balfanz@ihuxv.UUCP (P. A. Balfanz) (03/27/84)
I am very much opposed to having a cat declawed. But cats will scratch the furniture, drapes, etc. due to instinct behavior (of keeping their claws sharp for hunting) that has not left the domesticated cat. So if you don't want "kitty" clawing up the house, give him/her/it something they are allowed to scratch on. I've found that a 2-foot piece of 4X4, covered with a piece of carpet, held vertical by a base is sufficient. Even without the carpet, a cat is happy. And, if "kitty" needs encouragement to use the scratching post, rubbing catnip on it helps. For my cats I used the training method of; whenever I caught the cat scratching on something they weren't suppose to I would: 1) grab them, 2) speak a harsh "NO", 3) take them over to the scratching post, 4) put their front paws on it and go through the motion of scratching while giving the cat praise. I can't remember exactly how long the training process took, but I believe it was only one or two weeks. The training started when I got the cats as kittens. And, I can proudly say that all three of my cats (the youngest is 13) religiously use the scratching post instead of the furniture. I can't say that my methods will work for everyone, because you must be patient (don't beat the cat to a pulp) and understanding of "where the cat is coming from" (natural instincts). But to those people who don't want to be patient and understanding I can only say, "WHAT THE H*LL ARE YOU DOING HAVING A CAT FOR A PET ANYWAY?" (or any animal for that matter!).
akl@wbux5.UUCP (03/27/84)
(munch! munch!) This article contained several useful suggestions on how to teach a cat to use a scratching post. I have in fact used similar techniques in the past with my other cats and had good results. However, as I said before, my cat is DEAF. He can not hear me praise or scold him. I tried to get him to use a scratching post for at least several months before I took him to the vet to be declawed. Believe me, it was not an easy decision. As to scratching posts, I've been told by several vets that some cats simply don't "catch on" to this idea. They may use it occasionally, but if they have a favorite spot, they will usually return to it again and again. Fine if it's an old couch in the basement rec room, but what if it isn't? I think I read somewhere that a cat is actually marking the item being scratched with some sort of scent that is in his feet, and I guess it's pretty difficult to remove it. I love my cat dearly, like I have all my cats. (I've owned a total of over 30 in the past 15 years). I don't think having a cat declawed is a sign that you shouldn't own the pet to begin with. -- From the musical keyboard of: Anita K. Laux wbux5!akl Bell Communications Research West Long Branch, NJ 07764
maggie2@iwpba.UUCP (maggie2) (03/27/84)
I definitely agree with Anita on this. I tried to teach
my cats to use their scratching posts (they had two floor
to ceiling posts). They did use them when I was around.
But it didn't keep them from my couches and chairs when I was
gone or from climbing the curtains at *any* time. I don't
like the insinuation that people who aren't able to train their
pets shouldn't have them. I don't abuse my cats and they didn't
seem to be in any pain after declawing - they ran around the same
although they licked their paws more often. My vet let them sleep
together the night they were there so they didn't even seem
to be frightened. Their experience from being fixed seemed to
frighten and pain them much more!
M. Czajka
...!iwpba!maggie2rcd@opus.UUCP (03/28/84)
<>
1. You can often discourage clawing at a particular item with
pet-repellent sprays - some have an odor which isn't all that objectionable
to humans but cats won't go near it.
2. Try spraying the cat with a plant sprayer (set on "stream"). Most cats
dislike water, but even the ones who don't mind water (several of our Abys)
very much dislike the surprise. I haven't seen a cat yet that didn't
respond to the sprayer. And if you have an innate sadistic streak, this is
a fairly harmless way to exercise it...Seriously, you can be accurate at up
to 15-20 feet with a sprayer.
3. CLIP THE CLAWS! You can cut the claws so short that the cat absolutely
cannot catch claws on fabric - and you still won't hurt the cat. It takes
a little practice and the right kind of clippers - but it works.
The one hard problem for discipline is when you get an adult (or
post-kitten-age cat, really) who wasn't trained initially.
--
Relax - don't worry - have a homebrew.
{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcdzzz@mit-eddie.UUCP (Mike Konopik) (04/08/84)
I hate to fuel this (now old) conversation, but I have to add one thing here. We've had cats since I was too young to remember, and of the 7 cats we've had, we were able to train 4 to scratch on this bizarre log we had. The fifth we gave away before we had a chance, and after we moved, naturally losing the magic log, we lost. We tried 4 (count 'em, 4) different scratching posts over a 3 year period and used just about every documented means to try to train the two cats we have now to use the post. But NOOO! They just LOVE the corner of the couch. After 3 frustrating years, my folks decided to re-cover the furniture (quite costly) and have the cats' front claws removed. We wouldn't have even considered it if the cats weren't total indoor creatures (no flames about this -- they don't like it outside...). You gotta realize that there are some cases where there are few alternatives. One comment to the person that removes back claws because they don't like being scratched: I find the concept similar to wanting to have a pet's eyeballs because they don't like the pet watching them. An additional note about the now de-front-clawed cats we have now: I haven't ever noticed them inconvenienced about lacking these claws (save the times they can't get a grip on the string we play with them with). In fact, one of them still hops up on the arm of the couch several times a day and "scratches" it with the empty front paws. BTW, every cat we've had was obtained from the local SPCA, which requires new owners to neuter the pet soon after getting it. Not only is it more humane, but going through a week or so of a female in heat is MURDER! So unless you are a breeder, there's really few reasons for not neutering. 'Nuff said here. -- -Mike genrad!mit-eddie!zzz (UUCP) ZZZ%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC (ARPA)