How to stop cats destroying furniture- any advice?

WeirdoMagnet

harryharp wrote: »

I have ordered some 'sticky paws', a large scratching post, some catnip, cat treats, and a 'clicker training' device. I was fascinated by that idea (thanks to the poster above) and the clicker was only £1.99 so I decided to give it a try!

Great news! Let us know how you get on - we've been clicker training our dog this evening to 'close the door'! So far she can stand on her back legs and put both front legs on the door with one of us standing close by, so we'll fade ourselves away gradually until we can get her to do it with a cue word with us sitting on the sofa.

Don't forget to follow any 'instructions' you get with the clicker, or go the website mentioned above. Clicker Training is based on Operant Conditioning, so you must 'condition' the clicker before trying to train any behaviours, by clicking and treating for 'nothing'. Once you 'click' and the cat/dog/horse looks to you for the treat, then the clicker is conditioned. Only then can you start to train a behaviour. It is great fun, and from my memory, Karen Pryor tells a great story in one of her books (think it is from 'Don't Shoot The Dog', which isn't about dogs!) about her cat 'playing the piano'. [URL="http://www.clickertraining.com/node/978]Here"][/url]Here is a similar story on her website.

Good luck, and let us know your progress!

bulchy

We've just got a kitten from rescue, our other 2 cats have always used there various scratch posts no probs, but the new one prefers the furniture. We have tried clapping or banging on the furniture when we catch her in the act, and so far its working, not sure how long this will last though. How old is the offending cat? Is this something my kitten will grow out of, like I said, the 2 boys have never done this, so I have no experience of it until now. Please say your cats a kitten, I would like my furniture to last a few more years yet.
Sue

harryharp

Sorry, no Bulchy! She's 7 years old- the oldest of our 3 cats. It doesn't seem to be a gender-related issue either, as the other 2 who don't scratch the furniture are a boy and a girl.

I've also done the clapping and banging thing, but it's usually too late by the time she stops as the damage has already been done! Also we didn't always remember to close the living room door so she just went in there and did it when nobody was looking.

elvis_girl

My cat was like that too & done it dead quick when you were out of the room! Touch wood almost 3 weeks later & the orange oil seems to be doing the trick...

harryharp

Nice one. Don't think I could put orange oil on mine though as it's fabric.