Cat declawing

[LeslieG]

I have a really bad situation. If anyone has a good answer, I know my DIS friends will.

My husband let my son bring home a kitten about a year ago after we agreed we didn't want any more cats. I should have insisted he take it back right then, but of course then I would have been the bad guy to crush a 5 yr. old.

Anyway, the cat has destroyed our front and back doors, some of our windows and is now trying to scratch our new bedroom furniture. A closed door is like a magnet to this cat.

My husband now says either get it declawed or it's gone. Now I've never gotten a cat declawed, because I just can't stand the thought of it. This cat loves to go outside and climb trees and sometimes stays out all night. We live in the country. You can't keep this cat inside. I just can't bear to get her declawed under these circumstances, but I know my husband is serious about getting rid of this cat if I don't.

Does anyone have any advice, suggestions, alternatives? Thanks so much.

 

[starwood]

Please don't declaw the cat. It's like amputating a persons fingers. Especially if the cat goes outside - it will have no defenses. Try getting a good scratching post and keep the claws trimmed as short as possible. There is a sticky tape I got at Petsmart that you can put on the furniture corners. They don't like the feel of it. You may also ask your vet for any ideas.

 

[dancingdisneygirl]

Don't declaw the cat if it goes outside. It needs it claws for defense. We have indoor cats that are declawed.

 

[pweyl36]

First pull all your nails off ,then if the pain is not bad then you could do the cats claws.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Please, please, please don't declaw the kitty. In order to remove the claws they have to cut the kittys bones at the knuckles in their paws. In fact the MSPCA will even refuse to let you adopt a kitty unless you sign a paper agreeing NOT to declaw them.
And any kitty that is declawed, can NEVER go outside. Your kitty is a cat who loves the outdoors so you will be sentencing him to a life inside. Without claws he can not climb (for fun or to escape from something) and he will have no way to protect himself.
Please talk to your vet...kitty scratching is a common problem and there are lots of alternative solutions. I am sure they will be more than happy to help you find something that works. Good luck!

 

[CheshireVal]

Declawing is cruel and is actually illegal in most civilized countries outside of North America.

Aside from that, though, declawing an outdoor cat is a death sentence.

 

[dmslush]

Have you tried trimming the cats nails? I do this with all three of my cats and it does help with the scratching. Now, the only time that they really scratch bad is when they are mad.

Here are a couple of websites that might give you more informatation about trimming the kitty's claws.

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/cat_claws.aspx

http://www.catscratching.com/

 

[LeslieG]

I know all about the evils of declawing. I really was asking for alternatives.

 

[gonemousin']

I'm not even going to attempt to offer an opinion on the declawing, as others have already offered similar sentiments. But I will say - good luck finding a vet who WILL declaw voluntarily. Flame me if you will, but a vet worth taking your animals to will refuse to declaw (mine will only declaw for medical reasons - like a du-claw issue, etc). That said...as a previous poster mentioned, there are NUMEROUS methods to discourage your kitten from scratching. Scratching posts, sticky tape, plastic nail covers, and even electric collars, similar to invisible fencing for dogs. The reality is, your DH welcomed this animal into your home and you are now responsible for it's good health and well being. Please remember that. Please don't trade a LIFE for furniture.

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

We have tried the plastic nail covers and they were horrible! Our cat did not like them - it took at least two people to get them on and the poor kitty moaned and cried and screamed. My biggest suggestion is if the cat likes to be outside make it an outside only cat. Maybe that is the solution the cat is looking for. Our darling went to a friends farm 2 years ago and couldn't be happier!

 

[tzolkin]

we received a cat that was declawed a few years ago. we wouldnt let him outside, but he snuck out a few times and really seemed to enjoy it. he wound up spending most of his time outside and would even catch birds/small animals (he brought them to the back door almost daily). he seemed to climb and hide just fine. we had to give him to my parents because our latest baby wasnt doing too well with the cat around. they have a farm with other cats and he is outside all the time. he has never had any problems with not having claws.

i'm not advocating declawing cats (i know it is painful), but i don't believe that it will necessarily ruin their quality of life as much as some others are saying.

 

[LeslieG]

dmslush's link to the special scratching post looks promising, but expensive. I may try that.

I'd love to leave her outside, but that doesn't seem to be what she wants. She comes in and out all day constantly. Sometimes she scratches at the door and doesn't want in anyway.

We've had a bad winter here where I live, and I'm hoping when spring comes she may get a little better because she's able to go out and enjoy herself more.

I suppose by her scratching our new wood furniture she's trying to put her scent on it. If I shut the bedroom door at night though, she'll scratch the door trying to get in. If I'm not in the bedroom though she won't do it.

I'll also try laying some orange peels around in the bedroom and by the doors.

Thanks to those who have given advice. I was hoping there were others out there who have had a similar problem and could offer help.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Allowing a cat to be outside is FAR more dangerous (other animals, vehicles, *people*) than having it declawed. I hate hearing people say it's impossible to keep a cat inside. We have always, *always* had indoor, declawed cats and they have *all* been loving, sweet, playful, and contented and have always lived long lives. The average life span of a cat allowed outside is 5-7 years.

That's all I have to say about it.

 

[CheshireVal]

Allowing a cat to be outside is FAR more dangerous (other animals, vehicles, *people*) than having it declawed. I hate hearing people say it's impossible to keep a cat inside. We have always, *always* had indoor, declawed cats and they have *all* been loving, sweet, playful, and contented and have always lived long lives. The average life span of a cat allowed outside is 5-7 years.

That's all I have to say about it.

My parents always made me keep my cats outside when I was growing up, and none of them made it past 4-5.

As an adult, I've always had strictly indoor cats, and they are very happy.

 

[twoeeyy]

We have a shop cat that lives in my business, it scratched a kid that was really bothering it, but the mother went to the town animal officer and complained about it, long story short we decided to de-claw the cat rather than turning it into a shelter and run the risk that she could get put down and or worrying about it happening again and getting a law-suit against us. This cat is now 20 years old, goes outside everyday to sun herself right infront of the shop and does not leave the property, she spends every night inside. I am not going to agrue about how it feels when they are removed, my duaghter had a toe-nail removed and I imagine it was the same, yea it hurt a little bit but she took medicine for a day or two and then was fine.

It is your cat, your house, your decision. I reccomend to talk to your vet about the procedure and what they think about it.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[LeslieG]

Allowing a cat to be outside is FAR more dangerous (other animals, vehicles, *people*) than having it declawed. I hate hearing people say it's impossible to keep a cat inside. We have always, *always* had indoor, declawed cats and they have *all* been loving, sweet, playful, and contented and have always lived long lives. The average life span of a cat allowed outside is 5-7 years.

That's all I have to say about it.

I have had cats since I was a child, many different cats over my lifetime, and I have to say I disagree with you. Most of my cats have been as you say, but they all have different personalities. And the one I have now, I have never experienced one like her ever. You can't make a blanket statement like that, that it should be no problem to keep her inside. I'd love to let you deal with her for a week. I'm glad you've had a good experience though with that. You've been lucky.

 

[DVCLiz]

I would declaw your cat and let it go in and out at will. it seems as though that would be the best solution - the cat would still have a loving home, your family wouldn't have to go through the trauma of giving away a loved pet, and your family and furniture would no longer be at risk. I think declawing cats is fine, as long as proper pain meds are used. I boarded my cats for several days when they were declawed/spayed and asked that they be given pain meds. No vet will make a cat suffer if you request that it have the proper medicine and are willing to pay for it.

I believe in doing the best for the situation you are in - and to me that looks like declawing your cat. She will adjust to being outside and many cats are able to exist and even climb using their back claws.

I have 2 cats and they stay indoors, but I would never have a cat again that had front claws unless ti totally lived outdoors (and then what would be the point of having it?)- too destructive for my house.

 

[tlbwriter]

If it's a choice between declawing the cat or taking it to the pound (where it will probably be destroyed), declawing may actually be the more humane choice.

My neighbors have a cat who is declawed in the front, and they never intended him to be an indoor/outdoor cat, but they didn't realize that the cat would be able to use the doggy door as easily as the dog does. Anyway, their cat can still climb trees with his rear claws, so he's not completely defenseless.

Again, this is assuming that the choice is declawing vs euthanasia.

 

[Tess'smom]

We bought new furniture recently and put scratching boxes in four rooms. We also have a cheap small throw rug near the new expensive couch that seems to attract our cats scratching needs. Trimming their nails also helps. I hope you find an alternative to de-clawing as it is so cruel.

 

[earthfaries]

I know all about the evils of declawing. I really was asking for alternatives.

Since you know all the evils of declawing and just want options, I will give you a few you might have already thought about them though.

Declawing is not an option because the cat is outdoors sometimes. That leaves finding the cat another good home, which you obviously don't want to do, or trying different things to discourage him. I would start by buying a scratching post and encouraging him to scratch that with a cat nip spray. We bought a can of cat nip essence spray from our local health food store and you can spary it anywhere and it really works. Also, we squirt our kitten with a water bottle set on stream when she does something she shouldn't , and it usually only takes a couple of times before she learns, but just as with children, you have to be constant ~ you can't let it go unnoticed not even once! Also, trimming the nails regularly. After getting our newest kitten we took her to the vet for her check up and he trimmed her nails so close, I never had any idea you could trim that much off and it doesn't hurt, as long as you don't go into the quick. They couldn't scratch anything even if they wanted after that nail trimming If you're not sure about how much to cut, have your vet do it once and watch.

Hopefully these suggestions will help ​