Declawed cat obsessed with scratchers

I've had Bickford for 3 weeks, and from the beginning he's been obsessed with sitting on and even using the cardboard scratchers I have out for Bob. Is this normal in a declawed cat? Not that I have a problem with it. It's just so funny to see a cat without claws do what comes naturally. Bickford actually acts like he hasn't been declawed.

Originally Posted by Bob'sMom

I've had Bickford for 3 weeks, and from the beginning he's been obsessed with sitting on and even using the cardboard scratchers I have out for Bob. Is this normal in a declawed cat? Not that I have a problem with it. It's just so funny to see a cat without claws do what comes naturally. Bickford actually acts like he hasn't been declawed.

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I have two senior declawed cats (9 and ~12 years old). They came to me declawed, and I never expected them to exhibit clawing behavior - but they do! Teddy paws at one particular part of a chair like he's scratching it, and PJ paws at the coffee table legs the same way. She also goes after the carpet like crazy. We are guessing that maybe they had been declawed as older cats because of their behaviors.

I hope some day to get them a tree. I think what I worry about the most is that they're going to paw sisal ropes with the same fervor, and cause burns or something on their paws.

Our rescue, Frankie, is declawed and she adores scratching! She gets the funniest look on her face, and makes sure we see her...she goes for the edge of the bed, the wood panel corner of two walls, edges of boxes, and my prized rug from Iraq.

I just look at her and say "ooh, bad girl", she loves it ps just wanted to add, she was declawed before we rescued her...probably one reason she was starving to death.

Lucky prefers to lick the scratch pad but he will scratch at the edge of the couch. Molly will on occasion. It's in their nature It's so cute though.

Gabriel came to us declawed and will go to the scratch post and act like he still has his claws.

Gizmo is declawed and is the proud owner (and user) of no fewer than three scratching posts; she also loves to use pillows on the bed. This is hard wired behaviour in a cat. It exercises their muscles.

From what I have seen, most declawed cats will use a scratchpost

I think they also release a scent when they do that - so they are not just marking their territory with their claws - but with their scent...

So for all of you with declawed kitties that use posts and other rough things - do your cats ever get hurt from that? It sounds kind of stupid, but like I posted before, since at least mine are pawing with a large portion of their pads, I'm worried that they're going to rub their pads raw.

Monique is the third declawed cat I've had and every one of them loved to scratch.

I always laughed at Jade because her favorite scratching material was blue jeans. If anyone was wearing jeans and sitting down she would jump on their lap and really get those feet moving.

I've never seen one get hurt from rubbing their paws, but I've had concerns at times about them rubbing on the rough cedar trim. (Didin't want anyone getting a sliver).

Just a note to say I've never personally had a cat declawed, but have gotten rescues and strays that already were.

You can (but should not) remove their claws. You cannot remove their instinct which is to stretch, knead their claws, and sharpen what they no longer have. They can't come to terms that their claws are gone. They don't have those types of thinking processes. They are marking their territory because of the scent glands in their paws.

Originally Posted by Bob'sMom

I've had Bickford for 3 weeks, and from the beginning he's been obsessed with sitting on and even using the cardboard scratchers I have out for Bob. Is this normal in a declawed cat? Not that I have a problem with it. It's just so funny to see a cat without claws do what comes naturally. Bickford actually acts like he hasn't been declawed.

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I assume you were not the one who did such a terrible thing to him...

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

ps just wanted to add, she was declawed before we rescued her...probably one reason she was starving to death.

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I'm not advocating declawing but I did want to mention that my brother has a declawed cat that is a great mouser.

All 7 of mine are declawed and they all use they scratching posts or furniture. Melody will even stretch and scratch at the corners of walls. Uno likes the smallest of scratching posts and he is so silly, he will balance himself on the very top which is only a few inches wide and then scratch UPWARDS! It is the cutest thing, he only started doing this a few months ago but it is sure fun to watch. I think not only are they marking their territory but it is also a pleasurable sensation for them.