Question about "clawing" kitty

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Smokie Darling (Annie) - 28 Feb 2006 22:23 GMT

Hi all,

It's been a bit since I've had enough time to ask this question, and I
should probably post it to behavio(u)r (and I may, depending on the
response here).

Seal, one of the bits born last April has been in her forever home with
her mommy kitty since November. She has been enjoying not having to
share the attention of the human with any one other than her mom.

Apparently, about two weeks ago, she decided to start treating her
meowmie like the scratching post. She does this at 02:00 or 03:00 most
mornings. Aside from locking her out of the bedroom, which the human
(Grace) does not wish to do as it upsets both cats, what can we do to
help teach this recalcitrant child not to dig and pull and her meowmie?

Grace has to be at work most mornings at 05:30, so she is in her best
sleep mode when Seal decides it's time to scratch, claw, and dig. She
has had the claws trimmed once, and is a bit leery of doing that on her
own, about a month ago. She does plan on having TED take a look at
her, just to be safe, and to trim her claws again.

TIA

Smokie Darling (Annie)

Reply to this Message

Karen - 28 Feb 2006 22:40 GMT

YOu know, Sugar tends to do this. SHe is a lot older and understands "No".
So now when I say "NO" she just goes and lays down on my legs (she is a
GOOOOOD girl). But I bet Seal's mom could train her by saying NO firmly and
putting her out at that time. Eventually, she should not have to put her
out. Depending on how quick Seal is, maybe not long at all. That is what I
would try.

> Hi all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> Smokie Darling (Annie)

Reply to this Message

kilikini - 01 Mar 2006 12:01 GMT

> YOu know, Sugar tends to do this. SHe is a lot older and understands "No".
> So now when I say "NO" she just goes and lays down on my legs (she is a
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> >
> > Smokie Darling (Annie)

My Tyrone does this to me at night, too. I'll wake up to a claw stuck in my
nose. I just yell "OW" really loudly and he backs off. Tyrone's about a
year and a half, now. He's the only one of my three who does this.

kili

Reply to this Message

Smokie Darling (Annie) - 04 Mar 2006 15:15 GMT

> > YOu know, Sugar tends to do this. SHe is a lot older and understands "No".
> > So now when I say "NO" she just goes and lays down on my legs (she is a
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
>
> kili

Thanks Kili (and Karen). It seems that Seal is learning that no means
the bedroom will be closed (with momma kitty in the room) if meowmie
has to say no more than once. I guess she was "sucking up" big time
yesterday morning when meowmie and momma came out. Grace is also
trying to love on and play with Seal more during their time together,
so she isn't sure which had the effect of making Seal miserable (poor
baby, but she's got sharp claws). Momma Kitty didn't get upset at
having meowmie all to herself, I had mis-understood and thought Grace
would lock both of them out (sometimes I am not the sharpest tool in
the shed).

What's funny (to me) is that Li'l Bit (aka Momma Kitty) was never an
inside cat until I brought her in last year to have her babies. She is
such a sweet cat! She rarely claws (unless you are silly enough to rub
belly meat), she understands the word no regardless of the tone in
which it's uttered (Grace and I were talking on the phone, I asked her
a question which she answered with "no", Li'l Bit quit eating and
looked at meowmie and waited 'til meowmie said she could go ahead and
finish her supper).

I have told Grace both suggestions, and she is trying, since she really
does NOT want to declaw Seal. Seal is a smart baby, and I believe
she's getting Momma Kitty's disapproval as well as Meowmie's.

Smokie Darling (Annie)

Reply to this Message

Monique Y. Mudama - 04 Mar 2006 15:56 GMT

> I have told Grace both suggestions, and she is trying, since she
> really does NOT want to declaw Seal. Seal is a smart baby, and I
> believe she's getting Momma Kitty's disapproval as well as
> Meowmie's.

There's no reason to even think of this as an option. In any case, if
Seal is still a kitten, a lot of her obnoxious behaviors will fade
away on their own as she grows up.

Signature

monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully

pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

Reply to this Message

Smokie Darling (Annie) - 04 Mar 2006 19:32 GMT

> > I have told Grace both suggestions, and she is trying, since she
> > really does NOT want to declaw Seal. Seal is a smart baby, and I
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

I completely agree with you, but she doesn't understand the declaw
debate. I've told her that if Seal doesn't cease, then I will take her
back (rather than subject her to that).

I've been trying very hard to convince the "extended" family (Grace is
my DH's ex-wife and my best friend) how bad this is. She doesn't want
to give her up, but I don't want her declawed either, so... I suppose
we'll be testing our friendship if Seal doesn't "shape up" (prolly not,
but maybe).

Seems that the "lock out" might be the best way to go for her. Seal
did NOT claw meowmie last night, so... Aversion therapy, that'll work
(we hope).

Smokie Darling (Annie)

Reply to this Message

Rate this thread: