A few months ago I asked this forum for advice on how to stop our boy from digging on the sofa in our bedroom while we were sleeping. (Just think of those photos of the "it exploded" sofa!) Our trainer told us it is difficult to stop digging when it's used for nesting because it's so instinctive. She suggested removing the sofa from the bedroom altogether. Which we did -- got it reupholstered! Sofa was gone for about two months. We also bought our boy a really comfy, durable bed -- thick padded sides in canvas and a thick cushion, plus three blankets in it. And he's allowed to dig to his heart's content in his bed. It seems that all he needed was a proper bed to cuddle into as he was doing on the sofa. His official bed was a huge cushion, but it didn't have sides, and he likes sides. We've had the sofa back two weeks and he has not put a paw on it (anyway, we've decided he is not allowed to get on it at all, we are being strict with ourselves!!). At night we prop a large painting up against the seat to deter him from getting on while we are sleeping, although he could if he wanted to. But he doesn't even notice the sofa; it's as if his memory of ever sleeping on it has been erased (let's hope!).
Re: Success with sofa digging (hope I'm not talking to soon!) So glad you managed to get the digging sorted sounds like he really enjoys his new bed
Re: Success with sofa digging (hope I'm not talking to soon!) Thank you Ternaya and Rachael. It seems he loves his bed! Next success will be when we can leave the sofa as is, without the painting propped against the seat at night as a deterrent. But at this stage we're taking no chances!
