Cats - Scratching problem - Help!
 

Hi, we moved from England 1 year ago to BC and inherited 2 kittens. Now having a real problem with them (now 10 months old), due to scratching. They rip up the carpets, climb the walls and fly screens, causing damage everywhere. Husband going mad, now saying they have to go. I have just done a search on the internet regarding this problem and have found a product called 'Soft Paws'. Has anybody heard of this product???? It looks really good, they are rubber nail caps which are glued onto the cats nails. Hoping someone has used this product and can give some feedback. Desperate for a remedy for this problem as de-clawing is not an option and I so want to keep the little buggers.

Hope someone can help. Many Thanks

Re: Cats - Scratching proglem - Help!
 

I used to have 3 cats and I know they are a pain when they scratch your furniture etc. I have a 'stropping post' screwed up against the side of one of my kitchen units. It's only a board covered in carpet bought from my local pet store. My cat hangs off it and goes nuts when he's having a 'psycho half hour'.

I only have one cat now and you need to train them early on. Every time he stropped elsewhere I would say no remove him and immediately put him by his proper stropping post and encourage him to strop there. Also praise them when they do the right thing. It worked for me, I have a siamese.

HTH?

Re: Cats - Scratching proglem - Help!
 

Thanks for help... I do have a scratch post, which they do use sometimes. The damage usually happens at night when we are in bed or when we go out.

Thank again.

Re: Cats - Scratching proglem - Help!
 

In my experience, making sure the scratch post is made from a material that the cat prefers over the fabric of your furniture is key. I sacrificed a sofa learning that one. My cat positively loved her scratch post once I reversed the carpetting that was on it so that the carpet backing was on the outside and she could really dig into it. I found that rubbing the post with catnip helped too.

Re: Cats - Scratching proglem - Help!
 

Probably stupid question, but can you lock them in one room/area and surround the wee loves with scratching posts/beds, etc. I've never seen such a combination of 'playhouses' for moggies in the shops !

I used to find a quick smack on the nose when they 'attacked' the furniture did the trick to some degree. Praise might work. Bit like kids really ! :p Got to get in there early ....

Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!
 

try getting a waterbottle spray and spray them with water when they scratch the wrong thing. It does then no harm. It worked for our cat, she only tries to scratch now if shes in a strop, she does it to annoy us as knows its wrong as she looks straight at us while positioning her claws

Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!
 

Yeah, just like kids then ! :rofl:

Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!
 

Thats just what the ginger cat does, he looks straight at me, then when I pick up the waterbottle he runs.

Its mainly at night time and when we are out the most damage is done. Our walls have deep scratches in them, I have to keep going around with the filler and re-paint before hubby gets home.

Going to give trimming their nails:ohmy: a go today and try and get some of the nail caps.

Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!
 

omg glue and nail caps for cats wtf :eek: whatever next, the mind boggles :confused:

get two or three scratching posts around the house, make them convenient for the cats and then no probs...it's the thing cats do, scratch! our two twelve yr old cats which have never been declawed btw :eek: and we don't have a thing damaged, never have.

Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!
 

I have scratch posts etc. but dont know what to do now! Desperate to keep them, thats why I'm asking for help.

Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!
 

have you had their nails trimmed?

Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!
 

they were done at the vets a few months ago. I will try and do them today, but will this stop them ripping the carpet up?

Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!
 

for sure it will help big time, however they have to be done regularly..ours are done every month...just think about how your own nails grow, so do theirs.
good luck :)

edit....pls be careful how far down you go just as with our nails if you cut too low down it will hurt!

Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!
 

Will do, thanks

Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!
 

hope you saw the edit on my post not to cut them too low down and let me know how you get on.....:)