Declawing

Hi,

I adopted a new 6 month old kitten a few weeks ago and he is starting to claw carpeting, etc. I bought a scratch pad (which is not working). My cat that has no claws is using it! LOL! I have one cat that has no claws and I'm wondering if I should declaw the kitten to protect the clawless one.

Any suggestions.

Thanks.

I'm sure you will get alot of information about declawing...but it is just a horrible thing to do to a cat. They don't remove the claw, they remove the toe to the first knuckle. This is a terrible painful thing to do to a cat.
You can but soft claws nail caps or just keep the nails trimmed. I know others will send you a ton of web sites to view.
Good luck with your new kitty!

Please do not declaw! You can email me if you like and I will take you step by step through how to help your kitty use the proper places to scratch. [email protected]

Also please educate yourself on this subject and know that it is an owner's choice, and would never be a cat's if your cat could talk. Cats need their toes to walk on, and you get their toes amputated and you will have problems like never before. Major spinal problems will set in before to long, and behavior issues because the cat has had to undergo such torment and torture.

Here is a link- but steel yourself, some of the content is not for the weak-hearted. Please educate yourself before you have someone amputate your cat's digits.

Declawing

After looking at those pictures, I certainly do NOT want to do it. My eldest cat was already declawed when we got him. I will not declaw the kitten. I need some help with trimming the nails. Can someone help.

Thank you all.

I just answered you email! Thank you for being a responsible and caring pet owner!

sharper16 not many people take the time to ask questions, or ask too late. I think you are a great pet owner! Keep questioning everything, it's amazing what you could find out!

Originally posted by sharper16
After looking at those pictures, I certainly do NOT want to do it. My eldest cat was already declawed when we got him. I will not declaw the kitten. I need some help with trimming the nails. Can someone help.

Thank you all.

Click to expand...

No, thank you! Thanks for taking the time to learn and for making the right decision for your kitty.

I'm so glad you took the time to look at that site and see what the procedure really is. As you can tell, we are always happy to have made another convert with education.

I have two cats, one with claws and one declawed . The declawed kitty will either learn to assert himself or will give up the alpha kitty position to the one with claws. My declawed boy rules the roost, and Ophelia has never used her claws as a "weapon" against him, although sometimes I think she should have.

As for trimming nails, start out just working with the kitten to get him used to having you handle his paws. When you're petting, play with the paws a little. Never force the issue, but after a while the kitten shouldn't have a problem with you touching the paws and flexing the nails out. Once you get to that point, introduce a nail trimmer. Don't use it yet, just let kitty sniff it and get used to it being there and by the paws. Once that doesn't get much of a reaction, you can start trimming claws. Be sure to praise and even treat when kitty lets you do all these things so it is a positive thing for him. If you take the time to go slow with him in the beginning, you will never have problems when it comes to nail trimming time.

Thank-you Sharper for taking the time to look at the issues on declawing.

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I bought some clippers today and actually clipped his nails while he was sleeping. I only did the front and I only cut a little tiny bit of the curve as I was scared to cut any further. I also bought a carpeted scratching post and one that you lay on the floor. I showed him how to use both by putting his paws on them and pretended to scratch. He still prefers to use my carpet. He just digs his claws in and is not tearing up my carpet YET. How do you train them to use the scratching posts. Help please!

Thank you.

Shannon

You can buy those inexpensive cardboard scratchers that sit flat on the floor. I use the flats that eggs come in when you buy 5 dozen. I put their toys on this flat, and place the flats on the floor and they just go to town. Takes them about 3 days to shred them- but I have 8 kitties that work on them over that time period.

Also put the new scratching post near the place where he is scratching now, if not right on the spot. Did you get a sissal rope covered post or carpet? You cannot get angry at a cat who has a carpeted scratching post and still scratches carpet, because to him, it is the same. That's why I suggest you get a natural wood or rope covered post. Also those pads that hang on doorknobs are quite intriging to cats.

Again, thank you for re-thinking your stand on declawing. Kudos to you, and have patience with your cat- he will learn.

I have carpeted posts and my cats have never scratched the carpet at all. I see your point about them seeming the same to a cat though, but I'm glad mine note some differences!

As far as teaching your cat how to use the scratching post, you are on the right track. Scratching it yourself is good, it shows them plus puts your scent on it. You can also entice her with catnip on it, or running a toy on a string up and down it so she plays with it and gets her nails in the scratcher a bit. It's also best to put it in an area where she spends time.

One hint about scratching posts-the bigger, the better. I bought Ivo a scratching post that wasn't very tall, and wasn't very stable. She never used it. Later, I bought her a carpeted kitty condo that was about 3 feet high. Now, she'll scratch on that. Cats like to stretch up and dig their claws in, so a short unstable scratching post doesn't fulfill that urge. Ones that hand from doorknobs, or long ones that rest on the floor seem to be very appealing.

How to train a cat to use a scratching post:

Feed him near the post itself. Put treats up at the top of the post so he gets rewards everytime he uses it. I had too with one fella, take a stocking bag, fill it with treats and hang it high above the scratching post off the ceiling dangling overhead. Every time Repeat used the cat post, he got a treat from the bag. It only took 2 days before he realized that using the post gave great rewards, and from then on all that was needed was an occasional treat.

Buy some catnip spray and spray the post good- but first test catnip out on him because some cats become aggressive when they are introduced to catnip.

Hang a dangling toy from the top of the post

To stop the carpet from being scratched:

Buy a couple of those mylar ballons, and using double-sided tape- stick the balloons down on the carpet where he is scratching.

Cover the area with a cheap throw rug to get rid of the scent he has created there.

Take a cloth and soak it in vinegar, let it dry out and place that on the spot he scratches.

Cover the area with aluminum foil.

Invest in Soft Paws- which are nail caps that slide over his claws

Thanks everyone.

I put some toys on it and tangled his little mice at the top and he jumped up for it. Once he got his claws in that post, he went to town. He has been using it. It is not the same type of carpeted material as my carpet. It is almost like indoor/outdoor carpet, not as cushy as regular carpet. After he eats, I take him over there and he plays and has been using it. I'm glad! He did still use the regular carpet once in the middle of the night, but I was thinking about buying some of that boundary spray, to keep him from scratching. I do also have one of those that lay on the floor, but my cat with no claws has been using it.

Thanks to all and I never knew that was what declawing was. My husband and I vowed to NEVER declaw a cat again.

I just got done showing my son the pictures of declawing,because he wanted to get his new kitty done. Now he is not.thank God!!! I have never been in favor of it.

Great! That's why this board is here, to educate on cat-related issues and subjects.

I have learned a lot here,I love it!!

I have seen the pictures. I don't like them, either. I am not a vet and don't think I ever COULD be one because I don't like seeing animals sick, in pain, etc. Ashley seems to be doing just fine without her claws. Angel always did fine, as well. People do fine when they get their gall bladder out...when they voluntarily get a vestectomy...when they get a breast job.

For the record...Ashley was already declawed when I got her as was Cleo.

We've had our cats for about six months now. When we adopted them, I had every intention of having them declawed. I didn't realize how traumatic that is for a cat. The woman at our local Humane Society pleaded with us not to do it, and explained to us the harm it does to the animal. Thanks to her, our cats still have their claws. I didn't know any better, but I am very grateful the Humane Society took the time to explain to us why we should not do it.

The cats do claw the couches and carpet, and occasionally leave a scratch on my hand, but that's the price you pay for love.