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On the recommendation of several of you cat-lovers out there in LJ-land, I purchased a set of Softpaws to attempt to curb Biscuit's scratching issues. She was very good as a kitten about using her scratching post and the various items for that purpose that we'd left around the house, but she's a brat cat now and is starting to prefer the couch. Although we can discourage Biscuit from this behavior when we're home, she has free rein when she's home alone.
Some of it is clearly attention-seeking. If we go into a room and close the door behind us, Biscuit wants to come inside too, and she'll start pulling at the carpet because it gets a reaction. I don't care as much because I hate our carpets and I'd like to have an excuse to replace them with hardwood, but husband does not share that view. But, once he found a claw-nick in his prized leather chair, something had to give. Biscuit also likes to get us up in the morning, and her preferred tactic is to pick at the mattress to make noise. This is extremely annoying.
I was nervous about how Biscuit would react to the claw-sheaths, but it turned out that she was much more cranky about getting her nails trimmed than anything else. We've been very careful with the claw nippers, so Biscuit complains and wiggles rather than turning into a Screaming Ball of Rage like Natalie did. Once the fronts were done, I put glue in the Softpaws tips like the instructions directed, and one two three they were on the claws. Biscuit didn't and doesn't seem to mind them too much - she picked halfheartedly at one paw and then ignored them completely.
There's been one unintended side effect. When Biscuit wants something at night, like a drink of water from the faucet or a snack, she bugs me because she knows I'll get up. Husband is a much more sound sleeper and will ignore her. Last night, Biscuit realized that clawing at the mattress was not getting the effect she wanted. I woke up to a warm lump on my chest and a paw very gently and persistently patting my nose. My husband thought it was adorable.
Some of it is clearly attention-seeking. If we go into a room and close the door behind us, Biscuit wants to come inside too, and she'll start pulling at the carpet because it gets a reaction. I don't care as much because I hate our carpets and I'd like to have an excuse to replace them with hardwood, but husband does not share that view. But, once he found a claw-nick in his prized leather chair, something had to give. Biscuit also likes to get us up in the morning, and her preferred tactic is to pick at the mattress to make noise. This is extremely annoying.
I was nervous about how Biscuit would react to the claw-sheaths, but it turned out that she was much more cranky about getting her nails trimmed than anything else. We've been very careful with the claw nippers, so Biscuit complains and wiggles rather than turning into a Screaming Ball of Rage like Natalie did. Once the fronts were done, I put glue in the Softpaws tips like the instructions directed, and one two three they were on the claws. Biscuit didn't and doesn't seem to mind them too much - she picked halfheartedly at one paw and then ignored them completely.
There's been one unintended side effect. When Biscuit wants something at night, like a drink of water from the faucet or a snack, she bugs me because she knows I'll get up. Husband is a much more sound sleeper and will ignore her. Last night, Biscuit realized that clawing at the mattress was not getting the effect she wanted. I woke up to a warm lump on my chest and a paw very gently and persistently patting my nose. My husband thought it was adorable.
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Date: 2009-05-14 02:40 pm (UTC)Plus they come in colours so you can colour-code the cat, or accessorize with the seasons, or just make it real obvious when one's fallen off...
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Date: 2009-05-14 05:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-14 03:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-14 05:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-14 04:21 pm (UTC)Congrats to Biscuit on her task of human domination. : )
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Date: 2009-05-14 05:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-15 02:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-15 06:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-16 01:45 am (UTC)