Declawing

angelkitty · Aug 15, 2006

Hi...

Just wanted to ask a question... I have a 6 month old kitten. She's a sweetie.. Anyways,, she is beginning to drive me nutz with her clawing everything. Right now, I keep her nails trimmed up till you hit the quick. Luckily she is a white cat, so i can see her quick. Anyways,, she still claws at everything,, not bad enough right now to ruin stuff. But the worst is at night time when she is kneading us. It really hurts. I've tried to push her paws to side, hoping she'll knead the pillow or blanket or bed, but she just pulls them back. I don't mind the kneading,, I just can't stand the pain from the nails.

Any ideas??? I once got a cat declawed a long time ago, and she was soo mad at us,, she sprayed and sprayed, until we had to give her away. I love Angel so I'm hoping that was a rare case. How old do they have to be to do this??? Would you recommend paying the $70 dollars to do it????

Sorry for the all the questions.. Just curious??

Thanks,, Heather

urbantigers · Aug 15, 2006

Sounds like soft paws are what you need - they're small vinyl (?) caps that you stick on top of the claws. I'm sure someone will be along with more detail and a link soon (I don't use them). If you do a search for soft claws or soft paws you'll find lots of threads about them.

Please don't declaw your cat. Apart from being a painful and unnecessary operation, as you've already found out it can be counter productive anyway.

rosiemac · Aug 15, 2006

Heres a link for you to look at, because the majority of us here are anti declaw

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

euterpe · Aug 15, 2006

Yeah, as urban said, sounds like you might want to try Soft Paws.

We almost had out kitten declawed, and i'm SO glad we didn't... instead of getting the vet to do that, we got him to apply the soft paws for us. I've heard they're also easy enough to do by yourself too... especially if you already manage to trim her claws

The first lot come off kind of quickly, but they really didn't bother Libby and it helped stop her destruction of our curtains (and helped her keep safe as she'd get up there and then fall down when she got to the top).

If you decide to try them then I relaly hope they work out for you

The FAQ page for Soft Paws - http://www.softpaws.com/faqs.html

miss mew · Aug 15, 2006

I agree, soft paws are the way to go...please don't declaw your kitten.

h~chan · Aug 15, 2006

I recently adopted a kitten (one month ago today, actually) and she's four months old. She likes to claw things a lot, and use them to climb the back of furniture, so I bought her a box of Soft Claws. Even though this is the first application, and some are coming off because I know I didn't do it quite right, she doesn't even pay attention to them, and they work really well. Definitely try them!

solaritybengals · Aug 15, 2006

Soft paws are fantastic! Also make sure she has appropriate scratching surfaces like a sisal covered post. They don't like to scratch carpet, so carpet posts don't help. If you are looking for a cheaper scratching surface then try corrugated cardboard (from petsmart/petco). Cats love this especially when you sprinkle it with catnip. Of course that dosne't fix her kneeding really hard. But I agree that soft paws will be great for your. Don't get discouraged though if she takes the first couple sets off as she gets used to them. My girl walked around as if she was a newly shoed horse for a while. After a while she did not need them anymore as we were able to break the habits we dissaproved of.

The behavior problem you saw in your other cat is very common. They can develop an aversion to the litter box because it hurts their feet to use it (sometimes this may not even show up for years when the pain comes back). Other behavior problems can occur from declawing. Its just not a safe procedure and in many countries the procedure is banned.

phenomsmom · Aug 15, 2006

Soft paws are GREAT. My recommendation is that you get the colored kind so you can easily tell when they have come off and replace them right away. I just put some on my baby girl and am still working on getting them on my oldest girl so they don't hurt eachother whne they play. They like to bunny kick eachother so I get worried about scratches in the eyes!

bellinakitty · Aug 15, 2006

I had the same kind of problem, though when I adopted Bellina she was 1 and 1/2 yrs. I got Soft Paws (in pink ^^) and didn't even use them for like a month because I didn't think I could do it and wanted to try and get to a vet. Then I decided, "Why spend the extra money?" and just tried it. My cat is very tolerant, so I had it made, and got the nailcaps on. They work really well...they tend to fall off from broken nails, but you just replace them as they do. (And sometimes that happens if you don't use enough glue as well.)
When I took my cat recently to Petsmart's Pet Hotel I got compliments on her pink nails! lol
Try those out, I also have become against declawing.

angelkitty · Aug 15, 2006

Soft paws. Will that definately work out.. She's only about 4.90 lbs. I think I only found natural colored soft paws.. Since she still teetering,, can I go with the size small and clip the soft paws to work on her nails on those????

I'd really like to do colors becuase I can see if they fell off.. What do you all think???

Sorry I'm still so new at this...

Thanks..
Heather

solaritybengals · Aug 15, 2006

They have kitten sizes. It all depends on how wide the claw is. Go by the recommendation. When we transitioned from kitten to small we did clip the end off to form fit better and that worked quite well for us.

phenomsmom · Aug 15, 2006

I order mine from www.softclaws.com I think it took 3 or 4 days to get them. they tell size recommended by weight. And you are right you can trim them to fit! Glad you are going to give them a try. i am positive they will work!!

jen · Aug 15, 2006

Originally Posted by angelkitty

I'd really like to do colors becuase I can see if they fell off.. What do you all think???

Definately get colorful ones, besides being able to see them, they are more fun! Thank you for not declawing your kitty. She thanks you too

laureen227 · Aug 15, 2006

i was just at the site ordering for my younger two cats, who are not declawed, & they have a few colors in the kitten sizes, just not as wide of a selection. they have clear, pastel blue & pastel pink.

goldenkitty45 · Aug 15, 2006

You must have sensitive skin if you can still feel the nails after you've trimmed them.

Anyway, many declawed cats have psycho problems or litter pan problems after declawing. Its NOT a rare thing - its a common thing and why you see a lot of shelter cats that are declawed - cause they are either not using the litter pan, eliminating in other places, or are aggresive biting or very scared kitties.

So please don't declaw your kitty. You can train them to use a scratching post/tree or cardboard scratching box (from WalMart) that has catnip in it. Its best to check and trim nails about every week or 2.

angelkitty · Aug 15, 2006

GoldenKitty45;1303417 said:
You must have sensitive skin if you can still feel the nails after you've trimmed them.

Well yes, I do have sensitive skin,, very sensitive, and so does my 4 year old. I do clip her close to her quick,, but she definately get those nails sharp in no time. plus she still pulls at my carpet, and furniture. We have a scratching post with catnip.. She doesn't care,, I've picked her up and had taken her to the post, and done that a bit now,, she doesn't care about the silly scratching post. I also got her one of those scratching pads,, and she doesn't care about that either... She's still learning.. But like I said,, I'm gonna try soft paws before I look at declawing, because of the experience I went through in the past....

Thanks,
Heather

Click to expand...

vik61 · Aug 15, 2006

If you decide soft paws won't work for you, please give your kitten a new home before declawing her. Don't declaw first then if she develops bad habits have to look for a new home like the last time. It will be so much easier to find a home for her WITH HER CLAWS than without them.

Best to you both!

angelkitty · Aug 15, 2006

Originally Posted by Vik61

If you decide soft paws won't work for you, please give your kitten a new home before declawing her. Don't declaw first then if she develops bad habits have to look for a new home like the last time. It will be so much easier to find a home for her WITH HER CLAWS than without them.

Best to you both!

I probably should clarify on that. It was probably about 10 years ago. We did everything to fix her spraying and not using the litterbox. We even were referred to behaviorist and the behaviorist was the one who told us to find her a new home. That she was mad at us for declawing and spaying her. We gave her to a new home (she was a $500 dollar Himalayan),, but she wasn't happy with us,, so it was the best options for both of us. Then we checked on her,, and she didn't act out anything with the new family. No spraying, she used her litterbox,, everything. She was the best pet,, they couldn't believe she had done all that with us... She was just soo mad at us..

So yes,, I'm gonna try the soft paws, and see how that works. I'm sure Angel will do fine with them,, she's a very easy going kitten... She's already been through alot with the upper respiratory infection and eyes sepage, and mites. And she has been a trooper through all the medicine...

Thanks,
Heather

jen · Aug 15, 2006

Well I highly doubt she was mad that you spayed her. They really have no idea what happened when they get spayed and there are no real side effects from spaying, plus it is better for her health. With declawing there are a few different side effects and it doesn't have any health benefits, it is purely just for the convenience of the owner. I hope your cat is spayed at least.

I also suggest buying a cardboard scratcher. They are really cheap and they have ones that just sit on the ground and ones that are inclined. They are about a foot by 6 inches or so and all it is is cardboard. Not much but sprinkle with catnip (it comes with catnip so you don't have to buy it seperately) and the cats love them to scratch on and mine will even sleep on them.

goldenkitty45 · Aug 15, 2006

Also to encourage her to use the post, dangle a piece of string on the post or feather so she "attacks" it. She'll get the idea - praise her for using the post.

Declawing

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