To declaw or not to declaw that is the question...

Please take some time to look at the information in the following link in regards to declawing:

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

Get softpaws. I would under no circumstances ever get a cat declawed.

Your very welcome If you have any questions after reading it, please feel free to ask.

Softpaws really are remarkable. It might take a few tries to get them glued on correctly, but they last for a very long time and are quite effective. The great thing is that you can use them while you're training Wiggins to use the scratching post (Georgia, at least, continued to scratch normally as if she had nothing whatsoever on her claws). Then, if the training is successful, you won't have to use them any longer!

My only suggestion is to go with the clear ones. I thought it would be really spectacular to give Georgia a hot pink manicure, but it really just robbed her of all dignity and I felt kind of guilty.

Keep in mind that IF you declaw you should keep your cat the rest of his life. And that means that you don't get rid of him when he decides NOT to use the litter pan any more or resorts to biting or hiding because he has no defense.

Many cats with litter box problems are declawed. Not all but the majority.

If you can't live with some clawing its better to find him a new home and adopt another cat that someone declawed. At least another cat would not be subject to that procedure.

Hi and welcome to TCS Since you are a fairly new member, you may not have read our Forum Rules which include a statement of our views on declawing:

Tanya already gave you a fantastic link. I'd like to suggest a few others.


Here are a few excellent threads and articles on declawing:

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

http://www.thecatsite.com/Care/34/De...-Manicure.html

Here is an article on scratching:

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

Please really think about your cat before you decide..that's all I ask.

I've had luck with BitterEnd - a spray with a foul odor (to pets) that discourages scratching or chewing where applied. It doesnt work with all pets, some wont be affected by the odor.

I have a green velvet couch, sprayed it once (do a spot check first) and Smidge has never scratched it.

There are several brand names, Bitter Apple I think is one. I asked the clerk at PetSmart and Bitter End is all that they carried.

Have you dont reading about conditioning their behaviors to scratch in the right place yet? If you follow the "rules" consistently it will help. Also be sure you have good scratching options for kitty - they must have an attractive alternative before they "decide" the couch isnt good.

My cat likes the regular rope posts, put she is very fond of scratchy carpet pieces I pick up for $5 a pop. I put those in several places as well, and we they are too worn or dirty I replace them. I've found them in many colors to go with my decor, these are not dedicated cat items, I've just found thru the years my cats like them.

Have you considered Soft Claws (there is also a very similiar product called Soft Paws)? Check out their site. They're GREAT! Our kitties have them, and they completely take away the ability to scratch up things.

Soft Claws are a vinyl covers that you glue to the kitty's claws after trimming them. They stay on the claw until the outter layer of the claw naturally sheds (so they last about 4-6 weeks).

If you'd like, check out their site: www.softpaws.com . It's got a good amount of information about the product, how it works, and how to use them. Let us know what you think!

Scratching is what cats do. You say you love your cat, so you wouldn't maim it to save you leather couch, right?
The fact that its already using the scratching post mostly would indicate that with a little bit more training and a little more educating yourself your cat and your precious couch can live in harmony.

Is your scratching post tall/stable enough? Maybe you just need a bigger/stronger one. Or a second one (near the sofa?). Please don't declaw your cat. If your sofa is more important than the cat then please rehome the him rather than declaw him.

here in uk it is banned as docking a dog is remove the claws you remove his defensive armour and they also help with other things try useing a coconut mat or a log i have many cats and only one claws furniture sometimes please dont do it it is cruel

I personally could never have my cats declawed. I also feel it would be cruel. It is the nature of a cat to use its claws and I knew that before I got my kitties. It is something I am willing to accept.

I do have to keep reminding my one kitty to stop scratching the furniture. If she is doing it, I lop a magazine in her direction (not at her) and she takes off. In fact, now I only half to rattle the magazine in my hand and she stops.

You actually made note of something you already do to discourage the clawing of furniture. If you are persistent and consistent that will work quite well.

When ever I get a new cat, I ALWAYS keep a spray bottle or squirt gun full of water handy, so I can spray/squirt the cat when they are clawing something they shouldn't. They're very smart, and get the hint quickly.

Hi,

I hope you haven't proceeded with the declawing of your cat, as your post was a few days ago. If you have not, I beg you not to do it! All my cats had their claws and never caused damage to my parents furniture or mine. Why? Because the minute they got to our home, a scratching post was waiting for them. If you have tried one made of carpet, your cat may not like it. This is what happened to my two foster cats last fall. They were starting to use my carpets. So I made another one of sisal rope. It's magical.

And please consider the following : declawing a cat is like cutting off the last phalangial bones in a human hand. This would impair any human. The same for a cat. It is their way of defending themselves. I have something here for you to see if you are not convinced... Please have a look at the following links :
- http://community-2.webtv.net/zuzu22/...clawtemporary/

and a sub page of the same web site : http://community-2.webtv.net/stopdeclaw/declawpics/

For the love of your cat, please do not do this! Like someone mentioned above, if you are still not convinced and are afraid about the furniture, it is best you give the cat to someone who will not mind. But I tell you : training with an adequate scratching post made of sisal rope should work.

Regards,

N.

This is what I would suggest too. If furniture is really important then A cat isn't the pet, they scratch, that's what they do.
Here is a link to a site against declaw, I have posted it any time declawing comes up. It shows pics of it being done, suggestion for other alturnatives, vets that do/don't do it, personal stories of peoples expiriences, and it even tells you how to train/make scratching posts. Please read it for your cats health!
http://community-2.webtv.net/zuzu22/STOPDECLAWCOM/

oops, you posted the same one

Please don't subject your baby to that awful procedure. Have you every had a fingernail pulled off. OUCH!!! If that cat ever gets outside she cannot climb a tree to get away from danger, defend herself, or even dig in the grass. Please listen to everyone, they are all so much more educated about the websites and such than I am. I am a country girl and I have had an accident and had my big toenail ripped completely off and the pain was unbelievable. You just cannot subject an innocent and harmless animal to something that painful for the sake of your furniture. Please find a different pet, and a new home for your cat. We don't mean to sound harsh or uncaring, but such is the nature of a cat, and we don't want to see her hurt for being what she is. I hope that you will do the right thing.

Is your cat fixed yet? If so I'm probably not much help. If not, please read about my experience. My cat did a complete 180 with her claws after she was fixed and after she aged a few months.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84925

[keith]

After many years of having inside cats, my husband developed severe allergies. We tried medicines, air purifiers, everything short of getting rid of carpet and redoing the floors. The cats were trained to use several scratching posts located at strategic places in our house. Finally we had no choice but to get an enclosure system for our fence and put our cats outside.
Even though they are confined, I could not rest at night if they were declawed because they are outside. Our fence system works well and they have never gotten outside the confined area, but nothing is without risk. I am glad they still have their claws so they could fight if they had too.

I don't know what else to do, i have to get my 3 year old indoor cat declawed, i live in an apartment building, with very fussy owners, and he is tearing up pieces of the carpet everywhere, no matter how many times i squirt him, he keeps on doing it, he also has two posts, a cardbord scratch tray, mats that he moves just so he can get at the carpet and scratch, and dig, and toys that he won't even look at, i tried finding him another home, but i know if i do, as soon as he starts doing it there, he would be out the door again, finding himself in another home or maybe even homeless, i cannot part with him anyway, he a big handsome cat, so please keep him in your prayers, hoping that everything goes well for him. As much as i really don't want to do this.

Try nailcaps.
Can't destroy anything if his claws are covered in vinyl.

seesee, have you read any of the previous posts in this thread that suggest alternatives to declawing?

I can't believe it is still legal. In LOTS of countries it is banned. People do not have an easy quick fix, and have to find an alturnative solution to clawing, it's just not an option. Is there any one who can take the cat for you till you move to a place where the cat isn't a problem, or find a new home for him, and when you have your own place, and can deal with cats who claw, get one? Or get a pet that doesn't scatch things? Scratching carpets isn't really a good reason to de-toe a cat. Have you looked at the link that was posted? It has a section on building posts, and training your cat to use them and other alturnitives, you can try, if the horror stories of people who have done this, and the pictures of the proceedure didn't make you sick. I hope you find another solution for your poor kitty. If you go through with it, look up info, so you can do every thing to make sure his feet doesn't get infected, and he is as comfortable as possible, like what to use in his litter box, and how often to change bandages, or what ever else that needs to be done, I am not familiar with it, never had one de-toed. So I don't know all of that, but it's just like some one getting sergury, there are post sergical directions you will need to follow. I pray for your kitty.

Edit: I just saw you tried to find another home for him, at least you tried to do the right thing for him, try to find some rescue, that will take him in until they find the right home that is willing to take on a cat with issues. No-kill shelters will keep him til they find the right home for him.

You've already been linked to pretty much all the relevant information, so there's nothing for me to add, other than pleading with you not to declaw your cat.

It's a horrible thing to do. There are many alternatives. Please don't do it.

I truley hope you will find sometyhing else other than declawing your little babes...

How old is your little man? And did u just get him recently? IAm very sorry to hear that you are even faced with this decision...

Are u clipping his nails on a regular basis?

Jayme&Jackson!

There should be no reason to declaw if you are clipping them every week. Its easy once you and your kit get used to it. Please at least TRY some alternative methods that everyone has mentioned before you get your cat mutilated. You're not going to want to deal with your cat having behavioural problems after its declawed...and most of them do have (litterbox) problems.

DO not declaw... Also he is use to you triming them just keep it up