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Conference misery::feline

Title:Meower Power - Where Differing Opinions are Respected
Notice:purrrrr...
Moderator:JULIET::CORDES_JA
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1079
Total number of notes:28858

759.0. "Scratching Post" by HOTLNE::HARGREAVES () Sat May 14 1994 12:39

                I have a question pertaining to the use of a 
          scratching post ? We have a three year old fixed,female
          Siamese who is an indoor/outdoor cat who has decided that
          the furniture is more convient for sharpening her claws.(Realizing
          each cat is an individual),I would greatly appreciate any
          informatiom about the success or failure of a scratching post
          used to prevent the distruction of the furniture.So far the best
          method to deter her has been to keep her claws clipped.
          
    
    
    
    
    
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
759.1Talk to her gently...BPSOF::EGYEDPer aspera ad astraMon May 16 1994 06:168
    I clip the claws regularly. As I tried to 'readvice' her from the
    chairs, I used a bit of water to make her wet if she clawed the
    furniture. And I soaked the would-become scratching post with catnip.
    It worked (until now). Catnip is long ago gone (4 years) but Smokey is
    used to the post now and only occasionally she goes on the chairs. Then
    I hiss, she hisses back and goes over to the post...
    
    Nat
759.2Cotton rugNRSTA2::BACHELDERMon May 16 1994 06:477
    I too keep Ebony's claws clipped, but that did not deter her.  I ended
    up putting this small cotton rug on the floor (for her use only).  It
    works great!  Whenever she wants to scratch she goes to the rug and
    has at it.
    
    - Lauri
    
759.3Shilo is learning slowly not to use the furniturePSYCHE::AIKEYMon May 16 1994 07:1413
    
    Shilo loves the end of the couch!!  He will go over to it and then turn
    around and look at me as if to say,"What are you going to do about it". 
    Well that is when I pick up the spay bottle.  He gets up immediately
    and walks away.  You name it and he has it to scratch on.  We even
    brought in a large piece of wood for him.. He just prefers the end of
    the couch.....
    
    Good Luck!!
    
    
    *joyce
    
759.4AKOCOA::LPIERCEThat's my StoryMon May 16 1994 07:1912
    
    I ditto the spray bottle!  But, I also went out and I bought a
    scratch post that hangs on your doors, I bought a few of them and I
    have them hung on 3 of my doors.  I also have standing one, I basically
    put one every place I could think of, to give them alot of other
    choices of where to scratch.
    
    I also (and don't laugh) everynight for weeks, I would bring my cats
    (all 4 of them) up to the post and I would take there feet and manualy
    scratch there feet againts the post....they got the idea!
    
    Louisa  
759.5mine like the horizontal scratchersSTOWOA::FALLONMoonsta CatteryMon May 16 1994 10:249
    Arty of Arubacats makes a really neat scratching post.  It actually
    lies horizontally on a carpeted base.  The post itself is covered with
    sisal and has carpeted caps on the end.  I have two of them around the 
    house and mini ones in the two cages.  Most of my cats prefer these
    actually to the big six footer I got for them.  Sometimes simple is
    better.  I also put there feet on them and use a spray bottle.  My
    kitties have not really touched my furniture ever!  (ceptin' this
    little ebony monkey that thinks she's queen of the couch ;')
    Karen
759.6ASABET::TRUMPOLTLiz Trumpolt - 223-7195, MSO2-2/F3Tue May 17 1994 14:089
    Yes the spray bottle works well as does a squirt gun.  Blackie used to
    use my wicker hamper in the down stairs bathroom until my husband made
    him a tee pee type scratch pole (it has the natural rope one it so not
    to cause Blackie any harm) and we rubbed cosmic catnip on the rope and
    now he leaves my hamper alone and uses the scratch pole.  He also likes
    my 4.5 yr old son's legs and a small hook rug we have infront of our
    tv.
    
    Liz
759.7Scratching behaviorUSCTR1::ESULLIVANFri May 20 1994 06:4313
    
    I had a lot of luck with my first Siamese.  I trained her to use a
    scratching post as a kitten.  I did not train my current Siamese, so
    she uses an old sofa.  I don't plan to keep this sofa.  My good couch
    is off-limits (door closed to the room), but if the door is open, she
    is in there like a shot to scratch on that sofa.
    
    I am not sure if clipping the nails helps or not in discouraging the
    need to scratch wherever they please (if not trained).  Part of the
    scratching routine is to mark their territory and not just to condition
    their nails.              
    
    Eleanor