Declawing my cat

I don't have much experience with cat declawing, but I recommend that you get a scratching post that your cat likes. Try putting out different types of texture- cardboard, sisal rope, etc.- and see which texture your cat is most attracted to (or scratches) the most. Miki was always very interested in the texture of cardboard, so I bought her a large cardboard scratching post and she has never been destructive since! Also, when I first got Miki, I did get her SoftPaws- they will not only save your furniture, but they will make your cat love its new fashion. 

The process sounds terrible. This may sound very sad/painful, but a friend of mine once said that declawing a cat is like removing the top knucklebone from a toddler when they draw all over your walls.   

Miki said:

 
I don't have much experience with cat declawing, but I recommend that you get a scratching post that your cat likes. Try putting out different types of texture- cardboard, sisal rope, etc.- and see which texture your cat is most attracted to (or scratches) the most.  

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This and also where you place the scratchers matter! Also vertical vs horizontal, and how many you have matter too... I have four in this 2-bedroom apartment - that's not counting the cat tree/condo jawn we got. I found that playing with an interactive toy around whatever scratching surface helps the cat get acquainted with the scratcher. My oldest is a complete straight edge and won't react to any nip, vine, valerian, etc.

Please don't declaw your cat    it is cruel and  just not right.There must be something else you can do to train him not to claw the furniture, Declawing is illegal here in the U.K. and I had not even heard of it till I joined this site.  I would never ever declaw any cat

Thank you for all of the helpful tips. I have been quite busy and wan't able to get back to you all. I decided not to declaw my guy. His little paws are just too cute and I'm starting to think of the scratches on the walls as a kind of modern art.   

I'm very glad to hear that.

Please stick around and tell us more about him. Any pictures? We love to see pictures. Of him or his modern art.

I have had fifteen cats total in my adult life. My first three, (I was ill advised), were declawed.
All cats are different, and your reasons may seem justified. But I regret being so mean to those cats. The friendships we developed over the years, I felt I betrayed them about the unnessasary surgery performed.
None of the other cats in my life ever had problems. Sure some had to show off to me how strong they were. But I provided a place for them to perform their magnifant feat. Praizing as they stretched and pulled.
I redo my homemade scratching post (so it is tall enough). I am always shopping for good carpet samples for the cats to claw.
Cats just have to answer the call of the wild

I'm so glad that you decided not to declaw.  We had a cat declawed many years ago without understanding the process and she had to have toes amputated due to infection  

We now have a scratcher of all things (Molly) she destroys couches, drywall, trim...you name it.  We used soft claws with her and they are great.  She doesn't mind them at all!

Personally I think declawing a cat is like de- barking a dog. Claws are an integral part of a cats anatomy and psychology.

My cats were declawed by their previous human in the front. Carma has permanent damage to her tendons which has now resulted in arthritis. You can visibly see it - her legs are crooked near her paws. This how now turned into arthritis as she has aged.

There are caps to put on cat claws that you can buy at the pet store. I've never used them so I don't know how well they work.

Maybe go to Jackson Galaxy's web site and see what advice he offers. He is a great cat behaviorist and even my vet said she thinks his show/web site helps a lot of cats.

I had my first 4 babies declawed yrs ago. I was ignorant. My friend had her cats done and I growing up with dogs, as a child, thought all indoor cats were declawed.

The Vet just asked me when I got them fixed if I wanted them declawed. I said yes. If the vet would of informed me of the procedure or problems I would of said no. He was a great vet. Not in it for the money but
I think he didn't have enough knowledge on the problems that can arise. He's now retired.

I feel so bad for my babies. I had them mutilated. My others since then have all their claws and I would NEVER hurt my babies ever again. It should be outlawed in "every" country.

My vet brought up a very good point about why declawing shouldn't be outlawed: she has clients with illnesses in which a cat scratch could be potentially fatal like transplant patients, HIV, hemophilia etc. She said she would much rather declaw the cat and keep it in the home than to ban declawing which would lead to these cats being sent to shelters. Obviously most people getting their cats declawed don't suffer from these illnesses, but it is a consideration for not banning declawing completely.

chicagocats said:

 
My vet brought up a very good point about why declawing shouldn't be outlawed: she has clients with illnesses in which a cat scratch could be potentially fatal like transplant patients, HIV, hemophilia etc. She said she would much rather declaw the cat and keep it in the home than to ban declawing which would lead to these cats being sent to shelters. Obviously most people getting their cats declawed don't suffer from these illnesses, but it is a consideration for not banning declawing completely.

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I would have to respectfully disagree. The only reason I would ever declaw a cat is for the cat's medical need, like an infected toe or something where the only option was surgery. If I had a condition like the ones mentioned above, as much as it would break my heart, I would rehome my kitty or just live with the risk.

chicagocats said:

 
My vet brought up a very good point about why declawing shouldn't be outlawed: she has clients with illnesses in which a cat scratch could be potentially fatal like transplant patients, HIV, hemophilia etc. She said she would much rather declaw the cat and keep it in the home than to ban declawing which would lead to these cats being sent to shelters. Obviously most people getting their cats declawed don't suffer from these illnesses, but it is a consideration for not banning declawing completely.

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Sorry to be argumentative, but I disagree. To me there is no circumstance good enough to permanently maim an animal and running the risk of living it's life in pain. We use and abuse animals in too many ways and I personally think enough is enough. If we are unable to keep a cat because of it's claws, then we simply should not have one. 

I think your vet is out of touch tbh and it always saddens me when a vet will carry out this procedure or think it's ok on any level. What about the fact that a cat bites more when it's been declawed? Or cat toxoplasmosis? Apparently there are a ton of us who carry the infection but is rarely a problem unless preggers or have a weak immune system - such as those with aids etc.  There are more risks to having pets when you are seriously sick than it's claws and I would think poop & hand hygiene carries a much higher risk than a possible scratch. Far too many people don't wash their hands after handling an animal.

It is outlawed in the UK, thankfully. This country doesn't get many things right, but am proud that its right on this. Vets are not even taught how to do this at vet school :-)

Your vet must be ignorant. My husband had a kidney transplant and was never told he needed to stay away from animals, cats in particular. His skin was very fragile and tore with the slightest bump or he would have hematomas (pools of blood) under the skin. Same goes for HIV patients. Hemophiliacs may be a different case as their blood lacks a substance to make it clot. They would probably be advised not to have animals at all, particularly those with teeth. Declawing a cat will not solve these people's problem as it will still have those razor sharp teeth, I spoke about that in a previous post, my Persian uses her teeth when something upsets her (like combing and getting the comb stuck in the tangles). Would your vet suggest that the cat's teeth should be pulled? I doubt it.

I have to agree with you. Cleaning the litter box and getting bit is more riskier then scratched, if you're immune compromised. I'm so sorry I didn't know any better yrs ago. My babies love me so much that they forgiven me. I wish I was informed 18 yrs. ago. It should be outlawed. I love them so much and my new babies didn't get mutilated. I'd rather have to buy new funiture then EVER put another furbaby through this barbaric surgery. God if only someone informed me then. I live with guilt and sadness when I look at the 2 I have now. : (

Thank you fro not declawing your kitty.  Last week I was trimming my cat, Mittens' nails and I accidentally  pinched the side of his skin,   I felt so bad.  He didn't bleed, but screamed so loud.  I  have been kissing his paws and saying I'm sorry all week, to him.  I

He's the only cat I've had that  never liked using his scratching posts.   So we built him a ramp and screwed  a sisal mat  on top.  You can buy these at Walmart sometimes for around $2-$3.  They're easy to change. And our cat just loves it.    We also praise him when we see him using it.

Please read  pawproject. 

JodieThierry64 said:

I have to agree with you. Cleaning the litter box and getting bit is more riskier then scratched, if you're immune compromised. I'm so sorry I didn't know any better yrs ago. My babies love me so much that they forgiven me. I wish I was informed 18 yrs. ago. It should be outlawed. I love them so much and my new babies didn't get mutilated. I'd rather have to buy new funiture then EVER put another furbaby through this barbaric surgery. God if only someone informed me then. I live with guilt and sadness when I look at the 2 I have now. : (

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I feel the same. Even though I make efforts to supply my cats with things to scratch other than my furniture, I would gladly buy more furniture any day than declaw my cats. You can't change the past but at least you have gained awareness and that what is most important now.

chicagocats said:

My vet brought up a very good point about why declawing shouldn't be outlawed: she has clients with illnesses in which a cat scratch could be potentially fatal like transplant patients, HIV, hemophilia etc. She said she would much rather declaw the cat and keep it in the home than to ban declawing which would lead to these cats being sent to shelters. Obviously most people getting their cats declawed don't suffer from these illnesses, but it is a consideration for not banning declawing completely.

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...yet declawed cats show up in shelters. Or adandoned outside of a home, store, church, etc.

I can see more problems for immune-comprimised patients related to the litter box than I can the claws. Front-declawed cats are quick to roll over and bunny-kick. Bites are nasty too.

Also, good on the OP for listening to the other side and not declawing kitty!

peaches08 said:

...yet declawed cats show up in shelters. Or adandoned outside of a home, store, church, etc.

I can see more problems for immune-comprimised patients related to the litter box than I can the claws. Front-declawed cats are quick to roll over and bunny-kick. Bites are nasty too.

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My Persian cat was abandoned at the age of approximately 1 year and she had no claws in front. (Can you imagine what she must have looked like by then, not getting her fur combed?) After several weeks hanging around the neighbors' houses who fed her she finally was caught by one of them and kept for 10 years until that lady died. Now I have her. She does not bunny kick but surely will bite.