Expert: Dear Tabbi - 12/8/2008

Question
Hey Tabbi,
First of all, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.  My husband and I have 2 kittens, about 9 months old.  They have several minor problems, which all add up to be somewhat frustrating sometimes.  Simba and Nala are brother and sister kittens, rescued from Philadelphia and had an early spay/neuter just before we got them.  

Simba just wants to eat anything that is food.  Thankfully, he's not eating things that aren't (other than some cardboard), but he even ate our algae flakes for our fish!  I take the groceries home and before I close the door he's found the bread and opened it!  He follows us around the kitchen waiting for crumbs like a dog and insists on getting the scraps from the table too.  We have doublesided sticky tape on pieces of cardboard which immediately go back on the table as soon as we're done eating, but he seems to not mind them so much if there's even a crumb of bread on the table.  

Also, we have 2 scratching posts, one upright and one on the floor.  Nala seems to enjoy scratching our carpet more than the scratching posts, even when I put catnip on posts.  She's only deterred by the spray bottle for a moment.  It usually happens when I get home and I know she's just happy to see me, but how do I get her to use her claws on the scratching post?  I've been clipping her claws too, which helps, but the carpet will soon be showing wear.  Simba loves the upright cardboard though!  

I'm also concerned about them getting on the counters.  Simba is already a little overweight ( We've cut back his food already) and lazy, but Nala is smart and athletic.  She's gotten up there a couple times and before she makes a habit of it, do you know a good way to make a bad association?  

One good training tactic we had I thought I'd share, they started pulling out toilet paper out and we placed a plastic cup of water on it.  It fell once, with both of them there, and neither one has touched it since!

Thanks again for your time, I really appreciate it!

Answer
Amy,

It is hard to know what previous experiences the kittens had before you got them. If they were starved and did not have, or could not find, enough food, it can emotionally scar them and make food a top priority. I would keep a bowl of a good quality cat food out all the time (kitten chow until they are a year old). That way Simba can nibble when he is are hungry, and when he see it's not going anywhere, he will not scarf it down. I free-feed dry food and do not have a problem with my cats being overweight. Some cats, like people, are bigger boned and look fat when they are not. Make sure that is not the case when you cut back on his food. That may compound the hunger behavior. When you know he is mentally and physically getting enough food, then you can start disciplining him about getting on things and begging.

Simba may have a fiber deficiency which may be why he eats cardboard. I have one that eats toilet paper. It's not harmful in very small quantities. My cats love fish food! I sometimes give them flakes when I feed my fish as a treat. It's not going to hurt them.

Simba may also have worms which would cause his incessant search for food. The worms eat what the cats eat so they are basically hungry all the time. Do NOT get over the counter wormer. Worms are developing an immunity to them. Get it from a vet. They have the latest effective products and can give you the right wormer for the type of worms the cat may have (there are several kinds).

Scratching is a reflex. Even declawed cats (horrors!) will go through the motions as if they had claws. Some cats are vertical scratchers and some prefer a flat surface. I have found that my cats prefer a sissle (hemp)rope scratching pad, a condo cat tree that has part sissle (hemp)rope on it. Two prefer a tall cardboard box that they LOVE for a scratching post! Wood, cardboard, and hemp go back to the wild where cats used trees to scratch their claws and mark their territory. I would scold Nala loudly and firmly when she scratches on the carpet and put her at her post.

A rolled up newspaper is great for teaching and breaking bad habits. Slapping it hard against something, or a pop on the butt scares them, but it won't hurt them. Wait a few minutes then give them some loving. You don't want them scared of you, just scared to do whatever made them 'get the newspaper'. Combine the newspaper with consistant wording, such as "NO! No scratching", or "NO! No counter", etc. That is so they associate the words with what they are doing wrong (they DO understand English). A couple of upside down mousetraps can help for the counters. Set the traps, put them upside down, then tape newspaper over them (to protect the cats from injury). When they jump on the counter the traps will go off scaring the cats. Or again, slap a rolled up newspaper HARD against the table or counter to scare the cats. Cats do not have reasoning abilities, they only go by habit and association. Also try not to leave food out on the counter as a temptation. When Nala sees that there is nothing up there, she may lose interest. All cats are curious about everything and they also like high places. A tall cat tree or kitty condo with holes and shelves can help satisfy that urge to get up on things.

The water on the toilet paper was an ingenious idea!

I hope this helps.

Tabbi