Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    I can't find my cat book, NO NAUGHTY CATS, or I'd tell you the
    authors' names. But, anyhow, one thing they suggest is to put
    something the cats don't like on the surfaces you don't want them
    to be on.
    
    One suggestion is a small mouse trap, upside down. Apparently,
    when the cat touches it, it goes off but just flips up into the
    air, and has closed before the cat can get near the trap part,
    since it's upside down, and won't hurt the cat. But it will
    startle it, and the cat decides he doesn't like *that*! So stays
    away.
    
    There were other suggestions, like waxed paper with sticky/smelly
    stuff like lemon juice which cats hate the smell of, spread on the
    waxed paper. Use enough waxed paper to cover the whole surface.
    
    I wish I could find that book... They even get into cat training
    (yes, real tricks for cats to do) and cat communication. It's great!
    
    -j

    I have a display etegere (sp)  that has an arched top.  The shelves
    are open, but they don't ever go on those.  They like to arch their
    bodies over the top into a curve.  It looks pretty neat, actually.
    
    there was a note in here about C.A.T.'s, such as balloons, tacking
    balloons in the area you don't want them in.  There is nothing more
    repulsive to a cat to jump on a piece of furniture, and have this
    nasty noise POP!!!   
    
                                Denise

crumple up big chunks of foil (not too tight, just enough to give it
texture and "size") and tape the foil blobs to the top of the curio
or other piece of furniture....this is supposed to deter cats.  I
have to confess, however, that Nicholas simply pushes anything I
place in his way aside and settles in.  One thing you can do to
protect furniture that is a favorite roosting spot from kitty skid
marks is to go with the flow...place a sturdy high-backed chair near
the desired high place and the cat may use it as a "jumping off" and
"jumping to" spot, rather than sliding down the side of the furniture.

			D-who-gives-in-rather-than-fight

    >We want to buy some new display cabinets and are wondering if the
    >tops are non-flat (i.e. peaked or rounded) will this be enough to
    >discourage the cats from their mountaineering?
    
    My cats would probably find something no-flat more challenging.
    
    Deb

    
    
    	We don't have unclimbable furniture but....
    
    	if Sasha is trying to jump into one of the windows and 
    	doesn't quite get the back legs up there, she starts
    	to scratch the wall like she's trying to pull herself
    	up.  Thank God our walls are painted and not wallpapered.
    	But if you look at the walls there are scratches.  Not	
    	gouges but just scratch marks all over the underneath
    	of the window.  Any suggestions on what I can do to 
    	prevent this?  I try the squirt bottle and yelling.
    	But I can't control when I'm not home.
    
    	I just wish I knew exactly what color our walls are
    	painted so I could paint them.  I don't want to ask
    	the landlord.  He's a nice guy and all BUT....
    
    	Thanks
    
    	JJ
    

    Re: .5
    
    If you had a chair near the window, Sasha wouldn't have to
    leave scratches.  I have chairs, bookcases, whatever
    strategically placed near desireable windows.
    

    re: .5
    
    I placed a small round 'kitty condo' type thing under the window
    Nippa likes to look out.  SHe was stretching and scratching the wood
    (and mom was not to happy) to look out and see the birds.  The condo
    thing is at the right height for her to look out w/ out having to 
    scratch the wood.  
    
    I got it for $19.99 at consumer Pets in Westmeadow plaza, westboro.
    I have seen the 2 story type ay BJ's for about the same price.
    
    Michele & Nippa
    

    
    
    	re: .6
    
    
    	We do have a chair near the window in the living room....
    	but she insists on doing it the hard way....  the one in the
    	kitchen is more difficult.  I can't put anything undereath it 
    	because our heating vents are in the floor and as luck would
    	have it, it is right under that window.  So I can't put anything
    	there.  She also can't tell when the window is closed!!  :-)