i just bought a new area rug, and my cat is tearing it apart. does anyone have a homemade recipe for this problem? is there anything that i can spray or sprinkle ect... on the rug? i'd prefer something that is natural, if possible.

thank you!

-- genie (geniekins@hotmail.com), January 30, 2002

Answers

A big dog on the carpet will keep the cat off. Sorry, just had to put that zinger in...

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), January 30, 2002.

A big dog... completely natural!

-- Willy Allen (willyallen2@yahoo.com), January 30, 2002.

Might try: Citrus repellants (like lemon juice) are often the most effective method, but you can also spread cayenne pepper as this will also repel on dry days.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), January 30, 2002.

I assume the cat already has a nice scratching post in the immediate vicinity (maybe with some catnip)?

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 31, 2002.

I am waiting for Stan to ring in! Sorry. That said, after being a Vet tech for more years that I want to admit to, I will tell you that I have never heard of anything that will keep a cat away from anywhere it wanted to go that wasn't dangerous to people. Wish I knew of something and will be watching this thread to see what ideas pop up. Good Luck, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), January 31, 2002.

Cats will naturally avoid surfaces where they cannot be sure of their footing. A sheet of thin plastic or wax paper over where you dont want them usually can train tham to stay off of kitchen counters. I dont know if this is practical for a rug. Depends on how big it is.

Another thing you might try is something like cayenne pepper or other spices that cats hate?

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), January 31, 2002.

Throw the varmint outside where it belongs, that'll do the trick!

-- Marvelous (schnauzee@mstar2.net), January 31, 2002.

Maybe the same thing you can use to discourage an animal from doing its business: vinegar. After it dries, we can't smell it, but I guess they can. Also, like somebody else said, something for the cat to scratch on with catnip. You could raise your own, or I get it at Wal Mart in the cat section a good sized bag for a couple bucks. It lasts forever. Do you know what the rug is made of? I used to lay sweaters on the bed to dry and there was one sweater that had angora embroidery on it. My two cats would literally roll themselves up in that sweater and then lay there with this glazed look in their eyes. It was hilarious!! It was also the only sweater they even looked at. Good Luck, Laura

-- Laura (lucky1s@mcmsys.com), February 03, 2002.

Try some Cayenne pepper, sprinkle the rug generously put the cat in the middle of the rug, keep putting him back in the middle of the rug until he gets some pepper in his mouth or eyes, or just let him find it himself, after he gets it, you can make nice and rub his face and paws with a wet cold cloth, [dipped in sugar water will cut the heat faster] if likes you enough to let you, other wise his eyes will water for 15 or so minutes, he may even foam at the mouth if he gets alot, but it is non-toxic, some cats will go hide for awhile. I think it should be overwith in less than an hour. If he seem to be in too much pain feed him sugar in milk, sugar breaks up the capsicum oil molecules and stops the burn the fat in the milk dilutes it.

-- Thumper/inOKC (slrldr@yahoo.com), February 04, 2002.