scratching

[gilby]

does anyone have any ideas on how to stop a cat scratching furniture and carpets. my cat hates her scratching post. i want a new carpet but need to stop the habit first

[Dreddnaught]

I think I read somehwere that if you put the scratching post near a cats food, they will start to use it, as cats find in relaxing to stretch and scratch after eating - I know my 2 do !

And as far as stopping the scratching, I don't know, but I know google is always good for answers.

Does your cat get out regularly ?

I ask because one of mine was terrible for chewing wires, I went through 2 about 4 power cables, all the wires for my dolby surround hi-fi, 2 pairs of headphones, a printer cable and a mouse cable before she was old enough to be let out, and then it stopped completely.

[peanut]

while she is scratching pick her up and put her on the post. and repeat as nessesary

[dmsjps]

You can buy deterrent stuff that you sprinkle where you want them to stop scratching. Pepper works too. When you vacuum you have to reapply though. Rub the scratching post with catnip. When she scratches where you don't want her to, squirt her with a water pistol (only a little hand-held thing, not one of those mega-blasters that will shoot her across the room).

[gilby]

my cat does go out a lot, she does wont scratch outside. i will try the post near the food. thanks!!!!

[Amberjo]

I haven't tried it myself but read somewhere that if you rub Vics Vapour Rub on furniture animals won't chew or scratch as they don't like the taste or smell.  Worth a try.

[Mookiestink]

Gilby,

Have you tried tin foil on the floor where she scratches or where she sits to scratch the furniture?  Cats hate the sound and feel of tin foil, I presume the reflective qualities put them off as well.

This worked for my parents cats who used to scratch at carpets under doors.

[Noweia]

You can buy sticky strips to place on the furniture where the cat scratches - the cat will hate the stickyness and stop!