As you have probably noticed, Cousin Earl has only three legs. Although it doesn’t seem to slow him down in almost any way, especially in the naughty department, like his cousin Newton, he doesn’t seem to want to (or be capable of) scratch on the types of scratching posts and scratchers he has been given.
He and Nellie have this great home-made tree. The cross piece was specifically wrapped with him in mind, since the thought was that vertical would be difficult for him.
Second, an Ess was added to the mix. Looking for something similar to the carpet he was continuing to use. He used it as a fort for a while, but soon abandoned it altogether.
Then we went old school with a simple cardboard scratcher. Once the catnip is gone, so is he.
Earl has two types of scratching. One is a byproduct of how he likes to lie down. The digs into the carpet with his front claws and then flops on his side. The second is pure scratching. He will stop, and pull at the carpet with that front foot, claws out.
Any suggestions, short of de-clawing and capping his nails, would be greatly appreciated!
I hate to be overly simple but… re-nip the cardboard. They do lose the scent, I reapply every couple of months. If he really likes the nippy scent, try sooner.
If he prefers carpet, wrap one of those cross pieces in the homemade tree with a carpet sample? and nip it!
Have you tried those doormatts that are like pokey up tight sassle? A lot of cats seem to think those are scratchies not matts.. Star uses my butterfly matt. And if you read Itty Bitty Kitty Committee, Charlene Butterbean used one on her deck so much that they put one on the carpet that she wanted to scratch but they didnt want her to. Mine scoots around on the carpet, but that might be Star at work…
I know we have phases of scratching in a couple of areas–so the Woman has a rug over them, which we use. It’s more of a barrier than a solution. Is there anything long enough that he can fully stretch out on that’s really flat? In the old house, when people were around, I used to like to flop on my side and pull myself across the lower stair while scratching my claws. I can do upright to fully stretch, but part of my dragging myself across seemed to be that I was stretching as well. Can you get a longer piece of wood that allows him to lie on his side and really get a long, long stretch (like two to three times the normal length of his body) and can be attached to the cat tree–and where the other posts aren’t in his way? Also the cardboard scratcher things do need to be re-nipped!
We have an on and off phase with Lucy – she goes for weeks and weeks using the scratch posts or the garden fence and then all of a sudden she uses the carpet! She did last night and fortunately I was right there and I shouted NO she looked me in the eye and carried on!! I was cross but had to laugh at her “Not Me” look.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
I agree, we re-nip often with both nip and nip spray!!!
How about a nipped up piece of carpet, just for him? Also, will he allow his nails to be trimmed?
Like the Katnip Lounge Kats suggested, maybe a piece of carpeting, like those carpet samples? And nip nip nip nip!!
We agree with many of the other comments. If the nip appears to work, then apply it as often as needed.