As an anniversary present, our daughter is purchasing brand new furniture for our great room. I am very thankful for her generosity. I also have two cats who either like to sleep on the couch, or worse yet, claw the couch. That's one reason for the new ones.
Does anyone know of a way to first: stop the kitty from sharpening his nails on my new stuff, and second: how to keep the older one off of the couch so I'm not cleaning up fur every day. Both cats are brushed daily, but also shed daily in addition. There's probably an answer somewhere in ThriftyFun, but your assistance to my problem will be appreciated ten fold. Thank you.
By Marilyn
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I put throw blankets on all the couches to catch the hair, ugly but effective. I tuck them into the cracks and also put some over the backs since they like to lay up there too. That takes care of the hair, when someone is coming over I quickly pull them all off and throw them in the washing machine to wash before putting back (or the basement if they're relatively clean). It does look sort of ugly, but saves a lot of work.
I bought most of them at thrift shops, they're funky but cool. The scratching I am pretty lucky, maybe because I have scratching posts and cardboard scratching pads all over the house for the three of them.
Or: maybe because, most of my furniture is leather so not so satisfying as cloth? Not that they don't accidentally scratch it once in awhile. Your couches will be new so the cats won't sense their scent on them yet, you could probably train them to some extent as long as you start immediately.
I bought medium weight clear vinyl that comes by the yard at the fabric store home dec. department. I cut pieces to fit the sides of my couch and along the front skirt where the cat likes to scratch. I attached it with small screw pins also from the fabric store.
I rescued 3 kitties one time and started immediately using a spray bottle of water to train them. Once in awhile, one will try to claw furniture but a good NO! will send them running. They still stay off the kitchen counters.
Pat
Pretty throws could work on the couch, maybe just draped over one cushion. Or even a cat bed. You'll have to keep putting them in the right spot for awhile and spray them when they go to an unprotected area. Wipe off the furniture with a damp sponge to collect a lot of the fur. As far as the scratching, put lots of posts around. There are sprays for furniture that can discourage them from scratching but I haven't found any that work really well. I keep my couch against the wall with tables, etc. on each side. They can only get close to the front. Put something under the seat cushions that will drape down and cover the front/bottom of the couch.
Declawing is NOT a little thing! It not only removes the claws but the equivalent of the top part above the last joint of your own fingers! How could anyone who loves a cat enough to put up with their fur all over the place effectively submit them to a vet for multiple painful and crippling amputations!?!
By 2 sided tape! It sells at Petsmart either in wide or single. It is very safe for furniture. I put it on my new leather chair where the cats had already begun clawing up on the front and back, also the side. You can barely see it when after its on. The cats don't like sticking to the tape. Mine havent scratched once since i applied the tape 2 days ago.
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