"Tara" wrote in message
...
wrote:
In rec.pets.cats.health+behav Tara wrote:

This, IMO, is more the equivalent of asking how to go about dealing with
a dog who is particularly hard to housebreak. Some dogs housebreak
easily, some are incredibly difficult. Just because someone is having a
harder time with theirs than you had with yours doesn't make them lazy,
nor does it make them unconcerned.


Once agian, I was responding to who I quoted to...

I read that in other posts and understand that's what you *meant*. What
came across was entirely different.

Given the context (someone ranting about why would anyone use something
as stupid as SoftPaws), your reply *did* appear to be answering that
question.

As I said, I certainly understand the out of context and out of place
rant, but then please understand when people read it *in* context rather
than the out of context way you may have intended it.

Tara


Ok Tara sorry, what I was meaning is people should try training rather than
just using soft paws! after reading my post again, I realise the way I had
worded it was completely wrong.
I have read up about soft paws since and realising the cats can still climb,
nail contract etc, so it really doesn't make much difference to them, so
maybe they are a good idea... shame about the colours of them tho! LOL

Laura A. Robinson wrote:
circa Tue, 01 Jul 2003 23:16:13 -0400, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav,
Tara ) said,

Some of the posters here are much more concerned with furthering
their own agendas than with actually reading what is written and
evaluating it on its own merits. And then there are the just-plain-
freaks like ol' Joe there.

Yeah, I read that little exchange there.

All I can say is you'll fit right in here in NYC. heh heh heh.



snork I was feeling grumpy. ;-)

Hey....happens to the best of us. heh

P.S. Signed the lease yesterday.

CONGRATS!!! That's got to be a relief.

For pics (I'm going to be doing a
lot of painting and stripping of wood):

Isn't your landlord going to paint it for you?

http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=gee...=870568&Pres=Y

COOL!

I notice you have a skylight. I'm only *slightly* jealous of that. (ok,
more than slightly). The fact that your hallway is bigger than my whole
studio is....well, my cats saw it and they'll be calling you tomorrow I
think. Something about switching loyalties....couldn't tell as they were
grumbling and giving me shifty eyed glances.

And, I've never heard of a server room?

Gorgeous place! I love prewar buildings.

I'm assuming the cats approved :-)

Tara

"P.D." wrote in message .net...
I tried to train my cats, and they are just stubborn, they won't scratch the
furniture when I am home, but when I go out they do. I make a big issue
over it because it destroys my stuff and make my home look like a slum.

I can't understand why people make such a big issue over cats and
scratching... why get a cat in the first place if you aren't prepared to
train it properly!


P.D.,

I think you may be looking for a solution to the wrong problem - you
said the cats scratch when you go out. Is it possible they are
scratching out of displeasure for your leaving? Are you gone a lot?
Are they getting enough physical and mental stimulation when you are
home? Perhaps 20-30 minutes of hard play time before you leave would
tire them out and make them more inclined to sleep than scratch. Also,
there's something call "Feliway", a synthetic cat pheromone which
helps calm cats down. It could be they experience anxiety when you
leave and that is why they are scratching.

My cats (all taught this by my matriarch cat, Audrey) scratch on
furniture and rugs to show displeasure or gain attention. Total
negative attention getting! :)
And it works everytime, because I of course make a beeline for
whatever cat is doing it. Smart little suckers. Anyway, some food for
thought. I've never used Smart Paws myself, so I can't comment on
that. Personally, if you can nip the inappropriate scratching in the
bud, I think that would be the best way to go. Good luck!

Karen

On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 03:36:45 GMT, Laura A. Robinson
wrote:

P.S. Signed the lease yesterday. For pics (I'm going to be doing a
lot of painting and stripping of wood):

http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=gee...=870568&Pres=Y

That apartment is just beautiful! I'm sure your cats will be very
pleased. Good luck!

-Marilyn