What's the best way to deter our cat from scratching at our bedroom door?

in article , jjmoreta at
wrote on 9/17/03 11:02 PM:

Which I did a lot of research on and found a vet who only excises the claw.

I'm sorry if you really believe this. There is no "excising the claw". And a
vet who would tell you that is truly untrustworthy. You can write to Cornell
if you want, but there simply is no other way of declawing the cat besides
cutting the toe off at the first joint or you risk the claw growing back and
major complications. The vet just told you what you wanted to hear, not the
truth.

Karen

in article , jjmoreta at
wrote on 9/17/03 11:02 PM:

Which I did a lot of research on and found a vet who only excises the claw.

I'm sorry if you really believe this. There is no "excising the claw". And a
vet who would tell you that is truly untrustworthy. You can write to Cornell
if you want, but there simply is no other way of declawing the cat besides
cutting the toe off at the first joint or you risk the claw growing back and
major complications. The vet just told you what you wanted to hear, not the
truth.

Karen

Joanne wrote:

You think that I've gone to ignoring him
completely? You couldn't be further from
the truth.

I said NO such thing, nor did I imply it.

Actually I've been at home
for several weeks since I was between
jobs and not about to start a new one
with a baby on the way. He gets
attention from the moment I get up until
the moment I get to bed, and usually
most of it comes at night (when my
husband comes home from work). And to be
completely honest, the more attention he
gets during the day, the worse he
scratches at night. He does not separate
love he gets during the day from wanting
to be in our room at night. He believes
that he is entitled to both as much as
he wants to, no matter what.

That's because until a few weeks ago, he HAS been entitled to it. What
is obviously very important to him (sleeping with you) has been suddenly
taken away from him and has been replaced with a cycle of abuse. He
doesn't know why he is suddenly banned from your bedroom, and he can't
understand why snuggling has now been replaced with repeated and abusive
squirting, yelling and angry chasing.

If I was a
cruel person, the easy thing to do would
be to ignore him completely, but I
don't.

As I advised earlier, ignoring him will help to change the current
situation and is certainly kinder than what you are inflicting on him
now.

But the problem is that as much as I
love him, HE ISN'T A CHILD, and I can
never treat him as though he were human.

The principles of dealing with children and cats are very similar. It
would benefit you to realize that and try to understand your cat instead
of considering him a nuisance.

He is an animal, with animal instincts.
He lives in the moment from day-to-day.

Just as children do.

He will never have powers of reason.

Cats do have the ability to reason.

And
most of all, I would be highly surprised
if I ever became allergic to my child.
What is honestly better? That my
husband's asthma and allergies
degenerate to the point that we get rid
of our cats altogether, or we make a
compromise to keep a place where we
spend a third of our day fur and dander
free? (we do bathe regularly but that
only works so far) When I was a little
girl, my parents had to get rid of my
cat because of my brother's allergies
and asthma and it still scars me to this
day.

I never once criticized you for making the decision to keep the cats out
of the bedroom. If that is what is needed then so be it. It's how you
are going about it that's the problem.

I have tried ignoring him, and earplugs
do not work for me (I've tried several
in the past and they all irritate my
ears). He is a very large cat, and his
scratching at the door is actually more
pounding, like someone is knocking. I
can't drown it out with fan white noise
or the stereo (if I turn it up enough,
then I can't sleep anyways). He has
never been interested in scratching
posts, even before he was declawed.

If he is declawed, how is he scratching?

He
does like rubbing his paws on clothes
baskets, though.

So put a clothes basket in front of the door when you go to bed. Since
that is what he likes he may "scratch" on that instead.

I wish I had the cats you must have,

You could if you would take the time to learn about cats and treat
behavior issues with kindness and understanding. I have 25 cats and none
of them
have had problems that couldn't be fixed and were addressed successfully
WITHOUT squirting, yelling, angry chasing, etc.

but
about the only way animals are like
children is that they all have
individual personalities and respond
differently. We don't have ANY problem
with our youngest cat and she is
perfectly adjusted to the situation.

You just said cats respond differently and then you turn right around
and compare your youngest cat to Luna. Do you see the error here? They
are two different cats and you can't expect them to react the same.

Luna refuses to adjust and because he is
a cat and responds like cats do, we're
having problems getting him to see how
his life has changed, and will remain
changed.

When you stress him out by a sudden ban from the bedroom and treating
him badly what option does he have but to try to get to you at night and
convince you he is a good kitty and loves you? He doesn't understand why
he is banned. He only knows that all of a sudden you don't want that
special time with him and add to that by being mean to him.

God I wish I could accomplish
everything by being sweet and kind, but
that has never worked,

And you're here now because the abuse has been SO effective... right?

that's not how my
situation is, so get off of your soapbox
if you don't have any other constructive
advice.

Kindness DOES work, but you also have to have patience and
understanding. You have exhibited none of these qualities, and until you
do, you are doomed to fail not only with your current situation, but
with raising your child as well.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray

Joanne wrote:

You think that I've gone to ignoring him
completely? You couldn't be further from
the truth.

I said NO such thing, nor did I imply it.

Actually I've been at home
for several weeks since I was between
jobs and not about to start a new one
with a baby on the way. He gets
attention from the moment I get up until
the moment I get to bed, and usually
most of it comes at night (when my
husband comes home from work). And to be
completely honest, the more attention he
gets during the day, the worse he
scratches at night. He does not separate
love he gets during the day from wanting
to be in our room at night. He believes
that he is entitled to both as much as
he wants to, no matter what.

That's because until a few weeks ago, he HAS been entitled to it. What
is obviously very important to him (sleeping with you) has been suddenly
taken away from him and has been replaced with a cycle of abuse. He
doesn't know why he is suddenly banned from your bedroom, and he can't
understand why snuggling has now been replaced with repeated and abusive
squirting, yelling and angry chasing.

If I was a
cruel person, the easy thing to do would
be to ignore him completely, but I
don't.

As I advised earlier, ignoring him will help to change the current
situation and is certainly kinder than what you are inflicting on him
now.

But the problem is that as much as I
love him, HE ISN'T A CHILD, and I can
never treat him as though he were human.

The principles of dealing with children and cats are very similar. It
would benefit you to realize that and try to understand your cat instead
of considering him a nuisance.

He is an animal, with animal instincts.
He lives in the moment from day-to-day.

Just as children do.

He will never have powers of reason.

Cats do have the ability to reason.

And
most of all, I would be highly surprised
if I ever became allergic to my child.
What is honestly better? That my
husband's asthma and allergies
degenerate to the point that we get rid
of our cats altogether, or we make a
compromise to keep a place where we
spend a third of our day fur and dander
free? (we do bathe regularly but that
only works so far) When I was a little
girl, my parents had to get rid of my
cat because of my brother's allergies
and asthma and it still scars me to this
day.

I never once criticized you for making the decision to keep the cats out
of the bedroom. If that is what is needed then so be it. It's how you
are going about it that's the problem.

I have tried ignoring him, and earplugs
do not work for me (I've tried several
in the past and they all irritate my
ears). He is a very large cat, and his
scratching at the door is actually more
pounding, like someone is knocking. I
can't drown it out with fan white noise
or the stereo (if I turn it up enough,
then I can't sleep anyways). He has
never been interested in scratching
posts, even before he was declawed.

If he is declawed, how is he scratching?

He
does like rubbing his paws on clothes
baskets, though.

So put a clothes basket in front of the door when you go to bed. Since
that is what he likes he may "scratch" on that instead.

I wish I had the cats you must have,

You could if you would take the time to learn about cats and treat
behavior issues with kindness and understanding. I have 25 cats and none
of them
have had problems that couldn't be fixed and were addressed successfully
WITHOUT squirting, yelling, angry chasing, etc.

but
about the only way animals are like
children is that they all have
individual personalities and respond
differently. We don't have ANY problem
with our youngest cat and she is
perfectly adjusted to the situation.

You just said cats respond differently and then you turn right around
and compare your youngest cat to Luna. Do you see the error here? They
are two different cats and you can't expect them to react the same.

Luna refuses to adjust and because he is
a cat and responds like cats do, we're
having problems getting him to see how
his life has changed, and will remain
changed.

When you stress him out by a sudden ban from the bedroom and treating
him badly what option does he have but to try to get to you at night and
convince you he is a good kitty and loves you? He doesn't understand why
he is banned. He only knows that all of a sudden you don't want that
special time with him and add to that by being mean to him.

God I wish I could accomplish
everything by being sweet and kind, but
that has never worked,

And you're here now because the abuse has been SO effective... right?

that's not how my
situation is, so get off of your soapbox
if you don't have any other constructive
advice.

Kindness DOES work, but you also have to have patience and
understanding. You have exhibited none of these qualities, and until you
do, you are doomed to fail not only with your current situation, but
with raising your child as well.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray

Joanne wrote:

You think that I've gone to ignoring him
completely? You couldn't be further from
the truth.

I said NO such thing, nor did I imply it.

Actually I've been at home
for several weeks since I was between
jobs and not about to start a new one
with a baby on the way. He gets
attention from the moment I get up until
the moment I get to bed, and usually
most of it comes at night (when my
husband comes home from work). And to be
completely honest, the more attention he
gets during the day, the worse he
scratches at night. He does not separate
love he gets during the day from wanting
to be in our room at night. He believes
that he is entitled to both as much as
he wants to, no matter what.

That's because until a few weeks ago, he HAS been entitled to it. What
is obviously very important to him (sleeping with you) has been suddenly
taken away from him and has been replaced with a cycle of abuse. He
doesn't know why he is suddenly banned from your bedroom, and he can't
understand why snuggling has now been replaced with repeated and abusive
squirting, yelling and angry chasing.

If I was a
cruel person, the easy thing to do would
be to ignore him completely, but I
don't.

As I advised earlier, ignoring him will help to change the current
situation and is certainly kinder than what you are inflicting on him
now.

But the problem is that as much as I
love him, HE ISN'T A CHILD, and I can
never treat him as though he were human.

The principles of dealing with children and cats are very similar. It
would benefit you to realize that and try to understand your cat instead
of considering him a nuisance.

He is an animal, with animal instincts.
He lives in the moment from day-to-day.

Just as children do.

He will never have powers of reason.

Cats do have the ability to reason.

And
most of all, I would be highly surprised
if I ever became allergic to my child.
What is honestly better? That my
husband's asthma and allergies
degenerate to the point that we get rid
of our cats altogether, or we make a
compromise to keep a place where we
spend a third of our day fur and dander
free? (we do bathe regularly but that
only works so far) When I was a little
girl, my parents had to get rid of my
cat because of my brother's allergies
and asthma and it still scars me to this
day.

I never once criticized you for making the decision to keep the cats out
of the bedroom. If that is what is needed then so be it. It's how you
are going about it that's the problem.

I have tried ignoring him, and earplugs
do not work for me (I've tried several
in the past and they all irritate my
ears). He is a very large cat, and his
scratching at the door is actually more
pounding, like someone is knocking. I
can't drown it out with fan white noise
or the stereo (if I turn it up enough,
then I can't sleep anyways). He has
never been interested in scratching
posts, even before he was declawed.

If he is declawed, how is he scratching?

He
does like rubbing his paws on clothes
baskets, though.

So put a clothes basket in front of the door when you go to bed. Since
that is what he likes he may "scratch" on that instead.

I wish I had the cats you must have,

You could if you would take the time to learn about cats and treat
behavior issues with kindness and understanding. I have 25 cats and none
of them
have had problems that couldn't be fixed and were addressed successfully
WITHOUT squirting, yelling, angry chasing, etc.

but
about the only way animals are like
children is that they all have
individual personalities and respond
differently. We don't have ANY problem
with our youngest cat and she is
perfectly adjusted to the situation.

You just said cats respond differently and then you turn right around
and compare your youngest cat to Luna. Do you see the error here? They
are two different cats and you can't expect them to react the same.

Luna refuses to adjust and because he is
a cat and responds like cats do, we're
having problems getting him to see how
his life has changed, and will remain
changed.

When you stress him out by a sudden ban from the bedroom and treating
him badly what option does he have but to try to get to you at night and
convince you he is a good kitty and loves you? He doesn't understand why
he is banned. He only knows that all of a sudden you don't want that
special time with him and add to that by being mean to him.

God I wish I could accomplish
everything by being sweet and kind, but
that has never worked,

And you're here now because the abuse has been SO effective... right?

that's not how my
situation is, so get off of your soapbox
if you don't have any other constructive
advice.

Kindness DOES work, but you also have to have patience and
understanding. You have exhibited none of these qualities, and until you
do, you are doomed to fail not only with your current situation, but
with raising your child as well.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray

Joanne wrote:

when he scratches the first time, my
husband will squirt him into the living
room (if he isn't already there) and close
the door between the living room and
hallway (he'll claw and meow at that door
too but we can only barely hear him thank
goodness). The only problem is that doing
that isolates them from their litter box
(and we don't want the mess/hassle of
setting up a second one in there), so we
can't do that too long.

Did it ever occur to you that the "mess/hassle" of having a second
litterbox (which you should have regardless and wouldn't take more than
5 minutes of effort a day cleaning) is preferable to continuous nights
of interrupted sleep? Such an easy solution, yet you prefer to abusively
squirt, yell at and chase Luna. Pretty sad.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray

Joanne wrote:

when he scratches the first time, my
husband will squirt him into the living
room (if he isn't already there) and close
the door between the living room and
hallway (he'll claw and meow at that door
too but we can only barely hear him thank
goodness). The only problem is that doing
that isolates them from their litter box
(and we don't want the mess/hassle of
setting up a second one in there), so we
can't do that too long.

Did it ever occur to you that the "mess/hassle" of having a second
litterbox (which you should have regardless and wouldn't take more than
5 minutes of effort a day cleaning) is preferable to continuous nights
of interrupted sleep? Such an easy solution, yet you prefer to abusively
squirt, yell at and chase Luna. Pretty sad.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray

Joanne wrote:

when he scratches the first time, my
husband will squirt him into the living
room (if he isn't already there) and close
the door between the living room and
hallway (he'll claw and meow at that door
too but we can only barely hear him thank
goodness). The only problem is that doing
that isolates them from their litter box
(and we don't want the mess/hassle of
setting up a second one in there), so we
can't do that too long.

Did it ever occur to you that the "mess/hassle" of having a second
litterbox (which you should have regardless and wouldn't take more than
5 minutes of effort a day cleaning) is preferable to continuous nights
of interrupted sleep? Such an easy solution, yet you prefer to abusively
squirt, yell at and chase Luna. Pretty sad.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray