clawing and scratching...tips?

**mrscornbread** · 11-01-2004, 09:39 AM

Calling all cat lovers...

Sidney is scratching the furniture and me too!~

I sprayed some deterrant from the petstore, so far not much help. I am also using a squirt bottle to zap him, but it makes hime madder. Any tips, or is it something he will outgrow?

**kimmee** · 11-01-2004, 09:43 AM

They make these new little caps for cats claws (rather than declawing) your vet will put them on - they are made of a soft acrylic and the cats can't scratch anymore - they come in bright colors and look really cute and the cats don't seem to mind them - I am going to be checking into that after Christmas (it will take a little chunk of money to do 9 cats!!)

**PrairieRose** · 11-01-2004, 09:47 AM

Be sure to provide him with a nice scratching post of some sort. You can make one out of scrap carpet or buy one at Walmart. They will scratch anything especially if they don't have a designated place to do it. Also we learned that that clear packing tape is useful on places that you don't want them to scratch. They get a big charge out of scratching something that has a lot of texture to it, something that really makes a good noise when they scratch and pull on it. Slick places turn them off

. Hope this helps Robin.

**mtjsmom** · 11-01-2004, 09:47 AM

take Irish Springs soap and rub it wherever they scratch..they HATE the smell..

Carol

**Ellise** · 11-01-2004, 12:40 PM

Great Idea Carol!! I was going to say, mine have a tower post and still scratch everything! I'm going to try Carol's idea.

**mtjsmom** · 11-01-2004, 01:14 PM

I wrote that thismorning with baby screaming in my lap..lol..it does work..my vet told me about it when we had a cat. The cats cannot stand the smell of irish Spring (or any reallllllyyy strong soap) Because when they scratch they release a scent of their own. Anywho, I hope it works for ya..You dont have to use a lot..you can also shave it and put it anywhere you have pesky cats..i put some around my kids playcenter thing in the yard, it worked!!

Carol

**AmyMCGS** · 11-01-2004, 02:10 PM

I've never heard the soap one before, either. I'll have to try it!

We bought something called "Sticky Paws", which basically was like double sided clear tape. You were supposed to be able to stick it on furniture and walls and the cats would be turned off by feeling that sticky stuff on their paws and stop scratching there. Well, our cats soon learned to scratch around it, and it did damage to the walls when we tried to remove it. I don't recommend that approach!

I've also looked into the soft caps for their claws, but haven't tried them yet.

**slowtypinwoman** · 11-01-2004, 10:30 PM

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02nov04a.cfm

I'm having the same problem with our indoor/outdoor cat. So cat clips are not an option. It's like she comes in at night and when she wants out that is the sound we wake to and she keeps doing it until we get out of OUR warm bed to let her out.