Need help with my crazy cats!?

Question

i got 2 questions

1. both my cats are a few mouths over a year and they keep getting on this skinny but very long ledge that my mom has "decorative" stuff but she keeps getting mad that they keep getting up there knocking stuff down and off the walls how do i stop them?!

2. my cats basically live in my basement where i am a lot. the bad thing when they walk out of the litter box they get litter stuck on there paws then it comes off on to the carpet and it is annoying that i always brush litter off my feet how can i stop them from dragging litter every where

Answer 1

1) There are a few options you can do.  Spray them with water when they get up there, get a scat mat- it will give them a little shock when they jump up there.  I've also seen a new product that has a motion sensor attached to a can of air, and when they walk by it, it sprays the air and they run away- great invention, my cats HATE the air can.

2) Very simple solution- go to your local pet store, or even WalMart and get a little throw rug.  But it under the little box part of the way, with a couple feet of it sticking out.  They will walk on the little rug, which should catch any litter on their feet.

Answer 2

1a. NO CHINESE CATS... there dinner there!

1. take something that when slapped together makes a loud smaking sound... ... or spray water,

I stopped my cats from getting up on my car by putting loose plastic on it... then when they jumped they slid off... so something hanging over the edge so they can't get a grip.

(your mom will have to remove the items for a while during the learning period)

2. better than carpet is the plastic grass... it holds the sand and won't let it stay on the feet.

Answer 3

when you have cats that get up on things you don't want them too you can use a squirt bottle to train them not to go up there, or if you can't use water for fear of things getting ruined you can use one of those air dust cans. i have also heard shaking a can with some pennies in it works.

as for the cat litter you can buy them a little mat to put out side their box. some pet stores sell little plastic ones with grooves for cats too.

good luck!  

Answer 4

Cat box is fairly easy and inexpensive. Go down to your local store like a Linnens and things, kmart or someplace that sells a wide variety of placemats kinda cheap. Get the bamboo style place mats ( around $7 or so, but sales and discount stores are good) You want something with a definite weave or ridges to it. Place one edge under the box where they tend to exit and simply clean it off every couple of weeks. Trust me, it works great. I put 2 under the box in my bathroom because my baby was forever knocking his litter out when he stepped out (and I have the shield on there) because his tail is "broken" so he can't really use it and it acts like a duster back there. Litter everywhere when you step out of the shower is REALLY painful.

In the meantime for the shelving problem. Get a box and box everything in those areas for about a month. Train the cats not to get up their, then put the stuff back. Better that they not be on display for  a while than broken, right?

Oh, I don't recommend those litter catcher tray things at the pet store. My cats hated to walk on the plastic grid, he acted like it hurt to walk a crossed. Mine love the bamboo place mats though.

Answer 5

much easier to remove all items from the shelve. put a blanket up there for them and give in.

they sell mats for the cat to walk on that will remove the liter. but i would think just about any carpet around the box will clean their feet when they leave.

cats are a living creature, if you are not prepared to have things knocked off shelves and step in cat litter, get a house plant. easier to care for.

Answer 6

as regards to the ledge walking, get a spray bottle fill it with water and every time you see them on the ledge give them a squirt with it,it's not dangerous or harmful to them at all and they will eventually get the hint the only thing is catching them at it.the other option is to put some pepper along the ledge as they will sniff around to check where they want to go first,it will make them uncomfortable every time they go there

the litter thing is another issue you should start moving it closer to an exit to a garden if you have one, and break them into wanting to go outside to litter, if that is an option for you.otherwise put a large towel under the tray and let them walk on that before they get it all over the carpet  

Answer 7

okay, dont get a scat mat, electro shock is NOT the answer. The solution is to teach them with re-direction, not with pain or physical force. Buy some training aid spray, some are called pet training and some are called stay away spray in the pet section, treat the ledge with the spray. It costs about 3 dollars. For the litter problem you can buy a tracking mat that gets the litter off their feets and helps them not to track it all over. both items can be bought at walmart in the pet department or a pet store and are really cheap solutions. Also at big pet stores like pet smart, they have special litter boxes that are designed to where the cat cannot track out the litter, you will understand when you see it . it is priced around 35 dollars, if this doesnt work e mail me, i have quite a few other solutions. hope this helps. ps. i had the same problem with my cat plus he used to tear up the blinds, he doesnt do any of this anymore, and i never spanked him or electro shocked him either, i can help you!