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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / March 2007scratching
Our cats have several scratching posts - one is adjacent to a chair which the cats prefer to scratch -rather than the scratching post. We have cardboard boxes all over the bedroom trying to protect the dresser and other furniture becasue they reach up and scratch the furniture. Is there any answer t this - the 2 cats and almost 3 years old Ken > Our cats have several scratching posts - one is adjacent to a chair > which the cats prefer to scratch -rather than the scratching post. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Ken Something that may work, that I also need to try: citrus. I hear cats hate something called 'essence of orange.' There may be products out there you can use to fragrance your furniture. Frangrances that you may like, but the cat hates. Here's something I found: 'Spray it with Re-pel, anise oil or Eucalyptus oil. ' I just like the idea of spraying a fragrance of something I kinda like, but the cat hates. Also, put either a catnip plant or sprinkle dry catnip on the cat posts to encourage them to scrath them. > Our cats have several scratching posts - one is adjacent to a chair > which the cats prefer to scratch -rather than the scratching post. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Ken You may have to try different types of scratching posts. One cat may like sisal or jute another may like a carpeted post. My cats never have scratched the furniture, but Rusty always preferred a carpeted scratching post while Grady like the sisal or jute. My husband even once got a large tree branch and attached it to a stand to see if either liked that better. You may have to experiment with them to see what they like and then they may leave your furniture alone. Patty Suddenly, without warning, Patty exclaimed (28-Mar-07 9:48 AM): >> Our cats have several scratching posts - one is adjacent to a chair >> which the cats prefer to scratch -rather than the scratching post. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Patty I second this. Meep absolutely hates Jute. She's got furniture that's mostly carpet but has a jute post... the carpet's completely shredded and falling off (new one's on the way!) but the jute is just as pristine as the day I bought it. I've tried to encourage her to scratch on it, to no avail. There's something out there called "sticky paws", which is essentially industrial-sized double sided sticky tape, that you can put on the spots they like to scratch on - they don't like the stickiness. jmc > You may have to try different types of scratching posts. One cat may like > sisal or jute another may like a carpeted post. My cats never have [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Patty It's possible they might like a cardboard scratcher too. I had a friend who had a cat who preferred a piece of wood (bark attached) and another who liked an upside down wicker basket. > > You may have to try different types ofscratchingposts. One cat may like > > sisal or jute another may like a carpetedpost. My cats never have [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > friend who had a cat who preferred a piece of wood (bark attached) and > another who liked an upside down wicker basket. Hey guys, I recently adopted a 3 mo. old kitten who'd been feral/wild so there's a lot of things that scare/intimidate her. I've been treading lightly with the whole scratching post thing (I don't wanna scare/overwhelm her) but I don't think what I'm doing is working. I got her a carpeted scratching post and put catnip on it and really tried ot encourage/entice her to use it but I don't think she "gets it"....y'know? Is this something that kittens usually pick up over time or do you think it'd be wise to get her a different type of scratching post or maybe use another behavior to try and encourage her to use it? This is my first Kitten so I don't know what to expect! Thanks, Lisa Ashley Rafter >>> You may have to try different types ofscratchingposts. One cat may like >>> sisal or jute another may like a carpetedpost. My cats never have [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Thanks, > Lisa Ashley Rafter When Rusty was a kitten, he liked a flat on the ground scratching post(?), they make those cardboard ones. When he got older, he switch to carpeted which I discovered when he scratched up the side of a "kitty condo" thing. Patty > When Rusty was a kitten, he liked a flat on the ground scratching post(?), > they make those cardboard ones. When he got older, he switch to carpeted > which I discovered when he scratched up the side of a "kitty condo" thing. The one that keeps my cats from scratching the furnture: http://www.cosmicpet.com/scratchers.htm Another thing: if you go the route of the carpeted scratcher, make sure it is at least 30 inches tall to allow the cat to get a good stretch in, or he will be making for the corner of your couch again. A good stretch is part of a good scratch!  SignaturePosted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >> When Rusty was a kitten, he liked a flat on the ground scratching post(?), >> they make those cardboard ones. When he got older, he switch to carpeted [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > he will be making for the corner of your couch again. A good stretch > is part of a good scratch! Ours have always averaged 18" tall. They always got a good stretch because they stood a bit back from it and stretched towards it, I guess. Never had furniture scratched or clawed up in 16 years of having these cats, except for the carpeted kitty condo thing, but since that was theirs, I really didn't care much. We got rid of it when they got too big for it and couldn't easily fit into it anymore. With the cardboard one, Rusty used the flat type (not the Alpine) while he was little. He would just go up to it, even stand on it and run his little kitten claws over it. When he got interested in carpeted, he never touched it again. I think since they had specific preferances for what they liked which were readily available, carpeted and sisal/jute, they never touched the furniture since it was made out of fabric and now leather. They never had any interest in the furniture, except to take a nap on it. We had our last sofa for nearly 20 years (yeah, way too long) and there was not any clawed spots on it. Patty > I think since they had specific preferances for what they liked which were > readily available, carpeted and sisal/jute, they never touched the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > sofa for nearly 20 years (yeah, way too long) and there was not any clawed > spots on it. You were smart enough to figure out the key thing in keeping them from scratching furniture etc.: to give them something they like to scratch better. I was thrilled to see the 30" scratcher I got at Petsmart for $15. My cats always ignored the shorter ones. This one is great, Gracie gets the crazies and leaps to the top of it and sticks like velcro. :) It is by a worktable in my upstairs office, and the other morning I actually watched the kitty brain at work. I was playing with Gracie with a toy on a rope, flinging it on either side of the scratching post, you know how they like that. She leapt at the toy and wound up with all four feet stuck to the scratcher. She looked up at the table, and I swear it was like I saw one of those cartoon bubbles appear over her head. She climbed up the scratcher and onto the table and explored it, looking very pleased with herself. >> I think since they had specific preferances for what they liked which were >> readily available, carpeted and sisal/jute, they never touched the [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > cartoon bubbles appear over her head. She climbed up the scratcher > and onto the table and explored it, looking very pleased with herself. I can just picture Gracie's antics! She sounds like a real character with a lot of personality. Thanks for the PetSmart recommendation. I'll have to check it out next time I need to replace Rusty's scratching post. We only recently got a PetSmart in our area. Patty
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