Furniture Scratching/Blanket Chewing

by Carol
(San Ramon, CA)

My husband and I are enjoying our 9-month old siblings (boy and girl) and have had them in our home for 6 months now. They are indoors at all times and are thriving with lots of space and toys (including chewable, and have even offered chewy dog treats) for playtime. Additionally, they have a big climbing structure with sisal rope attached and a separate sisal scratch post that is tall enough for stretching.

My question is whether you have any suggestion regarding how to handle our little boy's determination to scratch on furniture and our little girl's determination to chew on blankets. I've tried using verbal scolding and a spray water bottle but to my surprise, they love water! Furthermore, I can't always "catch them in the act" because the problem can happen overnight. I've resorted to removing any throw blankets, closing off rooms, and we've got a cardboard "fence" surrounding our entire living room to keep them out.

We're waiting and hoping they'll grow out of this behavior but in the meantime, thanks for any suggestions you can provide.

RESPONSE:

You have some very active little kitties! Scratching is normal behavior so the goal is to re-direct the behavior to more appropriate things to scratch other than your furniture. Make the things you want him to scratch more desirable and the things you don't want him to scratch less desirable.
Scolding and squirting has not worked because he has turned it into a game. He gets attention! More interactive play time with you will help, especially before bed. A tired cat is a happy cat!
Rub the scratching posts, climbing trees with catnip and play with him around them so he associates fun with the scratchers. Try using "Sticky Paws", a double sided sticky tape/sheets on the furniture you don''t want him scratching.
The blanket chewing, especially if she is kneeding and purring while doing it, is a comfort thing. If she is actually eating the blankets, it is referred to as pica. In either case, more play and attention will help. Use "Bitter Apple" spray on the blankets to discourage her from chewing. It tastes really bad! You may also want to try a Bach Flower Essence or Spirit Essence (click the links on the left) for obsessive-compulsive behavior to help calm her need to chew. It won't harm either cat and should help calm the need to chew.
After play, when you go to bed, put out some solitary play toys. Feeder balls and puzzle boxes work good for this. Put some treats in them and let them forage for the food. This will help them to keep busy while you sleep - hopefully!
9 months is a very active age for cats so increasing play time will help a lot! We do several sessions a day to help the active cats burn off excess energy and have found it cuts down on inappropriate behaviors. Stop the verbal scolding and spraying since it has become a "reward" for them. Instead, keep fishing pole toys, teasers, ping pong or paper balls handy to distract them from the scratching or chewing and get them interested in something else. Distraction is a great tool for modifying cat behavior.
It may seem like a lot of work but once you start to reap the rewards of better behaved cats it will all be worthwhile! Besides, more play is fun for you too!
Let us know how it goes!

Donna
House Full Cats Mom