The cats and I may soon be in the dog house

**jazzcat** · 03-27-2006, 05:17 PM

I just got new bedroom furniture last Tuesday and today I discovered four scratches on the top of my night stand just right to be claws from a cat paw.

I've already touched it up with a stain pen (not too well) and I'm crossing my fingers that Richard doesn't notice. He will be so mad at me and the cats. They've have really been scratching up my dining room table which was an expensive purchase for us and he's ready to skin me and the cats over that now if they start messing up the bedroom furniture it will be heck to pay.

Any suggestions as to how to stop it? I'm looking into ordering table pads for the dining table (even though bad damage has already happened) but I don't know what to do about the bedroom. The way it is set up they can go from the bed to my nightstand to my dresser but short legged Scout and Rumor struggle between the nightstand and dresser that is probably how that happened. WAHHH!

Also, I'm looking for a new comforter set but now I'm terrified the cats will ruin it too. I'm getting depressed.

I keep all the cats paws trimmed already and keeping them out of the room isn't really possible either. Help!

**catmandu** · 03-27-2006, 05:23 PM

Thats One Reason That I Have Never Had Expensive Furniture,as I Would Be Angry If The Cats Damaged Something Expensive.
The Only Expensive Thing That Jjj3 Broke Was A Vcr,an Old One And A Nice Collectors Cat Plate.

**K & L** · 03-27-2006, 05:34 PM

Check our computer desk out, and it wasn't cheap! Maybe keeping them trimmed as short as possible? Thank goodness Kevin nor I care or we'd be divorced by now!

**boscibo** · 03-27-2006, 05:42 PM

That reminds me of a story when my dear Boo was still alive. I had just spent a couple grand on a new entertainment center, nightstand and armoire. It had been delivered fairly early in the morning and I hadn't had a chance to take my dog Bandit out for his morning walk, so I had to make him wait until after they delivery guys were done. So they leave, I take Bandit out, come back in and Boo had tried to jump to the top of the new entertainment center - and couldn't jump high enough. There were (and still are - I still have it) two perfect claw marks on the front of it. I had had this new stuff for 15 minutes - tops - and it was already scratched.

I don't know what to tell you - I know how good it feels to have nice stuff, but when you have pets that can often be compromised - they just don't understand the concept of nice stuff. Just try and remember that they don't ever wreck your stuff on purpose, and they are only doing what comes naturally to them.

**jazzcat** · 03-27-2006, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by boscibo

Just try and remember that they don't ever wreck your stuff on purpose, and they are only doing what comes naturally to them.

I know that and so does Richard but it doesn't always help him to stay calm about it. I was upset when I first saw the scratches but then I kicked into prevention mode which is how I normally am. I know scratches and marks will happen but I was just really hoping to have the furniture a little longer than 6 days before it did. I guess I'm luckier than you though, 15 minutes - wow!

K&L - that desk looks similar to one I have but you win the prize, LOL!

I guess I'm going to have to stand guard with a water bottle to spray whenever they get on it. It worked for the kitchen counter tops so maybe it will work on the new furniture.

I'm still open for suggestions.

**Laura's Babies** · 03-27-2006, 06:18 PM

2 words...SOFT PAWS!

(Good luck getting them to allow it!

)

I think that is why I have always preferred pre-owned stuff #1, beacuse I have always had cats and #2 because I like to change things a lot. #3 I have to have a good firm place to sit, once I start sinking into them, I want to get something that is firm again.

I did buy my first brand new sofa when I moved in here but I am already sinking into it after only 4 years so I will be looking around again before it messes up my back.

**auggie** · 03-27-2006, 07:41 PM

I keep a blanket on top of the dresser and a towel on the nightstand.

To hide the scratch marks on the nightstand keep it covert up with a heavy fabric doily.
Most likely Richard will never find out, since the scratches are on your nightstand, unless he is doing the dusting. LOL!

K & L, after seeing your desk I’m beginning to think my cats are angels.

**K & L** · 03-28-2006, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by auggie

K & L, after seeing your desk I’m beginning to think my cats are angels.

Remember we're dealing with 25 cats at our place, so considering that, guess it's not too bad!

**catcrazylady** · 03-28-2006, 06:33 AM

LOL!! Sorry Lori, I don't mean to laugh but it sure has brought back memories about everything new we have bought.
When we bought our new bedroom suite (big bucks for me and hubby) Pete was a youngster. He decided to cut his new teeth on the top of the footboard and literally ate the corners off!

Two new chairs in the living room that are about a month old and you would think I have had them for years!

Brand new kitchen table, still had the tags stapled on, and DEEP scratches on the top.

I just gave up!

**jazzcat** · 03-28-2006, 08:32 AM

Well it happened again, and after I took some precautions. I woke up this morning to Scout hurling herself from the bed to the top of the dresser where she left an inch long scratch right on the top.

I had placed some books on my nightstand and blocked the end of the dresser where they were hopping across with my jewelry box and a huge water bottle. So much for the blockaide.

I broke down and told Richard about the dresser. He's really mad and down on the cats right now, on me too. I'm going out to PetsMart today to see what I can find, whether it be scat mats, soft paws (which I don't think will work well for us) or whatever. I'm really wishing I had never got new stuff but I'd been living out of mismatched hand-me-downs that were falling part for the past 15 years and wanted matching bedroom furniture so badly.

**emily_the_spoiled** · 03-28-2006, 08:38 AM

If you can't find the scat mats at PetSmart I know they are available on eBay. I have one and it works quite well. I put it over the spots in the carpet that are pee'd on and that gives it enough time to dry out after using an enzyme remover.

I have no words of advice about the furniture. I am very fortunate and the furry gang doesn't scratch visible pieces of furniture that often (but I have replaced the lining on the bottom of the sofa and a couple of chairs

).

**Catty1** · 03-28-2006, 09:06 AM

Do you trim their nails? That really helps too!

The bedroom might have to be off-limits to your cats. I know a couple that do that - the babies have their own special room - and they all are happy with it.

hugs
Catty1

**Maya & Inka's mommy** · 03-28-2006, 12:05 PM

You should see our leather couches...!

Good luck....

**Logan** · 03-28-2006, 12:14 PM

It is so weird for me to read that cats cause problems on hardwood furniture........we have never had that problem. Our only cat issues have been on upholstered furniture where they do the clawing thing. They never mess up furniture, otherwise. Our dogs are much worse, and thankfully have outgrown the chewing on wood.

Logan