I'm just learning. I've just started studying behavior, and solutions, so I'm happy to help as much as I can, but I obviously haven't achieved the level that professional behaviorists have achieved (yet). I am happy to research and try to help you figure out how to alleviate it. It might be that trying a few different tactics may alleviate the behavior altogether and you won't even need softpaws.
Please feel free to send me a private message if you'd like to try some different retraining techniques, or methods of redirecting the aggression, and I'll do what I can to help you for free if a certified behaviorist is out of your price range. (Totally understandable.)
I'm very glad that you came here, and I know that sometimes it's difficult to come to a forum and post something that you know is going to get a list of bad reactions.. and honestly, while some of the posts were a little forceful, I want to say that I don't think anyone answered as passionately to the negative as they were wont to.
Once upon a time I had considered declawing one of mine, but I fortunately lucked into a solution and I never had to revisit the idea. She is still happily scratching her little heart out with her claws intact, and I'm so glad now that I didn't end up making that decision. I was less educated then, and I've since learned *a lot* more about cats. I shudder now to think that I'd even considered it at one point, when I know now that most issues are solvable, with a little work (sometimes very little).
Please keep us posted. I really appreciate that you came to look for alternatives and thoughts on it. You obviously care very much about your cat and are torn by this possible decision.
Keep your chin up and think positive! I think you'll make it through this without having to get her the surgery, and still appease your husband at the same time.
Please feel free to send me a private message if you'd like to try some different retraining techniques, or methods of redirecting the aggression, and I'll do what I can to help you for free if a certified behaviorist is out of your price range. (Totally understandable.)
I'm very glad that you came here, and I know that sometimes it's difficult to come to a forum and post something that you know is going to get a list of bad reactions.. and honestly, while some of the posts were a little forceful, I want to say that I don't think anyone answered as passionately to the negative as they were wont to.
Once upon a time I had considered declawing one of mine, but I fortunately lucked into a solution and I never had to revisit the idea. She is still happily scratching her little heart out with her claws intact, and I'm so glad now that I didn't end up making that decision. I was less educated then, and I've since learned *a lot* more about cats. I shudder now to think that I'd even considered it at one point, when I know now that most issues are solvable, with a little work (sometimes very little).
Please keep us posted. I really appreciate that you came to look for alternatives and thoughts on it. You obviously care very much about your cat and are torn by this possible decision.