Cat Lovers Community Group

For all those people who are slaves to their cats!

0 Online

MyMiniMonk 04/14/2008

OK, I am so torn right now. I love my Bob, and he's the sweetest little boy in the world...
That is, until he gets a hankerin' to claw the carpet on the bottom step. The carpet is brand new- we just had it installed less than 6 weeks ago, and he's already shredded it down to the wood on the step! He also has destroyed the fabric on my dining room chairs, and it's not going to be cheap to have all six recovered. He also clawed and ruined my husband's leather recliner that we bought just 2 years ago. He hasn't hurt the couch yet, but it's leather too, and I get nervous any time that he's near it. I'm not one for declawing cats, even though in my line of work, it's as routine as vaccines. The other problem is that I have an autistic 5 year old son. They love each other dearly, and they play kind of rough together. He never scratches him on purpose, but sometimes he does accidentally get my son in the face, near his eyes. The two of them are inseparable- and Bob sits by the door all morning, waiting for him to get home from preschool.
I know that those rubber caps for their claws don't stay on well, and that you have to keep replacing them constantly.

What's everyone's take on this? Knowing what's involved in a declaw, I'm not comfortable with it- but it's already going to cost us A LOT of money to repair the damage he's done so far.
Opinions and alternatives to declawing would be very helpful! Every vet I know of says to just declaw him :-(

deleted_user 04/14/2008

Have you tried Feliway? It is a pheromone spray that usually helps stop scratching and spraying. It might be worth a shot before you go and have Bob declawed. But (and if you tell anyone I told you this, I will deny it) if it comes down to having a good home or having claws, I would go with a good home anyday. Not to say that I have ever had a cat declawed, but some cats are just scratchers and if he is happy with you and you are happy with him and the feliway doesn't work....well....what choice do you have?

Wish I had a better answer...maybe someone else might.

Purrs--Laura

Hmmm, you might also try the squirt bottle deterrent, but you have to be around for that. If you go off to work for 8 hours a day then it would be hard to train Bob. If you are at home, then get a good quality squirt bottle and everytime he goes to scratch, give him a good dose of water. It is worth a try.

redsilverfox 04/14/2008

My Vet showed me how to cut cat's claw's and I do it monthly it helps some and finding a good cat scratching device they will use I keep separate covers on all my furniture and reprimand them if they do any scratching with a loud no! Maybe the cat is bored or mad at you, get some interesting toys for the cat. Play toys are safer than attacking people they attack the toys. Such as my cats like the plastic strapping from magazines, newspapers and books, are tied in bundles in this and I twist it into interesting loopy knot an I swing or flick it near them and make a sound and they run jump and attack it!

MyMiniMonk 04/14/2008

I'll give the Feliway a try, and buy some more scratching posts. My husband just had a thought (wow... I didn't know he was able to have one! Just kidding!)- he said maybe Bob likes the bottom step because it's rounded on the side, which is where he did the damage, and that side looks exactly like his carpet-covered cat house? LOL I hadn't thought of that!
I will give the spray bottle a try too. We used to use one when he was a kitten, and it did work. We haven't used it lately for some reason and I forgot all about it.
I do clip his nails, but it doesn't seem to help much.
LOL I swear, all I do is entertain my cat! I'll give all the ideas a try though- I hate to declaw him since he has made his way outside twice before and I don't want him defenceless- not to mention the fact that I think it's just mean.
Thanks for the advice!

deleted_user 04/14/2008

VETS ARE GOING TO RECOMEND DECLAWING CAUSE ITS EXPENSIVE. WELL I THINK ITS IN HUMANE, ITS HIS ONLY DEFENSE, TRY EVERYTHING ON THE REPLYS THERE GOOD ADVICE. AND TRY GETTING HIM MORE CAT SCRATCHERS AND TOYS. GOOD LUCK PLEASE DON T DO IT. ITS HIS ONLY DEFENCE.

deleted_user 04/15/2008

Double sided sticky tape...I forgot double sided sticky tape! I was running on empty yesterday, so forgive me. Cats don't like the feel of sticky stuff under their feet, so put some tape on there until he gets out of the habit of scratching and then pull it up (unless you want to make a fashion statement or something!), it should only take a few days to a few weeks. Try it and let us know what works.

Purrs--Laura

deleted_user 04/29/2008

I have four cat that have been declawed. They are totaly indoor cats. They have their cat condo, and all the cat nip they can handle. It has really saved my Drapes. And my vet doesn't chare that much, she uses a laser to remove them insted of cutting then out. They heal quicker and no pressure bandages of they have had it done. And my vet even send pain meds home for the enough for 1 week.

deleted_user 04/30/2008

you have some awsome suggestions, here is an idea to ponder.... get cat friendly furniture, and the heck with company, inlaws and your hubby...lol. ONLY kiding of course, but declawing is not my vote.

deleted_user 04/30/2008

Ireally did look around for the safest way to declaw my babies. They ay my sons!! I only had daughters. So i wasn't about to do anything that was going to put my boy in jepordey. And where they are totaly indoors, even the vet suggested it. It only cost 50 dollars per baby. And my vet is an angel!! She is the only one in the are that care fore them and not for the money. The rest of the vet wanted over 150 dollars and they cut them the claws out. She has even taught me how to give them thier yearly shots so it isn't so expensive for me. I just keep the records to show her. And if they get sich she only charges me for their meds. She is great. I have to travel 22 miles just to get to her. I won't go to the one in my own town they are to pompis and money hungery and don't seem to care about the animals.

KristiKat 04/30/2008

I'm on the side on NO declawing. It just seems like such a traumatic experience. The double sided tape works great, but so does plain old one sided packaging tape. You can layer it across the area that there is a problem. Itâ??s no fun scratching if you aren't making a mess (i.e. shredding carpet or wood), so eventually they will give up.

The benefits of the tape are that it is see-through. You can keep it on there and if you are expecting company, just rip it off - no damage. If someone pops in and it's still on the chair or whatever, no big deal.

I did this at my parents house and it has protected the furniture and saved me many lectures ("Iâ??ve worked a long time to finally get nice things and Iâ??m not going to have some cat ruin them!!")

(of course, keep in mind this is coming from someone who is going to have to replace the molding along a few of my doorways before I move because my spoiled fat brat likes to reach as tall as she can and scratch the wood.... lol.)

deleted_user 04/30/2008

I see!! You have done some constuction work or remodling in homes where animals have done some damage. My two brother-in-laws are both constuction workers and boy do they grip when they have to repair a place that has had animal damage. But i see you side in the declawing to! My sister has a cat that she has had for 6 year and it was declawed when she got it, and she still goes outside and climbs trees and catches mice. I have some of the photos of 3 of my 5 cats posted if you would like to look . I am going to get photos of the other 2 and get them post soon.

Rusters 05/01/2008

We've had our 3 boys declawed - front claws only. Save furniture. We also had it done when they were being neutered, so it's done all at the same time. They all bounced back, had a few days with tender toes, jumping down, shacking their paws, but definitely keep the back claws. If they have to defend themselves, they would do it with the back claws kicking. I recommend it, especially if they're prown to scratching your furniture.

deleted_user 05/04/2008

Please, please do anything & everything u can 4 damage limitation but NOT de-clawing. Even as house cats I feel strongly its cruel & unecessary 2 declaw however humanely its done. You wouldn't have a child's fingernails surgically removed 4 scramming would u?
Kitty hugs xxxx

deleted_user 05/04/2008

I do, I don't have any of my toe nails!!! Due to a medical condition. And i am fine without them. My cats still climb thier cat condos and run around like they have had nothing done to then. Thier declawing was done at the same time they were nutered. That way they didn't have to be put under twice. And they are perfectly heathy. I was a vets- asstiant for two years, and I saw how they cut them out!!AHHHH That is why I choose to have the lazer used.

deleted_user 05/04/2008

I breed cats. I have a certified document from the vet and the breeding program. To declaw or NOT..that is the question? lol. Well, I have one that is declawed ( I ONLY suggest LAZER if you must do so). You MUST have things for the cat to scratch!!! Not saying it always works, but 9 out of 10 it does. THE ONLY THING YOU MUST KNOW!!!!! Is if the cat is an over sized cat YOU CAN NOT DECLAW!!!!!! It is like breeding a VERY small cat. The large cat NEEDS its toes do to its size! Just like a Queen ( female cat) needs to be big enough to handle birth. I understand the suggestions of cruelty , but 25% or MORE end up in shelters due to damaging homes. I would rather declaw then see another animal KILLED. Also be careful with these home suggestions of water bottles and such. I have heard stories of these things, as well as declawing, changing a cats personality. So if you see a change in your cat stop what you are doing! ( this is very rare). A simple NO and looking into their eyes, move them over to their " allowed scratching area" should do the trick. Also I STRONGLY urge you to get a book on CAT BEHAVIOR AND PERSONALITY this will help you better understand your cats actions and needs. It can also make a very strong bond between you and your dear cat , as you begin to understand him/her. Don't beat yourself up if you decide to declaw.... I know you truly love your animal. Look into the facts and do what you can.

Bless you

deleted_user 05/06/2008

Declaw? Always an issue with cat lovers. Personally I will never do it again. Only because "the idea" of declawing bothers me and I do think it is cruel and unnecessary when a little training usually works.

BUT! ! ! The issue of your son changes things for me. I don't think
that you would be a bad cat mom if you did declaw. It would be very
understandable.

I have one small piece of advice. I don't know if it was just MY cat
or if this happens to others, but my cat began to bite and her front
paws got VERY strong. She would grab and bite. But again, not sure if that was just my cat. She was after all a phsyco cat

Join the Conversation