Clawing

[Beth]

Maybe if I covered the scratching posts with foil and double sided tape she would find them more enticing. Unfortunately, catnip has yet to have an effect on her so I cannot use it as a lure.

One warning about double sided tape that Nanook and I learned the hard way: check it daily and if it starts to come off, remove it immediately before kitty manages to get it stuck in her fur. She lost a fair amount of fur when I finally managed to pry it loose.

[Cleo]

Hi Beth, glad to see you here!

There was a link in the link that Traci provided for an item that may be helpful. Here it is if you missed it. I never saw this before and may get a few sets.

Hope all is well.
http://www.birminghamind.com/Scratchaway/index.html

[E's]

Speaking of tape and foil... I just remembered that what does work pretty good is Contact paper. I used to buy the clear but don't know why (no doubt it was just as awful looking as opaque Contact paper but it worked and even then I didn't care a whole lot what visitors thought.) My present cat does fairly well with his posts and mats, and the cat before that had had to be declawed because he was deaf and very large... therefore dangerous to people, especially children, since he could not be trained to play gently as most cats can be. I don't have valuable furniture anymore, but seem to remember in days before these two I would cut the clear Contact paper to size for covering areas such as couch or chair armrests... remove the paper for special occasions, then replace it...

[Traci]

Hmmm....just curious, E's, is it stickier than double-sided tape? One of the posters mentioned her kitty's nose getting on the tape, then a bit sore.

I've never used tape, I guess I'm lucky the cats use their trees, they are shredded and due for replacement again

[Tambrey]

I had thought of using the double sticky tape on my kitchen counters because they have been awful lately for getting up there and knocking things down...and then jumping even higher to the cabinets above where I store seldom used stuff!!

Then I read about the sore nose, and am not sure about the tape now...but I guess if I ran a single strip not where they would land when they jump, but when they start to walk they would step on it...I just do not want sore pads or torn fur from between them...

rather than carpet tape...I wonder if regular double sided scotch tape like for wrapping presents would work?...It would be sticky enough to make them not like it, but not so sticky as to cause injury...

[Beth]

Hi Cleo. My little monster is just fine [and a tad fat!]. She has given me a bit of a repreive from her endless antics , but she is starting to drive me nuts once again!!! She has an interesting ear infection [yeast, bacteria, and an outside contaminate in one ear only] at the moment and we find out Saturday if it is going away. I hope so; I am tired of wearing her ear drops. She got a zillion mice for Christmas that she is slowly tearing to shreds, pesters me relentlessly when I try to do glass, and is otherwise happy as a clam. Her current trick is to pull the video tapes, cds, and books off the shelves. [A very appropriate emoticon for Nanook!]

I checked out the link, but it is carpet and she has no interest in scratching carpet. [Klondike, on the other hand, was perfectly content with carpet and the neighbor's couch.] I am actually considering this post: http://www.purrfectpost.com/, the money back guarantee makes the cost a bit more paletable, but intend to try a few other things first. The upsidedown carpet idea was interesting and I need to go to the Despot anyway. I am ten minutes from three good pet stores. Surely I can find something she likes.

I hope your brood is doing well and not driving you too insane!!

[E's]

Traci wrote:

Hmmm....just curious, E's, is it stickier than double-sided tape? One of the posters mentioned her kitty's nose getting on the tape, then a bit sore

No, is only sticky on one side. Thus, it would be useful only as protective covering of surfaces such as upholstered furniture. "Contact" is a brand name for a sort of self-stick wallpaper material - actually plastic, not paper - which comes in various colors and patterns, including transparent. It comes in wide rolls and some people use it as shelf paper, for example. Not very popular anymore I suppose but my neighborhood hardware store still carries it.

[Beth]

Then I read about the sore nose, and am not sure about the tape now...but I guess if I ran a single strip not where they would land when they jump, but when they start to walk they would step on it...I just do not want sore pads or torn fur from between them....

Nanook is long haired so she has lost a little fur while exploring the tape, but it only took once to get her to leave it alone. And until she started to peel it off two weeks ago, she left it alone. There are portions of the tape that she leaves alone entirely. She stuck her nose to the tape even though she had her first encounter with it about a month ago and I suspect she was trying to get the edge of the tape with her teeth to peel it off. I should probably mention that she can be a bit dense and she was quite annoyed when I covered one of her favorite places to scratch.

Since Nanook is white with grey spots and has a white/pink nose - depending upon mood - it is easier for me to notice the irritation than it would be with a cat with a darker nose. Her nose was also a bit dry at the time from the extreme cold we have been having, which I am sure contributed. Aside from being a bit red, it has otherwise not bugged her and she has not repeated her stupidity.

Fortunately, I don't have any jumping problems with her. She has yet to figure out she can jump on counters and tables. She always uses lower furniture to get to the bathroom sink and windows. She will jump if properly enticed and the other ways are blocked. She also jumps onto the arms of the couch and the beds, which are higher than the windowsills. I mentioned she was a bit dense, didn't I?

[Traci]

No, is only sticky on one side. Thus, it would be useful only as protective covering of surfaces such as upholstered furniture.

LOL, I know what contact paper is, was wondering if it were stickier than double-sided sticky tape....I haven't ever used the sticky tape so don't know just how sticky it is

[Beth]

Double sided carpet tape is a nasty substances that is extremely sticky. It makes gum on your shoe look like a cheap post it.