No Kitty, don't scratch the furniture!

When you first get a cat, they purr and rub against you.  They meow and greet you when you walk in the door.  They jump on your lap.  They are warm and fuzzy and they make you feel the same.

And then you discover some not so cute habits…  “No Kitty, don’t scratch the furniture!”

When my former orphan cat “Olivia” started this behavior I freaked.  So I went to the pet store and purchased one of those kitty contraptions that have little nooks and crannies and scratching posts for the cat to enjoy.  She gave it a glance and then casually walked over to the sofa and…well you get the picture.  The next item was pretty much an overpriced piece of cardboard supposedly scented like catnip. Up with her tail and nose in the air she sashayed past it as if it wasn’t even there. 

I bought scented sprays and sticky tape and discovered that my cat was unfazed.  After she re-upholstered an antique chair, kitty style, I realized that I needed to come up with a solution. 

I called my vet.  Now, don’t get all in a tizzy.  I found out exactly how they declaw cats.  Lets just say that I was as shocked as I was to discover that mousetraps don’t catch mice by their tails.

I was at wits end. It was starting to look as if I was going to have to redecorate my living room with cheap plastic lawn furniture.

Again to the pet store I ventured.  My head was down and my spirits were low. One last try in desperation I asked a sales person who just happened to own a cat if there was a solution that I hadn’t tried.  He told me to put rubber tips on the cat’s nails.

I can hear you laughing so stop it.  I bought a package. There are several brands out there but basically they all do the same thing.  Who would have thought they have fake glue-on nail caps for cats.  And they come in all sorts of girly colors. (Clear caps for Tom)

The first application is a little tricky.  I will tell you that it helps to have two people and a very large towel.  Perhaps the cats would be a little more cooperative if they knew you were saving them from starring in a “Saw” sequel.  Trust me, it gets easier and the only thing you will have to deal with are visitors making comments about your cat's manicure.

Now after 6 months I only have to replace one nail here and there, and I can keep the lawn furniture outside where it belongs. ;-)

Calico ACEO