If you slipcover your bed, you won't see the original until Butters is gone (they don't grow out of furniture scratching). I would not declaw a cat but maybe consider those little soft covers that go over their claws.

Hello - Looking for a little advice, here. I am trying to upgrade my mix-matched, DARK kitchen without spending a fortune since we have more pressing home improvement jobs ahead (roof and furnace). It currently has dark oak cabinets (90's era - not too bad), an off-white tile floor which is in good shape, an old, cream colored dishwasher, white refrig and white stove, both in good shape. I can replace the dishwasher to match the other white appliances, but never see pics of dark cabinets with the white appliances. I plan to add some under cabinet and pendant lighting fixtures to brighten the place up (but don't want to paint the cabinets white if I can get away with keeping them). I'm thinking white subway tile backsplash and white/gray/black granite-look laminate for the countertops. The wall opposite the main counter will be the only one with color - blue grey (or should I paint it white?) There are very few pics on line of dark cabs with white appliances. Any suggestions??? Do you think my plan will work to get more light into this room? Will the contrast with the cabinets work?

Update: I think my dark cabinets are actually oak with a Cherry stain, if that matters...

I cant help with slip covers, but I find cats cane be trained out of scratching furniture! First you have to find a scratching post they like. Some like carpet, some like rope, some like cardboard. then use pest away or orange peels around the edge of the bed, as cats dont like this smell. When you catch him scratching, pull him off and put him on the scratching post. reinforce good behaviour

Another option for the cat is Soft Paws... Friends have used them since their Tito was a kitten with great success. He's never destroyed their furniture -- http://www.softpaws.com/

Must see picture of adorable kitty before I can offer a suggestion.

No seriously, you can make your own slipcover. Buy some really cheap muslin to mock a few out of and when you find something you like, use it as a pattern to remake that shape out of better fabric. Doing a couple of disposable mock-ups will help you tweak it so that you like it and work out any kinks that may crop up.

It may not be a permanent solution, but perhaps a fitted sheet?

I have not personally tried this myself, but I've heard that the scent of vinegar deters cats from scratching a particular piece of furniture. Perhaps spraying a mixture of vinegar and water would deter the cat? I don't know if this would damage the fabric, however, since I'm unfamiliar with these beds.

Double-stick tape is something I've tried that does work (at least for me). Cats really hate it. It's pretty unslightly, but if you leave it on long enough, the cat won't bother trying to scratch the furniture piece anymore and you can remove it. Again, you might consider how this affects the fabric.

You can always have a slipcover made for the bed. That's probably the route I'd go. I'd just make sure it's a sturdy fabric that's also well-lined so the kitty can't inadvertently snag what's underneath.

My parents' cats scratch furniture terribly. I've been so lucky with my cat -- he only scratches his post. I think they're just kind of born with a tendency for destruction or they aren't!

We had a problem with our two cats scratching our new couch, until I read somewhere that double sided tape really deters them from scratching. So we tried that out by putting the tape where they scratch and haven't had a scratching issue since! You can buy "special" pet tape or just go to the hardware store and get regular double sided tape. They hate the sticky texture on their paws, and it's quite entertaining to watch them try to touch it and back off immediately. Hope that helps!

Definitely try the pet tape, it's worth a shot. Do not try the vinegar - um, it stinks and it's your bed. 'nuff said. Those soft claws things, in my experience, are like a cat toy to occupy your pet for the 15 minutes it takes him to gnaw them off.

Assuming you need slipcovers because the bed is already damaged, I would ask around, everyone you know, until you find a low cost seamstress. Then use a fabric that the cat can't destroy easily. We had a heavyweight white denim slipcover that withstood years of cat scratching. White is also bleachable, which we found to be very useful.

Do you provide other solutions for the cats to scratch? posts, cardboard, etc.? making these more readily available may help in addition to using deterrents around the bed, there are some sprays you can get from the pet store that deter the cats to spray around the bed, and perhaps throw in a catnip spray on the post to make it more appealing.

anniebanani - it is considered rude to hijack another's post with your own question, especially when there is no relation at all between the two. I would suggest submitting your question to the AT moderators and letting them post it to it's own page. Provide them with pictures of the space as is to get the best feedback.

Vinegar stinks for about 2 minutes, and it does not damage fabric...

I feel your pain. I have a problem kitten, too. She has destroyed my Gus Spencer sofa.

We have plenty of scratching posts. She uses them when we're home. But while we're away, her preferred scratcher is the sofa. The whole sofa. I contemplated using the double stick tape but that means the cushions, arms and back will be covered in tape.....

If your kitten is particularly stubborn, the soft paws won't work. We applied the caps prior to leaving for a 4 day trip. We came back to more rips in the sofa and 5 missing caps.

Thanks for being a good person and not getting rid of Butters because he is scratching. I would attempt to make a very basic slipcover out of a canvas material like a drop cloth.
Good Luck!!

I have the same problem. I have a king sized Mitchell Gold's Butler bed and my cats love it. While they aren't scratching the upholstery sometimes their claws get stuck.

After searching and finding slipcovers way out of my price range I have decided to make the slip cover myself. I've found some nice fabrics via the recent online fabric stores post and I'm just going to make it myself.

My fiance and I adopted the stray cat lurking around our rented townhouse last year. He's an adult cat but had all the traits of a kitten-including the scratching of all our furniture.

I had NO luck with tape, vinegar, pet sprays and the like to keep him from scratching our bed/box spring. What finally worked was a combination of the following:

We found a scratching pad he likes and put it in the bedroom, so he has something he can scratch nearby. (This may take a few trys, our cat likes the cardboard kind and wouldn't touch the carpeted toys.)And would put him on it the minute he started scratching the bed.

Then, until he was "trained" well enough to no scratch the bed we bought a white bedskirt from target for like $13, so when he was scratching, it was something we didn't covet. If he's only scratching the corners this may be a good solution.

While my kitten used the sofa as a scratching post for maybe 2-3 days, once I got her a a super tall scratching post, she has stopped. I also got her her a tall perch which allows her to be higher off the floor & see out the window well. She doesn't spend as much time on the sofa now because of this. In my experience with kittens & cats, you need to leave the post out in the open & not move it around. If your house is large, maybe one near where she sleeps & one in the room where she spends most of her time. I have also found that 20 inches or more is better so they can really stretch as they grow. My post is a combo of carpet & sisal rope. When I would catch her scratching the sofa, I would give her a firm "no" & put her at the scratch post & stretch her paws up on it & scratch at it myself. She caught on pretty quickly. I also rewarded her with a treat when she used it correctly the first week or so. My kitten didn't like the corrugated cardboard type scratch boxes or posts. I also used tape on the base of my dining table because it is shaped like an "x" & she wanted to climb up it & was leaving scratches. The tape definitely kept her off of it. Maybe if you use the tape along the sides of your bed, this will also train her not use it. That's not really a good solution for the headboard since you don't want your hair stuck in it but after a week or two of taping the sides, I believe she will stay away after you remove it. If she comes back to it, put tape back on & try again - patience with cat training is a necessity. With my other cats I have used devices that are motion operated & squeal when they approach so they associate that noise with the bed & also a squirt bottle but that only works if you catch them in the act. Maybe a combination of all of the above will work. Good luck & congrats on your kitten. I love my little Roxy Cat to death.

what a great name for a cat

Would a box spring cover work for the bed base? Then make a cover for the headboard?

take a piece of fabric and wrap it around your bed, so it's the right length. Hold it in place with little curly pins you can get at Bed Bath Beyond. I'm sorry I don't know what they are called, but they come in a package of 10 or 12 and they are like little corkscrews. They don't injure your bed, but they hold beautifully.

Or even simpler, do something like this from Chez Larsson:
http://chezlarsson.com/myblog/2009/01/super-simple-bed-skirt-howto.html

Oh, and they say foil or saran wrap or contact paper, sticky side out will deter cats from scratching. The foil might even work under the cover because I think it's the noise it makes.

Also, buy the kitten a scratching post and teach him to use it, because he's not going to outgrow this. (voice of long experience speaking)

You can also trim the claws, or have them trimmed. They do have to be cut at the correct angle, but it keeps the claws from catching in the fabric. Vinegar never worked with any of my cats, but we did have success with double sided tape and aluminum foil.

I think a sheet or dust ruffle over it as a temporary fix is a great idea though. Your kitten will probably not like the smooth fabric and will stay away from it. I'd be afraid it would still scratch a denim or canvas slipcover. Be warned though, if you dissuade her from scratching the bed, she will probably find something else to scratch, so make sure you find an alternative that she likes.

As mentioned above, getting a few different scratching posts to see what your cat likes is a good suggestion. Some cats like tall stretching posts, others prefer ones that are flat on the ground (like cardboard scratchers).

Also incredibly unsightly, but our cat has a giant carpet-covered cat condo. He likes scratching that a lot.

Since you spent so much on the bed to begin with, I'd go ahead and just get a really nice slipcover made. Yeah, it sucks paying for it but it's still worth preventing permanent damage to your bed.

And I agree with Miss, you're a great person for not getting rid of Butters! I never understand people who adopt cats and then are shocked they scratch things... lol

beautiful bed, it looks fairly simple which makes you lucky. Unless you have probably 500+ to get a great slip cover or 1500 to get it recovered, I say do it yourself. Go out and get a good thick fabric, like a corduroy or something and use a staple gun and go to town, you can do it! it wont mess up your bed because its already messed up.

Hire someone (or craigslist?) to make a slipcover for you in microfiber. Cats don't seem too interested in microfiber.

Spray catnip spray on the scratching posts and he will use them. Place a scratching post at every location that the cat likes. Once he uses them you can gradually move them to more preferable location.

After our 2 cats destroyed our DWR couch, we had it reupholstered in a fabric called Crypton Suede--a subtle herringbone pattern--and it's nice but indestructible. I got swatches from Crypton and then found it 50% off at Joann. The little monsters have not been scratching it since. They also got a SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post, which may have helped!

Foil works great, double stick tape works great... BUT those make it look almost as ugly as it torn up.
I went through something vaguely similar, and we just bought them some scratching posts that they liked and... kicked them out of the room. I know, for some people, this would never be an option. I love my cats, and it seemed crazy at first, but now everyone is happy. and my drapes in my bedroom are intact, and so are our faces (our heads were on the race track to the curtains).

Another poster was on the right track when they suggested clipping your ktten's nails. Cats will scratch when their nails are sharp and long. You will need nail clippers - human nail clippers will do. You should be able to get each nail to come ahead but you may need assistance as you will trim one nail at a time. You clip off the end point of the nail - just a tiny bit. You do not trim at a angle - clip straight across.There is a vein that is at the top of the nail close to the fur. Do not go up that far - just take off the point. Your cat won't scratch for a few weeks following this. Cat nip will work to distract to another scratching location if there is the gene in your cat for it to like this; otherwise it will not bother with the nip.

To make a cover for your box spring use a King bottom fitted sheet as a template for the main measurement and the corner creation. You should be able to find one at the Goodwill store. Take the mattress off the box springs and try the sheet over the box springs. If there is a width difference write this difference down. To make the cover: Removing the elastic off your template will be slow going but will allow for a more fitted finished project. Open out the seams at the corners. Measure your box spring all around then measure the sheet without the elastic and opened at the corners. The box spring may be much wider than the sheet so add this to your measurement before you go to purchase your cover material. You want the sides of your "finished" cover wider than the sheet so it will neatly fit underneath the box spring when on. I would use muslin or a heavy cotton that would coordinate with the colour of sheets you use. Wash your purchased fabric and dry in the dryer to make sure it doesn't shrink later. Iron the cover material. Cut the corners out and then sew each one. (You will be removing a block like section of material on the corners.) To add the elastic to the cover edge that goes under the box spring: take the all around measurement of the cover edge - it will be around 20 feet for a King sized bed. Purchase 1/2 inch elastic. You may have to join a few lengths if you are unable to purchase it in one length. Take your cover that you have made and turn the edge to 3/4 inch and sew in place around the outside leaving an opening. Take a safety pin and attach it to one end of your long elastic. Work it around the casing made and attach the two ends together. Lift your mattress off your bed and put the completed cover over your box spring.