As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/
Options
Kitty issue
galenblade
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, I just got a new kitty. She's adorable and everything. But I've been having an issue pop up that I need help on.
She scratches stuff. Mainly, my rug, which is rather expensive and I don't want her tearing up. Easy, you say. Get a scratching post. Well, I got a scratching pad and put it somewhere she can find, but she doesn't really use it. I dosed it with catnip and she essentially just buries her face in it and tries to lick it.
Ideally I want her to use the scratching pad, but I can't figure out how to get her to do so.
There's a complicating factor, too. She's blind, so I can't really show her how to do it. Like, if I pick her up to take her to the box, she freaks and is rather uncompliant. Understandably so, as she doesn't know where she's going. And even if I do get her over there, she may not get the connection.
Anyone have any experience with this?
She scratches stuff. Mainly, my rug, which is rather expensive and I don't want her tearing up. Easy, you say. Get a scratching post. Well, I got a scratching pad and put it somewhere she can find, but she doesn't really use it. I dosed it with catnip and she essentially just buries her face in it and tries to lick it.
Ideally I want her to use the scratching pad, but I can't figure out how to get her to do so.
There's a complicating factor, too. She's blind, so I can't really show her how to do it. Like, if I pick her up to take her to the box, she freaks and is rather uncompliant. Understandably so, as she doesn't know where she's going. And even if I do get her over there, she may not get the connection.
Anyone have any experience with this?
galenblade on
0
Posts
Street Fighter 4 (pc): sdurien
Steam: Jon http://steamcommunity.com//profiles/76561197970923897/home
Oh absolutely. Shoulda mentioned that. Not getting her declawed at all. Not an option. I view it as inhumane. Hopefully can find an option where kitty keeps her claws.
What always drives my cats to scratch is me running my nails up and down their post. They have a carpeted vertical post (with levels), and I dig my fingers into the carpet and drag up the post. This generally results in cats launching themselves at post to scratch feverishly!
Is the scratching post a *post* or does it have a decent foot on the floor? Perhaps she'd be happier scratching horizontally? Then she can stretch her back while pulling with her hind legs.
Do try scratching the post while she's next to it. Also perhaps move the post next to the rug, and when you catch her scratching the rug move her to the post and start scratching it!
Good luck!
Whenever she's scratching the carpet, just pick her up and move her to the scratching thing. Maybe give it a scratch or two of your own to see if she gets the idea.
Cats will learn where things in the house are, so as the cat gets used to the way things are set up, this will work to your advantage.
You should get soft paws, already mentioned once. Even if you just use them in transition. Second, not all cats are going to enjoy the same feelings on their paws. Some love the rough cardboard, but may prefer it to be upright instead of horizontal. Others love rough rope or different kinds of carpet and cloth materials. You will want a combination of vertical and horizontal surfaces available and try out different materials to see which your cat enjoys scratching most.
Your cat needs to learn spatially in the environment where her stuff is (scratching post included). Picking her up will mean she doesn't know how to get back to it (and frankly cats are dicks about this already). It's also a big surprise when you don't see the arms coming for you and is probably causing a fear reaction.
I would try (as someone else suggested) attempting to appeal to the senses that your cat still has, by scratching on the posts/pads surfaces with your own nails, and giving a lot of praise when she comes near to investigate. Best way to praise is probably treat and verbal encouragement not touch. Cats also love to erase other scents by rubbing themselves and scratching over top. However its not always easy to find what your cat enjoys. Young cats don't usually respond to catnip but it's still a good way to show that things belong to her. You may also try honeysuckle spray:
http://www.cattoys.com/hosp.html
My cat rubs himself all over dirty socks, too! Try out a few things that smell strongly to get your cat interested in the pad. However, I would put the soft paws on so that you're not stressed out about the rug in the meantime, because if you are trying to rush things to save the rug the cat will just get more stubborn.
Damn my skimming.
Those press-on nails sound like the best bet then.
If you're not a fan of the declawing option then really getting those softpaws or other little claw caps seems to be the best solution that offers quicker results than hoping she learns not to tear up the carpet. Just a side note, if she's not fond of being handled be prepared to learn how to properly wrap a cat into a towel and fish out one leg at a time for capping or just get used to really scratched up arms. My sister's cat was a major scratcher and putting those caps on her cat was not a pleasant experience.
I suppose one other thing I can do is physically remove the rug for a bit until she gets into the scratching pad.
There are also deterents that you spray on things and cats supposedly don't like the smell. That might be good for your rug. And then there are motion sensor deterrents that emit a sound, or a water spray. I can't vouch for any of these, but they are out there.
Seriously, I'm tearing up like a pansy.
Second, we have two cats. Our first, and oldest, refuses to learn to scratch anything but a certain chair. The second, and newest, took to a cat scratching post like a king. Attempts to punish the first cat (by startle, water bottle, etc.) has taught her to wait until we're not home. The only thing that worked for us is the clear cat tape, which isn't very pretty, and may not be an option if the rug is the target of scratching.
The side effect however, is that her nails now grow incredibly long, and she sounds like a tranny in an alley whenever she walks across our hardwood floors. There's plenty of stuff outside for her to scratch on, but she seems to refuse. My friend has those "press on nails" for his kitty, and they have saved his house.
Definitely do not declaw, the poor thing has it hard enough as it is.
Plus, where are the pictures? My God, are you new here? :-)
If it is, it forces you to post pics.
Also, +50 for taking a blind kitty. You sir are a brave man.
But for those who want her full story, here you go. It's rather heart-wrenching, though.
And as the place that got her does Trap-Neuter-Release, she was promptly spayed. It was only after they were in the middle of doing it that they found out she was pregnant, and they had to abort the litter.
And once she came out from the anesthetic, she was blind. She had apparently had an averse reaction to something in the anesthetic, it occasionally happens in cats. But yeah, a series of bad things have happened to this cat, so she deserves a bit of a comfortable life now.
And since requested, the only real pic I have of Sunny, my cat. From her Petfinder profile.
...I'm submitting your name to the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" people.
You deserve a mansion.
Expect a bus to pull up in your yard shortly.
http://www.softpaws.com/
I'm having some trouble getting my kitten to scratch only his post, he sometimes likes to dig his claws into the rug too. So I'm thinking of going the softpaws route shortly.
edit: i apologize, i forgot the rules...here he is sharpening his claws on the air
On the other hand, I declawed my cat and not only is she the same cat, she still tries to sharpen her claws on stuff.