Tribe.net. Local Connections D^3 http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#7f972805-9e66-4697-ba06-a278207f44d9 2009-07-06T17:41:10Z 2009-07-06T17:41:10Z

Just bought the cardboard scratcher. THEY LOVE IT!!!

D^3 2009-07-06T17:41:10Z Muldoon http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#79b3c7ac-70a5-449e-aba3-b56c942f15f0 2009-06-29T21:14:11Z 2009-06-29T21:14:11Z

I do have the cardboard scratcher, it is used...just not every time there is a need to scratch something.

Muldoon 2009-06-29T21:14:11Z Muldoon http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#a17eed0f-0542-412d-9b0c-213fdd90561c 2009-06-29T21:09:23Z 2009-06-29T21:09:23Z

I have this problem with Hannah, for some reason she did it occassionaly but now it is becoming more frequent. I had put double sided tape up and put plain white paper up. Worked for a while for the areas she was using but she just found others. I'm thinking of resorting to the squirt bottle, it seems the most eefective and harmless method.

Muldoon 2009-06-29T21:09:23Z $item.owner.firstName http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#47e661cf-48a2-4552-b305-9fed9d37178d 2009-06-26T18:26:42Z 2009-06-26T18:26:42Z

Here's red cedar, just a post! http://www.lovethatcat.com/cat-scratching-post.html What they did to that post (third from bottom pic) is what was done to the French doors I had. LOL. This one looks like modern home decor: http://www.jamesowendesign.com/leo1.html Supposed to be at DWR eventually (or already was)? This looks fun: http://www.amazon.com/Kind-Foot-Inch-Cedar-Tree/dp/B00082912I Until you realize that the branches and dangly things would only train the cat(s) to totally demolish any holiday tree. ;) I suppose we could just decorate the cat tree with dried fish and catnip toys!

$item.owner.firstName 2009-06-26T18:26:42Z Judith http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#c8aaba68-d8b2-46d8-99b1-aea0e3e56e05 2009-06-26T18:05:19Z 2009-06-26T18:05:19Z

there's a big difference between a tree branch with bark on it, which is exactly what the cats like to scratch and climb outside (duh) and polished wood furniture. they don;t feel the same, apparently, on cat claws. so far no cat of mine has taken much interst in the few bits of finished wood furniture I own, but they do go after the pine posts on the fence outside and the tree branches Il;ve brought in. and they also like cardboard, and, yes, we've had some upholstery issues in the past...but I am furnished in Early Hippie Broke STyle anyway and it;s really no big deal if the cats scratch it a little more... I like the cats House book, thanks for teh intelligence...what fun!

Judith 2009-06-26T18:05:19Z $item.owner.firstName http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#4e15fd78-0ff9-4b74-93bc-7685f2462199 2009-06-26T01:35:33Z 2009-06-26T01:35:33Z

It if was the right kind of wood. You wouldn't want sap or bugs. And realize that whenever you teach a cat it's acceptable to claw on a certain material, they won't understand the difference between one wood thing and another wood thing. I taught mine about the cardboard, but I can't leave out any storage cardboard box without it being clawed too. Teaching them to claw on the sisal is fine, as I have no sisal furnishings. But they have occasionally shown an interest in the woven natural fiber rug. Feels the same to them. There are wicker scratchers at IKEA, and that is a big no-no, if you ever want to have wicker chests or patio furniture. Mine loved clawing my wicker chest to shreds. Got wood furniture? Upright wood is upright wood. If you have something soft, like pine, they will enjoy clawing it, whether it's a scratcher or a table leg. I had French doors without glass that I used as a room divider. It was a big cat toy to them, after they discovered they could climb it and scratch it. I think my cats are part monkey. ;) A couple years back Pottery Barn had a "seaside" type collection of furnishings. One of the items was a rope-wrapped ottoman/table. The cats would have LOVED that. It would have been thrashed in no time. That's pretty much what I consider when I look at these things...What else is made of a similar material that might be confused as being a toy or scratcher by the cats? And the reverse is true. If they go after house plants, what kind of plants can I provide for them to thrash without problems? So I get them the wheat grass. They can chew on it. It's their plant, and they prefer it over any of the house plants. Years and years ago I had one cat that loved DIGGING in the plants, sometimes just to dig. Other times to poop or pee. Yes, plenty of boxes for bodily functions, but the dirt was more fun. So, I started putting in the most inexpensive potting soil I could find in with the litter. It solved the problem. I gave the cat an appropriate place to dig. Have you ever read/seen/heard about the book "The Cats' House"? Here's a review: "What began as a simple floor-to-ceiling scratching post to prevent Walker's nine cats from sharpening their claws on the furniture is now a whole set of ramps, stairs, and cat walks throughout his house. The playfulness of this house, which has been painted in over 40 bright colors and contains Walker and his wife's collection of Dian de los Meurtos figurines and toys, comes across in the numerous photographs. Instructions are included for building ramps, cat walks, and mouse holes through which the cats pass from room to room. This fun book is recommended for large interior design collections." http://www.amazon.com/Cats-House-Bob-Walker/dp/0740778617/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245979896&sr=8-1 Now THAT is knowing a feline nature, providing for it, and having a real good time watching cats be cats.

$item.owner.firstName 2009-06-26T01:35:33Z Judith http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#881efb63-b5ad-40ed-993a-081f9ee1de8a 2009-06-25T19:07:36Z 2009-06-25T19:07:36Z

anyone try mounting a nicely sawed-off branch from a tree on a plywood or one by something board? some cats would prefer the real thing I suspect given the opportunity.

Judith 2009-06-25T19:07:36Z Lumiere http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#c5120a92-7fb6-4496-828a-a34ce2b15593 2009-06-24T18:29:50Z 2009-06-24T18:29:50Z

I got the alpine one from Drs Foster Smith and the cats have never loved anything so much -- especially the toy in the side, which didn't last very long. But when I got refills for the inserts, they claim to be for that Alpine scratcher but don't fit and flip out of the scratcher while being scratched on, which is really a problem. Can't use them. Still having to use the original insert and it's very worn out--I keep putting catnip on it. Cats love the sisal rope too, much much better than carpeted posts, and I've done the replacement at home several times now -- but I have one of those extra-extra-tall scratching posts that's about 3' high or so and big and heavy, takes a lot of climbing and punishment and this they still use after 10 years. I was lucky enough to get it at a yard sale; they're quite expensive but all they are is a 4x4 post screwed into a base and covered with carpet and then wound with sisal. The door-hanging sisal scratchers don't stay still while being clawed and a lot of cats want that steady, still base to really clean and stretch their claws.

Lumiere 2009-06-24T18:29:50Z Smelly http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#4a794db1-717a-48e7-b118-9d9c24464cfd 2009-06-23T21:47:13Z 2009-06-23T21:47:13Z

Yes, we get pieces everywhere, but we have hardwood floors, so we got shit on the floor all the time anywhos so I am always sweeping up something ;-)

Smelly 2009-06-23T21:47:13Z $item.owner.firstName http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#4aeb68b7-7db5-4130-a2bd-685b86100377 2009-06-23T16:30:06Z 2009-06-23T16:30:06Z

You'll get a little bit of cardboard, but not so much and it's preferable to the cats using other things. There are several versions that I have used. The double wide Trader Joe's one (about $7.00) lies flat, and the cats enjoy scratching on it, as well as sleeping on it. Comes with a decent size package of catnip. I picked up an angled/incline one that has the main body made of cardboard also. The cardboard scratching part is replaceable. The cardboard base part has holes in the side, with a dangly toy to swat at. It's called the Cosmic Catnip Alpine Scratcher. I think it was about $13.00 with the base and filler and a wee package of catnip. And I just noticed some interesting shaped scratchers at Cost Plus World Market. They have the single wide flat scratchers too. They were competitively priced, and I might pick up a shaped one. I also have two sisal-rope-wrapped posts with perches on the top. I prefer the sisal rope because I can rewrap the post with sisal roping from the hardware store. Yes, all these things make bits of rope or cardboard. There is a tree that is favored by a feral I tend, and it too makes tree bark dust at it's base. It's the nature of the beast to want to scratch and stretch and reach and climb. Providing those things for the cats indoors is what they NEED. It's not an option, in my opinion. The same way that replacing a diaper is not an option with a baby. You have to do it, it's what is needed to keep the baby healthy and happy. I also get the giant tennis balls from the dog section. One of the cats likes to grab it and kick at it with the back feet. It's good for their back legs, something else they would do in nature. Regular size seem to be enjoyable for the smaller cats too. Try out the Trader Joe's kind first, as it's fairly inexpensive. About half the price of the same sized flat scratchers in other stores.

$item.owner.firstName 2009-06-23T16:30:06Z D^3 http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#3606bae3-bd31-44c3-87d3-eed6a099d3a9 2009-06-22T21:43:16Z 2009-06-22T21:43:16Z

With those cardboard ones, do you get pieces all over though? I ended up getting one of those rope ones from WalMart that hang from the door. My baby, Trinity loves it. But Armand still chooses the couch and carpet over anything else.

D^3 2009-06-22T21:43:16Z Bender B. Rodriguez http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#aeecf0a0-04cf-440d-bbd6-8fd319cf7e0a 2009-06-22T19:54:02Z 2009-06-22T19:54:02Z

I second the cardboard scratchers...the litter of kittens my Spooky dropped on me last August took right to them the moment they were old enough to climb out of their birthing crate and love them even more since i started giving them new ones with the catnip rubbed in after they turned 6 mos. old, even Spooky, who i took in as a feral, took right to them as well...now if only i could get her to keep her butt planted in the litter box when she pees, that would be fantastic...but that's a whole other story

Bender B. Rodriguez 2009-06-22T19:54:02Z Smelly http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#85af42d6-4c36-4039-899e-adcea4089973 2009-06-17T22:28:29Z 2009-06-17T22:28:29Z

I use the Smart Kitty cardboard scratchers, my boys absolutely LOVE them and they quit sharpening on other things, I know Wal-Fart and Target have them, they come with a plastic base that you can just buy refills for when they wear the cardboard out, I love these I have had so much luck with them over the years ;-)

Smelly 2009-06-17T22:28:29Z Wind http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#62a140cc-eaa4-43bf-be38-2fa4f9203130 2009-06-15T06:27:44Z 2009-06-15T06:27:44Z

That could be an interesting experiment, all those cats getting to know each other from a distance, as it were.

Wind 2009-06-15T06:27:44Z Dandelion http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#ee752713-d3b2-4ba2-9762-a9cbf2fdae5d 2009-06-14T17:11:49Z 2009-06-14T17:11:49Z

I wonder what would happen if one traded scratching posts back and forth with friends and neighbors?

Dandelion 2009-06-14T17:11:49Z dark http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#2e4dc9f6-3f9c-4c3d-b8ca-e98d1b304591 2009-05-14T02:12:14Z 2009-05-14T02:12:14Z

thank you very much....>^.^<

dark 2009-05-14T02:12:14Z Wind http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#5eb45511-3c70-42f1-831c-1281e86342fd 2009-05-13T12:24:59Z 2009-05-13T12:24:59Z

Door posts are one of those places that cats traditionally like to scratch. This is at least partially because of the scent glands in the paw pads, and doors are convenient spots to advertise the cat's presence. I have had some success at using scratchers that hang from the door knob - such as this one - http://www.katsrule.com/product/ab-660100-cat-scratcher Another reason he might love scratching at those door posts is because of the feel of it. Many cats like to have different textures to scratch at. So it is an excellent idea to have more than one style of scratcher. Try to get one made of plain wood. If you can't find one like that, then go to a DIY store like Lowes or Home Depot and buy a length of wooden moulding for your cat to use. Has anyone demonstrated to you how to safely clip your cat's claws? Many vets will demonstrate it for no additional charge during an office visit, or you could ask a groomer to show you. Or perhaps you might find that going regularly to a groomer is more economical than you think, and you won't have to do it yourself. Keeping the cat's claws trimmed fairly short (but without cutting into the quick) can help to minimize the damage he can do when he does scratch at places you do not want him to. Here is the U.S Humane Society's page on how to do it safely, including a video. http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/cat_care/how_to_trim_a_cats_claws.html

Wind 2009-05-13T12:24:59Z Alicia http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#e470ddf0-0344-485f-8e90-35f1904d53f7 2009-05-13T10:54:47Z 2009-05-13T10:54:47Z

Embrace the lived-in look.

Alicia 2009-05-13T10:54:47Z dark http://catpeople.tribe.net/thread/a7a07274-1bdf-42fa-a74a-8fe9d023e2c2#e36f935b-d71b-4f32-9c44-771c21564abb 2009-05-12T21:28:26Z 2009-05-12T21:28:26Z

I have a small problem with my new cat Harry. All my previous cats have been declawed, but Harry still has his claws. He has started clawing door frames, even though I have scratching post he does use. Any suggestions?

dark 2009-05-12T21:28:26Z