Cat Clawing Everything in the New House

If she's an older or a heavy cat, declawing should really be the last option. Her claws should be trimmed whenever they start getting long-every couple of weeks. your vet can show you how to do that. It's very easy and doesn't require anything other than the nail trimmer you use for yourself. One scratching post probably isn't enough. It may not be tall enough, be covered with a material that she wants to scratch, etc. She could be bored and she is certainly marking her new territory. We have six indoor only cats, none are declawed and we have very few issues with clawing. However, we trim nails frequently and have several scratching posts throughout the house. Some with carpet, some with sisal rope, some have sleeping perches, and two are in front of windows that have bird feeders right outside so they can watch the birds. They're also of varying heights. Two almost reach the ceiling and are connected by a 1X4 plank that my husband attached. The key for our cats has been to keep them occupied and happy.

I'm happy to hear that you are wanting to try other options to avoid a declaw...and there were several good ideas (besides declawing) posted. :) I have a multi-cat household and only one of my cats is declawed. We especially like the Sticky Paws tape, but also use the Feliway spray. It may be called Comfort Zone now, but I think it's the same thing. Keeping the nails trimmed is a good idea, is usually easy to do, and helps eliminate snags when kitty is just playing. Attract your kitty to use the scratching post with cat nip and spray the Feliway where you don't want her scratching (or use the tape). The cardboard scratchers are good too and come a few different ways...like to hang on a door knob if that's where kitty scratches. Some other good ideas and tips at www.catscratching.com

I am an animal lover but I still say declaw the cat. Ladies, don't message me about how cruel I am, this is just my opinion. I would not let everything in my house be ruined by a pet just to save the cat from declawing. If you are against it, you may just have to accept the scratching.

We have used bitter spray for our dogs and it works wonders. I spray it on the trash can, and even on the drywall (yes, they chewed the wall), shoes...sometimes directly at their mouth when I caught them in the act. I don't know if you can use it for cats but I'd look into it.

Have you tried the scratching post with catnip on it to entice her? Is it carpet covered? My cat perfers a basket hamper thing that is in our entry room. I let him have it. It wasn't expensive and since I let him claw it, he leaves everything else alone. My point is, maybe the scratching post was the wrong texture? Both of my cats perfer the wicker or rattan basket feel. Also, increase the consistency with the squirt bottle. Keep a couple around the house. Make sure that she has enough toys in general to play with to help her get that energy out of her system. I'm with you on the claw thing. I think that it's wrong to take a cats claws away from them unless extreme circumstance cannot be fixed. Also, you could try some double sided tape on the corner of the couch that she wants to claw. Cats usually don't like the feel of the tape or tin foil.

I have two cats. The first one we got declawed; we were living in an apartment at the time and were told we had to have her declawed so she could be on the lease. I regret that decision to this very day. It quite obviously affected her. The second cat, a male, is not declawed. We keep his nails trimmed and have plenty of scratching posts available for him. I noticed that he wasn't using one in particular so I don't know if that's just his personality or if it's not tall enough for him - he's a loooooong cat and can't stretch on it very well! So we wrapped one of the poles in the basement with old carpeting scraps and he uses that. He loves it. Try that.

Also, there's something called SoftPaws that you could check out. We didn't have to go this route because our cat isn't a bad scratcher but this may help you: http://www.softpaws.com/ It's entirely safe and humane and doesn't hurt. And they're stylish! Get them in an assortment of colors. Your neighbors will be jealous. ;)

I applaud your decision to not get your cat declawed. It's horrible what they actually do to them (they remove the last knuckle!) and if I had known I would have never, ever done that to my poor kitty.

A., yes i would buy a carpet square, and allow them to scratch on that, or i had a small chair that they would claw, every time they would claw something i woudl grab them and put them on the carpet square or that scratchy chair, it was a single chair, that i did not care about, not a large living room one but i guess ou can use anything, sometimes cardboard is good, they can scratch that up, they also have some plasitc pieces somewehre not sure, that go on corners of couches , so cat cannot scratch it, i would pick up the cat from wehre it was scratching and take it to werhe it could scratch, even an old wooden dining room chair, but you have to be willing to get it and go, ahah either way know i have not declawed mine eiter, and they have done well, they still scratch and we do yell at them for scratching where they shouldnot or even a slight swat, or just a tap or a removal so they know not to do that, and they run away , have a good day D. s

Hi A.,

Cats can be taught not to scratch furniture but you do have to be consistent. Spraying them with water works for some but not all cats, you can also try shaking marbles in a can. Trimming her nails every month, a vet tech can show you how to do it properly, or find a website about cat care. If you or your husband are handy, maybe you could build her a cat tree for her to climb and scratch. I don't know too many cats that don't love cat trees. Until she gets a little older, keep the bathroom door closed as much as you can to keep her away from the shower curtain. For couches and chairs, tape (wide width) is supposed to work well, cats don't like to scratch against a sticky surface. I would attach the (double sided) tape to carboard or something hard so it doesn't wreck the furniture. I hope it works out well.

Preciouspawspetsit.net

If she's an active scratcher I would suggest declawing. If she's young she may slow down when she gets a little older. I declawed my first kitty. My second I tried not to and did use the soft paws nail covers. You can buy them yourself and glue them on or have the vet do it. It was so traumatic for my cat to have them glued on that I gave up and just had him declawed. Double sided sticky tape works as well as the squirt bottle. www.drsfostersmith.com has a lot of tools to keep the cat away from certain areas. The scratching posts with cat nip are great ideas too. But if the cat was destroying all my stuff, everyone will probably be happier if the cat is just declawed. You won't be angry, your stuff will be fine and the cat won't be getting squirted all the time. Good luck!

My cats didn't like traditional scratching posts either. I thought our furniture was doomed until we picked up one of those scratching pads made out of cardboard. It comes with catnip to sprinkle on it and our cats go crazy for it! I think it's called "the scratch lounge" or something like that. I haven't seen them at every pet supply place so you might want to check online. Hope this helps!

They make these things to go over the cat claws; we had to declaw our new cat too (we're renting) and she destroyed the carpet by one of the doors in the apartment. Good luck!

Then you'll have to keep up consistently with clipping the claws and keeping them dull enough.

Alternatively, get some spray that smells bad to cats and repels them. Spray it on the areas the cat attacks, and break the habit. Make sure the cat has plenty of toys to sink its claws into. I'd still buy a scratching post. Once you 'save the furniture' the cat might just decide a scratching post isn't so bad. At least it won't stink from the spray.

Keep spray bottles handy and have them set to stream. If one of cats even sees the bottle he runs. My daughter started using the spray bottle on her dog and he runs or turns away when he sees it. Be consistent with it, it will get better.

I've had cats for 27 years....only the 1st one wasn't declawed because I couldn't afford it, and she ruined a couch, carpeting, chair, whatever. All of the rest of my cats have had the front-paw declaw and have not been affected by it at all. They are indoor only cats. But I did have one that would get out once in awhile, and one time I watched him climb a tree when a dog came near him...so he was still able to climb with just the back claws. Being an animal lover, we have a house-full of pets!, I think it's the best way to save my furniture, carpeting and drapes.
D.