Fuming…

[JPetrucci84]

Hi guys.

 

    Currently, Cinder has decided that she wants to chew the stuffing out of a couch cushion. She has decimated a good portion of my cushion, and she doesn’t seem to care much what I think. I have given her an XL moving box of shredded paper, hay, etc. to keep her digging needs at bay, but she LOVES my couch.  I was wondering if you guys could give me some help before I just lose it? 

    The biggest problem is that I probably can’t get away with vinegar or water because I’m currently staying at my uncle’s house while he’s in Florida working for a welding company. I’m looking for a good way to keep her off because “NO!”, stomping the ground looks funny to her, and doesn’t do much. I walk up to her afterwards and she stays low to the ground and puts her ears back (afraid), or she’ll later come around and groom me to apologize lol. It’s so funny, though, to watch her play guilty. So what do you guys think? I could possibly find a baby thing to keep her away from the couch, but I’m afraid she’ll just jump right over it. She also runs into her cage when she knows she’s in trouble. HELP!!!

 

 Much Thanks

[MoxieMeadows]

I think your best bet may be to block off the couch or that room.
Or, you could continue to discourage her everytime she goes on the couch, by making loud noises (yelling “No!”, clapping your hands ect.), take her off the couch and place her next to her box of paper EVERY time she goes onto the couch, and so on.
I wish you the best of luck!

[JackRabbit]

This isn’t very pretty, but you could try putting a piece of plastic sheeting over it (tuck or tape it well so she can’t get under the plastic) so its slippery. Or get a clear plastic sofa cover. An untextured shower curtain tucked over the cushions might work if its just the cushions she digs at.

Maybe others have better ideas, but making it too slippery or blocking it off are the only options I can think of.

[Megabunny]

My most successful deterrent is body spray/perfume on the place you want her to stay off of. But I’m inclined to agree with either of the two others, though the easiest would probably be JR’s because I’m lazy and not into trying to do much training.

[Dwarf Sparrow]

You could also try making a fence out of NIC squares, if you have any extras laying around- I’ve found that binder clips are an easy way to stick a few together without having to deal with zip ties if you need to reconfigure the NIC squares later. You could set up the fence around the couch to deter jumping up on it (depending on the setup) and the fence can be easily moved when Cinder isn’t around/ would be easy to step over when she is around.
If you remove the couch cushion from the equation entirely, would she maybe go play in her XL digging box instead? Or do you think she’d find another part of the couch to destroy?

[JPetrucci84]

I’m HOPING she wouldn’t just chew the rest of the couch. I’ll have to try and report back. Thanks for the help, guys! I don’t know what I’d do without you! Happy Holidays!

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