Question:
Oh man...
As many of you know, I'm the proud kittymama to two adorable Scottish Folds. They narrowly escaped death this morning!!
I was getting ready for work this morning and realized that I somehow left my purse on the floor...a $398 Coach Soho leather hobo. IT WAS COVERED IN SCRATCH MARKS. Little bastards! Noooooo!
I wailed in anguish. WHY did I leave it out? I always, always hang it up so it's out of their reach! I couldn't smack them because they would have no idea what they were being beaten for (not only that, but I could never use corporal punishment on anybody), plus I had no idea who the perpetrator was -- Milan or Lennybruce? Both? I am SO ANGRY right now.
I put some leather conditioner on the purse, but you can still see the deep scratches.
About the only thing I can think of...is that it's time to reapply the SoftPaws nail caps to the little critters. They're too old to get them declawed. I guess this means I can never, ever own a leather sofa or ANYTHING NICE because the little bastards will shred it.
The first (and last) time that I put the SoftPaws nail caps on Lennybruce, he chewed 50% of them off within the first 24 hours. The remaining nail caps were chewed off within the week. Maybe the veterinarian can put them on his nails with extra glue while Lenny is under anaesthetic to get his teeth cleaned...Hmmm...

Answer:
Sorry to hear about your expensive purse almost being ruined by the kitties!!
I don´t like the thought, though, of covering the claws with something, and removing the claws I think is a cruel thing to do. Here in Scandinavia it´s even illegal. The cats need their claws!

Answer:
Originally Posted by musse Sorry to hear about your expensive purse almost being ruined by the kitties!!
I don´t like the thought, though, of covering the claws with something, and removing the claws I think is a cruel thing to do. Here in Scandinavia it´s even illegal. The cats need their claws! I would NEVER get my cats declawed. I have heard that you can't get it done unless the cat is still in its kittenhood. They don't just surgically remove the claw, they cut off the end of each finger to declaw a cat. It's horribly cruel and extremely painful for the animal. If you get it done when the cat is still a baby, then its body is able to heal faster. When they're an adult, the procedure has too many risks and it can't be done. Even if it could be done... I would never get it done to my cats. They're 100% indoor-only, but I would still never get it done.
The SoftPaws are a more humane solution. They're soft vinyl caps that are sealed over each claw. When the cat sheds its claw naturally, the SoftPaw cap comes along with it. Periodically you have to re-apply SoftPaws as the cat sheds them.
Like I said, my problem is that Lennybruce chewed most of his off. :P

Answer:
My money is on the Bad One. Or maybe Milan's just acting out? Who knows...it still majorly sucks .
And another vote for NO DECLAWING!!!!!! EVARRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!
I always trim their claws with a kitty claw trimmer thingie...they don't like it...but it's a necessity.

Answer:
Originally Posted by CologneJunkie My money is on the Bad One. Or maybe Milan's just acting out? Who knows...it still majorly sucks .
And another vote for NO DECLAWING!!!!!! EVARRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!
I always trim their claws with a kitty claw trimmer thingie...they don't like it...but it's a necessity. Yeah, I agree with the claw trimming and anti-declawing stance. I hate trimming Milan's claws because I'm terrified that I'll hurt his back, but they both get their claws trimmed once a month.
Who knows... I bet it was BOTH of them scratching my purse because even Sweet Milan has been stropping his claws on my medic bag. I don't care about the medic bag because it's tough nylon and it doesn't show the damage. It's designed to protect its contents, and nothing's been damaged. One of them probably started scratching my purse because Brother was hogging the medic bag...and then I bet dollars to doughnuts that the other one had to come join in on the fun claw-stropping on Mom's Expensive-Ass Leather Purse. It infuriates me because they know that there are certain things they can't scratch, like the sofa or the table legs. Bad Lenny is usually the one who scratches inappropriately the most and has to be reined in with the Squirt Bottle of Justice (i.e. he chooses not to scratch on the kitty tree but on off-limits furniture) .
Although I jokingly call them "Bad" or "Sweet" they are still totally spoiled and VERY much loved. Lenny is in no way the outcast, he's just full of piss and vinegar and is usually the feisty one who loves to get into trouble (hence his name, which he totally lives up to). Lenny is usually sitting in front of the monitor as I type, insisting on petties and climbing all over me. Milan is a very laid-back sort of guy who will come up and very politely and sweetly ask for petties. He's started to gently headbutt me with his rrrrround little noggin, which is ridiculously cute. ^_^
Maybe I'll use this as an excuse to get one of those Coach Legacy shoulder bags...

Answer:
That is a bad kitty! He must have been 'hunting' and playing with the dead animal mom carries around everywhere. My cats (7) never scratch the leather couches--but my easy chair hang in shreds on the back corners. They have it down to the cardboard. It's old, and I don't mind it. It just says "cats are loved here."
I dare not leave an extra roll of TP on the toilet back. Frank will beat the #%*@ out of it. I've come home a couple of time to five million tiny pieces of TP evenly distributed over the house.
I have several beanie babies that are occasionally carried around, and around, and around. Talk about too cute! They're much cuter than the actual voles my toms bring home. I also have the d. dog now, too, so he keeps things interesting, and I have an aquarium with the fishes, and the outside bird feeder has a dining room chair obsrvatory.
Do you have a laser pointer? My boys and cats and dogs REALLY love that.
When I only had one cat, back before kids even, I put Berber carpet samples up the corner wall by the kitchen door. Everyday when I got home, Lizzie would run up to shoulder height and wait for me to take her off.
I'm sorry about the purse. There must be some way to camoflage that....a purse like that is a lifetime accessory!

Answer:
Originally Posted by linnea Although I jokingly call them "Bad" or "Sweet" they are still totally spoiled and VERY much loved. Lenny is in no way the outcast, he's just full of piss and vinegar and is usually the feisty one who loves to get into trouble (hence his name, which he totally lives up to). Lenny is usually sitting in front of the monitor as I type, insisting on petties and climbing all over me. Milan is a very laid-back sort of guy who will come up and very politely and sweetly ask for petties. He's started to gently headbutt me with his rrrrround little noggin, which is ridiculously cute. ^_^ Have I ever told you that your cats are adorable? Yes, that's meant in jest 'cause you KNOW I think your cats are the awesomest creatures next to Boo and Ripley, hehehe. They're so lucky to have such a wonderful kittymama!
It's hard to stay mad at them, isn't it?

Answer:
Yeah, my dad's a Veterinarian, and he HATES declawing cats. We had our first few cats declawed in the front for necessity (Some of them didn't get along with each other too well... A three hour surgery saved one of them, but one died ) We had one cat declawed in front for the safety of one of our dogs once (The dog was a German Shepard afraid of nothing but our cat Jasterd. Jasterd was vicious to dogs, but awesome to people. My dog was the German, and he would always think that Jasterd was trying to attack me whenever he jumped up in my lap and got pissed off really easily at him.) Softclaws sounds like the only option. It's not painful for the cat at all, and kind of effective. You could always just have the vet chop all of his paws off... He'd never scratch your purse again!
- Rich

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My pride is currently holding at 5 members, down from a high of 8, all neutered males and all totally loveable inside-only critters. I have 4 Himalayans and one red cat, the youngest and newest member. My wooden kitchen base cabinets and certain door trim seem to get the brunt of their lust to show off to each other their sharp claws. I have tried everything BUT de-clawing and finally just gave up. Boys will be boys, ya know...The oldest 3 are close 13 years old. When I sell the house I will have some replacement and repair to do. I decided long ago that they are worth it!

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I don't have cats, but they must subscribe the same rules that dogs do: Never chew or scratch the old stuff, use the best and most expensive objects as chew toys/scratch toys. My dog once stepped over at least 6 pairs of old shoes to get to my best, newest, and most favorite black leather pumps. Totally ruined them too.