How upsetting to have your new furniture ruined. If it were me, I'd go buy an inexpensive carpeted post to see if she will use it. Save the receipt. If she won't use it, take it back. It will be as good as new.

In the meantime, I'd cover all the furniture because you will just get more and more upset about this.

I've also heard about some little tips you can glue on her claws. Saw them in the pet store. But I know you'd rather have her claw a post or horizontal cardboard scratcher.

I hope you get some better suggestions than mine here.

Your kitten may not be using the "sisal scratching post that our old cat loved" because it belonged to your other cat and has his/her markings all over it. Your cat likely wants its own scratching post. I have two suggestions for you:

1. Get a new scratching post. Make sure it's tall enough (at least 32"). I have two that my cats love. I recently added a 3rd cat to my household, and he immediately took to both the scratching posts. I have the posts on different floors, but my cats love both of them. One is the Topcats Scratching Post. Unfortunately it's only available via mail order. The other is sold at Petco, or you can buy it on the 'net; it's the SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post. These scratching posts may seem expensive, but they're a lot cheaper than reupholstering your furniture!

2. Get the horizontal scratcher called the "Original Scratch Lounge". I wrote about it on another thread about my cat who is a horizontal scratcher. She really loves that "Original Scratch Lounge". I provided a link on that thread to the website which provides a list of places you can buy it. Make sure to check out the cute video on that website of the cat who won't leave the Scratch Lounge!

You could try using a rough all natural tree trunk, get a saw, find a downed tree outside somewhere, and build your own, you'd save a lot of money that way.. I think your kitten is just being a kitten, its a phase they go through . Very young kittens cannot even withdraw there claws, much less use them right.

Soft paws will help if this cat can never be a good post scratcher, but I'd wait at lest a few more months to see how she matures.

You are a really good pet owner, most lower humans would just de claw and not worry about it, I trust you know all the drawbacks and behavioral issues that come with doing this. Its actually illegal in many areas of the world.

There is a double sided tape called "Sticky Paws" that you could try on your furniture instead of the drop cloths...its supposed to work well as a scratching deterrent.

Some pretty good advice so far: I also had a scratching post/cat condo that a previous generation of cats absolutely loved...but when they went to heaven and new cats came into my life, they avoided the old, seasoned scratching post completely.

I would also suggest that when you get a new scratching facility, even with the drop cloth or Sticky Paws on your upholstered furniture, that you stay away from your beloved chair and hang out with Kitty around her new scratching area while she gets established there. I have a theory that cats like to 'share' territory with their people.

L

Great ideas so far-- I'm a veterinary technician and this is a daily question for us!

About the nail caps, called "Soft Paws": They are a wonderful alternative to declawing "IF" you can put them on at home. Good luck! Usually, it takes 2 of us at the clinic to apply them easily. Cats, and especially kittens, can get pretty wiggly and impatient (even if they aren't being bitey) when you hold them still to apply the tips. Further, to get the best results, you have to hold the cat still for a bit to allow the nail glue to set up. Also, some cats will simply chew the Soft Paws off-- it's a personal thing, and not all cats do this; many just leave them alone. But the SP's do need to be reapplied just like our fancy human fake nails do. You can either face the task at home every few weeks, or have your vet's office do it for you--and we have MANY clients that opt for us to do the honors. Not only that, the cat will continue to go through the motions of scratching.

See, when a cat scratches on furniture, trees, a post or whatever-- it is doing several things. First and most obviously, the cat is "sharpening" its claws, removing the old loose outer layer. Cats' claws are layered much like our own nails while a dog's nail is solid. Scratching helps to loosen the top old layer. Second, when a cat scratches, it is stretching its muscles. Third, and very important-- a cat has scent glands in its paws. When a cat scratches, the cat leaves behind a little scent that other cats but not humans can detect, which says: "I was here!" Declawing, clipping claws or using Soft Paws simply reduces or eliminates the damage/injury, but doesn't stop the behavior. And there's no need to STOP the behavior, anyway... only the damage that goes along with it. Keeping claws short or covered helps, as does behavioral training (posts or other approved scratching devices).

My suggestion to you is to get your kitten several styles of his/her very own scratchers and see which type gets the most attention. I say "new", because another poster was spot on when she mentioned that "new" cats wouldn't use an "old" cat's post-- because of that scent-marking thing. You can even make scratchers of your own, using sturdy lumber, heavy fabric/rope/carpet remnants and a bit of imagination. "Large", "sturdy" and "stable" are the only rules (other than "safe")... other than that, feel free to experiment. And be sure to reward and praise your kitty when she uses the scratcher.

If she slips and goes back to the furniture-- a possibility since she has deposited her scent in previous "forays"-- simply and matter-of-factly say "NO!", then pick her up without fanfare or harshness and take her to the closest device. Then PRAISE her so that she learns that the devices are good. NEVER physically punish your cat (other than the water bottle, deterrent rather than punishment) for engaging in this normal physiological behavior-- but teach her where this behavior is allowed, and be consistent! Also, have several devices around the house. A single device in a remote corner of the house just isn't sufficient. One in each room is ideal, and devices can be made or bought that don't look too out of place with your decor.

Hope that helps. Sorry it's long, but cats and feline behavior are my "area of specialty", LOL!!

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I really appreciate all of the education and suggestions. This is my 2nd kitten in 12 years. I'm no expert.

I checked the scratching posts that you all suggested and agree, the cost is small compared to the furniture damage. We have the old Purrfect Post and love it. Before scrapping the used one I went over went over every square inch of the post and base twice, very slowly with a high powered crevice vac. After placing it in a new location next to her favorite "scratching" chair and giving a scratch demo, she came right over and gave it a good scratch too! Treats & praise for the kitty!

We are not through the woods yet but it's encouraging. Feliway spray on the chair and other furniture are also on the agenda as is continuing the water squirts whenever she forgets the post in favor of the furniture. Encouragement, praise & treats for using the post will continue several times a day.

Soft Paws are on the possibilities list if all else fails but it seems like you'd need to keep putting them on forever since the behavior doesn't stop, but at least the damage ends.

Megan Anne, glad to meet a cat behaviorist! I'm a behaviourist too, but humans & groups of humans are not like kitty cats (shoulda said not MUCH like kitty cats). I tape the Dog Whisperer and SuperNanny just to see others work! Hope you consider becoming the Kitty Whisperer. If you know of some good sites to find information about normal cat development, I'd love to read about it. I've never seen a mother cat with her kittens. I had read that gentle scruffing with hissing is a mother cat's method of discipline followed by affection and tried this when the furniture scratching first began. The kitten immediately stopped, flopped down on her side, cheek rubbed my hand, closed her eyes and made sucking sounds. It was darling. But as with kids, she became "mother deaf" to my frequent hissing.

Hope this gives you all a grin -
I don't have to wonder if my kitten likes her dinner. As soon as she gives it the sniff test, she either eagerly eats it or turns and gives it the "cover up" motion with her front paw and walks away like I put poo in her dish!

My cat didn't like the sisal rope much at first but grew to love it and my mattress is now safe. Try placing the post against where she's trying to scratch, as I think positioning might be a factor as well. A nice soft chair in an open space is more appealing then a post tucked back behind the dinning room table. Put the posts in spots your kitten frequents most.

You need to get in the habit of yelling,"NO!" and clapping your hands loudly anytime you see your kitten scratching your furniture.
The first few times kitten may look at you like you're nuts,but believe me,kitten will catch on that this is something they are NOT supposed to be doing! In fact,your kitten will learn "NO" and that helps when they are getting into other things as well...
Then kitten will find another place to scratch.

Oh I used to try the "NO" approach but Dustin would stare me in the face and keep clawing. So I grabbed a can I keep coins in and shook it hard. I know the sound is unpleasant for them.

I have the same problem. We bought two of those scratching things. So far she loves wicker! Good luck.
Are people still spraying with water for bad habits or using the coin thing?

Carla

You know those homely, scratchy cocoa-fiber welcome mats?

My cat like to claw those, and you could put them anywhere.

I have a cat that like to chew on the sticky tape, stupid cat. She actually goes after packages with the tape to chew on it. I have used the double sided tape you get for holding carpet down. Its kind of annoying though. I had to figure out something else for my chewer. I got some clear vinyl from fabric store and pinned it on corners of sofa, it works. I also use the water spray and give treats for using the scratching post...That really worked for me. Now cats "lead" us to the scratching post to make sure we see them use it so they can get a treat. One of the cats I got at about 3 years old and didn't know what a scratching post was, took about 2 weeks and she figured it out.

It takes a while for little baby kitten to figure that out, pick it up when you find her doing the actual clawing (not running around with claws out) and show her how to use the post, take paws in hand and move them over the post then give her a small treat, even a pinch of catnip will do, and praise.

In gen, a cat will always scratch where it wants to, my mother has to hide her wedding dress from our cats and we have two scratching posts and a cat tree. cats are not what you'd call a totally domesticated animal

I'm glad your willing to try better ways of dealing with it, then a lot of the sorry cases I know. At Anydine- basically an art job I work at we had someone substain a serious bite on her arm from a de cawed cat, if you ask me I think the group home deserves it for allowing it to be an issue in the first place and a bop on the head from animal control/human welfare. GGRRR!

We had two cats, littermates, Heather and Holly. We had a scratching post in our bedroom which Holly always used and Heather never did. Heather would (and still does) scratch on the carpet on the stair landing. Well, the bedroom post got "used up" so we took off the carpet and put a new piece of the same carpet on it. Heather got to it first and scratched on it regularly. Holly never scratched it after the new carpet was put on it.

Holly has since died of CRF. Heather stopped using the post and scratches the stair landing carpet. We put the post on the landing, thinking she'd use it instead. She totally ignores it.

The only explanation I can come up with is territory. Now that she doesn't have to claim it as her territory, Heather doesn't use it.

I'm back a bit more than 1 month later with good news and information about what worked.

To recap: I thoroughly vacumed the Purrfect Post, kitty was willing to scratch it and I put a treat on the base of it afterward. Since then,
1. Anything she had scratched (except the post) was sprayed with an orange scented room freshner spray from Walmart since cats aren't supposed to like citrus scent and I wanted to cover up the scent she left from her claws (I didn't realize they are scenting with their claws and that keeps them coming back!). I did this two days in a row.
2. Little spray bottles of water were placed next to where we usually sit or stand. Anytime she scratched the furniture, we kept quiet and merely gave her an immediate squirt.
3. Whenever she woke up, I led her to the post, praised her for scratching it and placed a treat or two on the base of the post ("all natural temptations chicken flavor" since that brand is more food than junkfood and didn't upset her stomach).
4. We trimmed just the little tiny tips of her claws when they got very sharp (about two weeks or so). I noticed, if she had longer, sharper claws she seemed to want to use them more.

She hardly ever claws furniture now! No more furniture snags & thread pulls. The times she is likely to make an "error" is when she wakes up from sleeping on my lap so I walk her to the post right away to prevent it.

The other day I was in the kitchen and she walked up to me and meowed like she wanted something. I said "Show me" and took a step toward her (did this with my last kitty too). When she saw I was going to follow her, she led me to the room where the post is and scratched it! She just wanted to be sure I noticed! These kitties are so smart-- See how well THEY train us!

She uses the post on her own more often now, without prompts, praise or treats from me. I think we are over the hump.

Thank you all for your help!

Good.