Here's one for you cat lovers or for those mathletes that simply tolerate the preferences of their better half. Any helpful hints on raising well mannered kitties?

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2002

Answers

Of course I have one idea to share. I couldn't get Jane to stop clawing the sofa arm. I tried being mean, and that sorta worked but I mostly felt bad. Declawing is not an option, but I do trim them frequently to minimize the damage. I tucked a plastic bag under the armrest cover and let it hang down over where she claws the most. To my liking she now uses the welcome mat.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2002

Oh my god, I so thought this was going to be about something else.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2002

Hannah: You, too?

Brian: Double-sided tape works wonders. Get a big, wide roll at the hardware store and cover all the corners of your couch. Cats hate the way tape feels on their paws, plus your couch is protected until she quits. Looks a bit unsightly, but you don't have to use it for long.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2002

I tucked a plastic bag under the armrest cover and let it hang down over where she claws the most.

We were lucky that our cat was never much of a scratcher but she does have an incredibly strange affinity for plastic bags. I kid you not, she is a blue grocery bagaholic. She licks the plastic and puts her face really close to them and makes a "num-num-num" sound. We have to be really careful not to leave them sitting around because we are always scared that she will hurt herself. Not only the choking aspect but the wrap around the legs aspect. One time, we had bought new lightbulbs for our dining room chandelier, and in the midst of carrying a bunch of stuff in the house, the bag with the bulbs was left on the couch. Next thing we know, Crash, boom, bang, lightbulbs shattered everywhere and crazed cat running through the house with a blue parachute on her back. We had to enroll her in PBA...Plastic Bags Anonymous.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

Dawn -- I seriously thought my cat was the only one with a bag problem. So glad to learn he's not alone!!! Our cat too must climb in and inspect every square inch of every single bag that enters the house. He prefers to lay on a bag if one is available. It doesn't matter to him whether it's paper or plastic, though. He loves all bags indiscriminately.

He is also not declawed but the only thing he sharpens on are the exposed bricks in our house. Our declawed cat has caused more destruction -- she ruined the speakers on our TV by scratching at them with her imaginary claws!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

it's too late now, but one thing i never would have let * ok, technically he weighs 20 lbs, but i'm embarrassed to write that. he's big-boned! he's really muscular too, and long, like a panther. and definitely not "overwt.!" as i saw written on his chart at the vet's office.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

Sara, I am helping you out here with your kitty's website link, because it's the cutest thing I ever saw, especially the part about his little kitty dreams.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

thanks for the help, guess i forgot my double quote at the end of the url there. and to think i write HTML for a living. no wonder i'm underpaid.

he would like you to know that while he's tickled that you like him and his site, he's not cute, he's _extremely_ vicious. grr.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

Oh my god. I am dying.

The dream!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

The double-sided tape idea to stop scratching is great, and it works! Be sure to provide an approved scratching spot, though. Cats need to scratch and if you discourage one spot (couch) they'll find something else (chair?) so you want to make sure they have a scratching post or some such to scrabble on. Trimming their nails is also very good. You can buy claw clippers at any decent pet shop and it's not hard to get cats to accept the process. It's especially easy if you start when the cat is still a kitten. As for having well-behaved kitties, be sure you don't play "rough" with them, and if they ever bite or scratch at you during play be sure to discourage it immediately (stop playing and say "no" very firmly, maybe distract them with a toy it's okay to bite). A behavior like that may be cute with a 1-pound kitten but it's not funny with a 10-pound cat, ya?

Here's an absolutely hysterical cat story, 100% true! You can read it here.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2002

I have a question, actually. I'm looking at new apartments (hope to move before fall) and one that sounds great has all hardwood floors and tile in bath and kitchen. I'm wondering if any of you have hardwood floors and a cat(s)? Since I got Melisande I've always lived in places with wall-to-wall carpet and she loves to rocket up and down the halls like a little furry speedmobile. I guess my question is, do cats like hardwood? Do they hate that it's got no traction? Is there every any problem with scratches in the wood?

-- Anonymous, June 07, 2002

Jane used to live in a house with hardwood floors throughout. She didnt seem to mind less traction. She might have considered it a challenge. She loves to play "pennies" on the hardwood floor. It makes a cool sound for her as the pennies slide along the floor like a hockey puck. She plays goalie and pounces on them.

-- Anonymous, June 10, 2002

Kay, we have hardwoods throughout the 1st floor of our house and our cat does not seem to be bothered by them at all. We have area rugs here and there and she does lay on them quite a lot. But, when it is hot, both her and our dog have a tendency to lay on the hardwood floors because they are cooler.

-- Anonymous, June 10, 2002

P.S. Kay, if you do chose that apartment, definitely invest in a Swiffer. It is the best tool ever for picking up pet hair.

-- Anonymous, June 10, 2002

Our cats don't mind the hardwood floors either. Our long-haired cat, who has inch-long hair between his toes, sometimes has trouble getting traction but I wouldn't trade that little amusement for anything. Plus it discourages him from jumping up on furniture because he's afraid he'll slip (and he has). Both our cats like to play with bouncing or rolling balls, and it's way more fun on a smooth surface. They also like to hide stuff under the rugs and then hunt for it, etc. They aren't heavy enough to damage the hardwood floors like a dog can.

-- Anonymous, June 10, 2002