I can't get him to stop!

Riley wants in! We try to keep the cats out of our bedroom especially when we are not home and at night. Riley scratches at the carpet when it is closed and has torn a good hole in our carpet down to the sub-flooring. I have tried a cat repellent spray, putting things in the way, covering it with a rug. I think we are going to try soft paws because hubby is getting really frustrated and is threatening declawing since it is something his family has done to all their cats. I try to trim his nails but it hasn't helped a whole lot. He still gets a pretty good grip on the carpet. I was putting him in the garage but we had a borrowed car in there for a couple weeks and didn't want him crawling on it and scratching it up. I really don't want to declaw him. And it isn't scratching to sharpen his claws it is he wants in! I was thinking maybe a baby gate but he would probably claw underneath the gate. I am thinking about taking him to the humane society since that was the original plan in the first place when I picked him up off the road and really will do that before I declaw him.

How long has this been going on? Can you put down something impervious to claws for a week or so, and see if that makes him bored with the whole process? Do you play with him to tire him out before bedtime?

I think Karen is on the right track. Riley wants to be with you, his humans. He doesn't feel like he is getting enough time and attention from you.

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Originally Posted by Freedom

I think Karen is on the right track. Riley wants to be with you, his humans. He doesn't feel like he is getting enough time and attention from you.

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This is true especially b/c you have other cats. Riley wants equal time. :)

How short are you trimming his nails? This page has pictures showing how short you should cut. I know you said you tried a cat repellant spray, but have you tried Feliway? It's a cat pheromone spray that can help reduce/eliminate scratching. Like you and others have said, it's a desire for attention, so it may help if you increase the amount of attention you give him and tire him out by playing with him before you cut off his access to the bedroom. I would try your two suggestions (nail caps and a baby gate) too. If you really feel like you need to give him up, I would definitely look into some local organizations that can take him (I can help you find some if you need it) before you surrender him to the humane society. Hope you can solve this issue.

Malibu's Mom is right. Feliway is great to help calm him down. I use it all the time when my cats get riled up. It has an enzyme in it only cats can detect and works immediately!! Stacking baby gates in the doorway helps too.

Years ago, before I learned all these neat tricks I tried to keep RB MooShoo out. He ruined the carpet in the doorway. I finally gave up and just kept the door open. I never should've shut it to begin with!! I sure miss him.

Declaw him and you'll have more problems you ever could imagine, i.e., litterbox issues, pain constantly, biting., to name a few.

Another suggestion would be to have "Soft Paws" put on them. They can scratch all they want but it won't do any damage.

I do hope you can resolve this issue without resorting to torturing your cat for something that comes naturally to him. He loves you and WANTS to be wth you!!

Please don't declaw him because this will only make things worse. He may then start biting.:( Is there a reason why he can't be in the bedroom with you?

I used to keep my bedroom door open all of the time so my cats could come and go but now I can't because Alani & Blaze are still very destructive and they'll tear up anything that is paper. I also have two computers in my bedroom and I don't trust them around them right now. Luckily they're used to being out of both bedrooms so they haven't tried to tear up my carpet. I hope that you'll be able to find a solution to this problem. Good luck.:)

Try the sticky sheets (can't remember specific name). We got these to keep Jax from scratching up Bruce's speaker and monitors in the studio. They have really helped.
With it being on the floor what you might want to do is put the sticky sheet (you can buy them at most pet stores) on a large piece of cardboard and place it in front of the door when you are not home or in bed. That way it is easy to move when you need to.
When I purchased my sticky sheets the cashier told me he did this with his cat because his cat was darting out the door every time it opened. You should be able to eventually remove the sticky sheets and the cat will stay away. We haven't removed them from the speakers yet. I should try it and see what he does.

Good luck!! I hope you can figure something out besides declawing or getting rid of him.

Well, my suggestion is to leave the bedroom door open, that way you'll get less problems. Your cat doesn't understand why he can't go in there and be with you. If you let him in, he will most likely calm down and go to sleep. Take a few weeks to get used to him being there and you'll all relax. :)

If he's very active during night, Feliway might be a good solution. Try it! Please don't declaw him!

When I first got a cat, I said: He's not sleeping in our bed! What did I know! :rolleyes:

Good luck!

Right on Randi!!!!

Well if less problems is loss of sleep, tired all day, and dragging by the time I get off work at 11 pm then yes right on Randi. I am such a light sleeper that having three cats jumping on and off the bed, walking around, purring by my head that I don't sleep well. I am not keeping them out just because I do not want to spend time with my cats. I am not some big meanie! I am trying to leave it open on a trial basis to see how it goes. So far it hasn't been too bad so we might start leaving it open. Believe me declawing is going to be a last option and it is not one that will be taken lightly. I know that it has caused behavior problems in some cats. I know what the procedure is and really dislike the whole thing and that it is so commonly done. This post isn't meant to be an issue on declawing but just some suggestions on some behavior training for Riley.

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Originally Posted by JMCsGirl

Well if less problems is loss of sleep, tired all day, and dragging by the time I get off work at 11 pm then yes right on Randi. I am such a light sleeper that having three cats jumping on and off the bed, walking around, purring by my head that I don't sleep well.

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Am I ever w/ya on that one! I'm a thrasher when I sleep. There's no way I can have my cats in bed w/me as much as I would like it. When one is sick or has had surgery, I have him/her sleep w/me just to keep an eye out for any problems but other than that, my Fur Posse has their own little apartment in the basement complete w/cat condos, beds, blankets, food, water, litter boxes, etc. They're so used to sleeping there now that when I tried to have one sleep w/me after he had some teeth extracted, he insisted on sleeping downstairs w/the rest of the gang. Try some of the suggestions here and let us know how they work for you. I'm still thinking that perhaps he needs to get just a little more tired out. LOL :)

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Originally Posted by JMCsGirl

Riley wants in! We try to keep the cats out of our bedroom especially when we are not home and at night. Riley scratches at the carpet when it is closed and has torn a good hole in our carpet down to the sub-flooring. I have tried a cat repellent spray, putting things in the way, covering it with a rug. I think we are going to try soft paws because hubby is getting really frustrated and is threatening declawing since it is something his family has done to all their cats. I try to trim his nails but it hasn't helped a whole lot. He still gets a pretty good grip on the carpet. I was putting him in the garage but we had a borrowed car in there for a couple weeks and didn't want him crawling on it and scratching it up. I really don't want to declaw him. And it isn't scratching to sharpen his claws it is he wants in! I was thinking maybe a baby gate but he would probably claw underneath the gate. I am thinking about taking him to the humane society since that was the original plan in the first place when I picked him up off the road and really will do that before I declaw him.

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I would never declaw my cat. My cat has stripped off pieces off wood of a door. THAT CAN BE REPLACED BUT A CATS CLAW CAN'T BE REPLACED!!!
Sandy Frost

How are things going? Better, I hope. :)

This reminds me of the episode of My Cat from Hell that was just on this past weekend. Jackson (the "cat whisperer") put a can of air that shoots a small blast of air when it detects movement in front of it. It doesn't hurt the cat, just startles them and eventually they should stay away from the area.
Now, don't ask me where you can get this motion sensored canned air. I have NO clue!

But it sounds like you may have already come upon a solution. :D

Things are still touch and go in this area. The bedroom has got better since I have decided to leave the door cracked a bit, however he pushed out our office screen one day and got outside but I was able to catch him that day. When I brought him inside I closed the office door. He did the same thing in front of the office to try to get in and that hole is three times the size of the one by the bedroom. We have a bit of a cash shortage so the things I would like to try have not been doable. DH is trying to be patient with the whole thing but his patience is wearing thin especially after Riley did the office too.