them. He said he would NEVER do that to an animal again.
I've also been told the same thing by a woman that I used to work with. She volunteered at a place called Friends for Cats. She said it is really painful for the cats and that some vets won't even perform the procedure. I know some people say that they have no other choice because they don't want to keep buying new furniture but there are other things that they can do. I've heard that if you get a spray bottle and spray the cat with water that they may stop them from scratching. Also in my cat care guide it says to use the "Rattle Can" distraction. What you do is use an empty soda bottle and place 10 pennies inside and tape the top shut. Then it says to shake or toss the bottle near the cat. I guess I'm lucky because my cat uses her scratching post.
www.softpaws.com
http://www.drsfostersmith.com has the nail caps too for $17.99 and they come in different sizes and colors..
They are not harmful if swallowed..
These are the nailcaps that prevent them for tearing up your furniture and everything in site!
Hmmmm... you could try a squirt gun... when you catch the cat scratching, give it a squirt or 2 with the squirt gun... eventually it will get the idea....
http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/112...rge/p_8038.jpg
here is a pic of the "soft claws" for cats from this site...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com
I was thinking about these and wondered how you would keep your cat from choking on them.... LOL I didnt realize that you GLUED them on.... LOL Hmmmm... I wonder if you have to take your cat somewhere to have them put on or if you can do it yourself....
I don't have the scratching problem with my cat but if I did I don't think the spraying with water would work. I bathe her and clip her nails every two weeks so she's used to the water. lol
Quote:
Originally posted by DreamWarrior
http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/112...rge/p_8038.jpg
here is a pic of the "soft claws" for cats from this site...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com
I was thinking about these and wondered how you would keep your cat from choking on them.... LOL I didnt realize that you GLUED them on.... LOL Hmmmm... I wonder if you have to take your cat somewhere to have them put on or if you can do it yourself....
Those are so cute. lol
OOHHHH so chic--glamor kitty LOL
But remember your cat won't be able to defend himself with these on so they will be like a declawed cat when outdoors.
I probably wouldn't use them but I thought the picture of that cat is so adorable. I remember when I was little we used to have poodles and when my mother would take them to be groomed they always came home with bows on their fur and polish on their toenails. lol
Just to let you know what they do to declaw a cat. They put it under and take nail clippers and use them to cut the nails off the bone. They put in one stitch for each claw.I should know I use to work for a vet lol I have seen the done alot of times.It it is done wrong the cat will have problems with it feet for life.
I tried all of these suggestions and when they didn't work, my vet recommended declawing his front paws only. Jack hasn't had any problems and he had it done in 2002.
It may stop the cat from scratching but it could actually cause other behavioral problems. I don't know about anyone else but I would rather deal with some torn furniture than to deal with the smell of cat urine all through the house because it no longer wants to use it's litter box. I'm not saying that all cats that are declawed will stop using their litter box but I wouldn't want to take the chance.
I've had 2 cats that were declawed and never had any problems. I think all depends on the owner and what she wants to do. Talk to your vet and see what he/she recommends.
Thank-you everyone for the suggestions! I am going to think long and hard about getting Archie declawed now...
please don't declaw the kitty. I have a pair of kitty nail clippers i will raok you for your kitty. pm me:(
Maybe you could try the tips and see how that works. I was wondering what happens though when the claws grow. Wouldn't they pop right through the tip? lol