Another cat thread (scratching/claws)

[matt1215 0]

Yet another to the abundance of cat threads .

I bought Shadow a scratching post a while back, a block of carpet-covered wood anchoring a rope-wound cardboard roll and rubbed with catnip. How do I get her to use it? She still likes digging her claws into my sofa (which is ok), and the carpet (not ok).

She likes to climb up the screen of my screened in patio , but can't since I trimmed her claws.

[Lindercles 0]

Do you own a slingshot?

[MF42 0]

One of my aunts gave up on training her cats to scratch only what they're supposed to because cats are too stupid to learn things like that. Her solution was to get a dog and train him to attack the cats anytime they scratched the furniture. Worked great.

Matt

[matt1215 0]

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One of my aunts gave up on training her cats to scratch only what they're supposed to because cats are too stupid to learn things like that. Her solution was to get a dog and train him to attack the cats anytime they scratched the furniture. Worked great.

[matt1215 0]

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Do you own a slingshot?

As a matter of fact, I do. Here kitty kitty!!

[skycat 0]

3 things worked for my cat.

1) I would claw the scratching post when he was in the same room as it. Scratching is a way of marking territory, so this pissed the cat off and he right away scratched on top of where I scratched.

2) Get a water gun, then spray the cat when he is scratching something he shouldn't be.

3) Train your dog to get the cat when it is scratching the furniture.

With the above 3 things my cat only scratches his scratching post.

Fly it like you stole it!

[Michele 1]

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I bought Shadow a scratching post a while back, a block of carpet-covered wood anchoring a rope-wound cardboard roll and rubbed with catnip. How do I get her to use it? She still likes digging her claws into my sofa (which is ok), and the carpet (not ok).

You want her to stop clawing the carpet, but you bought something which has carpet on it for her to claw?? She's confused...

Sisel rope - hopefully the kind you have - is a great thing for cats to claw on. I've got several cat trees with that on it, and they are always being scratched. I'm also thinking that rope-wrapped cardboard may not be stable enough for her to trust, so she may not want to put any weight on it, and won't use it for that. A rope-wrapped piece of wood is much sturdier, and she will likely be able to attack it rather heartily without fear that it will topple.

However, my herd best likes the cardboard scratchers that are about $3 at Petsmart/Petco. They always use that, no matter how beat up it gets. Easy clean up too - just sweep away the shredded stuff. Give that a try - lay it over her favorite carpet spot, and let her claw that, instead. Once she's gotten used to it, move it out of the way to a different spot and she will likely follow it there to do her clawing.

She sounds a bit young, too - how old? If she's still climbing screens, give her something which is hers to climb...a cat tree, several "stories" high. Cats like the visibility they get on top of those things, and also love the fact that no-one can approach them (read: no danger) without them knowing about it.

Also, be aware that 3 out of 10 cats don't react to catnip. 5 of 10 don't react to the spray, but only the leaves. There's a gene which is present in those who like it, and that gene for whatever reason isn't always triggered by the spray. Also, catnip won't elicit a response from a cat even if they have the gene until they reach sexual maturity - about 9 months to one year (not at their first heat; lots of people think that's when they're sexually mature...). So if she's young enough, she's not even going to respond to the scent. So unless she is well over a year, I wouldn't expect her to react, and she may be of the 30% who doesn't have the gene.

Good luck, and let me know how it turns out.

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[matt1215 0]

You want her to stop clawing the carpet, but you bought something which has carpet on it for her to claw?? She's confused...

*Doubt she’s confused. I don’t like her clawing the carpet, but she does it little enough that I don’t stop her. Her favorite place to claw is my nasty old sofa, which is ok for her to shred. Sometimes she’ll lay on her back and scratch the sofa while I scratch her belly. My big goal is to be able to replace that sofa and not have her shred the new one, or start shredding the carpet.

Sisel rope - hopefully the kind you have - is a great thing for cats to claw on. I've got several cat trees with that on it, and they are always being scratched. I'm also thinking that rope-wrapped cardboard may not be stable enough for her to trust, so she may not want to put any weight on it, and won't use it for that. A rope-wrapped piece of wood is much sturdier, and she will likely be able to attack it rather heartily without fear that it will topple.

*It’s sisal but you’re right, probably not sturdy enough. $10 @ walmart.

However, my herd best likes the cardboard scratchers that are about $3 at Petsmart/Petco. They always use that, no matter how beat up it gets. Easy clean up too - just sweep away the shredded stuff. Give that a try - lay it over her favorite carpet spot, and let her claw that, instead. Once she's gotten used to it, move it out of the way to a different spot and she will likely follow it there to do her clawing.

*I’d think sturdiness would be more of a problem with these.

She sounds a bit young, too - how old? If she's still climbing screens, give her something which is hers to climb...a cat tree, several "stories" high. Cats like the visibility they get on top of those things, and also love the fact that no-one can approach them (read: no danger) without them knowing about it.

*Neighbors say she’s about 3. She was a stray who made herself at home in several apartments, but got evicted a few times for being really vicious around other cats (but so friendly to people). She doesn’t seem to have any trouble taking on cats twice her size.

Also, be aware that 3 out of 10 cats don't react to catnip. 5 of 10 don't react to the spray, but only the leaves. There's a gene which is present in those who like it, and that gene for whatever reason isn't always triggered by the spray. Also, catnip won't elicit a response from a cat even if they have the gene until they reach sexual maturity - about 9 months to one year (not at their first heat; lots of people think that's when they're sexually mature...). So if she's young enough, she's not even going to respond to the scent. So unless she is well over a year, I wouldn't expect her to react, and she may be of the 30% who doesn't have the gene.

*She loves the leaves, didn’t know there was a spray.

Good luck, and let me know how it turns out.

*Will do, thanks!!