(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best cat scratching pads

Let her into your room! She'll be much happier with more space. I highly recommend having a cat tree or two in your place. Give her a box to hide in. Or even try one of these out!

KOJIMA Shark Round House Puppy Bed with Pet Bed Mat, Small to Medium (Gray, Small) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HRXQ90I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_dcINybCJMQWEE

Don't prevent her from hiding, but do challenge her once in a while to be comfortable in different rooms and open spaces.

Try the toy distraction on your 2 year old cat. That's what I meant. If she's showing aggression, it's one of the best ways to distract her from the cat who's more shy.

Make sure the new cat isn't doing anything to provoke your 2 year old cat. If she is, that behavior will need to be adjusted before the 2 year old cat can be comfortable with her.

100% agree on the tuna. If you'd like to learn about cat nutrition, I highly recommend http://www.thecatsite.com for its active forums and articles on feline nutrition (they can also give great input on behaviors)

Here are two nutrition articles to get you started:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/how-to-choose-the-right-food-for-your-cat

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/grain-free-cat-food-what-does-it-mean

You'll find that grain free high protein wet/raw foods are best for your babies as unlike people and even dogs, cats are obligate carnivores. (Here is some of that science: https://www.waltham.com/document/nutrition/cat/dog/differences-between-cat-and-dog/284/ )
My recommendation is making a small trip to an independent pet food store (not petco, petsmart, or even pet supplies plus) Take a look on yelp for good ones in your area. (Just search for pet food stores) If there are none, try Chewy.com. They sell all sorts of pet foods (you can filter by grain free) The forums on thecatsite are very good in terms of discussion of different commercial and home-made food options. (As you might be able to tell, I've done a lot of my own research!)

But yes. You are correct. Plain tuna does not contain the amount of Taurine (that's just one or the major ones) cats need to thrive. Fish generally is something you should stray from due to high mercury content and addictiveness. (Dry food is also very addictive and contributes most to obesity, digestive issues, UTIs, urinary crystals, and more)

And good! Yes, be creative in your ways to distract her! If she's not enjoying her favorite toy, try a new one. (Cats love Da'Bird and similar long (~3 ft) fishing pole type toys. ) Check out these links.


GoCat Da Bird Rod and Feather Cat Toys, Assorted Colors https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BOVEU4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wzINybW7DMFV9

Cats really jump for these types of long fishing pole toys that use feathers or other fur like parts. I do recommend always having a handy supply of strong duct tape to fix minor issues and strengthen the parts of well-used toys. (I had to tightly reinforce the end of the rod that connects to the string so the end piece holding the string wouldn't come off)


Petmate Jackson Galaxy Cat Crawl Solid Tunnel, Green/Orange https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O3GWKHS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UDINyb34HXAEW

Great space for stalking and hiding during play


Nature In Hand Cat Play House with Catnip and Scratcher (Cat Scratching House) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AJAHOC2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DFINybC4C5TWA

Triple function hide, stealth play, and cardboard scratcher. I have one that my cat loves! You can sometimes find seasonal looking ones on clearance at local pet stores (I have a gingerbread xmas themed one that I got on clearance for half the price on amazon) Cardboard scratchers, to me, are a must. Whether it's something like this or just by itself.



Nano Robotic Cat Toy (White/Blue) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RWU17KS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kyINyb5FX7DB2

This one is great if you have hard wood or tile floors. Otherwise, pass.


The idea here is to give them more enrichment, hide space, and ways to play.

That said, having more vertical space is also a really good idea.

You know how cat trees (especially the 6 ft ones) are like 200 dollars at pet stores?
Check this out:

Go Pet Club Cat Tree, 50W x 26L x 72H, Beige https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003WGGWQA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_awINybGSAA2EB


BestPet CT-9073 Cat Tree Scratcher Play House Condo Furniture Toy, 73-Inch, Beige https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NOL7OQU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-wINybKYYYCDX

You can find more on amazon. Groupon or eBay are also good sources. Your cats will be more comfortable if they can observe their territory from a high place rather than hiding behind a toilet. I really do think it would help give them more confidence. You could even install cat shelves on your walls if you want to. But a cat tree(or two!) goes a long way!

Give them their own favorite places to occupy so that they are better able to share their space.

When I first got my cat we lived in a tiny studio apartment. There are definitely ways to make your bedroom a happy place for your cat to hang out it while you’re not at home. Is it as ideal as your cat having access to the rest of the house? No, but it’s safer because your brother won’t be able to loose your cat that way.

Some ways to try to make your bedroom into a mini kitty paradise:

• Get vertical! Figure out ways to expand the space in your room by getting that kitty up high! This is going to probably be the best way to make your bedroom a better place for your cat to spend time during the day as cats love being up high, and will also provide her with some exercise. Some DIY cat shelves are probably going to be your best bet since you likely don’t have room for a cat tree. Try and make a cat highway all the way around your room if you can!
  
• Got a window? A little window perch so your cat can watch the world go by would be perfect. Adding a bird feeder next to (or even suction cupped to) that window would give your cat hours of entertainment- it’s like the Food Network for cats!
  
• Scratching post. You may need to get a little creative with this one as you don’t have a lot of space. Cats need to scratch both to sharpen their claws and to stretch out their muscles- a good scratching post is going to be made out of a material like sisal rope, is tall enough for the cat to stretch out, and is sturdy so it won’t wobble/fall over while they scratch. If you can’t fit an actual post in the corner of your room somewhere, maybe something similar to this or this could work on your bed frame.
  
• DAILY PLAYTIME IS A MUST!! You have to have to have to play with your cat to allow her to get out all that energy! Play with her between 10-30 minutes a day, depending on her energy levels. You can break that up into multiple smaller playtimes, maybe one before you leave for work/school and one when you get home. If you allow her to get her all wiggles out she’ll be a much calmer and happier cat while you’re away during the day.
  
• Find ways to bring the outdoors inside. Some cat grass may be appreciated by your kitty. An awesome option is a cat window box, but that’s not always practical for every living situation. Even just slightly cracking a window on a nice day so your kitty can smell the smells is good too! (Never leave a window open wide enough that the cat could fit through, even if you have a window screen- some cats can break through those!)
  
• Always keep her litter box clean!! That’s both for the cat’s and your benefit! If you don’t regularly scoop the box then the cat may decide to go find a cleaner “toilet” somewhere else in the room. Scooping 1-2 times a day keeps the room smelling nice and prevent the cat from going somewhere else. A litter genie is a great way to make scooping the litter box an easier daily chore. When I had a tiny studio I kept the litter box in my closet to save on space. Using a top entry litter box can help prevent litter from getting all over your stuff.
  
• Make meals interesting. Feed her her dry food in some puzzle feeders instead of a boring bowl. You can find some online or make some DIY puzzle feeders from recyclables.
  
  Do what you can to make your current situation a happier space for the kitty. You and Decaf won’t be living with your brother forever, this is only temporary!

For the walls you can secure some cardboard around it to protect it or use NIC grids connected with zip ties to make a soft of fencing you can place all along the baseboards to protect from chewing - with the right color it doesn't hugely standout and with time the bun might lose interest and you may be able to remove it.

You can also try to use some sprays that are vinegar based homemade ones (see videos below) to make the baseboards unattractive....

Again anytime you see chewing actively offer a better alternative and reward good behavior (don't scold the bad as bunnies do not understand discipline like cats or dogs).

You can also try something like this tape (but be very careful to be sure he does not chew it!) https://www.amazon.com/CLAWGUARD-Protection-Tape-Single-Sided-Scratching/dp/B073VRR92F/ref=asc_df_B073VRR92F/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198060065450&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16242557335742130470&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001880&hvtargid=pla-350443111591&psc=1

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Watch the videos below for tips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqWh4vWm7Dk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_QNPkPbqDk

http://bunnyproof.com/how-to-rabbit-proof-your-house/how-to-stop-your-rabbit-chewing-doors-skirting-boards - great tips here

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Bunny won’t stop chewing everything, what to do:

What might help is a few things:

1. Positive reinforcement - trying to reward good habits with treats and redirect bad behavior like chewing on furniture to good behavior like chewing on a chew toy with a treat to build positive associations with good behavior. So every time you seem him try to chew or dig on something he should not, don't lock him up, but right away offer him a toy or thing that he can chew or dig on... then reward him with a tiny piece of treat.
   
2. This brings me to my next point, purchase or make some alternatives for him to chew, dig, keep him entertained and occupied. A bored bunny will usually chew... There are tones of ideas which you can search the internet for and some I like are below, But the point I am trying to get across is that you need to make a bit of an effort to see what toys he likes and get.make him things to keep him occupied and entertained
   
   1. try to make him a dig box - use any box and fill it with shredded paper and see if he likes it - usually they do. you can also purchase some of those soft plastic balls like for kids and fill the box and he might like that too. experiment, but give him an alternative to dig
      
   2. https://www.chewy.com/petlinks-sea-ramp-seagrass/dp/130165?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Petlinks&utm_term=&gclid=CjwKCAiA767jBRBqEiwAGdAOr84c0JJegjDQvRRYRgRTf1Qr1Gd3p36KnkVhZM_bV2jZy-5DB3MNMRoCKpMQAvD_BwE
      
   3. https://www.amazon.com/iPrimio-Cat-Scratch-Ramps-Price/dp/B06WVK24SL
      
   4. https://www.amazon.com/AMZNOVA-Scratcher-Cardboard-Scratching-Scratch/dp/B076F367WL/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&dpID=41cqNb-v0jL&dpPl=1&keywords=cat%20scratcher%20corrugated&qid=1541451728&ref=plSrch&ref_=mp_s_a_1_18&sr=8-18 - try this cat scratcher for him to chew and dig also, he may love it
      
   5. https://www.amazon.com/Small-Pet-Select-Digging-Platform/dp/B075VV66MQ/ref=asc_df_B075VV66MQ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198079906959&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5911275993940894665&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001881&hvtargid=pla-370007460458&psc=1- another great thing to dig and chew for buns
      
   6. Small pet select hay awesome toys to keep your bun entertained a bit pricey but will last a while and have great quality https://shop.smallpetselect.com/collections/natural-toys-and-chews-for-rabbits.
      
   7. https://store.binkybunny.com/toys--chews-c2.aspx - great toys here also, try some inexpensive sea grass balls, you can also find playhouses on this site bunnies love, etc
      
   8. https://www.farmerdavepetsupply.com/chew-sticks - these chew sticks are great for buns and you can always offer to him as a very yummy alternative to cords!
      
   9. Make your own toys also -https://www.reddit.com/r/Rabbits/comments/9j3lod/a_couple_people_requested_this_i_wish_i_was_able/ - watch this for how to make a homemade toy for loads of fun. Just hide treats in a toilet paper or paper towel roll and stuff with hay. You can also stuff a paper bag and give to bunny to try to open up and get inside (don’t use tape). https://www.reddit.com/r/Rabbits/comments/9n0li2/egg_carton_with_greens_a_great_toy/ - anther great toy idea: egg carton with greens or hay inside. Also you can put hay or pellets into a payer bag and tie it up and give to bun to figure out how to open. All of these will help keep the bun occupied.
      
   10. Buns love tunnels https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FWC277N/ref=crt_ewc_img_dp_9?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=APMR7WBX7KEK1
       
   11. Also try giving pellets in this treat ball https://www.chewy.com/ethical-pet-seek-treat-shuffle-bone/dp/56279?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Ethical%20Pet&utm_term=&car-boost=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrZLdBRCmARIsAFBZllG0sQsNiZdMa_Q8wOvVygC0S8qEBHkS9VYaQ_b3Sa6j7AQ6N0UuiLkaAvpAEALw_wcB

Like /u/Pig-River1 said, give them some time to get used to each other. I have two cats from the same litter, so they've been together since birth and have always been very close. When I moved across the country, suddenly it was like they didn't know each other! Deimos (the boy) was hiding in closets, and Phobos (the girl) would hiss at him and run away every time he came out. 3 months later, they're almost back to normal - not cuddling with each other just yet, but I caught them sleeping next to each other the other day.

I did a lot of research online about cat behavior and this is the advice that really helped me out. Make sure the cats both have their own areas that they can retreat to if they're feeling crowded. I highly recommend getting two corrugated cardboard scratching boxes, and putting one of them in each cat's comfort zone. It allows them to mark their territory (through scent glands in their paws when they scratch) and gives them a sense of security. If you can afford it, get a quality sisal scratching post - this website has excellent products. (As a bonus, all these scratching products will save your furniture - my cats haven't touched a thing since I got them, and they used to be huge scratchers!)

Another thing to check is their health. A lot of adopted kittens have upper respiratory infections (URIs), fleas, or worms, and being sick can make your cat grumpy. If you live in the U.S., you can get your kittens tested and treated for worms at a Luv My Pet location for a low cost; they also do low-cost vaccinations, microchipping, and sell flea medicine. They can probably tell you if your cats have URIs, but I don't think they can treat them.

I hope this wasn't too much information for you! Don't worry, your kitties will get to be friends eventually. :) Good luck!

Do all foam blocks make a mess? Would this cat scratcher work? I'd like to keep it under $10. I was also thinking about going to Michael's or Hobby Lobby to see their foams.

I'll definitely be panel lining and top coating what I can on the Magnum. I was watching some video reviews on the Shia Qan[T] and didn't realize all of the effect parts on it. For something like that where it has the stickers and effect parts on the joints, would it be best to do the panel lining and top coating before putting it all together?

I'll definitely keep those color schemes in mind. I looked at some other pictures online and kind of have an idea where I can do some panel lining on it and the weapons.

The proficiency is something I definitely want to be good at. I'm hoping with the three that I've chosen, I'll get efficient in cutting the nubs and all that. I may even get few more down the road just to be sure. I've got a list of MG's that I'm wanting to build already lol.

There's actually a couple of RG's that I was also looking at. Re-reading some stuff online about different grades, I'm assuming that's something I would want to build after I become proficient with MG's, yeah?

(Thank you for the response btw, a lot of the info you've given me has been helpful).

Ahhhh 😂 I'm crying laughing! Excellent idea - may I suggest a potluck too? Mostly because those are delightful and it'll make Yvette bent af. You should get some of these too.

OMG I looked up the Enchantments and WOW. I dug a little deeper and I'm pretty sure my hiking abilities wouldn't let me survive the trip 😂 I'm going to tell my sister about them though - she adores hiking and is exceptionally capable. It's the wrong end of the country for her, but goals!

The image of filing a cat's nail is just adorable, for some reason :)

We've had a few scratchers over the years that the cats have really been into:

This cat tree was a big hit and has lots of scratching posts. Both cats also love this bed - they usually give it a good scratch and then settle in for a nap!

1 and 2a) We BOTH desserve this! Why? Because it is the greatest Studio Ghilbi film ever!

1 and 2b) And our kitties BOTH deserve this! Why? Because you can never have enough scratchy stuff in your home!

3) Here are my baby kitties to make you smile.

My best guess is that your best guess is right. He's not used to anything being off limits in the basement, and everything I've read says that cats don't adjust well to changes in their environment.

Maybe try putting an outright cat tree, or some cat shelves up? That way, he's still got a little bit of territory claimed that belongs to him and no one else. Could also look into some furniture protectors like this.

Here it is;

https://www.amazon.com/XFasten-Anti-Scratch-Training-3-Inches-30-Yards/dp/B07BBS8YZP/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Xfasten+scratch&qid=1563900288&s=gateway&sr=8-1

There are different widths available, too.

YMMV, but I was using it on the sides of door frames, bottom of doors, and on wooden chair and table legs.

The reviews are mixed - I’m not so sure how well it holds up on soft surfaces (like the sides of a couch), myself, but if you can at least anchor the ends by sticking them to a hard surface and then over the upholstery, it may help.

Also, make sure to press it firmly to the surface you’re covering, as you don’t want to pull it up when you’re pulling the cover film off of the outward facing side (like a screen protector).

The only thing I can think of is a small Cat Stool thing,

It looks like this link from amazon

https://www.amazon.com/PetFusion-Scratcher-Construction-significantly-alternatives/dp/B00JK0BXRA/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=infinity+cat+stool&qid=1571153730&sr=8-1

Similar but not the same thing.

​

I have another one of these things still new in the box, but the last one I had was perched and drilled into the wall to give them a high vantage point. I can't really do that in my new house, However, I still have their old Cat Tree, and a couple new spots I feel like they might like.


I'll look into some new toys for them today.

As someone who also has two cats who scratch the f'ing couch, may I recommend these: https://www.amazon.com/PetFusion-Scratcher-Cardboard-Construction-unverified/dp/B01NC0A463?ref_=bl_dp_s_web_12677117011&th=1. My cats barely ever use the tree I bought either, but they love this thing.

We have one of these. The cat likes to shred the top scratching surface and the bunny likes shredding the bottom.

Edit: the one we have is something similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CGN5PS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Y-m2BbMXRKWSK

https://www.amazon.com/PetFusion-Scratcher-Cardboard-Construction-unverified/dp/B004X6UEH6/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=scroll+scratcher&qid=1565708434&s=gateway&sprefix=scroll+sc&sr=8-3


My cat has this one and she naps on it all the time 😊
https://www.amazon.com/Petlinks-49906-Floor-Cat-Scratchers/dp/B01N5RECC1/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=scroll+scratcher&qid=1565708461&s=gateway&sprefix=scroll+sc&sr=8-4

Oh yeah, I rarely see that kind of cardboard. Might have to add it to the list to go out for one day.

I just searched it up and it looks like the name is Corrugated cardboard or pads. Lots of people seem to use them as cat-scratch posts.

Here's two different ones I found on Amazon!

For the couch scratching, you can use a spray like this one on your furniture. It is supposed to keep the cat from being on the place you spray. I've never personally tried it though. I would normally recommend double sided tape on your furniture where the cat scratches. That gets them to stop because they don't like how it feels. But I have no idea if the tape would damage the leather (I doubt it, but not sure) so I would try something like this which is a cat training tape. It is basically double-sided tape, but it specifically says it won't harm your furniture. I have done that and had a lot of success with it personally.

Hi, My name is Arcane. This is me..

I lived at the shelter for a very long time. I think it was over a month. Then this lady came in and took me home with her. I was very scared at first, and spent the day and night hiding. But then I figured out that this was a good thing.

I eventually started moving around the house and making my self at home. I may have made myself too much at home because there was this large piece of furniture that the humans like to sit on. I decided to sharpen my claws on it. The lady told me I couldn't do that. I have to admit, I got a little attitude with her and stared her down for a minute then ran to the other side and sharpened my claws anyway and ran away before she could say anything.

Maybe I was being a bad kitty, but it's not my fault. She should have bought me things to sharpen my claws on without getting in trouble! I really do want to be a good kitty, so I would love this so I can stay out of trouble. It is on my wish list. The one that says Kitty cat. Thank you for reading my story and maybe keeping me out of trouble.

I can't remember where my roommate got it :( but here is a similar one and another really cute one that I found online! (http://www.amazon.com/Large-Cardboard-Cat-Scratcher-Sofa/dp/B00W0FRMTU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451414075&sr=8-1&keywords=couch+cat+scratcher) (http://www.amazon.com/CLASSY-KITTY-Cat-Couch-30/dp/B007PBYWWO/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1451413938&sr=8-7&keywords=couch+cat+scratcher)

We used a combination of double sided tape and squirt guns.

We put double sided tape on surfaces our cat wanted to scratch but we didn't want her to, cats generally don't like the sticky surface so they learn that it feels weird. You have to deal with double sided taped surfaces for a while but it's nice that the cat can't sneakily scratch things. We also provided the cat with acceptable things to scratch; scratching post, or this thing our cat loves it.


And Squirt gun for when she went up on the table or the counter. We would just shoot her with the water gun, she hates water and would jump off quickly. We also do have a location up high the cat is allowed to walk on, they like being up high so they can see everything.

I also trained the cat to sit on command, that required a good amount of patience and about a half pound of sliced turkey.

he has one its a couch like this yet he still goes back to that corner even though he loves this couch. he is really dumb and may just want attention. and again he isn't affected by catnip. we may have figured out a solution. I've stapled cardboard onto the corner. it may discourage or encourage. either way its not the wood he is scratching. ill up date this to let you know if this solution works

No, my cats won't use a scratching post either. But those cardboard trays, those they love. Though over the years I have all but eliminated anything they can scratch except the trays. But they do seem more than willing to use them. You put catnip on the tray and within a few minutes they are sharpening their claws on it.

But I won't get mine declawed. Not only is it mean to them but if they ever get out they might not be able to escape from dogs or mean people if they were clawless.

something like this

Or a heavy / outdoor / beach-y braided type rug.

Maybe a scratching mat like this one?:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0779XKXDF

Get this thing
https://www.amazon.com/FATCAT-Scratch-Reversible-Cardboard-Included/dp/B001CGN5PS/ref=sr_1_37?crid=3A0TQR3360NSL&keywords=cat+s

Or one like it. They are made of cardboard and cats prefer scratching them to anything else. There are various styles of them.

You can try some cardboard, or even some sisal carpet like this.

And you know, showing him how to do is the right way to proceed ! ;)

Cat Scratcher

my cats needs this her existing scratcher is mostly just a box of cardboard dust now.

Chuck Finley