Cat help

[Dawson Creek Girl]

Okay we adopted Chance at 8 weeks from the SPCA back in December of 2004. Then in the summer of 2005 we brought another 8 week old kitten home (opposite sex). Well, my husband has been allergic to cats and although Chance didn't bother him ~ the new kitten Chevy did. I had to find a home for her or my husband was leaving as he couldn't breathe... anyway, it has been almost a year since Chevy has been gone... and at night when I go to bed we shut the bedroom door as my dh doesn't want Chance in sleeping on our bed ~ can dander issues etc. Now that Chevy is gone.. Chance sits outside the door and claws at the carpet and has been doing damage.
I have tried the 'bitter tasting spray' on the carpet to deter him ~ Does not Work! ??? I have tried putting duct tape down.. and he is getting through that. Short of locking him in the basement I don't know what else to do.
HELP~ I love my kitty but he can't destroy the carpet either. My landlord would FREAK!
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
TIA

[Cinder4evr]

Have you tried sitting down with him and clipping his claws every week? Declawing has fallen out of favor with the vet community so there are a number products out there like soft claws that fit over the claws like a fake nail. they usually last for several weeks but probably have to be put on by a vet or vet tech. But I would try clipping his claws on a regular schedule fit and then move upward. As a last resort have him declawed. I know it seems cruel, but constantly correcting the cat for something that is instict is cruell also.

[Wrigstersmom]

Try putting down double sided sticky tape. I have three cats and that works for me on the furniture- they really don't like the sticky stuff on there paws.

[Katy]

Please don't declaw. Try a product call "Soft Paws", or another identical product called "Soft Claws." They are vinyl nail caps for cats. They are very soft, and non-toxic. They slide right over the nail and last a long time- mine have lasted for months. Here is a link to the product. I have used them for years and love them. After application (have one person hold the kitty and slide on the caps, and one person prepare the caps for placement) the cat doesn't even know they are there.

http://www.softpaws.com/


PS- YOu can also get them from PetCo or Petmart, and other mail-order places like jbpet.com

[Kwinon]

Once a cat claws anything, their scent is transferred to that object.* The cat will always return, because the scent is irresistibly draws them back like a magnet.

The Soft Paws will help prevent future damage to the carpet, but I don't think it will stop Chance from returning to the scene of the crime again and again.

Wrigstermom's suggestion to putting down the sticky tape will help; they don't like sticky stuff on their paws.* They also like to claw things with texture . . . like carpet & rope, etc., so before putting down the sticky tape, I'd put down a slick mat of some kind . . . then put the sticky tape on top of that.

There are dander removing products now that allow many people with cat allergies to be closer to cats than ever before.* You might see if using any of them on Chance would allow your husband to get a little closer to him.

Good luck!