Hey cat lovers,

I'm sure for those of you with indoor bound cats, this topic isn't exactly something new.

Most of you would've already known the reasons why cats scratch which is perfectly normal behaviour. The outdoor cats well, I've seen them scratching commonly on trees or anything woody and car tyres. How about you guys who keep your cats indoors? What do they scratch on and what do you do to minimise or stop them; especially if it has to do with say your sofa or leather covered chairs?

I got myself some wooden structures, well actually one of those storage systems from IKEA that seemed to have worked well as my cats now seem to scratch that more than anything else. Pheeww......

The only thing left to manage is to completely stop them scratching the leather covers of the chair I sit on as I type this and the sides of the bed. Tried sticky tape and one of those repellant sprays; well the tape didn't work but the spray did for a while. I stopped using the spray since I didn't like the smell and it kinds of sticks to your clothes if you sit where you applied it.

What do you guys do?

Interesting ... scrathing posts. I got 3 scrathing posts located at strategic location ... near my leather sofa. On my sofa, 1 big and flat pillow specialy for my cat to "hamtam". My living room I have one "jaga", my chihuahua. My cats always run away whenever my chihuahua bark at them .

The only problem is my study/office room where there are many power cords for my PC and electrical goods. They enter and play in this room under supervision.

.. emmm so far soo good

Chili Padi too started scratching on anything that stand vertical.

Since they are confined in the kitchen, as they grow I don't think their scratching would not be too damaging on the refrigerator door's surface, cabinet and concrete wall right ?

But I do remember that when Chili was playing at the laundry yard, she enjoys scratching certain area of wall till layer of paint peel off from the wall

Exotic, I have lost count on how many pets you have. You even have a chihuahua? Please list down the number of pets you have. For Fun Lah!

Speaking of scratchy posts, the tiny kittens are using our legs as scratchy post. Even my gorgeous sofa. Sob!

No I do not leave them in the house when we are not around or there will be destruction everywhere. My home is not kid-friendly as well.

Hantam hantam ni, I am sure it must be Tom. He looks like he got the right stuff man....I think Mike Tyson also no chance.

stranger, well I don't think they'd go scratching on solid, non-soft, non-woody surfaces; so no worries there.

gaudy, my leather covered chair is already 30% penetrated. I feel for your sofa. Heh.

I use the possibly most humane way to stop the scratchy. A spray bottle containing water. Scratch, spray. It does work. I used to do it to my previous cat. Have not done to the tiny ones..... yet.

O.k ... at the moment I have:

Cat :
- Tom (m/Exotic Shorthair/Black white)
- Blue Eye (m/Persian/white)
- Princess Chilla (f/Persian/chinchilla silver white)
- Totti@Garfield (f/Exotic Shorthair/Ginger)
- Chelsea (f/ Persian mixed/ tortie colour)

Dog :
- a German Shephard (Keano/m)
- a Golden Retriever (Flynt/m)
- a Chihuahua (Eddie/m)

Fish :
- an arowana (super red)

Bird :
- a lorikeet, named barthez (my first pet)

Is that too many ... some pet are under my partner care (german shepard, golden retriever and a lorikeet bird). Me basically taking care the indoor pet ... hope that I can post all the pet here

I used to do this too but stopped using it after one incident where some water got into their ears due to a sudden movement. And you know what happens when water gets into their ears right.

Nowadays I just growl at them whenever any of them starts scratching where they aren't supposed to. It took quite a while before they understood what I was growling about.

Exotic,

Erm...sounds like you have a mini national zoo la. I'll put your place up in my list of places to visit the next time I go to Kuching.

Maybe take some pictures like a tourist along the way.

wooz.....

Hmm...scratching??...My male kitty hasnt shown interest on my sofa's yet, but i'm sure that pretty soon, he'll be clawing on that... ... I heard that spraying water will make them stop the scratching habit??..Is it true??..I've tried with my past cats, but sadly it doesnt work or it just doesnt work with my cats???!!.. ...Anyway, scratching or not, they are still our bundle of joy....rite???.... ..What are we if they weren't around???.....