Just tried nail caps...

white cat lover · Dec 5, 2005

...and I LOVE them!

I couldn't be happier! Lily kept biting the whole time I put them on, but with time she will get used to them. The big issue is the fact that it is nearing bath time(someone pooped where they shouldn't have & now both of them are wearing it). It will make bath time less stressful for Lily(as it is her first). They are only clear ones, but I plan on getting some prettier ones. Lily fits into the small sized ones already(at 13 weeks). I don't know if I should order kitten ones as the small ones seem to work.

Should I get kitten ones for Lily, or just buy two packages of small nail caps?

What color nail caps should I get for Twitch(white w/ blue eyes) & TigerLily(brown & black tabby striped)? Your options are:
clear, black, red, blue, grey, purple, pink, orange, green/yellow, red/green(very Christmas-y), black & white, orange & black combo pack, or assorted colors combo pack

lilleah · Dec 5, 2005

WOW! I have been wondering about those things for a couple weeks now, and I havent heard anyone talk about them...I want some for my big boy. I would go with the christmas colors, as that is what i was SOOOO tempted to buy...but ran out of money by that part of the store.

Thanks so much for saying you love them...were they easy to put on??

buzbyjlc10 · Dec 5, 2005

Yay! I'm glad theres another soft paws supporter out there! They work wonders for me and Oliver! He wears the clear ones because, a) I can get them at petco and dont have to wait on shipping and b) he likes to believe he's a "manly" boy and I don't think he'd appreciate the colors, although I have contemplated the orange, since they'd match him, haha... he's used to them now but still occasionally squirms when one needs to be replaced... as for sizes, I went with the size based on the weight recommendations on the back of the package and the medium fits perfectly for him... if the smalls fit right, then stick with them - if you dont have them on your other kitty yet, you can try placing a small empty one on his claw and see if it's the right size or not... Oliver was pretty good the first time I put them on, but I harnessed/leashed him and had my boyfriend hold him just in case - you can also have a groomer or vet tech show you the first time.... good luck with those kitty baths as well! Feel free to PM me with advice on that as I've bathed many a cat and am pretty sure I got it down now, haha

white cat lover · Dec 5, 2005

Lily kept biting at us & squirming, but she is a 13 week old kitten & she had just woke up from a nap! The webpage for them in case anyone doesn't know is:
www.softpaws.com

sharky · Dec 5, 2005

I would go assted

carolpetunia · Dec 5, 2005

We tried SoftPaws on Dylan once. I got the large ones, but they weren't quite large ENOUGH -- he's got the claws of a jaguar! I felt so bad after I got them on, though, because he started walking backwards! I guess it felt to him as if he was stepping in something, and he kept starting forward, looking down, and backing up with a bewildered look on his face. Poor little guy!

He got used to them in just a few minutes, though, and the ones that fit him were fine...the ones that were too small fell off in a matter of days. We never bothered to apply them again, though, because it was about that time that Dylan's demeanor changed and he stopped being aggressive.

As for colors...gosh, I think it's gilding the lily to do anything but natural. There's no way to improve on a cat! :-)

white cat lover · Dec 6, 2005

Ii think we are going to have to enroll Lily in a theater. She has been very dramatic since she figured things out. If she picks up a foot & shakes it, someone comes running & picks her up. Well, that worked for about 5 minutes. Now she meows really loud, & lays on the floor thrashing. If you don't look at her toes, she meows louder! I think she takes after me. I have a flare for the dramatic!

She licks her feet more now that she has the nail caps on, but that is a good thing. I have never seen her clean her feet before the use of the caps. I had been cleaning them for her everyday. The good news is: after one night with a good comforter on my bed, it is still intact! Lily has ruined a comforter from her continual vaulting halfway up it & then digging her claws in. She only tried that once with the nail caps on. When she hit the floor she must have figured things out.

All in all, I think the nail caps are great. I have been noticing little things that Lily does that wrecks things, but they were never bad enough for me to reprimand her. Now that she has nail caps on, she has tried all of those things & failed. For example, my dad's bids for building are intact. She cannot scratch them when she wakes up on them & stretches her claws. I would recommend these nail caps to anyone.

seppolina · Dec 6, 2005

Congrats on a positive solution to a difficult problem! I work at an animal shelter & I spend a lot of time talking people out of declawing their new kitty. Softpaws is one of the alternatives that I lay out for these folks. It is so wonderful to hear your ringing endorsement - be assured that I'll be using it in my "Declawing Causes More Problems Than It Solves" speech

Your little Lilly sounds like quite the drama queen & the diva - what a great kitty! She's lucky to have a mom like you who considers her needs when trying to solve a behavior issue rather than take the "easy" way out.

Amanda

tuxedokitties · Dec 6, 2005

Glad they're working for you!

Black & white soft paws?

I'm going to have to check those out!

tuxedokitties · Dec 6, 2005

Originally Posted by Seppolina

Congrats on a positive solution to a difficult problem!

She's lucky to have a mom like you who considers her needs when trying to solve a behavior issue rather than take the "easy" way out.

Amanda

Well said!

sibohan2005 · Dec 6, 2005

I say blue for Twitch and Maybe Pink for Tigerlily. I'm thinking of trying them myself

white cat lover · Dec 6, 2005

Well, my main concern as far as colors for Lily goes is this. Will the nail caps clash with her collar?

Right now, she has a bright pink collar, but soon she will get another new one. What color collar should I get her(I am going to start a new post regarding this one)?

turtlecat · Dec 6, 2005

we use nail caps on our kitties when we have to reinforce proper social skills (gibby don't claw Paige about the ears, her fur isn't that thick there!) and appropriate scratching (the leather couch isn't a scratching post, thank you!)

We love them, but with Molly we can't use them because of the condition of her claws (she has really bad claws

) I suspect something to do with the prevalence of polydactyly in her bloodline maybe her claws aren't "right" but I'll ask the vet. but yes, if one can't be capped, no fair capping the others.

white cat lover · Dec 6, 2005

I did cap Twitch's back feet. She was declawed on her front feet. I didn't know about that until I went to pick her up from the vet & she didn't have front claws. Dad told the vet to "declaw that darn thing while you are at it". This is why I get mad at him a lot. He doesn't seem to understand or care.

python · Dec 6, 2005

We don't do declawing in the UK - it's illegal. Going to have a look at these nail caps - I'm intrigued!

You always know when someone's got a cat (or two, or three...) in this country as the furniture usually sports "Broderie de Chat"

Mine are quite good and they claw the fencepost outside. Occasionally they have a sneaky claw at the furniture but usually I catch them at it and a quick "No!" and clap my hands and they stop (usually giving me a look that says "What, me Mum? Would I do such a thing")

Just had a look. Certainly save the furniture but can the cats retract their claws properly with them? Doesn't look like it in the pics. Would think they'd only be suitable for indoor cats though. Can't see my Spook (thinks he rules the street) wearing them LOL.

buzbyjlc10 · Dec 6, 2005

Originally Posted by Python

We don't do declawing in the UK - it's illegal. Going to have a look at these nail caps - I'm intrigued!

You always know when someone's got a cat (or two, or three...) in this country as the furniture usually sports "Broderie de Chat"

Mine are quite good and they claw the fencepost outside. Occasionally they have a sneaky claw at the furniture but usually I catch them at it and a quick "No!" and clap my hands and they stop (usually giving me a look that says "What, me Mum? Would I do such a thing")

Just had a look. Certainly save the furniture but can the cats retract their claws properly with them? Doesn't look like it in the pics. Would think they'd only be suitable for indoor cats though. Can't see my Spook (thinks he rules the street) wearing them LOL.

Yes, the cat's can still properly retract their nails with the caps on... the soft paws web site (mentioned earlier) has an FAQ page that answer all those kinds of questions!

white cat lover · Dec 6, 2005

Python, I wish declawing was illegal in the US. It would make me much happier. Americans(no offense to us) tend to take the easy way out. I think that SoftPaws are the greatest thing ever. They are just as easy as declawing & much less harmful. The website's FAQ page mentions not putting SoftPaws on outdoor cats, I think.

izatrini · Dec 6, 2005

Nail caps are such a good idea!!!! I trimmed Ed's nails about a week and a half ago and they are already back to pre-trimming sharpness. I guess she realises she has the nails back and is now clawing the crap out of me, daddy and everything else she can get her claws on!!!

Declawing is so mean and I was trying to figure out what would be a good alternative. I think I will be looking into nail caps!

Thanks!!!

laureen227 · Dec 7, 2005

Originally Posted by white cat lover

What color nail caps should I get for Twitch(white w/ blue eyes) & TigerLily(brown & black tabby striped)? Your options are:
clear, black, red, blue, grey, purple, pink, orange, green/yellow, red/green(very Christmas-y), black & white, orange & black combo pack, or assorted colors combo pack

i vote for blue for Twitch, to match the eyes, & red or orange for TigerLily.

crittergirl · Dec 8, 2005

I have had softpaws on my indoor cats for about 2 months now and am liking it! The only issue I see is that if they have already done damge to the furniture and have left a big enough opening in the material (like my naughty kitties did!) they can still get their nails in there. My new chair does not have a spot on it, or our new carpeting. The nice thing is you do not have to replace all at once, they tend to fall off a few at a time. Makes it easier to replace.

Just tried nail caps...

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Darksome Duo!

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