[secret garden]

Okay, cat people, how do you stop them from ruining furniture? Ours has put deep scratch marks into tables and leather couches(yes he's declawed but not in back) when he was spooked or just got a wild hair and made a quick departure. Also, the peeing outside the box thing. This cat would've gone back to the shelter the first time it happened(we got him when he was about 8 weeks old)if not for me pleading his case and trying other things.

[Allegra]

It sounds like the furniture clawing is more of an impulsive thing and not something he does to be annoying? I use a water-squirter to teach mine not to claw the furniture.

Litter box problems can be more complex, but your vet should be able to offer some suggestions. My calico used a large palm plant for a potty when she was a kitten and when I finally caught her in the act, I squirted her, spoke sharply and put her on her litter box. Never had a problem after that.

[w_over_w]

Dear Ask Kittie:

Ours has put deep scratch marks into tables and leather couches(yes he's declawed but not in back) when he was spooked or just got a wild hair and made a quick departure.

Weekly nail trims keep 'em flat so that they can't penetrate wood. Works for us!

Also, the peeing outside the box thing.

That's there way of saying "I don't want to share the box". We've got a boy that does that but since the box is in the garage, no problem, it just soaks the newspaper. If your cat box is on a floor, one quick dip of his/her nose in their own pee and they "get it".

The foregoing answers have been provided by "Dear Ask Kittie", and are meant to be suggestive only. "Dear Ask Kittie" does not guarantee success.

[Lucy Lake]

Sometimes when a cat won't use the litter box, it is his/her way of letting you know he/she is having bladder problems, maybe pain when urinating.
A trip to the vet for a check of urine (for blood,) antibiotics if necessary, and a diet change will usually clear up the problem.

There are special cat foods for cats who have urinary problems. The vet can recommend the proper food.
Having several bowls of water setting around the house encourages the cat to drink.