Declawing/Soft Claws

Well, my kitty Dinah has an ongoing problem. She kneads... a LOT. I don't mind, because she is doing it because she is happy. But she also has very sharp little claws which leave me scratched to pieces, as well as the couch!! We recently got a new (expensive) comforter for our bed, and she is kneading that now. It is driving my fiance crazy!! He wants to have her declawed like his cat, but there is no way I'm letting that happen!

Honestly, though, it's getting a little out of hand. She's ripping up everything in the darn house with her sharp claws.

I've tried cutting them, but it only helps with scratching me, not with scratching the furniture up. So I'm wondering about soft claws! Here are a few questions:

1. Should I get small, medium, or large?
2. Do they stay on well for particularly active cats?
3. Will they prevent threads being ripped from our comforter, which is made of very soft fabric?
4. Are they a huge pain in the butt to get on?
5. Can my cat still scratch her scratching post easily? Will it be uncomfortable in any way?

Also...
My other cat just flat-out scratches furniture. On purpose. How can I make him stop?! I've bought scratching post after scratching post, sprayed various things on the sofa, and I've even tried squirting him with water. I've tried double-sided tape, but it just pulls loose threads from the sofa even more, and he finds another part of the sofa to scratch. Honestly, I can't very well cover the ENTIRE sofa with tape. There's no way to put soft claws on him OR cut his nails... he weighs 27 pounds and is really skiddish... he won't let anyone hold him for that long. What can I do???

Thanks everyone!

TCS is very anti-declawing. I highly doubt you will find anyone who suggests you declaw either of them.

I would appraoch it with double sided tape, scratching posts where he wants to scratch, & make sure you get cardboard, sisal, carpet....try them all if you haven't. Often it's a long process, but it can be done.

As for Soft Claws, once they start to come off, the kitties paws can still get caught. I watch mine for that. Otherwise, I love them. They do not harm the kitty at all.

Oh, I have absolutely no intention of declawing my cats. My fiance's two cats were declawed when they (and he) were young, so I don't think he really understood how horrible it was until I explained it to him. I think he's been reading about it some lately, as well, so maybe that has helped. But my kitties will NOT be declawed. I had Dinah spayed recently, and honestly, I think it was worse for me than it was for her! I was a nervous wreck, it was so ridiculous. I can't even imagine getting her declawed.

I have tried ALL of those things for Cheshire Cat's clawing problem, but he is so persistent. I honestly think he only does it to make me angry. He only does it when he knows I can see him (not when I'm in another room and can hear him), and he does it when he's mad at me. For example, if I am eating and he tries to jump into my lap, but I put him on the ground. He gets all huffy because I put him down, so he goes to scratch up the furniture. He scratches up the parts that I can actually see. We moved and rearranged the furniture, and he doesn't scratch the same part anymore... again, it's only the parts we can see. I really do believe he's just being vindictive.

Back to Dinah... will the soft claws pull out threads WHILE they are on her claws?

I haven't used them, but have heard great things about them, although they do come off easily. Please don't declaw, it's totally unessasary! Just try and train your feline to do the right thing. Use lots of Tuna water and praises when she uses the scratching post, if you don't think you have enough, get more. Put them on the bed, put them where she scratches the most and each and every time she is using it, give her a treat. Training takes allot of time and energy, but I think it can be done, with most cats-not all! Praise for the good and patience with the bad!!! Get the soft paws in the meantime. Get some of the no scratch spray too, that helps train as well.
Good luck!

Originally Posted by bellaluciabaci

I haven't used them, but have heard great things about them, although they do come off easily. Please don't declaw, it's totally unessasary! Just try and train your feline to do the right thing. Use lots of Tuna water and praises when she uses the scratching post, if you don't think you have enough, get more. Put them on the bed, put them where she scratches the most and each and every time she is using it, give her a treat. Training takes allot of time and energy, but I think it can be done, with most cats-not all! Praise for the good and patience with the bad!!! Get the soft paws in the meantime. Get some of the no scratch spray too, that helps train as well.
Good luck!

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It's not the scratching that's the problem with Dinah at ALL. She loves scratching her scratching post, and doesn't scratch the furniture... it's KNEADING. That is what is tearing up my furniture and bedding. She does all of scratching at the scratching post and just loves it, but when she's happy and purring, she kneads. It's not a matter of praising her for using the scratching post, because she's just great about that.

Since she was kitten, she's been all over me almost constantly. It makes her happy, so she purrs and sits on/near me and kneads her claws. When I'm at the desk, she kneads my lap and leaves my legs all scratched up. When I'm on the couch, she sits beside me and kneads the couch. When I'm in the bed she lies right on my stomach and kneads the comforter. I love her affection but it is ripping everything to shreds. It was fine when it was just me dealing with it, but I'm getting married next month and it drives my fiance up the wall. Especially with our brand-new stuff that we got as wedding presents.

What about getting her something for her to knead on. Zeek would Knead on my fav scarf and on my mink blanket, which i hated. But i croched a blanked for my BF that has now been taken over by the cat lol. it sits in a pile on the couch and Zeek will knead on that then fall asleep on it. Maybe finding something simmilar to what your kittie likes kneading on and sleep with it for a few nights to give it your sent and try getting her to knead on that instead.

Of course, first you have to remember that she's kneading because she loves you and it brings her comfort . Now to deal with the unfortunate side effects of her comfort

I actually have a "kitty blanket" that I put over the bedspread to protect the duvet cover. Their blanket takes the brunt of any beating and gets most of the cat hair. I fold it down on the bottom half of the bed when I'm sleeping and I clean it every two weeks or so. For us it just wasn't possible to close off the bedroom, but I would if I could, so that's another idea. They won't like it, but it will keep them off the covers. Some kitties will also take to a stuffed animal; you could try that too.

As far as getting your other cat to use a scratching post, I have to say as in all real estate, the key is usually location, location, location...the scratching post has to be the more attractive option in the same general area. It may not be great for your decor to have a tall (make sure it's at least 20" or 24" tall so they can get a good stretch) post next to your couch, dresser, etc, but if that's where he wants to leave a scent mark, that's where he's going to scratch.

We have them all over the place, next to doorways, furnature, etc and they are used frequently.

Good luck!!

I agree -- the best thing to do is to find the cat something else to knead on. My cat is a big kneader -- he loves to do it on a Purr Padd (which I highly recommend; they're cheap, 2 for $10). Also, he goes crazy over a chenille throw... I let him knead that when he's next to me on the couch.

You can easily retrain a cat so that it kneads beside you, not on you. When my cat tries to knead on my leg, I just put my hands under his paws and move him to my side instead. She'll get in the habit of kneading next to you, particularly if there's something like a pad or a blanket there.

Or sometimes I just put my hand under the paws while he's kneading, with my palm up... this keeps him from really using his claws and he usually retracts them.

Also, make sure you clip the cat's claws regularly. That will help. I do it once every three to four weeks.

1. Should I get small, medium, or large?

~ The company you buy from should have a size chart for you to use. I think most domestic cats will use a medium. But make sure you compare your cats claws to their chart.

2. Do they stay on well for particularly active cats?

~ They last about a month for Puff and I do consider him a very active cat.

3. Will they prevent threads being ripped from our comforter, which is made of very soft fabric?

~ I have not saw him shred or catch on anything. But make sure you cover the dew claw as well!

4. Are they a huge pain in the butt to get on?

~ Not at all. If your cat is uncooperative have someone hold the cat while you prepare the nail to go on.

5. Can my cat still scratch her scratching post easily? Will it be uncomfortable in any way?

~ They can scratch but it will sound different and they won't catch their nails on there like they do sometimes with their own nails. Once their on they don't normally bother them. Make sure the fur around the nail isn't glued down though. That's the only possible way for them to be uncomfortable is if it's pulling some fur.

have you tried just having your kitties nails trimmed? I have my cats nails trimmed regularly & I found that helped ALOT.

Sebastian loves to knead when we go to bed at night. That is his lovins time I bought a really cushy microfiber pillow the same size as a regular bed pillow. He loves it! It is his pillow just for kneading and since it is large like he is, he can lay on it, too.

The only other thing I can suggest is the cardboard scratchers. We have had cats that do not like scratching posts (either wood or sisal) but love the cardboard. I sprinkle them with catnip and Seb goes to town.

My bed pulls out into the middle of my living area for sleeping which means I am in the middle of the Kitty Indy 500 most nights They try to avoid me but I still I sometimes have 3 or 4 new scratches when I wake up

When your guy scratches where he isn't supposed to after you have done something he doesn't like, do you yell at him or give him attention in some way? He may be getting your attention by doing the wrong thing. If you could ignore him when he does the bad thing - turn your back, no eye contact, and praise him when he does something good, that may help. I know it is tough when they are scratching our furniture but cats operate a bit differently than we do.

EDIT: thanks soooo much for refusing to declaw