Help with cats and a leather sofa

[Jessd]

Hi!

Ok, here is my problem. I have two cats. One we have had for 7 years, very mellow. When we got him we took him to be declawed. Please no flames, he was a kitten and I would much rather get the kitty declawed and keep him then to turn around and take him to the pound because he destroyed furniture and then risk him being put to sleep.

Anyway, earlier this year, we got a new house, and new leather sofas. We decided that our kitty needed a friend so we went to the pound and adopted another cat. This one was not a kitten, he is about 2 years old, a Siamese cat. He is the most lovable cat, a little fiesty, gets along great with everyone and our other cat. The only problem is that he will occaisionally try to claw our 3000.00 leather soafas!

Is there anything we can do to discourage this? He is not a kitten and I really don't want to get him declawed.

They are both indoor cats, they don't go outside. They have a scratching post already. I would rather that they stay inside, I don't want them to get hit by a car or to get fleas or anything else to bring in the house with our 1 year old baby around.

I appreciate any suggestions!

Jess

 

[CookieGVB]

Can you have those nail covers put on him?

I believe they're called Softpaws...someone else probably knows for sure.

 

[mickeyboat]

I will be curious to hear people's suggestions. We have a beautiful leather chair and ottomon in our bedroom. The cats don't scratch on it, but when they walk across it or jump off of it, they leave pick marks. We ended up covering it with a blanket. Such a shame.

We also bought a new microfiber sofa that the cats loved to scratch. We bought some of the sour apple spray at the pet store and applied it for a couple of weeks. They leave it alone now.

We also bought the cardboard scratching pads. They LOVE these, and will sit on them and guard them to keep the other cat away. I put them behind the sofas and chairs that they like to scratch on. They much prefer the scratching pads over the furniture. These pads also contain cat nip, which I dump out. The last time we used the cat nip, my female cat peed all over the box (which she has NEVER done before).

Denae

 

[LK03]

I was sort of in your situation. When I got my first cat he was a Siamese who came from a breeder and was so well behaved. As long as his scratching post was nearby he'd use that and not worry about the furniture. If he couldn't find it he'd revert to couches. I had read up about how to train said kitty before I got him and it said if you catch the cat clawing the furniture immediately take him/her to the scrataching post and run his paws along it so that the nails catch it. Now, when I got my second cat who can from an adoption agency I wasn't as fortunate in that she liked furniture. However, when I was able to get her I would take her to the post and show her how to use it and now that's what she uses. I'd also try that spray someone else had mentioned, it's worth a try.

 

[cardaway]

I have one chair left of our three peice black leather set. This chair has stratches all over the tops and arms, but not from purposeful clawing. In my experience, the damage will come from when the cat tries to walk or jump on it. They don't like to claw at it but they do certainly use their claws as they are cuaght off guard by how slick and weird leather can feel to jump on.

 

[Laura]

First, clipping your cat's claws is a great thing to do (I use a clipper made for dogs on my cat because it's sharper) so that if it does try to claw the couch it won't do as much damage. Front claws are the sharpest, and they can easily scratch the surface of leather, even if the cat isn't trying to scratch it.

Also, you can use double-sided tape to deter a cat from its favorite scratching spots--I'm not sure how sour apple spray will work on the leather, if it will "stick". And if you catch it in the act, spray it with water or make a loud noise (put some screws or nuts in a can and shake).

Encourage scratching post use with treats, and don't take the kitty's paws and make it scratch the post, you'll just piss it off. Instead, take it to the post and scratch the post yourself with your fingernails like the cat would.

 

[Lollypoppy]

i would declaw the cat. it would get over it and your sofas woulnd't be trashed forever.

 

[mickeyboat]

I'm not sure how sour apple spray will work on the leather, if it will "stick". QUOTE]

My SIL was afraid of spraying it directly on her sofas, so she sprayed it on a towel and laid it on her sofa. She said it worked.

Denae

 

[Tina]

i would declaw the cat. it would get over it and your sofas woulnd't be trashed forever.

Of course... since you stated in another post that you don't like cats and find them to be vile, this would be your suggestion. Let's chop of your fingers at the first knuckle and see how fast you get over it.

Jess, I recommend you clip your cats nails regularly - about every 3 to 4 weeks to keep them blunt. If there is a particular area on the furniture being damaged, cover it with Sticky Paws - which are sheets of double-sided tape that can be found at Petsmart. They saved my living room couches.

 

[Beth76]

I don't understand why you won't have him declawed?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Is it time to get the popcorn ready?

I would start by clipping the cat's claws, like has been mentioned. I would also get a couple of the cardboard pad scratchers. Our cats love them.

We have 2 new kittens and I need to start clipping their claws. So far they are still isolated from our other cats (they came with fleas and now have a cold), but they are using their scratching post and have hopes that they will not go for our furniture. We clipped our other cat's claws and have lots of scratching posts/pads and have been very lucky with them.

 

[Jessd]

Thanks for all the great suggestions!

I am going to get some of the Softpaws, our Petsmart has them here and it looks like they come in some really cute colors. He could be a punk rock Siamese cat! I will have to check out for some of that double sided sticky sheets too. Will that ruin the leather?

jess