[Lisa]

Saving by keeping animals from ruining
Our cat loves to claw the carpet, and it has been completely ruined. While the carpet is old and needs to be replaced, I don’t want to do it until we break her of the habit.

Anything you’ve done/used that has helped?

I’ve considered getting carpet squares for the place she does it the most, or leaving it as exposed hardwood, but those aren’t my favorite ideas.

I would love to declaw our cat, but she and the dog don’t get along, and I feel like it would be cruel to leave her defenseless.

[Lauren]

it is cruel to declaw a cat regardless of what other animals she may or may not get along with, it is a needless amputation that causes them all manner of harm…everything from phantom limb pain to anxiety to many other major issues.

Cats are smart. Make sure she has plenty of scratching posts and cardboard scratchers, and when you see her clawing the carpet, redirect her to something that is hers and ok for her to claw on.

She’ll figure out the rules soon enough if you are consistent.

[Maureen]

Cardboard scratchers? Tall scratching post? Declawing is cruel. Imagine your finger and toe nails surgically removed.

I’ve always clipped my cats front nails!

[Sandy]

Please please don’t declaw your cat. Do you provide scratching areas? Like the cardboard things or a post?

[Kristie]

Declawing cats is horrible for them for reasons beyond defense and most reputable vets will not do it.

However, getting a few of those coconut fiber entry mats or flat scratchers and placing those in her favorite spots would likely make your Kitty happy.

Some cats are vertical scratchers and enjoy the posts and some cats prefer the horizontal (flat) scratchers.

[Alexis]

I use cardboard scratchers and since we recenlty got new carpet and of course, they decided that would be nice. I have sprayed the area the 4 of them are scratching.

We also have a scratching post that they love to use.

I use a really nice smelling flea spray and they don’t scratch it. I used it on the corner of my couch too that was getting scratched.

Our oldest cat – 15 years old – decided that it would be nice to poop on the carpet.

I took the remants that were left from the new carpet and covered the carpet in the places she was going.

she had some medical issues and I think that is why she decided the carpet was better.

I just use the rug scrubber about once a month on the remants. Today she pooped in the litter box!!!!

[Sarah]

Please don’t declaw her .no carpet is worth putting her through that cruel barbaric practice.

[Rachel]

Declawing cats should be illegal and I absolutely think of it as animal cruelty and people who do it should not ever be allowed to have animals
There are a lot of people who don’t know how damaging it is so I suggest you do your research and listen to everyone telling you not to
You got a cat and you’re mad that the cat is doing cat things.

[Courtney]

Put those little caps on her nails. If she trusts you, you shouldn’t have a hard time putting them on.

I would never declaw

[Melissa]

I put a scratching post over the top of the spot our girl liked. It took about a week to figure the post was for her.

[Jo]

Declawing your cat is like you amputating your digits., same thing. It’s cruel and there are far better ways to deal with Cats that scratch.

I have 2 sided tape on the areas they scratch.

Plus I have scratching boards and clip their nails frequently.

[Christine]

Lots or scratching posts and scratching cardboard in every room in the house.

Put can nip on it and give him treats when he uses them Thai is a natural cat thing no braking then habit you need to up your cat scratching game they will use other things.

It’s work human to change what you have let go until now your upset.

[Kali]

The best option is to get her some scratchers and a cat tree. Things that she IS allowed to scratch.

You can buy them for fairly cheap on Amazon or Chewy, or you can even make your own and use sisal rope for scratching.

Cat trees are great enrichment and will help keep her happy – and maybe even a safe space from the dog!

If all else fails, you can try nail caps.

I don’t think cats like them very much, but it’s a much better alternative to declawing.

[Racheal]

It is cruel to declaw a cat, not to mention it causes arthritis later down the road.

If a scratcher post doesn’t work for your budget, you can buy one of the cheap little rugs from walmart and zip ties to make your own.

I beg you please don’t declaw

[Kym]

You can’t declaw a full grown cat, will make some go crazy. Shouldn’t declaw kittens either though. It is amputation of toes really.

Give them other carpet things to scratch, trim nails, get rid of the carpet

[Kelly]

Declawing for any reason other than medically necessary is cruel. What you can do instead is make sure she has plenty of scratchers throughout and trim her claws.

It won’t harm her and is the equivalent to trimming your fingernails.

She’ll still have use of her claws as far as kneading and movement, they’ll just not be sharp enough to scratch anything.

[Katrina]

You can trim her nails and then have a cat post wrapped with belt sander paper, for her to help them filed once you get the sharp tips off.

If you’re new to nail trims, start with low expectations, one paw, maybe even only two claws, then a yummy treat like chewroo.

Just take the tips off with sharp trimmers designed for cat nails.

Keep yourself very calm and if possible have someone else help hold her.

[Donna]

My cat was always scratching the door frame. Whenever I would catch her I would redirect her.

She doesn’t do it anymore. Cats are smart.

They learn quickly and if they have something else to scratch on

[Ash]

You can have a vet (or do it yourself but it needs to be done right to not damage nail beds) put on silicone nail caps on the cats claws.

[Lori]

When my cats are scratching something they shouldn’t be I tell them no bad, take them to one of their 4 cat trees/scratching posts and when they scratch where they’re supposed to I praise them and tell them what a good kitty they are.

It’s all about training them.

[Dienna]

Cats shouldn’t be declawed for any reason. There are 9 in my house and I do what I can to provide them with scratch areas. Corner scratchers.

Tower to scratch, scratch boxes, outside rug in the screened porch that they cam scratch.

I have no carpet or indoor rugs. There are lots of things I can’t/dont have with cats.

I just accept it… I try to discourage them from scratching my chair with the clear anti scratch plastic patches and a chair cover on top.

[Debby]

I bought the carpet squares and stapled them to the wall in a spare room.

But my cats love the scratching posts on their cat trees as well as the cardboard ones

[Allison]

My cat is a carpet shredder too. The solution for us was Ripple Rugs. It’s a specific brand of rugs made for cats.

It’s supposed to be a toy but mine doesn’t like to play with them. However, she loves to lay on it and it’s her favorite scratcher.

I have 4 now! Two at my house and two at my boyfriend’s. She leaves the carpet alone now and just shreds the rug.

I’m finally needing to replace my first one after 7 years.

She wasn’t interested in vertical scratchers or any cardboard but thinks these ugly rugs are the best thing ever!

[Author]

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