Originally posted by ambaker:
Originally posted by moniepenny:
Thanks. We just brought one in and she used it right away, so that's a good sign. :) |
Cats acutally like litter boxes. And they like them clean. (Now if that isn't a contradiction in terms...)
Just don't let it get overloaded and smelly, and you should have no problems.
As for nails. You can trim them with fingernail clippers. Just don't go too short, and until you know that cat is accepting of the "treatment", it's good idea to wrap her in a towel first. Cats have an amazing amount of sharp hardware at their disposal, should they decide they don't like something. Trimming nails reduces nail sharpening. Also scratching posts do not have to be expensive. We used to buy cardboard scratchers, till we realized that we could make them easily. Cut cardboard into even width strips. (About 2 inches, sorry I'm metric challenged, wide.) Glue them together so that the make a rectangle slightly large that your cat, with the edges of the cardboard as the scracthing surface. (You wind up with a 2 inch thick trivet with exposed cardboard corrigation edges for the surface.)
If you want to get fancy, sprinkle a little catnip on it. (Some cats love it to death, others could care less.) Lay it down in a handy place and the cat will do the rest. When the surface wears out, turn it over.
I'd recommend against cloth scratching posts. Anything that feels like furniture, could encourage your cat to use the furniture. If your cat uses the furniture to sharpen her claws, just take her over to her scratch pad and lightly press her paw against it. She'll get the idea what the rules are. |
Ambaker's got it exactly right. We bought my cat one of those fancy scratching posts one year, and she couldn't have cared less. It went into the garage sale. But the cardboard one from the Dollar Store, which is exactly like ambaker described, she loves. Save money and build your own, it'll likely be a hit.
As far as catnip goes, I don't know if you have a outside space for a small garden or a windowbox or something, but if you plant your own, it's cheaper, and kitty will love you. They like to graze on it when it's growing, and then you can cut it and dry it, and they like it that way too (that's how it comes from the store if you buy a baggie).
I don't know about clipping claws, I've never done that with either of my cats, and they seem fine. Actually, the idea of trying it sounds dangerous to me - five of their six ends are sharp and pointy! If you do decide to try it, go for the towel trick.
My only other suggestion is, if she starts to get into things she shouldn't be in to, or scratching the furniture, etc, try a spritz bottle with some plain water in it. A good shot or two with it, and they generally learn the rules, and it doesn't hurt them in the least. (well, except their dignity, maybe ;-)
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