ROFL!  Well, he HAS learned to stay off the kitchen counter and that we will
NOT feed him people food - at least not upstairs.  I had him trained to stay
off the dining table until I came home exhausted last week and dumped some
bags on the table, forgetting there was catnip in one of the Big Lots bags.  
While putting stuff in the frig, I hear the rustling of bags and am much
confused.  Finally found Puddin' on the table with head and 2/3 of his body
in the bag, sniffing the catnip.  It took several sprays with a water bottle
to get him out of there and on the floor long enough for me to get the cat
nip out of there!  LOL  

I'd bought it to rub on the scratching post in hopes on inducing him to use
it, but he just hugs the post and sniffs the catnip, then scratches
elsewhere.  Tried putting the scratching post right in front or the couch arm
he really likes to scratch.  he just looked at the post, turned around and
started scratching the loveseat instead..........

Luckily, the couch came from a thrift store last summer (I replaced the foam
in the cushions) and the loveseat is presently covered with inexpensive
corduroy.

It takes a little while and a lot of love, but DO care about their people and
do learn to change their behaviour when necessary.

I once had a girlfriend who had a cat named Grover. When I slept over, Grover
used to follow me in the morning DEMANDING to be fed. he quickly learned that
when I first got up, I went to the bathroom and then he wouldn't bother me
until after I came out. He also "assigned" each person in the household a
different job. I was the only one who could brush him (which he loved when I
did) and her daughter was the only one who could play "stretchies" with him
(holding him in the air on his back so he could stre-e-e-etch).

They're wonderful, caring and loving animals, just don't expect them to be
dogs.

good tips.  Maybe I can get my mom to work on knitting some catnip balls.  
I've had to give up such stuff - along with wearing stockings which are too
much of a challenge to get up.  

I was happy to be a jungle gym until this flare, but NO! and moving him isn't
taking yet.  May have to move the spray bottle to my end of the couch (from
the scratching end).  We do play with Puddin' though my hands wear out
quickly right now.  He loves the critters  at the end of stretchy cords on
sticks from Dollar General and the price is right!  Otherwise, we rely on
WalMart for the most part here - PetSmart is yet another chain uninterested
in our area.  (foolish actually, small population, but loads and loads of
pets around here).

hmmm, for the most part, what I've been doing!  haven't tried the hiss or
light swat though.  LOL Usually my hands are occupied with removing paws from
tender spots!  I think, seriously, that part of the problem is breaking
habits that were ok the first 10 days in our house.  And of course, I'm
hoping my meds will kick in quickly again when I get back on them.  (atually,
I'm hoping for a steroid boost when I see my RD tomorrow, but have no
experience getting them out of this guy yet.)

heehee, as for telling him, Mike has already mentioned that I talk to Puddin'
as though I expect him to reply.  Of course, I've had practice with his
spousal selective hearing impairment  LOL

He is a georgous kitty and my Stevie the wonder cat is a little bit
miffed that Puddin turned out to be a boy cat also.

Ann