Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Clawing furniture

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 6/26/2008


Question
Dear Tabbi,

My cat Lucy is tearing up my red cloth sofa. I have one of those cardboard scratching things, and she uses it when I'm home and occasionally when I'm there she'll claw the sofa and I quickly clap my hands and give a quick "no" and take her to the scratcher.

It's when I'm not home she does the most damage. The underside of the sofa is completely ruined and the sides are getting frizzier and frizzier with every shred. I'm sick of it, and I cant get a new sofa because the problem will just continue. What should I do?

Answer
Krista,

Here are some links to some good articles about furniture scratching. Read them and if you still are having problems or have more questions write back and we will go from there.
(copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar)


http://www.cozycatfurniture.com/howtosaveyourfurniture.html

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1310&articleid=166

http://www.catscratching.com/

You may also want to consider getting a friend for your cat. A cat needs a friend to play kitty games with, to snuggle with, and to be comfort and companionship when you are gone. A single cat is more destructive. A lot of times it is due to boredom.

I've had the best luck with scratching posts and kitty condos that have sissel or hemp rope on them. Also try putting some catnip on her post.

Here is a great link with photos that show how to trim the cat's claws:

http://www.cat-world.com.au/catclaws.htm

I hope this helps.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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