mccamy@topcat.DEC (08/21/84)
From: "...decvax!decwrl!rhea!Topcat!McCamy" Merrimack, New Hampshire I'm sure there are many cat owners out there that have had this problem: We have two cats. We have a new sofa. 2 cats + 1 new sofa = angry owners! We don't want to declaw the cats. We do cut their nails once a week, but they are slowly but surely destroying our couch. We've thought about pinning plastic on the hard hit areas, but it would detract from the appearance of the sofa. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.
ark@rabbit.UUCP (Andrew Koenig) (08/23/84)
To keep cats away from a sofa, find something they like better and use that as a scratching post.
smb@ulysses.UUCP (Steven Bellovin) (08/23/84)
Yes, please provide suggestions. Our cat has disdained use of a scratching post -- but when I bought a pair of new speakers, she decided that the grills were just what she was looking for... When they're not available, she uses assorted sections of the rug. Would an indoor/outdoor cat be less likely to wreak such havoc?
alb@alice.UUCP (08/23/84)
Try rubbing catnip into the scratching post. Presumabely, by the time it wears off, the cat will be used to the post.
davidb@shark.UUCP (08/24/84)
A friend of mine offered me this sujestion. Keep a squirt jug of water handy. Spray cat with water when it attacks furniture. Later when cat even appears to think about attacking furniture reach for spray jug. Thought will instantly vanish from cats brain. I tried this and it worked by the end of the week. I have long since lost the spray jug.
mag@whuxle.UUCP (Gray Mike) (08/25/84)
I found a good substitute for the sofa, rug etc. by accident. I live in an apartment with a screened-in balcony and had bought a woven hemp rug. It has a very rough texture and is about 3/4" thick. The day I put it down, the cats abandoned all other places to dig their claws into that. They love it -- they scratch three times as much as before, but always on that rug, which is impervious to them. I bought mine at Conran's in New Jersey, but probably any kind of household or patio store has them. Be sure to get a kind that has looped pile -- the cats love to hook claws into it and tug for all they're worth. Mine appears to be woven out of small ropes. Many different sizes were available. This is much better stuff than on any of the commercial scratching posts I've seen. Good luck. Mike Gray, BTL, WH
plw@drutx.UUCP (08/27/84)
[] I wrote this to the original article, but others are asking so I will do it to the net instead. We got this idea out of "House Training Your Cats". Most cats are not fond of water. Have a spray bottle that is just for your cat; That way no one else is able to put in other cleaners. When the cat is clawing at the couch, spray it alittle bit. The cat thinks the couch is doing the spray and will avoid the couch even when the owners are away. After the spraying take the cat to the scratch post. If your cat is going mostly for the wood in furniture, have the post made of wood; If the cat is going for the couch and curtains have it of carpet. What ever the post is, make sure it is stable. Once the post falls the cat will not trust it again. Patty Kerr AT&T ISL drutx!plw
wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) (08/31/84)
The ad from "Bertha's Kitty Boutique" on a recent Prairie Home Companion radio show was advertising "scratch panelling". Do your living room in elm bark, and your scratch worries are gone forever... [For those who don't know what I'm talking about, this is an NPR radio show with parody ads... :-)] Will
derek@sask.UUCP (Derek Andrew) (09/02/84)
If you do not wish to use disposable sofas, you can do as a friend of ours
has done. There is this "Indoor Pet Repellant" for dogs and cats. I believe
that it is made by Hagen. Also, there is a product called "No" available
in most pet stores. She has found these to be effective.
--
Derek Andrew, ACS, U of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 0W0
{ihnp4 | utah-cs | utcsrgv | alberta}!sask!derek 306-343-2638 0900-1630 CST
"I ain't afraid o' no bugs." - Bugbusters2141smh@aluxe.UUCP (henning) (09/03/84)
**** **** From the keys of Steve Henning, AT&T Bell Labs, Reading, PA aluxe!2141smh Thanks to the person who reported that a water mister would break a cat of scratching furniture. We just had our living room furniture reupholstered after 19 years and two cats. After 2 days and 2 mist sprays our cat doesn't dare put a claw on the "new" upholstery after 7 years of teasing us.