Here be cats.

[eslin]

Okay, I know at least two people who read this are curious, but since it varies by taste...

Comments

have you tried aluminum foil?

[lightningrose]

supposedly, lining the furniture (or at least the most scratched areas, like the arms, sides, and backs) with aluminum foil discourages scratching. It also looks quite ugly, so it needs to be reserved for stretches of time where you aren't expecting company.

We're in the process of trying to preserve a new sofa/squishy arm chair set, so I feel your pain.

Did you get Willow in Buffalo or California?

(there are some breeds of cat with short tails, but I've never seen gray ones -- I think her tail is probably from mishap. You can ask the vet, or simply feel the tail itself-- if it was run over, the chance of the stump being straight is slim).

even more kitty obsessed that usual, me. (and by the way, great to get 2 messages in 1 week! :)

Re: have you tried aluminum foil?

[eslin]

Lining the furniture with aluminum foil works great for most cats. Willow, unfortunately, is a freak who *enjoys* the texture of aluminum foil, and will intentionally scratch it down to play with it. :)

And we got Willow in Pittsburgh, actually. ;) She lived with us in Buffalo for a while, made the move out to California, and then made the move back to Buffalo with us.

It's very likely that the tail is from mishap, but ... we found her in the shelter at about six weeks; her tail was already short, and no vet has seen any sign of scarring (and two of them have commented with surprise about that lack of sign). So it shall remain a Vast Mystery. :)

[safran]

Willow is the *most adorable* small cat I've ever really known. I know two 'fellows' who to this day perk up when I mention Miss Willow because you see, they fell into a love of sorts with her when they were all young and they've never forgotten.

[eslin]

I mentioned those two fellows by name the other day, and Willow ran over from the other side of the house to listen in.

Possibly she misses growling at them. :)

[thegamemistress]

Willow has a vendetta against a particular chair. Everything we can think of has been tried - from spraying the vicinity with supposedly non-cat-friendly scents, to spraying the *cat* (water bottles, normally so useful, failed miserably), to applying anti-scratching strips, to nail-trimming more frequently, to putting a scratching post nearby. No soap.
lostsatyr asks if you've tried covering the chair in question?

[eslin]

Covering the chair in question with any kind of fabric has worked temporarily; unfortunately, my mother has decreed that it is out of the question for a general solution. (Which mildly boggles the rest of us.) So, so far, lostsatyr wins! ;)

Also, are the two of you at all interested in the Chobits anime? Tree's steadily increasing his collection; if the two of you don't have it already, let us know if you're interested in seeing any...

[eternity1]

Could it be the wood that it's made out of that has her attention so? Maybe a smell that she associates with kat-nip? Maybe make some scratching scoks for the legs of the chair for when she is down with you in the room? Then take them off when she is done.
Happy Holidays!

[eslin]

Alas, the chair in question is a vinyl-or-something-covered recliner.

Mind, the odds that she just likes the texture of vinyl under her claws are good. :)