We just got a kitten (12 weeks old), and I have had many cats before, but never an indoor cat. I am keeping her nails trimmed, but I am looking to get her something to scratch on that she will actually USE. I know every cat is different, but all the scratching posts and things are quite expensive, so in the interest of not having to buy 5 different ones before I find one she will use, what kind of scratching object does your indoor cat prefer? Any other tips/tricks to keep the kitten induced household damage to a minimum? (So far she is doing great, but I would prefer to head of problems before they start and set her up for success.)
Thanks ladies!
We have the cardboard scratchers that look like corrugated cardboard stacked together. We put cat nip in the cracks and they go nuts. You can replace the cardboard inserts when it gets too scratched up
Our younger cat likes the ones that are a cardboard box with an insert that you can put catnip on.
To make a scratching post, just get some scrap wood for a base and post. Put some old carpet scraps on it (it's inside out on our post) and if you think she'd also like it, put a platform and maybe a toy on top. Need not be so expensive. Or keep an eye out at yard sales and such.
You can also consider soft paws.
We found that the cats really liked the ones that are rough..... like the ones wrapped in jute rope, or the BACK of a carpet sample. We actually made one with a carpet sample turned backwards, so the rough back was sticking out, and nailed it to a chunk of 4 x 4, then secured that to a piece of plywood..... They also like them fairly tall, so they can really stretch.....
One of my cats really loves the cardboard ones, too... we get the wider one, since it seems easier to use.
They want something sturdy to really work on......
also.... sprinkle them with catnip (some cats/kittens don't really react to it, especially when they are young).... also, go and scratch on it with your fingernails, and get them intrigued by the sound.
Also... when you catch her scratching the furniture/forbidden items, squirt her with a water bottle.... when you do that, say "pssst!" real loud... the noise scares them, also, and eventually you can just say "pssst" and they will think they are getting sprayed.
My cat has always been an indoor cat. She loves those cardboard scratching pads. You can spray them with catnip to get her interested in the beginning. Some cats like them hanging on a door, but mine prefers hers to just lay flat on the floor. You could try it both ways and see which your kitty likes. I got my cat a nice fancy wooden scratching post, and all she did was lay in the basket at the top. Never scratched it once. The cardboard is cheap and does the trick.
As far as keeping your kitten from scratching things you don't want her to scratch you can try putting things like pet bottles with a few small things such as buttons inside them that will make a noise on the edge of things like your bed or sofa. When the kitten tries to scratch the sofa or bed, the pet bottle will drop and frighten her. Make sure it is only a few small items, enough to make a noise when it falls, but not too heavy to hurt kitty. As for curtains and bedspreads, you can line the bottom with double sided tape, cats hate having something sticky on their feet. When you see your kitten scratch her post, praise her just the way you would praise a child for good behavior.
go for one that has like scratchy stuff on it .. with my old cat my mom got her one that had carpeting material on it she definatley liked it but it also meant that she scratched the carpet.. the bottom step going upstairs was a mess.. i mean come on shes a cat she doesnt know the difference carpet is carpet.. my soon to be MIL has the same problem with her cats their scratching posts one is carpet material and one is just idk how to explain it but just regular material and the cats pull their nails on the carpet and scratch the arms of the couch because well to them its the same thing... they make scratching posts that have like almost carboard kind of material on them those work well and are less expensive then the others i reccommend one that has the toy that hangs off the top of it.. ours had a feather attached to a long spring that drove my cat nuts llol.. after the destruction my old cat did in our houes.. the next cat we got my mom ended up having declawed
you just have to make sure that u make her understand that scratching anything but the post is definatley not ok .. good luck
Apparently the cheap cardboard scratching posts are like crack to cats!
Theres a product called soft paws and it's a little cap that you glue over the nail. I use it on both my cats do they can't scratch up anything
Cardboard scratchers. They love them. My kitties also love their carpet covered perch. Just basically give them lots of things to play on and with, and spray them with the squirt bottle when they scratch the stuff you don't want them to scratch.
Also, keep in the habit of trimming her nails. Eventually, she won't scratch much at all because she has nothing to sharpen. My kitty doesn't even bother to put her claws out when we play anymore.
My cat has been using a specific spot on a wicker dresser that I just tossed and replaced a few weeks ago. So, when I got my new dresser I caved and got her a pretty elaborate cat tree at Pet Smart for 70 bucks.
It has two carpeted tiers for her to lay in and is supported by three posts, one of wood, one wrapped in heavy rope and one that is wrapped with the carpet that matches the tiers.
She LOVES IT! If she's not laying in it sleeping she's leaping around in it or using the scratching posts. So far she hasnt scratched on the plain wood post, but loves the rope and carpeted ones.
It's worth the initial investment in order to save the rest of the furniture in your house.
She used to sleep on the back of the couch and leave fur there everyday, now she never sleeps on the couch and only on her cat tree.
It's pretty awesome.
Ours play on their big scratcher even after seven years. They scratch the rope part on it the most. The flat cardboard scratchera are also a favorite of all three. One cat likes an old dooemat that ia thin. We have had issues with fabric covered furniture and carpets in the past, but never worried too much. When we were renting for a few months between house moves and when the cats were younger I used soft paws. They woek great. A little catnip if your kitten likes it will help. Ours have a few toys thwy love to chase too. Keeping the nail trimmed is a huge part of it, so great job there.
Added: Our cats do not like the ones that hang on doors because they move.
Our cats love the little cardboard scratchers. The come with catnip you can sprinkle on to get her interested to begin with.
They are SO much less expensive than a tower and when you have company over you can move it, or put the cat and the scratcher in another room and she'll be happy because she has her stuff.
HTH
T.
We loved the round plastic disk with the cardboard insert for the cat. You can as others said, sprinkle the cardboard with catnip. But our favorite part was the outside edge of the disk had a little ball, like a ping pong ball stuck in the groove and the cat could bat it around and around and play with it. It would fly around the edge of the disk and he would pounce on it and try and sneak up on it. Hed lay all stretched out on his back and lightly tap it with his paw and make it barely move, and then jump in the air and land on the ball like he had captured a mouse! it was hours of fun for him, and us! I think the disk complete with cardboard and ball was well under $20 and replacement disks come 2 in a pack for about $12 at Walmart. Great investment!
