Help me stop the kittens...

[poppincandy]

I got two gorgeous boy kittens yesterday, they are 8 weeks old. They have instantly explored the house, and are using their litter tray etc no problem.

Now I bought them a scratching post with toy climbing thing and a scratching box on the floor, they have other cat toys. They use all of these things and love playing with each other, but there is one sofa that they have decided is much better than all this, and they

a) keep scratching it, and
b) keep hiding in the mechanism.

How do I stop them scratching it - I keep removing them, and trying to distract them but they just go back.

How do I stop them going in the mechanism as I am scared that someone will open the chair and they will get squished.

You need to put a large notice on the sofa 'CHECK FOR KITTENS' to remind everybody to look out for them when using it because I know of no way to reliably stop a cat doing something.....

Get some 'Feliway' to spray on sofa.

Worked on my cat, and he's an absolute little bugger!He smetimes walks past the sofa arm he used to scratch, and smells it kind of wistfully like he's thinking 'I'm sure I used to do something destructive, and fun with that, but I can' remember what...'

I re spray occasionally, think you have to do it every couple of weeks at first.

Also do the sign thing - and put a sign up above your toilet that says 'put the toilet seat down' (unless you don't live with anyine who leaves it up ) as if they fall in, they often can't get out...

salty - what exactly is feliway? I hear it mentioned on here quite a bit.

I have 2 kittens who have ruined my sofas , I mean totally ruined. They leap onto the arm and hang there until they slide down, lacerating the chairs.

Sign is now in place, and time to get some Feliway, thanks northern and salty for the suggestions.

at the sign as I thought you were expecting the kitten to read it.

I have read there is a herb you can use that cats don't like but not sure of the herbs name.

If the Feliway doesn't work, we've had some success with Sticky Paws strips (sort of double-sided sticky-tape you put ont he sofa). Cat repellent has done nothing with ours, but if they go to scratch on a sticky bit they back of sharpish, shake a paw, and go off looking miffed. Unfortunately we were a bit slack about it (don't really like our sofas much) and now have a bit of a battle on our hands.

Feliway is some sort of synthetic cat happy hormone - makes 'em think they don't want to be anxious/scratch etc. comes in a little bottle and you spray it on. Think you can also get diffusers you plug in for more general anxiety...but for scratching you want the spray.

Available from your local Pets at home or other good retailers

or on-line I imagine.

I did not think it would work AT ALL but it was try that or tape the cat's paws together...

A squirty bottle of water kept at hand will work wonders.

I just ordered some feliway spray and the diffusser. The spray is to try and stop my 9 year old cat scratching my (leather) sofa he has wrecked it to the extent that we now have a huge hole in it!!! I want a new one but have to get him to stop first.
The diffuser for introducing our new kitten to our resident cats. One of my cats is sulking big time.
Buy it online its cheaper than pets at home. The diffuser i ordered was £18.96. Pets at home charge £36.99. The spray was Around £13.00. It ws £23.99 at Pets At Home !!

I have heard that its really good so willing to give it a go for a happy house.