*
Ken is correct!!! How would you like to have your fingers and toes cut off at the first joint, taped up, and then walk on them till they healed? Just think about it.
Jerry
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*
For the cat, I'm thinking a 7-iron would be enough. Unless it's one of those giant "Garfield" types.
I've always found a 3-wood to be very effective on the neighbor kids.
*
Term for animal like that around here is "lead deficient". Species is unimportant and be aware that correcting any lead deficient animal is irreversible! My father-in-law refers to the same treatment as "taking it for a walk." Also irreversible. Just a modest proposal. Skip
*Why would anyone want to own a cat in the first place?
*Contrary to popular belief, cats are as trainable and maybe even smarter then dogs.Yes, they are aloof and independent, and I'm sure I'll get flamed for this big time, but most cat problems are brought on by the owners themselves.
*I don't know Crusty.........Why would any one want to be friends with you? Some men think it's not "manly" to like cats. Go figure.Ed. Williams
*We once had problems with our four cats clawing the wallpaper and the walls. Then we got our first dog - a Sheltie - and the cats now spend their entire life on a top shelf somewhere in the house or else, they're being herded into a small tight circle by our wonder-dog. I highly recommend anyone with cat problems buy a Shetland Sheepdog. Cats love to be herded. And they love to be awakened from their naps by a dog gnawing on their head. Or barking repeatedly 1-inch from their ear. The cure for all cat problems is one good sheepdog.Rose
*I -knew- the "dog people" would crash this party.
*Ed, did I ask anyone to be my friend? Perhaps you should get a cat Ed -- I hear they're good for soothing irritable types, which you seem to be.
*
Cat had a diary...Use to have a cat that kept a diary while in prison but was executed or should I say excommunicated for urinating on the boss's pillow not once but twice. I recovered the diary after the fact and had it deciphered by the Feline Bureau of Intelligence. Here is an excerpt from the CAT DIARY.
DAY 752 - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre
little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh
meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only
thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and
the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the
occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat
another houseplant.
DAY 761 - Today my attempt to kill my captors by
weaving around their feet while they were walking
almost succeeded, must try this at the top of The
stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these
vile oppressors, I Once again induced myself to vomit
on their favorite chair...must try this on their bed.
DAY 762 - Slept all day so that I could annoy my
captors with sleep depriving, incessant pleas for food
at ungodly hours of the night.
DAY 765 - Decapitated a mouse and brought them the
headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I
am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their
hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a
good little cat I was. Hmmm...not working according to
plan.
DAY 768 - I am finally aware of how sadistic they are.
For no good reason I was chosen for the water
torture. This time however it included a burning
foamy chemical called "shampoo." What sick minds
could invent such a liquid. My only consolation is
the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth.
DAY 771 - There was some sort of gathering of their
accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the
event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the
foul odor of the glass tubes they call "beer." More
importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to
MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and
how to use it to my advantage.
DAY 774 - I am convinced the other captives are
flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely
released and seems more than happy to return. He is
obviously a half-wit. The Bird on the other hand has
got to be an informant. He has mastered their
frightful tongue (something akin to mole speak), and
speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports
my every move. Due to his current placement in the
metal room his safety is assured. But I can wait, it
is only a matter of time.
*
try for some info from a vet
http://www.pogopet.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.adp?msg_id=0000EE&pending=0
*
Hey Rich:
an alternative to decawaing a cat is these little plastic covers that are superglued over the cats existing claws. Since a cat sheds the outer layer of its claws about once a month or so these things must be replaced they are cheep and the whole set up can be purchaced from your or her vet. They are easy to apply and your client can do it at home
Michael.
*
Crusty,
Read back up the thread a bit.........
I've got five cats.
I just don't understand people who don't like "certain" types of animals. They make me nervous. You allergic to cat dander or something?
Ed. Williams
*Scott,LOL........that's the cat's view point to a "T". Gotta love 'em.Ed. Williams
*A vet is the one who told me about the wok.
*That cat diary should be published! Skip
*I started liking cats once I found out they taste like chicken.
*Scott! That is wonderful! LOL Oh how I needed that laugh while me and Bro and SIL are on, as Bro so cleverly calls it, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride w/our mom--as she has topped over the mountain w/one ski and no poles, heading toward the Sonny Bono tree and is attempting to fade into eternity! Oh, and I forget who asked about "why would anyone want to own a cat?" but my answer is twofold: first, it's a rare cat who allows him/herself to be "owned," (owner of pissed/shed-upon furniture is more likely), but for those who do allow it, usually love to be read to in French (concurrent massage is mandatory, mutual works, ya know?) :) (They love book one--French For Cats, and particularly enjoy to listen to us stumbling about the larger, less pronouncable words in book two :) (Advanced French For Exceptional Cats), both available (no commercial interest) at: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/103-4637097-3115858I think I'll have a nice weekend, now :)--well, after tomorrow. Thanks! xox =^.,.^=
*
A friend of mine sent the cat diary to me and I laughed until I had tears in my eyes more than once. Use to have a cat that came when I called his name, also had a cat that pissed on my pillow. Guess which one I had longer?
*
The cat who pissed on your pillow.
For the dog-owners who don't appear to understand, one does not "own" a cat. They hang around so long as it suits their purposes. Ah, I see Kai has already pointed this out. Thanks for the link, but it's busted -- something about Amazon -- try this one
*Thanks for that updated link, Andrew :)
*
Ive had lots of pets growing up,from robins to racoons to an owl.At one time we had 8 cats all of them had very individual personalities .Icant think of anything more comical than watching kittens tackle each other in mid air doing triple back flips and flying thru the air upside down and backwards.all without assistance of course:-)I miss those cats,the special training my siblings and I sed could have had something to do with them being so well behaved.Whilestill young wed lay them in our laps upside down(a cats favorite position of course:-).) and rub their tummies till they settled down and then wed let them play again .one time my brother and I caught our fav cat lounging on a4'x4'shop mat outside.Working in unison we grabbed the ends and let fly ,Tig went up about 10' landed safely on the mat and actually liked it .maybe he figured he could eventually catch more birds in mid flight that way.we lived in the country and our cats were semi independant. somehow they could sense when you wanted to pet them and almost never got underfoot.Tig was a true carpenter cat he even learned to climb up a 30' wooden ladder and would jump up on your shoulder when we walked down the lane to get the mail.eventually when we moved he decided to come with us on an early trip and jumped out at the local gas station.Thought wed lost him for good but about a year later while stopping at the same place we found him again he came running up and jumped in the truck with us.Amazing yes but true.Unfortunately about two years later he got roll call to the great mouse hunting fields compliments of the local road about 4 miles from home .Hes the one and only cat I ever buried myself.I really miss that scroungy tom cat.Anyhow we now have two australian shepherds 2 minilop rabbits and a senegal(type of parrot)havent had a cat since.Didnt mean to write a book Hope i reminded some of you of your child hood pets,Thanks and have a great weekend.
*
Made me think of a few buddies I have in the big catnip field in the sky. Great weekend right back at ya! Jeff
*Just as I posted that, I felt something hit my foot. The furry fat one brought me over his "Fetching Rope". It's a short lenght of soft ribbon rope that we throw all over the house and he fetches and returns. ......and people wonder why this cat is named "BadDog"! Someday we'll explain to him he's not really a dog!....time to plat fetch.....Jeff
*Cute, Jeff :) I've had a couple of cats who not only fetch (of course, only what they deem is fetchable, w/in their timetable/licking/what's new to eat/ schedule, etc.), but, like dogs, give you that "hang-dog" look w/something in their mouth or dropping it in front of you, beggin' you to throw it somewhere so they can prove to you they can fetch/catch it as it rebounds off walls! LOL! And they do! I know I have, to this day, some "strange fruit" under the piano that a cat or two, and my vacuum, couldn't retrive!
*Cat must be from b CleveJeff
*Well, sometimes he smells like it!.....then again maybe not....he's had the same owner for a while!....Jeff
*How could you tell the diff Jeff? Both old decrepit former steel towns with dirty rivers and keilbasa steam coming outta the old neighborhood windows. Luckily, both towns on the mend. Good luck on Sunday, it's i fun again isn't it?
*
To bobl -
Yes , the cat will find something else, 'find' is the keyword, you can`t 'give' it something else, as our cat was tearing up all the carpeting in the house, we finally gave in and allowed one mat to be the approved scratch area, this approved area should be where the main traffic of the household goes in and out (bringing in the 'challenging' scents of the outdoors. Clawing up stuff is instinctive territory marking. Sorry, its part of the cat package!
*
Customer says that the cat keeps tearing up the wallpaper. She sounded like she's repapered and the cat did it again! Now she's had it and wants to put up panelling to solve this problem. Question: If she puts in panelling where the cat was previously scratching up the paper, will the cat
a) scratch up the panelling
b) scratch up something else in the house
c) not scratch anything up anymore, problem solved
d) convert to Islam and give up music career
or
e) something beyond my ability to imagine?
Thanks
Rich Beckman
*Tell her to buy a wok...Redrum...REDRUM!...or, lacking a wok or not enjoying the subtle nuances of stir-fried cat, put up a scatch post near the site of destruction. My sister had a similar prblem a few years back, but with a piece of furniture. she hung a small square scrap panel of carpet on the section of beat-on furniture and got the cat to scratch on that. Over a period of time...not sure how long...she slowly moved the panel over near the cat's "space," moving it a few feet at a time. It worked, but took a while. Stir-fry? That's fast!
*Rich,I like option "d," but it took a few seconds to hit me. My own experience with cats suggests that the texture of the paper is the culprit. By this I mean the texture after clawing. They just love to shred stuff that comes off easily. How about a paneling wainscot with chair rail? The customer could keep the paper above that, and not be going only backwards. No guarantees, but worth a try.Bill
*Rich, cats are goofy. No telling what they'll do or why. I'd definitely get a scratching post though....you just took away their favorite toy....they'll be eyeing the couch as a suitable substitute! When we first got the little beasts, we had about nine thousand squirt guns laying around and loaded. Always within and arms reach. May be time to load up! Jeff
*Mongo,Stir fry is good for ... say ... tabby, 1980.But if you're talkin', oh, I dunno ... persian, 1992, I might go with good old-fashioned barbecue instead.And I know I'll take heat for this from the white wine purists, but I prefer a nice rose wine with any feline entree.How about hanging a framed piece of the tattered wallpaper in the same spot over the new wainscotting? :)Some cats will take to the scratching post, some won't, they are nothing if not perverse. Water gun is a good idea as long as the cat doesn't like water (they do exist, trust me --- as I said, PERVERSE). Could be the texture of the wallpaper that the cat likes and it won't like the wood, but then again ....Maybe a large German Shepherd to distract him from his clawing? :)
*Aw, Rich, I feel for the homeowners, and the cats. Cats are so devious--i.e., they will scratch when you are gone, and try to look aloof and uninvolved when you go "What! What happened here?!!!" Whereupon the cats look at you like, "Hey, why don't you have a new variety of food for me to try this evening" (and every evening thereafter).All except the wok-type advice are things one can try. I once heard that you can only teach a cat to keep away from just one thing in a house. All else is fair game, in their sweet little brains.There's a possibility that something in the glue attracts them; supposedly lemon-scented whatever keeps them away, as does tin foil (until they rip through it and get to their "prey"). If the owner is home, he or she can probably get a hint about when/why the cat scratches--say, the kitty wants attention when the owner is on the phone, etc. If the owner is not at home, it might be harder. My kitties have always loved to scratch on easy-to-mess-up-the-house-with logs, and aging cloth-covered chairs, etc., but don't seem to want to bother w/hardwood or stuff that doesn't shred so easily. I do think that a diversion would help.Sorta like having kids :/ I have more ideas and will add later :)
*De-claw the cat. Soft paws carry no scratch!
*Shoot the cat. Cheaper than wainscotting. I'll take the project on as a sub.
*no ambiguity there! ;-)
*No offense to your position, Wolvie, which I'm sure works for you or those who have valuable fabrics or valuable furniture, etc., but I need to speak up re de-clawing: it's the least preferable option, esp. should there be the possibility of fire, broken window, etc., so that the cat might ever escape to the outdoors. Do not get me going on this! Have any of you ever had a fingernail ripped out? (I have) That's what it's like. (That said, both my bro/SIL and CLS did this to their cats--after much consternation--when they bought expensive furniture that got clawed upon, and they have had good results--i.e., declawed cats cannot claw, or climb out of reach of predators, and all, cats included, appear to be happy w/the results). This is not an endorsement on my part! FWIW, do NOT try to put in raffia-type wallpaper (as I did)! Or better yet, put it somewhere where you want the cat to also take off the paint! LOL) A conscientious cat "parent" can clip the kitty's nails (I did this as a kid, with no problem, to all my cats--you catch them when they are asleep, and learn to see how "deep" to cut so you don't hit the "quick"--which happened only once during 3 yrs from the time I trimmed their claws from age 8-11). Most cats, if raised as kittens, will not be the terrors some of the adult kitties can be, and are easily coaxed to let you play with their paws (i.e., spread their little fingers and "clip"). Piece o' cake :) Then, ahem, introduce a strange man to re-paper a wall, and watch the normal cat, spayed female, start "spraying" the new paper! LOL gotta love 'em!If scratching is a prob, perhaps a dog is a better pet. Not all pets are appropriate for all personality/people/furnishing types. I had one cat that scratched every chair I had in one part of the l/r-- and, just one side of it: leather, vinyl, rattan, you name it. A g/f had a cat that was allowed run of the house, except on top of the kitchen table: the only place the cat "lived" while my g/f was at work was, of course, on the l/r table. Cats are special people :)
*For all those who want to try an alternative.....and you would not have cats if you were not cat fanciers;Instead of declawing, which would cost money, it is possible to clip their claws periodically.Cradle them like a baby, squeeze their paws so the claws come out, then clip them with a fingernail clipper.Believe me, this works, and they don't feel any pain.Usually you need to do this only on their front paws.I do not recommend this on cats that roam outside as they would need all claws to get around and fend for themselves.
*Thanks all! I'll let you know what she decides to do. I wouldn't put any money on the wok idea.Rich Beckman
*I second the D-claw
*Another of the 1001 uses of duct tape - wrap the cat's paws.
*We have an Australian Shepard who knows the command, "Get the cat". Come to think of it, the cats seem to know that command now, too. PS: No cats were harmed in the making of this film. Not so sure about the dog: saw her walking by once with something sticking in the top of her nose. Turned out to be a detached cat claw.Andy
*I like cats......got five of the little beggers at home. Wouldn't trade them for the world.Cats don't have owners......they have staff.I think de-clawing is cruel and unusual punishment for a cat trying to keep his main means of defense in working order on your furniture or walls. It's also a way for them to spread their scent through the pads on their feet. What they are saying is "This is mine". If they can't scratch, they usually mark by spraying. Another good reason for not de-clawing. The scratching post is the way to go. Old carpet scraps turned backwards work great. So do those thatched outdoor floor mats. You can get the cat used to the idea. Ditto to Mongo.Ed. Williams
*Now that I've seen the place....The trouble spots are in the utility room. There is a closet. When she puts up wallpaper the cats start scratching and keep going until there are two big bare spots, one on each side of the closet. After that they leave it alone...until she puts up more paper. I'm not real clear how many times she's done this, but sounds like at least three.They have scratched at only one other place in the house. That is also wallpaper but required gettin up on a piece of furniture to reach. With the furniture moved and no new paper in the utility, they don't scratch anything.She wants to put up paneling and put some plexiglass around the closet to keep the cats off.Thanks for the input all. At least I was able to give suggestions, even if she ignored them!I'll never understand cats.Rich Beckman
*Just to point out - de-clawing a cat is more than just removing the "finger nail", it requires the removal of the "finger tip" down to the first knuckel.Ken
*Ken is correct!!! How would you like to have your fingers and toes cut off at the first joint, taped up, and then walk on them till they healed? Just think about it.Jerry
*I wonder if the cats were locked inside the utility room by accident and clawed trying to get out? Or locked outside when their food/litter box was inside? My cats removed a good portion of the wallpaper--and wall--by my bedroom door when i left for a weekend without doing a perimeter check.Nothing compared to the metal door and doorknob my Chessie retriever removed during a lightening storm. Peeled the rose of the lockset up around the handle...made it through the drywall and insulation beside the door and only stopped when he encountered Romex...zap!
*Well, I'd post to a few of you, but since that isn't working, here's a general one:GAAC, you are correct; we are the cat’s staff :)Rich, you say When she puts up wallpaper the cats start scratching and keep going until there are two big bare spots, one on each side of the closet. After that they leave it alone...until she puts up more paper. I'm not real clear how many times she's done this, but sounds like at least three.Hmmm, where would they scratch if she doesn’t replace the paper? It really sounds to me like a favorite scent (of the glue/paste), or the fabric, or the placement. Hmmm.And from the wonderful Ken Berg Cat's don't rent - they own."Just to point out - de-clawing a cat is more than just removing the "finger nail", it requires the removal of the "finger tip" down to the first knuckel." Thanks, Ken; I always knew that, but it just hurts to remember :(
*Also try rubbing a little catnip on the scratching post once in a while until they are used to using it.
*It's not like having a fingernail pulled out. It's like having the first joint of your finger cut off with side-cutting pliers. The fingernail trim is a good idea, but remember that cats' claws have a nerve and blood vessel in them like human teeth. Just clip off the points of the claws.
*Let's see where this direct reply goes to! Anyway, if plain water in a squirt gun doesn't work, try a few drops of vinegar in the water. They (usually) hate the smell and it gets them moving. Though years ago we had a huge Maine Coon we broke outta the pound, and he still had alot of the street punk in him. You could hold the vinegar/water gun an inch from his face, and squirt him right in the forehead, and he'd just squint up him eyes and stare at ya! Dripping wet, he wouldn't budge till you picked him up and moved him yourself! What a pain in the ass........God I miss that cat! One of the coolest I ever met! Jeff
*And if ya gotta de-claw........de-cat! Hey, my dog barks.....let's cut out his tongue! Damn horse tramples the grass......cut him off at the knees! Both those quick fixes will help the lazy pet owner too! Jeff
*Jeff, ITA! As much as I love my bro and SIL, their decision to declaw because they bought a leather couch that one cat liked to claw turned my stomach. They have never been animal lovers to the degree that I am. That said, this declawed baby is adjusting--after trying to climb up his elaborate, homemade "scratching post" to get the view of the birds from the window. He was a stray or pound rescue, so maybe this life is better than before.Maybe it's just me, but I would never buy a piece of furniture that I expected my cat not to "touch." You just can't do that, with any reliability. Same goes for wallpaper (learned that the hard way), although, in that case, I do think it might be the scent of the glue behind it.
*Jeff,Amen.And what about those pain-in-the-neck neighbor's kids?Ed.
*i And what about those pain-in-the-neck neighbor's kids?ROFLMAO! Which is why I chose cats!
*Hey, I wanted a dog, wife didn't, now we have two boys. She says she should have listened.... :)Most of what's been said about declawing is true, though i doubt this client is hiring you as a vet. Declawing is a lot harder on an adult cat, too, it takes much longer to recover and heal. We had to do it with a demented calico we had after two years of trying to get even the slightest acknowledgement from her of our authority. The final problem was that she was pretty quick to use them on humans, which made clipping pretty hard... Our current cat is a lard-o window ornament who puts up with clipping just fine.Sounds to me like the shredding of the paper is all the fun. Cats LOVE to shred, the noise, the movement, etc. -- "the evil one," as I used to affectionately call the calico, would unroll and maul the toilet paper, or empty the kleenex box over her shoulder one sheet at a time ... usually at 2 am the night before an exam. Once the victim is worn out the fun is gone; fortunately they know the silly "owner" will put up more! They're like 2 year-olds, they don't care about consequences even if they don't like being in trouble.I don't see what would be fun about destroying wainscoting, but maybe a decoy panel of wallpaper just for the cats would be a nice precaution. See if you can get a pattern with, say, little birds and mice with their backs turned. Cats love that.P.S. Cat may play some fo the old tunes again. I read a recent interview where he said his rejection of performing was maybe an overreaction to the tawdriness of the music industry he fled. Pretty intensely spiritual music, too. He didn't come across as the nut he's been painted as.
*i Our current cat is a lard-o window ornament who puts up with clipping just fineLOL!!!Of course, it's easiest if you get a baby kitty. The cat upon which I first learned to give nail cutting to was a terror--up the curtains, off the walls (I swear, this cat bounced), you name it. However, when asleep, I could push on his little toe pads and shove that nail out there, and clip it. Sharp clippers help :)
*Just for the record....At no time was de-clawing considered as an option in this particular case.Thanks for all the posts.Rich Beckman
*Ed, save a baby seal, club a neighbor kid! Rich, don't let the lack of a subject stop us from going off on a totally unrelated tangent!......Jeff
*I had to de-cat my house when I moved in. Wild animals living in the same place with people...who came up with that?