We're getting a kitten sometime soon (within a month), hopefully a rescue, but it might have to be declawed, and I really don't like that idea. We're moving into our roommate's house, and I guess he has REALLY nice furniture, and they're all scared that a kitten will ruin it. From what I've read, declawing is quite horrible, and I'd rather not put a creature through that. I researched and found "soft paws" plastic nail type things that you glue on your cats nails, which keeps them dull... Has anyone used them? Know how well they work? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Declawing Cats
- Thread starter Laceface
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when My cat was declawed she was never the same. I would say to not declaw the cat. Horrible experience for me and the cat. As for "soft paws", i have never heard of them. Maybe someone else on here has. sorry that i couldnt be of more help.
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De-clawing is old school imo, non of my 4 cats is de-clawed. we have sharpening mats that they use, but occasionally they use the furniture, but I accept that about them. De-clawing can be done wrong as well, I just have a problem with it, to each their own.
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Soft paws rock! They work perfectly. I, personally, would have settled for shredded furniture before declawing, but it was a moot point with the soft paws. Our cat hasn't seriously scratched furniture in years. We used the soft paws for a year or two and haven't needed to since. You can get all the training taken care of without sacrificing your furniture.
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None of our cats are declawed nor would I recommend it be done, good vet or not. I've seen far more hobbled cats and miserable cats due to it than ones who don't notice. Cats scratch, its just what they do. If you don't want scratching, get a pet snake.
Provided you are consistent with training for bad behaviour and provide them a location to scratch and tear up stuff to their heart's content, I think that solves most problems.
Ours grew up with a squirt bottle and loud PSSST noises we make. Pretty soon all that was required was the PSSST noise to make them leave something alone. Worked on furniture, house plants, and critters in cages.
Every now and then one of our females will get it in her head that scratching the heck out of our living room chair is a cool thing to do, till she gets chased through the house, scruffed, and tapped on the nose. She's really the only problematic cat we've got as far as bad behaviour.
Provided you are consistent with training for bad behaviour and provide them a location to scratch and tear up stuff to their heart's content, I think that solves most problems.
Ours grew up with a squirt bottle and loud PSSST noises we make. Pretty soon all that was required was the PSSST noise to make them leave something alone. Worked on furniture, house plants, and critters in cages.
Every now and then one of our females will get it in her head that scratching the heck out of our living room chair is a cool thing to do, till she gets chased through the house, scruffed, and tapped on the nose. She's really the only problematic cat we've got as far as bad behaviour.
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I think its cruel. It would be like someone cutting the end segments off of all your fingers. There is claw covers that they sell at Petco that work extremely well and are not cruel in any way. You simply cut there nails a bit, add the glue, and stick them on. They have them in all colors, like red, blue, pink, and clear if you like the more natural look. IMO a much better option than declawing, and not the only alternative option i might add.
Cheers
Cheers
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Declawing a cat: Taking off the first digit which houses the nail. Its like cutting off all of your first joints to eliminate your nail. It is cruel and I can't believe we still practice this babaric practice.
I have two cats, and all you need are a couple of scratching posts, and clip their nails on a regular basis starting when you first get the kitten.
It takes 2 min to clips the cats nails.
If a cat that was declawed ever got out of the house and met a stray or a neighbors cat or dog, they could not defend themselves, get ready for a dead cat or a severly wounded cat.
PIG-
I have two cats, and all you need are a couple of scratching posts, and clip their nails on a regular basis starting when you first get the kitten.
It takes 2 min to clips the cats nails.
If a cat that was declawed ever got out of the house and met a stray or a neighbors cat or dog, they could not defend themselves, get ready for a dead cat or a severly wounded cat.
PIG-
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Everyone has already covered why a)declawing is a nasty thing to do and b)softpaws rule. BUT another option, if you MUST have a declawed cat, is to look for one that's already been declawed by a previous owner.
Thanks guys! I know declawing is cruel, and that is why I did NOT want to do it. But because of the owner of the house we are moving into, if the furniture is harmed, kitty has to leave. I'm glad to hear good reviews for soft paws though! we can use those while teaching kitty where to scratch, and where not to. Thanks guys!
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My cat wasn't declawed but I was still annoyed with the scratches so I asked my veterinarian and they had a procedure in which the muscle the claws are attached to, are disabled.
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Declawing is cruel. You can try teaching kitty from the very start to use a scratching pad or scratching post.
Punish clawing the furniture (or other undesired behavior)with some hits from a squirt bottle. Cats generally dont like water so they will avoid the activity or spot they associate with this noxious stimulus. On the plus side they wont associate you with the squirting so they wont become afraid of you.
Bottom line tho is that a kitty comes with some scratching activity. If the roommates furniture is such that this is totally unacceptable, a kitty may not be the ideal pet choice
Punish clawing the furniture (or other undesired behavior)with some hits from a squirt bottle. Cats generally dont like water so they will avoid the activity or spot they associate with this noxious stimulus. On the plus side they wont associate you with the squirting so they wont become afraid of you.
Bottom line tho is that a kitty comes with some scratching activity. If the roommates furniture is such that this is totally unacceptable, a kitty may not be the ideal pet choice
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I got a cat and i didnt like the fact that it blinked so i had its eyelids removed.
Dont worry guys, declawing wasnt an option, if i couldnt find a good substitute, i wouldnt get the kitten. I have him now, his name's Loki, and hes a sweetheart. He doesn't tend to go after furniture we were told, and we're going to get soft paws for him. I'm very excited, hes a cutie.
Yay! I'm glad that you resolved your problem without declawing. The cats that come in to the animal shelter i work at often have been declawed. Some of them refuse to use the litter box afterward, a way bigger problem than scratched furniture. Yay for soft paws though! I've seen them before and i hear they work great.
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Doesn't always work. I had a cat that would stand just out of range of the squirt bottle and misbehave. Than my boyfriend and I started wearing rubberbands as bracelets and rubberbanding the cat from across the room when she was bad. She never could figure out how the rubberband hurt her or where it came from.....but she stopped trying to scratch the couch.
fishwithoutabik
Arachnobaron
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SOFTPAWS are the *best* invention ever!
I love them so much. I used them for our cats since they were small and they are super easy and it doesnt hurt them or your stuff. Plus you can get them to match their fur if you want them to be inconspicuous or in bright colors. I did find that it deterred their scratching (in addition to rendering it harmless), so that when a few of the softpaws fell off, they still didn't tear up everything and everyone.
Congrats on your new kitten and seeking out info regarding declawing and alternatives to it. It's sad that this procedure is so common place with such a simple alternative available.
I love them so much. I used them for our cats since they were small and they are super easy and it doesnt hurt them or your stuff. Plus you can get them to match their fur if you want them to be inconspicuous or in bright colors. I did find that it deterred their scratching (in addition to rendering it harmless), so that when a few of the softpaws fell off, they still didn't tear up everything and everyone.
Congrats on your new kitten and seeking out info regarding declawing and alternatives to it. It's sad that this procedure is so common place with such a simple alternative available.
Thanks for the info, that was a problem my boyfriend was thinking we'd have- when they fell off, would he scratch like crazy? But you answered all ready! haha. He has to go to the vet soon...i think theres something wrong with his eyes my poor baby
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declaw a cat?
damn the furniniture, think about the cat, end of story.
and plastic claws..... it get's even worse.
taking away a cats claws or it's ability to use them is like removing the fangs from a spider.
in experience, our cats have never scratched the furniture, only our door mats.
damn the furniniture, think about the cat, end of story.
and plastic claws..... it get's even worse.
taking away a cats claws or it's ability to use them is like removing the fangs from a spider.
in experience, our cats have never scratched the furniture, only our door mats.
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