How to do decorating with damaging kitties

Jke5536144
by Jke5536144
Ok.. so we took in 7 foster babies and had no luck re homing them so we adopted them into our 1 cat home. Since then, all my decorative flowers, etc.. are taking residents in totes. My house is bare. Any ideas are so much welcomed.
two of the six kittens already causing chaos
3 of the lil' monsters later on
  16 answers
  • Karen Reilly Karen Reilly on Apr 11, 2016
    Thank you for taking them in. I have taken in used cats also. First put away the stuff you really like. Let the new ones get used to your home this could take a while. After the cats are comfortable bring in some test decorations preferably water proof. Go to your hardware store and buy a large spray bottle that will shoot a good stream of water. This may sound mean but you will get good results. Put the test decorations in a room that you use the spray bottle to shoot at the cat wait until they are distracted by playing with decoration and shoot them in the hind quarters. They will jump a bit. Don't yell at them just do it. They will get idea quickly and figure out where the water is coming from and not like it. The thing to remember is not to yell at them first surprise is what you are looking for. Then once your cats are trained you have a lovely squirt gun to use with kids these usually last much longer than a super soaker. Sorry so long enjoy your kittens.
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    • Lisa Lisa on Apr 11, 2016
      Try adding s few pennies to an empty soda can, and whenever you catch them "in the act", shake the can. The loud noise should deter them. But you have to be vigilant about it, and do it every time.
  • Sadie Seasongoods Sadie Seasongoods on Apr 11, 2016
    You are SO wonderful for adopting them into your home- it is people like you that give me hope for this world! I agree with Karen, a squirt bottle will help them learn right from wrong- they'll still make mistakes, but it will help. We have two cats and by and large have given up on upholstered furniture, LOL. We also put towels and blankets on most chairs/couches to help protect them. You may just want to consider incorporating cat furniture into your decor- and there are a LOT of ideas on Pinterest for DIY cat trees. They are far more stylish than the carpeted versions at big box pet stores. I have friends that wrapped chair legs with sisal rope, etc. Keeping the cats enriched with their own furniture/toys/windows, etc. might cause them to be disinterested in your knick knacks, etc. :)
  • Heather McKinney Heather McKinney on Apr 11, 2016
    Coming from an animal lover, I am so pleased to hear of your decision to keep them. I had a similar story last year and became a foster failure, as well. I feel your pain! Honestly, I didn't come here to offer advice. More so, I came to read the advice given to you.
    • Jke5536144 Jke5536144 on Apr 11, 2016
      @Heather is TooInspiredToSleep I hope you find some answers as well. In the meantime, enjoy watching them:-)
  • Debs Debs on Apr 11, 2016
    I too have a home that is owned by cats! One is a rescue, he is a Hemmingway cat( 7 toes on each front foot and 5 on each back foot) I love my furbabies, but like all of you have said, decorations are all put away. Play toys, ribbons, yarn, and anything else that they will play with dots the floor.. As far as real plants, either they are up high where they cannot be reached or they simply do not exist in the house. Water bottles do help but they will persist in their hunt to find new things, curiosity and cats 101 ! They will even get in the dryer when the door is open! Constant visuals on all you do. Thank you for rescuing the babies, way too many never know the love of a good home.. So Sad...If anyone does have ANY helpful hints, I too would love to hear them...
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    • Debs Debs on Apr 14, 2016
      @Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot Thank you !
  • P.chatty P.chatty on Apr 11, 2016
    I think it's awesome that you have taken the kittens in, I applaud you.
  • Catherine Catherine on Apr 11, 2016
    Welcome to Catland, and count your blessings! They are much prettier than flowers, and you're lucky they let you live there! Seriously though; You are a wonderful person to keep them...As they get older there is less destruction, but hide breakables, for now...I have 7, and nothing in my home matters as much as they do...
    • DORLIS DORLIS on Apr 11, 2016
      @Catherine I AGREE, AS THEY GROW UP THEY ARE LESS OF A PROBLEM. BLESS YOU FOR TAKING THEM IN. MY HOUSE HAS HELD AS MANY AS 8 AT ONE TIME. NEVER DID REHOME, JUST KEPT THEM AND I NEVER REGRETTED IT.
  • B J  Alexis B J Alexis on Apr 11, 2016
    Lots of applause for keeping your kitties. Agree with Sadie, use a spray bottle with plain water and leave the spray bottle where the kitties can see it even if you have to leave several standing out for awhile. They won't like the water and sometimes don't like even the sound of the spray--I called mine the "punishment bottle".
  • Rav3028614 Rav3028614 on Apr 11, 2016
    Coming from a home that has had cats I have always loved them In my case the spray bottle actually traumatized my cat anytime we would do any cleaning he would hide haha. What worked for me is to place things around the house he loved my cat didn't like scratching post or cat nip toys at all he preferred spider plants and plastic grocery bags. Each one of your cats will have there own preference try experimenting with odds and end things to appeal to each cat. put fake plants or cat grass down low or in areas of persistent access by the cats and your real ones in places that don't catch there attention, Hang plastic ornament balls from strings in places like under tables or stands anywhere they travel little noisy plastic balls work well to. If they have a habit of getting onto counter tops for things try placing a plastic grocery bag with the handle parts cut off onto the floor they'll love the noise or a cardboard box with lots of holes cut into it placed upside down it will keep them entertained as well. My cat wouldn't stop certain habits unless I gave him something else to do.Special spots by windows I found to be the absolute best if you have any bird feeders outside any of your windows place a shelf on the inside front or a table with pillows and small boxes and blankets the birds outside will hold there attention and the sun from the window will keep them coming back to that spot and as they get older they will come to learn that only that window is comfy to hang out on and will start to prefer it over other spots Hope it helps ;)
  • Jke5536144 Jke5536144 on Apr 11, 2016
    With all 8 responses from other animal lovers, I found I'm doing the rights things. It's just a matter of them out growing the baby stage. All 8 people are awesome!!
  • Bobbie Littlefield Bobbie Littlefield on Apr 11, 2016
    You have to give them something to do that is more interesting than destroying your furniture or other objects (spray helps too). A 4X4X8, covered with carpet and attached to the wall with L brackets. A platform above the "post" and a few more going down the wall (with space between them) allows a "jumping, running, climbing" galley wall that allows fun, freedom and clawing for them. Cover the platforms with carpet (staple carpet VERY securely on the wall sides and the undersides of woods). I hang elastic cording with toys or feathers attached for play off the suspended platforms. When my cats would claw the furniture, I would grab them by the nap of their neck and throw them on the post. They got the idea. I do not have one currently in my home (working on installing one-when I do, I will try to post before and after pictures). Not super necessary as my cats are OLD. Not sure if the oldest could even climb the post. So, using type letters only it would look something like this: _ _______ | ] | ] | ] o ] __________ ] | ] | ] | ] o ____________ ] | ] | ] | L] o Note the L brackets at the top and bottom of the post and how they are positioned. Install bottom bracket 1st. predrill holes in wood, insure top bracket is snug but not too snug, attach to bare top and then cover top with a carpet patch (hot glue).
    • Jke5536144 Jke5536144 on Apr 12, 2016
      @Bobbie Littlefield Thanks for your helpful reply! You went to a lot of work explaining it. I'll show it to hubby and see if he can figure it out. Sounds like a great idea.. You're so kind
  • I have 5. Cat trees are a must! Get a couple of those and some scratching posts. Start now and you won't have a problem down the road with them scratching your furniture! Trust me! I trained mine from the time they were kittens and they leave my sofa alone. Show them the posts and put their little paws on it until their claws catch. They'll get the message. I have 4 of those posts. Put them near any furniture to start. They will scratch those instead. Then move them little by little until you get them where you want. You can also get some catnip and rub it on the all of your posts. They'll want to use them. Ditto with rubbing it (I get the fresh growing stuff) on their play mice and toys. The water bottle just scares them off, but if they don't have anywhere else to scratch, you're just going to freak them out. cats have to scratch. period. So give them something they can sink the claws into! Check Groupon for some good deals on the cat trees!! I've gotten a couple from there. Also check out Jackson Galaxy's website. He has suggestions for how to catify your house!
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    • Jke5536144 Jke5536144 on Apr 12, 2016
      @Beth H. Makemeprettyagain.blogspot Thanks a million for your suggestions and wishing you the best with your 5 babies.. They're work but fun
  • Teresa Teresa on Apr 11, 2016
    I have used the water but when you are not there it hard to deal with I know that foil works for surfaces you don't want them on and balloons work in areas you can't get to easy like the back of the sofa one pop and god has spoken! Ha Ha I do one thing that will help some that is I clip the nails of my two cats just the tip with nail cutter for cats and dogs small style. This at least blunts the nail and they don't give me to much noise until I cut the back nails and you have to keep it up! Hope that helps Teresa
    • Jke5536144 Jke5536144 on Apr 12, 2016
      @Thank You Mechcraft5 Thanks for your suggestion. We cut all 8 kitties nails and they're finally getting use to it. Never thought of balloons.. that's an idea. They'd all go running for the back of the house!
  • Dlconklin9 Dlconklin9 on Apr 12, 2016
    Moth balls r a successful way 2 keep "kitties" and dogs away from things/areas that you want kept safe from your little friends. The smell is quite offensive to them. The moth balls can be used outside also, but must b replaces as they shrink w/rain and snow.. DLC love my "babies"
  • Dfm Dfm on Apr 13, 2016
    My mom has a picture of me at 18 mo. old with my pet "kitty"- holding her by the front underarms...and the rest of her trailing on the floor. there has been a cat in my house ever since. Please use a correct sized pet carrier as a "den", and feed your crew treats when they are "in prison" this will make it much easier to get your pets to the vet, and may curtail eating issues. my orange male would wolf down every bit of food in the bowel, not letting others eat. he would then barf it all over the house. not a good experience to step in it at at 2 am. he now eats in solitary confinement and has not "hairball" the carpet since. If there is an emergency and you had to leave suddenly...the handful of food and a ready carrier will keep the cats safe with you. now, pretend you have 3 active 2 yr olds in the house getting into everything. that's about as much trouble as 1 curious kitten. distract, attract. mouse traps under heavy cardboard on the kitchen table- they will set them of and hear the snap. cat nip in the safe to play areas. rotate the toys... kittens can get board ...
  • Cindi Cindi on Apr 13, 2016
    I had 3 cats, then took in a stray with 4 kittens, so now have 8 cats and 2 dogs, so I've been through it all. I agree completely about the cat trees, I have one in almost every window and they've never ruined anything. These are little clawing machines, so have shredded them so I have carpeting and a staple gun to try to repair them myself since now they've started on my carpeted stairs, so I put shiny clear packing tape where they are starting. Also, keep their nails cut and they don't scratch so much and if they do it won't cause much damage. I cut their nails every month, it's a pain, but totally worth it.
  • Nancy Gramm Nancy Gramm on Apr 14, 2016
    Good luck with the kittens, and bless your heart for taking them. We took in a feral kitten when he was about three months old. Shortly after we bought a rope scratching post for him, and he never once scratched my furniture. (Take that back; he used to scratch the back of my desk chair when it was close to time for him to eat and he wanted my attention. That's on me, but the chair's slipcovered and I didn't care; he got my attention.) I'm using the past tense cuz I lost my Max to cancer a little over two months ago. He was a marmalade and I swear, if we were close, I'd steal a couple of yours! (BTW, that's Max in my profile shot.)