Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > Canada > The Maple Leaf
Reload this Page >

Cats - Scratching proglem - Help!

Wikiposts

Cats - Scratching proglem - Help!

Thread Tools
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 4:11 am
  #1  
fester's Avatar
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 44
From: Blind Bay, BC Canada
fester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the rough
Default 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

Last edited by fester; Jul 23rd 2007 at 4:44 am.
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 4:26 am
  #2  
BE Forum Addict
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,491
From: SW England
Craftybanshee has a reputation beyond reputeCraftybanshee has a reputation beyond reputeCraftybanshee has a reputation beyond reputeCraftybanshee has a reputation beyond reputeCraftybanshee has a reputation beyond reputeCraftybanshee has a reputation beyond reputeCraftybanshee has a reputation beyond reputeCraftybanshee has a reputation beyond reputeCraftybanshee has a reputation beyond reputeCraftybanshee has a reputation beyond reputeCraftybanshee has a reputation beyond repute
Default 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?
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 4:39 am
  #3  
fester's Avatar
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 44
From: Blind Bay, BC Canada
fester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the rough
Default Re: Cats - Scratching proglem - Help!

Originally Posted by Craftybanshee
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?
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.
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 4:57 am
  #4  
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,715
hot wasabi peas is an unknown quantity at this point
Default 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.
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 4:59 am
  #5  
ann m's Avatar
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,866
From: Cochrane, Alberta
ann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond repute
Default 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 ! Got to get in there early ....
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 5:02 am
  #6  
daft batty's Avatar
BE Forum Addict
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,234
daft batty has a reputation beyond reputedaft batty has a reputation beyond reputedaft batty has a reputation beyond reputedaft batty has a reputation beyond reputedaft batty has a reputation beyond reputedaft batty has a reputation beyond reputedaft batty has a reputation beyond reputedaft batty has a reputation beyond reputedaft batty has a reputation beyond reputedaft batty has a reputation beyond reputedaft batty has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!

Originally Posted by fester
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
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

Last edited by daft batty; Jul 23rd 2007 at 5:10 am.
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 5:04 am
  #7  
ann m's Avatar
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,866
From: Cochrane, Alberta
ann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond reputeann m has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!

Originally Posted by batty-x-ray
she only tried 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
Yeah, just like kids then !
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 5:17 am
  #8  
fester's Avatar
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 44
From: Blind Bay, BC Canada
fester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the rough
Default Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!

Originally Posted by batty-x-ray
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

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 a go today and try and get some of the nail caps.
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 5:26 am
  #9  
Account Closed
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
TruBrit is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!

Originally Posted by fester
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
omg glue and nail caps for cats wtf whatever next, the mind boggles

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 and we don't have a thing damaged, never have.
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 5:30 am
  #10  
fester's Avatar
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 44
From: Blind Bay, BC Canada
fester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the rough
Default Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!

Originally Posted by TruBrit
omg glue and nail caps for cats wtf whatever next, the mind boggles

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 and we don't have a thing damaged, never have.
I have scratch posts etc. but dont know what to do now! Desperate to keep them, thats why I'm asking for help.
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 5:31 am
  #11  
Account Closed
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
TruBrit is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!

Originally Posted by fester
I have scratch posts etc. but dont know what to do now! Desperate to keep them, thats why I'm asking for help.
have you had their nails trimmed?
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 5:34 am
  #12  
fester's Avatar
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 44
From: Blind Bay, BC Canada
fester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the rough
Default Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!

Originally Posted by TruBrit
have you had their nails trimmed?
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?
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 5:36 am
  #13  
Account Closed
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
TruBrit is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!

Originally Posted by fester
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?
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!

Last edited by TruBrit; Jul 23rd 2007 at 5:39 am.
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 5:38 am
  #14  
fester's Avatar
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 44
From: Blind Bay, BC Canada
fester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the roughfester is a jewel in the rough
Default Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!

Originally Posted by TruBrit
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
Will do, thanks
 
Old Jul 23rd 2007 | 5:40 am
  #15  
Account Closed
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
TruBrit is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Cats - Scratching problem - Help!

Originally Posted by fester
Will do, thanks
hope you saw the edit on my post not to cut them too low down and let me know how you get on.....
 


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Your Privacy Choices

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.