Decorating, with cats
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Decorating, with cats
| Sat, 05-21-2005 - 3:54pm |
Here's my problem. I have been shopping for a new comforter/quilt/bedspread for my bedroom, for 6 years. I have a navy cotton comforter that I hate. But how do you pick one out that will be cat-resistant? I can't justify spending $200 on something that bites the dust the first time it meets a hairball. And we all know, it's just safer to assume that the cat WILL leave a hairball on anything we buy.
I'm miffed, because I've decorated my bed with an old indian blanket from college, because I so hate that comforter. I'm getting ready to paint my bedroom a really deep burgundy. It's going to look awesome. But I need bedding that can survive the cats. What does everyone else do?
** Noelle


Hi Noelle,
I truthfully don't know what you're talking about. I have redecorated my townhome and have both a quilt(pricey from Restoration Hardware) and a down comforter(not cheap either) with a duvet on it and don't have any problems. Both my boys sleep in bed with me every night. Are you planning on getting some type of comforter/quilt/bedspread that can't be laundered in some fashion?
When I first got Gabriel the first time he was really around a down comforter he peed on it and even that wasn't that big of a deal. I just took it to Scandia Down and had it professionally cleaned and it's fine. Now do I have hair on my bedding? Absolutely and everything else in my house until I clean it off, even though my kitties are groomed on a regular basis. I have one of those magic sponges that you get at BBB or Linens n Things and it works great in between laundering. Then when the bedding needs to be laundered(I take mine out to a place as my machine isn't large enough and as mentioned above sent my comforter to be cleaned) you do that and it's really not a big deal.
I think you're anticipating problems when they just may not be there. Go ahead and decorate however you want and the cats will adjust.
Good luck and happy decorating,
Lynn
Oh my gosh, my conforter is covered with pulls from cat claws. And they leave hairballs on it at least once every couple months. I get tired of stuffing the comforter into the washer. And every time I find an new comforter I like, it's either not washable, or cat claws would just kill it. Its so annoying.
** Noelle
Well, I've never had my cat's claw my bedding or my furniture for that matter. They have 6 various scratching posts(including a huge cat tree) and I trim their claws regularly as well. They have never put pulls in anything and I have brand new sofa and loveseat as well. I'm highly allergic and would never be able to buy any bedding that couldn't be laundered in some fashion(dry cleaning or something). As for hairballs, can't imagine why they only throw them up on your bed but hey an occasional hairball is just life with a cat!
I guess my boys are even more exceptional than I already thought they were!
Good luck, Lynn
Well, my bed isn't the only place where they leave hairballs, it's just the one that freaks me out the most. They only have back claws, so when they kick off the bed, they've left pulls that way. Maybe I'm just making more out of this than I should. It's just that every time I find a bedding set that I like, it ends up being something they'll kill.
** Noelle
Noelle,
Interesting, my suggestion in that case would be to start a program of regularly clipping their nails. My cats have ALL their claws and I never have this problem on any of my bedding or upholstered furniture and they are allowed anywhere in my house that they want to go. Well, with the exception of the table tops and counter tops that is. :)
Try clipping the nails and see if that helps. Of course be careful that you don't cut them too short and make them bleed or then they won't want you to trim them anymore. If you've never done this it's best to have your vet or a groomer show you how to do it. You may also need to have someone help you by holding them while you do it. I started my boys out when I first got them and so they are used to it and I can hold them on their backs and just clip away, but I know that may not be possible if they aren't accustomed to it. And well for the hairballs I use Defurr Em hairball treats and/or Laxatone and have hairballs rarely and mine are both long haired.
Good luck, Lynn
I've never tried to trim their nails before. Bad Annie might let me, as she usually trusts me to do about anything to her. She's also the main offender with claws and hairballs. Now that I think about it, the clawing issue is mostly her. I don't know if it's the fact that she's deaf, but she has horrible balance. She ends up scrabbling around sometimes, if she thinks she's falling off of something. So I have claw marks on my table (where she's not supposed to be), pulls in my chairs...and even back in the apartment, she left some claw marks on the walls from attempting to get to the window sills. (My house has make-shift steps to get to window sills, to protect my walls.)
I'm about 99% sure that Chalimar won't let me near her claws. As it is, I'm the only one she'll allow to pick her up, and that's under great protest.
I tend to shy away from the hairball treatment, just because so many things make Bad Annie sick...certain cat treats, soft cat food, milk.
** Noelle
Well, if Annie is the main offender and you think you can trim her nails I would have your vet teach you the proper way and start trimming them. It may help out in the problem with pulls on your bedding etc.
As for the hairball if you're not giving any kind of hairball treat them I'm assuming your brushing/combing them daily. If you're not you need to start doing so as hairballs while they may seem inocous can become serious if they get lodged in their intestinal tract. At the extreme cats have had to undergo surgical removal, so it's very important to do what we can to prevent them if possible.
Even with the treats etc you shouldn't give them more than once or twice a week particularly if it's the mineral oil tube kind as it interferes with the absorbtion of fat soluble vitamins. So the grooming is very important. You can also add more fiber to their diet in the form of canned pumpkin which is usually well tolerated. However, some cats love it others don't. I have one that I call the "pumpkin kid" and the other one won't touch it.
As far as a kitties with sensitive tummy, I have two IBD kitties(translation vomitting and diarrhea) so I know all about sensitive tummies which is why we have experimented with the treats to find what works for us.
Take care, Lynn
^Dusty^,^Tiger^,^Ellie^and Scooby,Elvis and Maggie’s Mom,
Rachael and Jordan‘s Mom
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I have a cotton machine washable comforter and I love it.