Soft Paws / Sharpening Questions

[fosteraussie]

I have two cats and one angry Fiance (haa haa). The sides of our loveseat has been demolished by our first cat, Amber. The Grey Cat (okay he has been "temporarily" with us for 11 months and neither of us have any intention of parting with him, but "identification" name stuck!) is rather good natured (I still wonder how anybody could kick him to the curb) and occasionally pulls the carpet to sharpen. He has recently dabbled in the couch, which I assume is due to trying to move in on Amber's turf. Though the counch is old and we cover it with slipcovers, we would like to purchase nicer couches after we graduate (a few years to come). Amber will scratch her carpeted house occassionally, but she really loves that right back corner on the couch. Her behavior leads me to believe that if given the right incentive, she would scratch a post religiously. The couch is made of this material that has ridges, and if I was a cat, I would scratch it too.

So here is the problem, until we get new couches, I will not know if I can transfer her over to a post (I am tempted to fashion one out of the couch pillows one day or saved that whole damned corner for her), and I do not want to risk the new couch getting damaged.

I reward my Australian Shepherd for barking at Amber when she claws (most amusing for both dog and owner) and somewhat effective when he is not in his crate or asleep.

Declawing is the LAST resort. I mean LAST. As in either the cats claws go or the cats go.

I have tried soft paws on both cats and they are effective. Expensive for college students, but effective. Grey Cat is indifferent. Amber gets a little freaked by them when she attempts to sharpen and gets no purchase on the couch. She tears around awhile which is amusing. Getting the Soft Paws on Amber is a bit of a challenge. She has asthma and situations which stress her cause her to have a mini astma attatck. For instance, when I grab her paw to clip her nails (putting on the soft paws is a two person job) she starts to wheeze. It carries on, only getting worse, and is very distressing to her and me (and the dog who adores her). The soft paw applicaition is a two person job. Amber has also had siezures in the past which are related to times of breathing trouble (from great stress) and I subsequently do not want to stress her more.

I am sickened by the thought of declawing (more so that If I declaw Amber, I have to declaw the non-guilty Grey Cat because they fight something nasty every now and then and it is not fair for one to have nails over the other). Yet, having to drive her into a asthma attack (and possibly a siezure) every time she needs maintainence on her claws really does not seem right either. Believe me, I have tried to reduce her stress. Having my fiance hold her by the scruff while I clip and glue is so sorry but immoblizing her with the help of a blanket or a kitty carrier stresses her so much one can feel her wheezes (and I am gentle as possible). I treat her like she is more glass than cat.

[emily_the_spoiled]

Good morning,

I have no words of wisdom on cutting Amber's claws, but I might be able to provide some advice on the scratching "thing". I have two non-declawed cats and have not had problems with any of the furniture. I am supplied them with a scratching post and extra carpet around the post. To train them to use it I rubbed in catnip (there is also a spray available) and concurrently put the "cat away" stuff on the things I didn't want them to use as scratching posts. Then this was "re-enforced " with the occasional squirt of water (when I caught them). I found after a few weeks they only used the scratching post. I don't know if it will help with Amber since she has already started to scratch the furniture, but it might be worth a try.

[Barbara]

When Tigris was an angry young man he ruined our couch too. After that whenever we got new furniture we took care to be in the house for a day or 2 when it arrived. Whenever he started to check him out we did something like shouting at him or using the water pistol .

Next thing we bring him to the scratching post and believe it or not, he starts sharpening his claws there.

BTW I tell my husband it's his education fault that Tigris started with that couch and that Filou started to steal human food. My husband always found him too cute when he did it

[Vio&Juni]

I agree with Barbara and Emily_the_Spoiled, there are alternatives. You should bring them new special claw-sharpening places like scratching post or just a piece of wood. It's just an education fault, which can be fixed.
My Juni used to scratch furniture when she was a little "girl", she doesn't do it anymore, she scratches her special carpet.

[fosteraussie]

Thanks to all for the thoughtful responces. I have on other concern/issue. I was thinking of getting a piece of furniture for the cats to sleep on and sharpen the claws. Due to cost reasons (and me liking crafts), I would prefer to make it myself. That way, I could go to the local fabric store and put a variety of surfaces on it to appeal to the cats. However, I live in a very small apartment and I need to make a house that can be completely dismanted (easy and regularly) for when we have guests or whatnot.

Does anyone know how to make cat furniture and/or cat furniture that can be dismantled. Furthermore, what surfaces do kitties enjoy?

I CANNOT declaw. IT is too cruel.

[Randi]

Just a little note about using water pistols to keep cats from doing something. Get one which can be adjusted to spray wideout, the hissing sound will do the trick as much as the water itself - or you could even try hissing at her yourself! It worked with Fister - he was so amazed, he stopped what he was doing!

[emily_the_spoiled]

Hi, I have actually used carpet remnents from my local hardward store (Home Depot). I have found that my cats seem to like short shag or plush carpets the best. I haven't really encouraged them to scratch on fabric (so there is no confusion with furniture or clothes).

I actually bought a nice corner scratching post off ebay and I know that it shouldn't be to difficult to make (I just don't have the tools). I have included a link for you to take a look at.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...077916052&rd=1

[Barbara]

http://amby.com/cat_site/cattree.html

On this site you can find a construction plan for a cat tree but also a lot of useful links about declawing and about how to train cats to use scratching posts.