cat damage

Question
I am sshortly getting a siamese and would like to know how I can train it not to claw furnityure and walls.  thank you

Answer
Hi Stanley.

First and foremost, you'll need to have a proper scratching post for the kitty before you bring him home.  Different kitties prefer different surfaces.  Some of the things available are natural wood, carpeted posts, cardboard and sissal.  And different kitties prefer different angles - upright, inclined, or horizontal.

Since there are so many things to choose from, I prefer to buy my cats cat furniture that uses sissal, natural wood, and carpeting, and has posts positioned at different angles.  They are somewhat expensive, starting at about $100.  But they are worth it when you realize the cat will use them instead of your couch for scratching.

As soon as you bring the cat home, introduce him to the scratching post.  You can rub some catnip into it to encourage him to use it.  Then you'll just need to enforce the rules by catching him if he scratches on inappropriate areas and redirecting him to the post.  You don't need to scold him.  Just interupt him with a clap and a stern "no", and bring him to the post and praise him.  And don't correct him for the behavior if you don't catch him in the act.  He won't know what he's being corrected for.

You should also keep his nails trimmed flat until he is fully trained, to prevent damage in case he DOES scratch where he shouldn't.  You might also want to use a product called Soft Claws.  These are rounded vinyl tips you glue over your cat's claws, to prevent damage from scratching.  They're available at www.softclaws.com, and at pet stores.

If you have items that are already damaged from scratching, it may be best to replace them.  When the new cat sees scratch marks, and smells the scent of the other cat who'd scratched the surfaces, he'll be tempted to scratch the area himself.  Ideally, hard surfaces should be replaced, and soft surfaces should at least be cleaned with an enzymatic cleaner, such as Nature's Miracle (available at pet stores), which will remove the other cat's scent.

You could also use Sticky Paws, which is similar to double-sided tape.  Apply it to areas you don't want the cat to scratch, and he won't like the feel of the stickiness on his feet.