Eddie is a chore of a cat. He is a 20 pound male cat with a serious attitude problem. 90% of the time he is fine, but the other 10% is filled with unpredictable, hateful, and bullyish behavior. We have an older cat that he likes to beat up which is why we think we need to get rid of him.
But, like all good crafters, I don't want to just give up, if something is not working with a pattern, you try something else. And I applied the same logic to Eddie.
The root of his problem with the old cat and the kids is that he can scratch and bite. He's not that way all the time, but when he wants to be, it's very easy for him because he's so big. Yes, he does attack the older cat and yes, he has bit the kids. He's just not what I'd call "friendly." With the new house and furniture, the clawing got quite a spotlight, beyond what it already was with him attacking the older cat. So we figured "claws" was number 1 priority.
Now, I'll say it up front (and I'll expect some hate mail *laughs*): I don't personally believe in declawing an animal. I feel it is usually a vanity move that people make to save furniture. I do not hold it against people who choose to do it to their cats; however, I personally do not want to do that to my pets. I brought them to this house, they didn't ask to be here. Sooooo.... Yes, I want to save my furniture too, but because of this belief I had left myself in a rather sticky situation. And then I stumbled across the Soft Paws website, which is a product that caps off the claw with a rubber cover, preventing the cat from scratching furniture (and people, and cats!).
We found a comparable product at PetSmart - and if you look in the above picture, you will see some blue at his paws end - he doesn't seem to mind them at all and he hasn't been able to hurt anyone all night, including me for putting them on him. And surprisingly enough - he didn't completely shred us in the process of putting them on. He didn't like it, but he didn't draw blood.
How does he qualify as a WIP - because we have been working towards a solution for a very long time and this solution is showing promise. In fact, right now there is hope we'll be able to keep our cat.... I make no promises based on his behavior now, we won't know for a bit, but it seems to be looking a bit more positive than before.
Keep in mind I am not a knitter so the tension isn't that great and the pattern is pretty simple - but I'm proud of what I have accomplished with it so far - all 1.5 feet of it. Hopefully I'll have it completed by Friday, but I am not laying any money on it. I think there is more of a chance of me finishing it by Sunday, my next YOP post.
I'll admit, I'm really glad to have picked up knitting again. I'm still very new to it because while I learned the motions over 25 years ago, I never got serious with it because I didn't like the frustration that came along with it. This last time, however, has been different. While I'm not magically passionate about knitting, I do find that I am not loathing it. In fact, it's not too bad at all. That excites me.
I do apologize to my regular readers that I do not have a crochet related WIP, but I do promise you that they are there. I need to get my project bags in order and pull out the ones that I have in progress but have lost sight of because of the move.
With that said - if you are interested in reading other WIPs or would like to share one of your own with other readers, be sure to head over to Tami's Amis blog.
Have a great day!
33 comments:
Sounds like our house--our young black cat bullies our 16 year old cat. There don't seem to be claws involved though, she just likes to do sneak attacks. As for the Soft Paws, a friend of mine used them and really liked them.
Your knitted cables look great, congrats on your new skills!
Hi Chris! I hope that the Soft Paws work for you!
You are like me. My mum tried to teach me to knit when I was 11 after I mastered crocheting. Didn't last long though. But, 6 years ago when I was a SAHM I picked it up again and haven't looked back! I knit and crochet on a regular basis and love it. I am getting more creative and growing in my knitting all the time. I haven't tried cables so kudos to you! I also haven't done lace or socks. My current WIP is linked to Tami's blog. It's supposed to be a triangular shawl however, I didn't get the pattern so mine is more of an oval. I'll post pics once it's done. have a great day!
Hope the paw things work!
It's nice to see a knitting project (could just be because I'm a knitter though!) and it's looking beautiful :)
I'm sorry about your kitty. Our cat is a big guy, too - 18 pounds - and he was abused before we rescued him/brought him home. We say he has "woodstock" episodes - bad flashbacks - & we think he relives the abuse. He's great most of the time - I'd say lately 95% of the time, but sometimes he just freaks. He doesn't mean to, but if we are in the way... we get hurt when he freaks. He's got a couple of scratching posts/toys & he loves those & they work really well in keeping his claws short... but like you said, when you have a big cat...
Looks like you're a knitter to me ;)
Poor troubled Kitty. I hope you can work things out.
Your knitting looks lovely - you certainly look like a knitter to me too :)
Sorry about your cat.. Hopefully everything goes ok!..
Saying that, your knitting looks great, can't wait to see more! =)
The cables are looking great. Personally, I would not have a pet that destroyed things in the house, and hurt people. It's just never made since to me. People work hard to have nice things in their homes and to let an animal ruin them, just not my cup of tea. Having worked for a plastic surgeon and seen far too many people truly hurt and scared by pets, I'm probably more sensitive to what they can do then lots of folks. I love my pet free home, but know I'm out numbered with the large number of animal lovers out there. But, I must pass along your tip about the paw protectors to my SIL, she's constantly involved in animal rescues, both dogs and cats and it might be good for her to know about them.
I love soft paws - it saves our furniture as our kitty is very clumsy and she gets caught and stuck all the time.
Your cables look great too, well done on learning new skills!
Good luck with your kitty. :-( Maybe you can submit something to that Cat Whisperer show? Or see what he's done with other problem kitties for ideas?
Wow I have never heard of soft paws before, sounds like a great solution and I hope it helps. I can sympathise with the large grumpy male cat thing too - Albert (my siamese cross) has turned into a right grump since the new kitten arrived.
I think the scarf looks great.
Siamese are not known for the overlly lovey nature *laughs* I am glad to have this as a solution though - otherwise, Eddie will have to go. I'm thinking if he can't pull you in for the bite, he may stop biting too. Time will only tell!
Thanks for the well wishes. So far so good with him. I have never seen the Cat Whisperer show. I'll have to google it and find out what other options are available to us.
We have 2 cats. Eddie is mean and can be very destructive, which so far so good with him and the claw covers. The other cat is not destructive but she does get stuck sometimes - we are putting them on her as soon as the SMALL (she's so tiny!) sized covers come in.
Thanks on the cables - they aren't terribly easy but they aren't as hard as I thought they would be. I just wished my tension/gauge was a little more consistent.
I definitely appreciate people who are not pet people, but at least you know it and you aren't trying to fit a mold (because the majority do like pets). I am the person that feels that if I get the pet, it is my responsibility. Letting it run rampant is not an option. Of course I like nice things too and do not think the older cat needs to be bullied, which is why I'm trying all options before getting rid of him. I think your SIL would love them. I saw pictures of them on dogs too so it may be a good solution when fostering rescued pets.
Thanks! So far so good with the cat and cables LOL
The scarf looks great!
As far as the cat is concerned, I'm so glad you aren't getting rid of him and just trying to work through the problem. People are too fast to discard animals like trash and not like family. Good to hear he doesn't mind the soft claws. :)
We used the soft paws on our boys, and they seemed to work very well. We haven't tried them lately though because the one piece of furniture they claw is the one we'll be getting rid of soon, and, also, I feel a little bad about it, because the first time I put the claw caps on I got a little too much glue in the caps. Ooops! The boys were not happy about that!
I love how the scarf is turning out. One of these days I'll have to try a cable pattern!
That is kinda how we were because Eddie focused on one old recliner we didn't want anyway... well, we finally got rid of it and he was itching to find something new to start destroying. I was really nervous putting them on - I was scared I was gonna snag some of his fur in the glue!
I try to make pets "for keeps" - in my life, I have only had to give away 2 or 3 pets but that is because of absolute necessity (example: female cat we had HATED my son when we brought him home from the hospital and actually was trying to harm him and urinate on him!!!!! she had to go). The only way Eddie would go is if he really cannot stop harming the old cat - and hopefully the claw covers will help stop the behavior along with new move (new place = new territory).
I'm really nervous about the scarf because I know my knitting is NO WHERE near yours and a lot of other people *laughs* I was scared to take it to yarn group tonight...so I took a crochet bag instead LOL
Thanks :) It is hard to call myself a knitter when I know I do so poorly at it when compared to others work
hehehe thanks!
ok, I couldn't help but laugh at the woodstock comment hehehe poor lil fella though - he's lucky to have found a loving and understanding home.
hehehe it felt odd only posting a knitting WIP when the blog is primarily crochet :) But all the positive comments has raised my confidence level on the scarf a wee bit.
Hey there! Glad to know I'm not the only one that learned early but never got "started" until later. I don't know what it is but something just seemed to click this time. I can't say that I love love love it like I do crochet but I can definitely say I don't "not" like it anymore hehehe Which blog is yours?
Thanks!
I admire the efforts you are putting into your feline WIP. When I was volunteering at an animal shelter, I learned that de-clawing actually involves removing part of each toe, not just the claws. So, I can see why you wouldn't want to do that! But I also understand you need to protect your kids and your other pets. Do you live in an area where he could be an outside pet?
Your scarf is looking lovely, you are doing great for having just come back to knitting!
Thanks.. I had no idea they remove more than the claw. OUCH! I never thought it made sense to get an animal, bring it to your home, then rip it's nails out.... I say if the furniture is truly *that* important, then don't get the cat. ya know? As for Eddie and outside, we did try that. He would go outside at the old house and hang out so we thought that at the new house, he'd have more space away from busy roads (and fields to hunt in) and he wants NOTHING to do with going out. I put him out and he seriously stood outside and wailed so loud it was interrupting the neighbors *sigh* He's an impossible little baby hehehe But - I will do my best to work around him until it gets too bad with the other cat and kids - but good note - over 24 hours later and no cat fights and no scratching. YAY.
So naturally the advertisement at the bottom of your post was for laser declawing.
I've heard so much negative about declawing I wouldn't dream of doing it to any of my cats -- past, present, future. In fact, we've passed on having nicer living accommodations because we were unwilling to do that to our pets. I think you found a good compromise -- I hope it continues to work for you and that you're able to continue refining Eddie's behavior. Is he neutered? Young? Chances are as he ages, he'll mellow out. Our cat is too old to do much of anything other than sleep, eat and relieve herself. . .
I think the scarf is looking wonderful!! :) Best of luck keeping your goal to finish soon!
I had immense difficulty learning to knit. The first time around I gave up after I took a well-meaning compliment the wrong way. The second time was such a struggle but I had nothing better to do but continue on. It seems to me to be worthwhile. I suppose it's nice to see I wasn't the only one who met with such frustration in knitting. . .
Perhaps Soft Paws (or like us, a comparable product) could be something you can use too. We are almost 2 full days into it and Eddie is doing good. No attacks and no pulling at them. Eddie is neutered (he was neutered around 3 months old) and he is about 5 years old. Sadly, he gets worse the older he gets. I am hoping this is something that calms him since he can't act out on whatever frustrations/desires he has with scratching and attacking the cat.
Thank you on the comment about the scarf. Having so many positive comments makes it easier to just keep plugging on. As odd as it is, it also made it easier to know that I wasn't the only one who got frustrated and put it down repeatedly until "getting it"
first of all good on you for trying to work things out with your kitty! You should be proud of yourself. I hope things work out for all of you! I'm loving that cabled scarf! it looks lovely.
Eddie's gorgeous! Hopefully he stops being such a grumpbag soon.
Do you have any scratching posts for him? Our two ladies (2 18lb black cats) scratched the hell out our couch, so when we replaced the cover on it, we made a point of getting some alternative scratching options for them. One of them is a pole covered in sisal and it works really well, it's their first choice for scratching now. We used the cardboard things too, we'd sorinkle catnip on them to attract the cats to them, it works well.
Good luck!
Unfortunately, I don't think Eddie will ever stop being a grumpbag *laughs* (love that word). He's been this way since about 1. I really think it's just his "tude" :( We do have scratching things both upstairs and downstairs so he doesn't have to go far. He just prefers furniture, other cats, and people :P So far the caps are working good. Now he uses the cardboard scratching things as a catnip bed :P
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