I have two cats, one female and one male. I got them about 3 years apart,
female first. She has some bad habits, biting her mother being chief among
them, but never scratched anything but her post. I read where if you get them
as soon as they wake up and "help" them stretch/scratch on the post, they
will figure out what it is, that it is theirs, and use it. It worked on
this one. We got her when she was a tiny kitten (from a shelter) and had
no trouble with her scratching anything (just the post and her mother).
When we adopted her "brother", he was about 6 months old and used to going
outside - he came from a house with a cat door. I don't want my cats
outside because; it isn't safe (too many children and cars), I don't want
fleas, I don't want them getting any other diseases. This one has
destroyed (nearly) the arms on the sofa and the back of the office chair
at the desk. I have used tape, plastic bags, citrus, and various sprays
found in pet stores. He even claws the carpet, pawing at it like a bull
(no, he's an aries).
Suffice it to say that he has taught his sister the joys of scratching
furniture.
THey both have additional scratching approved surfaces (unfinished wood)
that they both use often, but I can't get him away from the furniture. I
can't bring myself to declaw, I don't know what I'll do when I grow up and
get *real* furniture (not the Early Married hand-me-downs that I now
have). Can you make the foil thing work on furniture??
The spray bottle is an amusing little game to be enjoyed with mom. They
are so glad that I thought that one up. I *am* considering buying one of
those heavy-duty "cannon" type. You know, the ones that shoot out a pint
or so of water at one go? That might get their attention. I think it
would be worth the water clean-up if I could convince them to leave the
furniture alone.
Good news;
THEY HAVE NEVER CLAWED THE HARP!!!!!!!!!
I have found them sitting gazing at the harp with their little heads
cocked to one side. I know they are thinking; "If I just had thumbs..."
THey have, on occasion, carefully plucked one string and just watched and
listened. Then they walk away. That's it. We have a deal, they get the
dead strings, they leave the good ones alone. So far, so good.
So, even with very badly behaved cats, I love my little darlings!, there
is the possibility that they will never hurt your other darling. They
just want thumbs so that they can play too.
slan,
jamie
ps. Names really are important. I named the female Wolffye, a feminized
tip of the hat to Mozart. She decided I was really refering to a wolf.
She developed her personality accordingly. Next cat - Creampuff!
--jamiem@u.washington.edu---http://weber.u.washington.edu/~jamiem/
"So let me get this straight. You want to fly on a magic carpet to
see the King of the Potato People and plead with him for your freedom,
and you're telling me you're completely sane?" - Rimmer, Red Dwarf,
Quarantine, Season 5.