Ok, so my kitten has a thing for scratching the red couches I have downstairs and one sisal-like rug. Nothing can stop her, I’m looking for something better then the usual solutions. Things I have tried…
1. She has four different scratchers of every texture imaginable – carpet, sisal, wood, etc etc. They are tall and at different angles. One hangs on the door, one on the floor, one is a condo, and the other is a ramp.
2. When she is upstairs she always uses her scratchers but she will not use them when I bring them downstairs – so I know she knows how to use them. I always praise her when she scratches on them.
3. Whenever she scratches I say “No” firmly (not yelling) and pick her up, put her by her scratcher and praise her – she just runs off to somewhere else
4. The double sided sticky tape is useless because she knocks it off or picks a different part of the couch
5. She wears soft paws but as they fall off she manages to claw into the furniture anyway – I work hard to keep up with them, but it’s not saving my furniture
6. She could care less about catnip so it doesn’t encourage her to use the scratchers
7. I’ve been trying to train her to use them with fresh cooked, plain chicken but it doesn’t help because she knows how to use them, she just wont use them in the presence of the red couches.
8. I cannot move the couches or get rid of them.
What can I do? The couches and rug were very expensive and I will under NO circumstances declaw her. I don’t want to use a water pistol unless is absolutely necessary because I don’t want to traumatize her. I don’t mind her being on or near the couches I just don’t want her tearing them apart. She is set to be spayed in a few weeks. Thanks!
9. I cannot wrap the couches in cling wrap because they are so large it would take an eon. Plus she scratches many different areas so I would have to cover them completely – additionally I could never cover the rug because it’s huge
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Had a chicken once… Windy little bugger
get the cat de clawed
Get a couch throw, by covering the sides with it your cat will leave it alone.
Check the Soft Paws every few days, cats shed the sides of their nails and that’s when the paws things fall off. Just put a new one on.
Using the water sprayer will not traumatize your kitten. Only spray when the kitten starts to scratch. She will get the picture. Be patient though. it will take a few sprays. Also, set the sprayer close to the couch so that she sees that it is there and serve as a reminder.
IF you’re home, use a spray bottle to spritz a little water on the cat when she is scratching.
My cat never uses her scratching posts either. Maybe try catnip spray on them or sprinkle catnip on them. That sometimes works.
Otherwise, resign yourself to the fact that your couches are done for.
When they scratch, they put down scent markers. On rugs, dusting that area with talcum powder works. But she might go to a different area.
Sensitivity to catnip is inherited, so your cat is one of many who doesn’t show interest in catnip. About half of all cats are not sensitive to catnip.
I assume one of your scratchers is one of those inexpensive cardboard ones, laid flat.
Since she uses the scratching devices upstairs, downstairs has become a game, and test of wits. And she is winning.
Sorry, to say, but you are going to have to use a squirt gun, or else hiss at her when she looks like she is about to, or actually scratches. Mother cats train their kittens by hissing, and it is quite effective; it gets their attention.
Most of my cats are mad about the scratcher I am providing in the link. They are available many places.
Well if its kitty less then a 7months old you can get their front claws removed so the don’t claw their way into your furniture
do not get your cat declawed that is not the solution and can leave your cat in permanent pain.
Try boundary or keep off spray. Spray it on the couch or rug to keep the cat away from it entirely. I used this around my bird cage and it kept 3 cats away from finches!(huge distraction b/c they move fast).
Or they make a spray called Ssscat that’s a motion censer that sprays air to scare the cat away. If you can make it so that there’s only one way to get to the couch (like put a gate or something to block the back and sides so only the front is accessible) it would help to keep her away
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