AboutDear Tabbi Expertise I try to help people understand their cats and their cat's behavior.
I do not answer questions about pedigreed cats as mine are, and always have been, from questionable parentage. Please remember I am NOT a veterinarian.
Experience At the current time I have 13 cats. All are spayed and neutered!
Since I was a child I have been owned by lots of cats and kittens of almost every temperment, behavior, and personality. I have experience with neurotic, disabled, stray, feral, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats has taught me that I want to share.
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)
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:
