Petey is in danger of being declawed...

I want to say this so anyone reading this will not walk away with the wrong info. It is cruel to declaw a cat or a kitten, period. How could anyone justify a declaw because it was done to a baby and not an adult? That is just absolutely ridiculous.

The procedure is horrendous and it is only done by people concerned about their material things. To spread the word that its ok to do it to kittens, is wrong.

If you are going to do it to your kitten at least have the decency to say why you did it and not justify such a cruel thing to do by saying "a kitten wont have any behavorial problems". Again, its not WRONG because of the behavior of the kitten/cat, its WRONG because it is such a deeply cruel thing to do to any animal you "love".

Just a reminder on the TCS stance on declawing:

3. This website considers declawing a drastic way to curb cat behavior. A painful ordeal for your kitty we would suggest that declawing never be considered for any behavioral issue. Health issues are entirely different. It is up to you as a responsible pet owner to explore all the different options available instead of declawing. Your cat is dependant on you to make wise choices for her, and not put her into any more stress or discomfort. Please be a responsible pet owner and research this subject thoroughly. Understand that if you are pro-declaw in your posts, you will encounter opposition. Please learn more about alternatives for declawing here in our forums as well as on our website itself. Declaw - More than Just a Manicure. Hopefully those of you with claw-related problems will find solutions by spending time in our Behavior Forum.

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Please educate your mother as to what declawing actually entails. There is a reason it is illegal in many countries.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41954

There are many good articles and threads on this site about how to curb this behavior -

http://www.thecatsite.com/Behavior/5...o-Stop-It.html

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...threadid=20568

Please look into every alternative and if the behavior still exists after you have exhausted all possibilities, find him a new home. Do not declaw him.

Please everyone, try to keep this conversation civil and suggest alternatives and ideas for the poster to try in order to curb this behavior.

Originally Posted by Siggav

Ok I would do a few things if possible at all.

First of all get a good solid scratching post for him. Since he likes to scratch at the back of a sofa he likes solid tall vertical scratching areas.

I really highly recommend the Ultimate Scratching post: http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Cat-Ulti...7662743&sr=1-1
(you can probably get it elsewhere as well). It's quite pretty for a scratching post and it's nice and tall and solid and most cats absolutely love it.

Secondly, if you can, get a spray bottle of feliway. It's basically fakes the scent that cats give off from the scent glands on their face (it's what they use to mark when they rub their cheeks on things). That scent is the most "I'm at home, this is my safe area" scent that a cat can have. Basically if an area is marked with that, odds are high that the cat won't mark that area in any other way (by scratching for example) so it'll hopefully help with that aspect of redirecting the scratching.

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I completely agree with Siggav - the ultimate scratching post rocks. Spray it with Feliway and while your kitty is watching, scratch the post yourself. Your baby should catch on quickly. If you find your kitty scratching the couch, calmly move the kitty to the scratching post and scratch it with your fingers again. And as Siggav said, regular nail clipping helps as well Good luck!

I'd go along with the recs on getting scratching posts, trying the double sided tape and moving the couch..... If it's ONLY the back of the couch, try moving it against a wall UNTIL you can train him to use a scratching post.... When he's completely forgotten about scratching the couch and is using the post/s all the time, then you can move the couch again...

Even if the cruelty arguments don't sway your parents, perhaps the far cheaper alternative of a $60 post, some sticky tape and moving the couch will.

My parents had our two cats declawed when I was a kid because they were tearing up the carpet in our house... Ever since they limped and shook their feet in pain at least a couple times a day... After seeing them go through that, I decided that I'd never have any of my cats declawed. I have since adopted 2 kittens and am working on getting them to ONLY use appropriate scratching places. It is difficult, but I think that it is the right thing to do

Art

I have always had cats, and I have never had anything 'ripped to shreds.' It's really sad that people will declaw assuming it will happen when it's not as bad as you think, and even if there is a problem there are other ways to stop it (listed in this thread) A person I met on another site posted she was getting her two kittens' 'little front claws removed tommorrow'. I tried my best to talk her out of it, but she insisted 'it's best for all of us especially my furniture!' Best for you, not for the cats! It makes me ill how people justify it that way. It's nothing more than handicapping the cat by cutting off parts of its body YOU don't want. IMO people with this attitude should stick to a stuffed cat. I also ask them, would you consider de-teething a dog because he chewed too much? No, you'd find ways to divert his chewing to toys. Same thing with cats and claws!

Originally Posted by Pami

I want to say this so anyone reading this will not walk away with the wrong info. It is cruel to declaw a cat or a kitten, period.

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I agree wholeheartedly. I was just trying to politely point out that suggesting that a declaw is appropriate in this case is especially misguided. As I mentioned, I'd rather let even a kitten rip my furniture to shreds rather than declaw them. It's just furniture, I can buy more if I get tired of it, and even if most friends I have might talk behind my back about the state of my furniture (they'd understand - plenty of them have dogs, so they occasionally get their furniture chewed on ), I wouldn't really care.

I just don't feel that I should openly "shame" someone who says it's okay to declaw cats. It's their own misguided opinion, and I doubt anything I can say would change their minds. I figure they'd only really change their minds when/if their cat develops inappropriate aggression patterns (biting) because they feel threatened and have no claws to fall back on, or they develop behavioral problems (pee on things) because they are stressed out by other animals in the household (my SIL adopted a cat who had been declawed and then dumped at a humane society once the owners' toddler turned out to be allergic to her; the poor thing is still scared of just about most people and other animals even a year later, and when she is terrified she pees just about anywhere ). I wouldn't wish it on any cat, though.

I agree with everyone about scratching posts, etc. Good luck to you and kitty. Oh! our leather recliner was attacked by a rat that got inside. Our exterminator - cha-ching - said that it was 1 big rat that did that. Great.
So I talked to our RIP, big fat tom cat Brownie about the rat. He looked at me and said, "Who me? Are you crazy? I don't claw your furniture so why do you think I should catch that big rat? Can I have some more food?"

Originally Posted by Boris

I just don't feel that I should openly "shame" someone who says it's okay to declaw cats. It's their own misguided opinion, and I doubt anything I can say would change their minds. I figure they'd only really change their minds when/if their cat develops inappropriate aggression patterns (biting) because they feel threatened and have no claws to fall back on, or they develop behavioral problems (pee on things) because they are stressed out by other animals in the household

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I suspect that the majority of them don't change their minds when any of these undesirable behaviors manifest. They just dump the cat at the shelter (or worse, on the street) because they can't be bothered dealing with these new issues. They probably don't even make the connection between the declawing and the subsequent behavioral problems. And it's not like many vets explain in detail what the procedure entails and what the possible "side effects" are --- it's more like "oh, a spay/neuter? Would you like a declaw with that as well?" like they're working at McDonalds and want to know if you want to supersize your meal.

Originally Posted by RobertM

I suspect that the majority of them don't change their minds when any of these undesirable behaviors manifest. They just dump the cat at the shelter (or worse, on the street) because they can't be bothered dealing with these new issues. They probably don't even make the connection between the declawing and the subsequent behavioral problems. And it's not like many vets explain in detail what the procedure entails and what the possible "side effects" are --- it's more like "oh, a spay/neuter? Would you like a declaw with that as well?" like they're working at McDonalds and want to know if you want to supersize your meal.

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McieD doesn't do supersize anymore. It's more like, "do you want fries with that?". Just like we should all watch our diet and avoid the fatty foods, declawing should be considered as an absolute last option. When I say "last option", I'm referring to "if I declaw the cat and s/he goes nutz and start biting everyone and everything in sight, do I still want him declawed at that point or would I rather try training him through other means in addtion to scratching post?". Hmm...

Originally Posted by efrost6

When I say "last option", I'm referring to "if I declaw the cat and s/he goes nutz and start biting everyone and everything in sight, do I still want him declawed at that point or would I rather try training him through other means in addtion to scratching post?". Hmm...

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I dont understand what you are saying. Once you declaw him, he is declawed you can then decide you would rather train him with a scratching post.

Declawing should never be an option. The least option shouldnt be considered. Hopefully, anyone who doesnt know or understand what declawing entails would do a thorough search of it and understand it fully, the pain and the mutilation that is causes to cats.

I read that Petey is only clawing the back of the sofa. Is it possible to move the sofa so the back of it is against the wall, and he can't get to it? Then, try spraying the rest of the sofa with Feliway to discourage him from "re-marking".

Cassi used to claw up the corner of our loveseat.
It immediately stopped (with no training) the very second I put a sisal scratching post in the livingroom.

Originally Posted by Pami

I dont understand what you are saying. Once you declaw him, he is declawed you can then decide you would rather train him with a scratching post.

Declawing should never be an option. The least option shouldnt be considered. Hopefully, anyone who doesnt know or understand what declawing entails would do a thorough search of it and understand it fully, the pain and the mutilation that is causes to cats.

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Pami, the other poster was saying if people were told by the vet that declawing their cat would cause them drastic and destructive personality changes that would magnify if not introduce new problems, they might change their tunes about "not wanting to try this other stuff that might or might not work". But some vets conveniently neglect to point that stuff out to people, because declawing is an expensive procedure in that it requires an overnight stay, so doing both procedures at the same time means the vet earns a lot more money.

The lady who runs the rescue group that my cat came from gave me some excellent advice when she brought him home to me: "If your vet ever mentions declawing as an option for any behavioral problem, you should just politely say that you'll think about it and get back to him/her and then get busy finding a new vet. That vet should know better, so if s/he is disregarding all the complications that can arise due to declawing, that vet does not practice for the love of animals, but is in it for the money. You and your cat can do better." Our vet is one of the good ones, but I appreciated her warning just the same.

I feel I should add my two cents as I was very much in a debate of what to do with our kitten. He is the first cat I've ever owned or been around really. My husband said first thing that Jack needed to be declawed (he had lived with someone who had a cat that ripped his things to shreds). I had set up the appointment and everything. Then I read more information and understood what it involved and told my husband I wouldn't do it. Jack was young and I knew that we could teach him what was right and have it stick. My husband doubted me, and he still may have a little doubt but not what it used to be.

We've had Jack since October 31, Halloween and I know that I made the right choice. Once a week Jack gets his nails clip and he no longer scratches the couch. He actually has many places he likes to scratch--he's not picky (cardboard boxes, plain pieces of wood, and sisal rope).

Surprisingly my dad was the most happy we choose not to declaw. He has never owned a cat or lived with a cat (maybe some barn cats) and he has strong opinions about declawing being horrible. I think he was proud I put my foot down with my husband and made a good decision.

Leslie

My mom actually talked to our vet about declawing Petey. The vet said that in his experience, behavioral problems from declawing are extremely rare. This made me afraid that my parents were going to go ahead and declaw Petey, but my dad decided he didn't want to! So for now Petey gets to keep his claws, and I will keep working on teaching him that the couch is not a scratching post! I'm going to look at cat trees at Petsmart tomorrow. Petey doesn't claw anything else, just the couch, and I think a cat tree will help because he'll have something fun to run and jump and play on!

Since I assembled my new cat tree last weekend, neither one of my cats (both are about 8-9 months old) have clawed my couch, chair, or hung off of the bathroom doorframe.

CR40

Little Forrest had started to scratch on the back of my living room chairs and couch. We have a tall cat tree and 4 scratching posts. He'll use the scratchers but preferred the chairs and couch After a few weeks of daily spraying of Feliway on the furniture he finally stopped scratching them.

He did try scratching on different furniture that wasn't sprayed with Feliway and so I had to spray them also. It cost me a fortune for all that Feliway but it saved my furniture.

My cat used to scratch the couch whenever I walked in the door, but after I grabbed him and put him by the scratching post enough times, he finally learned where he is allowed to scratch.....and that he gets a big hug when he scratches the right place (he likes hugs, so it's a good reward for him). Just be persistent (and patient)!

Originally Posted by Sweet72947

My mom actually talked to our vet about declawing Petey. The vet said that in his experience, behavioral problems from declawing are extremely rare. This made me afraid that my parents were going to go ahead and declaw Petey, but my dad decided he didn't want to! So for now Petey gets to keep his claws, and I will keep working on teaching him that the couch is not a scratching post! I'm going to look at cat trees at Petsmart tomorrow. Petey doesn't claw anything else, just the couch, and I think a cat tree will help because he'll have something fun to run and jump and play on!

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Well I have to say that I've had the same experience. I grew up with four cats, all declawed and they were the best cats, no behavior issues at all. They all lived long and healthy lives (one is still alive and one just passed last week at 18 years old). I have two 8 month kittens myself who are declawed and they have been just fine ever since I brought them home. I know most folks are so opposed to declawing, but I've never had any issues with cats who have gotten the procedure done. That's not to say it doesn't happen, but I've never seen it myself.

Not having it done is not just about them having behavioral problems afterwards, its about it being cruel to the cat. If you research what the procedure consist of you will understand.

Originally Posted by orltwa

Well I have to say that I've had the same experience. I grew up with four cats, all declawed and they were the best cats, no behavior issues at all. They all lived long and healthy lives (one is still alive and one just passed last week at 18 years old). I have two 8 month kittens myself who are declawed and they have been just fine ever since I brought them home. I know most folks are so opposed to declawing, but I've never had any issues with cats who have gotten the procedure done. That's not to say it doesn't happen, but I've never seen it myself.

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