OT Help from those with cat QIs

My cats (all four of them) like the cardboard scratchers, too. I recently discovered a way to make them yourself (on the Instructibles website, I think), and brought home a bunch of cardboard we were throwing out at work. I haven't gotten around to making one yet, but they can't be that difficult. I like the idea of the woven rattan placemats. I've also seen similar doormats I've thought about getting. One of the best scratchers my one cat ever had was thick jute rope tightly wound round and round (short ways) a rectangular piece of 1/2" thick plywood (about 4" x 15"). The rope was stapled (heavy duty staples) to the board at the beginning and end. Miss T scratched that until the rope finally shredded, many years later.

Frances (owned by Miss T, DeLaney, DeLilah, and Charlie)

As most everyone else has mentioned, the cardboard scratchers are well loved by all of my babies. What wasn't said is that the ones you buy -- a cardboard box bottom with the corrugated stuff for inside -- also comes with CATNIP!!!!! Sprinkle the catnip over the whole thing and the cats come running. I get double life out of my boxes by simply turning the insert over when it starts to look a bit worn. they are fairly cheap, available at the big box pet stores plus Wally World, etc. and they are made from paper so they can be recycled! I haven't had to "teach" any of the babies about using the cardboard but did have to teach them about the scratching posts I have around the house. I did as someone else mentioned and simply took the cat over to the post, put their hands on the post and gently squeezed their paws to make the claws come out, then I moved the paws so that they were scratching the post. I have both the carpet covered post and the sisal cord wrapped post. they seem to prefer the sisal wrapped one the best but that could just be because it's next to the computer where Mom spends so much time :-). CiaoMeow

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

Ditto the cardboard for the new generation of cats! Winston has also shredded a high density cardboard pad massager which he sometimes prefers over the cardboard scratcher -I have a scratching post too which is now overdue for recarpetting - they have pretty much shredded the carpet but they still like to climb the post. Winston loves to use carpet swatches too which I pick up at Walmart for a couple of dollars - they are also good for catnip mats. I recently bought an emery scratcher which are being advertised on tv - they had them in Walmart a couple of weeks ago - Sammie and Winston both sat on it until Jessie claimed it as her step up into her sleeping basket - they still go to sit on it but Jessie says a few choice words and they leave her alone!

An interesting fact about cats who like to use furniture: they don't like loose covers. I have protected several chairs and the couch arms just by letting a blanket drape down over them. This has worked like a charm to save Sammie from the dreaded squirt bottle......the places where I don't want her to climb are now the resting places for cushions - she doesn't like to jump onto them and if she tries to claw them off, they don't hurt when they might fall.

Just remember that it could take lots of patience on your part for him to comply with the house rules. jennellh

Thanks Mary! Great tip about turning the cardboard over. :-)

I'll bear the sisal wrapped posts in mind. I'm thinking it might be possible to make cat scratching post or two.

Then I'll just have to deter him from scratching the couch he likes best. Dumb couch to have with a cat. The upholstery is soft enough that even with his soft paws on, he can still cause damage. I'm looking at using the tape method to discourage him. Really should have already done this, but I had faith in the soft paws--which do work great as far as protecting everything else. Wish he didn't have such an aversion to putting them on. He tolerates them just fine AFTER they're on.

Best regards, Michelle in Nevada

Thanks for the good tips, Jennifer. Interesting about the cushions and draping. I'll have to mull that over and see where I can use it.

Had to laugh about Charley complying with house rules. Even though he's neutered, he's still a male. Complying really isn't his strong suit. I, too, use the squirt bottle when he gets on the counters, and he just hunkers down and takes it for a minute, unless I get him on the ear or hind end. So the trick will be to make him decide he doesn't want to do something for himself.

To get attenti> Ditto the cardboard for the new generation of cats! Winston has also

are:

Michelle C. wrote: > ........

I haven't had to use the tape stuff, thank heavens! I've heard from others that it really does work great and it's not so expensive either. OK -- a tip for diverting him from the sofa. **IF** (big if here) he is a relatively biddable kitty cat, you can put the tape on the couch and then put one of your approved CATNIP ENHANCED scratch-y things right next to that area of the couch. Let him TRY to scratch the couch and if the tape doesn't work, then you get hold of him, put his paws on the couch, tell him NO in a very firm voice and then put him on the scratch-y thing and tell him what a good kitty he is. Depending on the kitty, having the good scratch-y thing right next to the bad scratch-y thing helps them transfer their need from one thing to the other. With less biddable cats, it doesn't make a bit of difference -- they are gonna scratch what THEY want and you can go tinkle up a rope :-). This is where the catnip comes in handy. You can get "Eau de Catnip" in a spray bottle. I got my bottle at PetSmart and it is called Catnip Treat by Perfect Scents. This is good for the upright scratch-y posts where it's a bit difficult to get actual catnip leaves to stick -- LOLOL! Good luck and keep us posted on what works -- especially if it is something a bit funky!! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

We have the cardboard scratchy things, and all the cats love them. But every last one of them has spots that they will scratch at in addition. Not serious claw sharpening scratching, more a quick stop and claw for just a moment sort of thing. Thorncat has about removed all the wood from one spot on the woodwork, Jiji has made his mark on the doorframe to my bedroom and my computer chair, Missy has laid claim to my studio door, Spike does both sides of the entryway into the former kitchen upstairs (now a soap making and dying studio), and he and Missy fight about who has the right to lay claw to kiri's bedroom door.

I think scratching is a way that cats have of saying "this is mine!" sort of like bears do. Which makes getting them to stop it really really hard. We have used spray bottles, annointed the afflicted areas with a variety of citrus oils, taped up tinfoil, and run at them while roaring. They don't pay much attention in the long run. They might flee for a moment, but sure enough they are back in no time clawing out MINE in cat.

NightMist

We've never used the cardboard things. Out almost 7yo Abby has once certain spot on the living room that has her name on it + she has one of the towers with carpet and sisal. In the family room downstairs she has a huge kitty condo that she goes crazy on every now and then.

I guess we've been very, very lucky with her.

Cindy from MO (Soon to be GA)

Abby sounds like a lovely kitty!

Michelle > We've never used the cardboard things. Out almost 7yo Abby has once certain

I think cats need to scratch things where they live. I don't understand why, but I think from watching friends' cats and my relatives' cats that it's sort of an imperative. My MIL is the only person on earth I know who lets her cats into the house for brief times and they don't scratch. She has always had one of those fuzzy toilet seat covers for each kitty. It goes in the floor when she opens the door. Each kitty goes to his special fuzzy and stays there until she opens the door and sends them back out for the night. They don't yowl, scratch, follow you around, jump on your lap, rub against your leg, snitch food or do any other cat-like things. She says it's a matter of being firm.

Dogs I understand. They want your food, your affection and to sleep on your clothes because they smell like you -- in that order. Dogs are simple. Cats are complex. Good luck with the scratching thing. I bet it works just great. And I think they look cute in a living room or den, too.

Sunny

Or you can throw a pizza box on the floor. They love to scratch on those. But then, if you have company over and have a scratching post, they think you have cats. If you have a pizza box on the floor, they just think you throw your trash on the floor. :-)

Sherry