Cat destroying wooden floor - help!

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  1. #1

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    Cat destroying wooden floor - help!

    Hi,

    We started fostering a cat back in October and have now taken him on full time. He is a lovely cat, but is causing a lot of damage to our wooden flooring and we are very worried what the bill is going to be come June when our lease expires (!).

    Our cat doesn't intentionally scratch our floor (he has a rug for that) but likes to run up and down changing direction often which causes the damage (as his claws dig into the floor as he gets his grip). We have his claws clipped regularly,tried caps for his claws (which he resolutely rejected) and have put some more rugs down to reduce further damage.

    Has anyone else had experience of this and have any suggestions? I have asked a lot of people and our cat seems to be the only one in HK that damages the flooring! Also, is it possible to get the scratches out of the flooring without massive expense (we have tried wax sticks to no avail)?

    Thanks very much for any ideas etc.

    Andrew.


  2. #2

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    There is also declawing the cat - this is only good if the cat stays indoors.

    Last edited by Alby; 21-02-2010 at 11:35 PM.

  3. #3

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    Quote Originally Posted by Alby:
    There is also declawing the cat - this is only good if the cat stays indoors.
    Just so it doesn't scratch the floor, something that can be fixed? Sounds cruel and unnecessary.

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by Alby:
    There is also declawing the cat - this is only good if the cat stays indoors.
    Cruel, inhumane and illegal in many countries unless medically necessary.

    Please read this

    First, you should know that declawing is pretty much an American thing, it's something people do for their own convenience without realizing what actually happens to their beloved cat. In England declawing is termed "inhumane" and "unnecessary mutilation." I agree. In many European countries it is illegal. I applaud their attitude.

    Before you make the decision to declaw your cat, there are some important facts you should know. Declawing is not like a manicure. It is serious surgery. Your cat's claw is not a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. So closely adhered that to remove the claw, the last bone of your the cat's claw has to be removed. Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat's "toes". When you envision that, it becomes clear why declawing is not a humane act. It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period. And remember that during the time of recuperation from the surgery your cat would still have to use its feet to walk, jump, and scratch in its litter box regardless of the pain it is experiencing. Wheelchairs and bedpans are not an option for a cat.



    DECLAWING: What You Need to Know

  5. #5

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    Feb 2009
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    they make plastic sheaths you can put over a cat's nails that will stop a cat from scratching surfaces. Kind of like putting a cat's nails in a ziplock. Also most surface scratches in wooden floors you can buff out with a cloth and a wooden floor polish- if you're really worried about it get the colored kind to buff with.


  6. #6

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    Thanks for comments and don't worry, no intention of de-clawing!

    We tried the caps/sheaths for a while but he just doesn't like them.

    Think that the scratches are too deep to buff out but we wil give it a shot!

    Thanks again.

    Andrew.


  7. #7

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    do u cut/trim their nails so they are not too long...


  8. #8

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    trimming can work, if sheaths aren't a possibility. just trim with a pet clipper. don't get too close or they can bleed.


  9. #9

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    yeah we have his nails trimmed every 2-3 weeks.

    with regards the caps/sheaths, i think i will give them another go on him. i have run out of the glue though. do you know a subsitute glue that can be used?

    thanks.


  10. #10

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    We had a similar issue with our dogs and two things helped:

    - Trim the nails short and file the tips flat. Not so easy, but a good groomer or vet can help.

    - We had area rugs made for some of the larger floor spaces to just cover up the wood. Not ideal, but it does protect the floors from damage.

    To help fix damage from deeper scratches that is already there, the floor will likely need sanded and re-varnished. In our newest apartment, we also had the landlord put on a couple extra layers of the varnish to better protect the wood.

    Last edited by hello_there; 22-02-2010 at 11:37 AM.

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