Cat declawing

[girli565]

I thought it was pretty clear the OP wasn't interested in declawing the cat...she is looking for alternatives.

I think she was actually asking for advice, suggestions or alternatives... not just alternatives. It seemed like declawing was a possibility... Here's the OP's last line...

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

 

[LeslieG]

I made a trip to Petsmart today. I had an alpine scratcher, but I picked up an additional one, but I also got 2 scratchers that hang on the doors so that maybe she'll claw at those and not continue to ruin the doors. I also got some spray to put around our new bedroom furniture. Hopefully she won't like that. I have already been using a squirt bottle on her. Wish me luck!

 

[krystalleigh1]

We got Feliway from our vet. It's a pherimone spray that's suppose to help soothe a cat in stressful situations or deter a cat that sprays. We've been using it where our cats scratch it it seems to keep them away. Works for us. Also I've heard double sided tape on the spot they scratch can help. They stick to the tape and hate it. Also, I'd wonder if some peppermint oil or spray would deter her. I know the stron peppermint smell would deter my cats.

 

[torinsmom]

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 a cat who goes in and out and she is 18.

Marsha

 

[LeslieG]

I'm finding the scratchers that hang on the doors are kind of a nuisance. They flop around and make the door hard to shut sometimes. I think I'll take them back and get some of that sticky tape, or they also had like a scratching type fabric with adhesive on the back. I think that might work better.

I like the kitty door idea, but we have a fairly new house, and I kind of hate to cut a hole in the door.

 

[sunnyday123]

I had one of my cats at the vet yesterday and a woman was there picking up her cat who was declawed. I was truly shocked, since I didn't think they did that anymore. ( I had to sign a contract with my Ragdoll that I would not get him declawed. ) The vet said if it's between the at not having a home, and getting declawed, they opt to declaw. There are way too many homeless kitties ( two now live with me!) out there to not look at this as an option if she is destroying your home. Is she spayed? That might help if she isn't. If you do declaw her, you wouldn't be able to let her out any more, and then she might take her anger out in other ways. Good luck, and hope you find a better way.

 

[tinker&belle]

If you do decide to do it, keep the cat inside and look for a vet that does laser declaws. I researched a ton, and the laser declaw seems like the most human way of doing it. From what the vet told me, there is very little bleeding and most cats, especially young ones, are moving around very quickly. (Unlike the old-fashioned way, that they still cry even when they are having the procedure.)

 

[Donna]

Soft Claws are the plastic tips that go over the claws. They are glued on and last a few months. They're a great alternative to de-clawing (go on the front only). there are a couple sets in the package, about $20 or so.

 

[Tinkerbelle32]

Our black car Merlin is declawed in the front and has never had any problems. He has no posture problems either. I'm not advacating declawing for everyone, but it's what worked for our family. Do what you think is best.

 

[littlele]

Out of my three cats, the oldest one had to be declawed or else.

She goes in and out, is 15 and is very much the hunter (mice, birds, snakes). She was also very much the destroyer (hence the declaw) in every sense. We tried all of the methods mentioned, but alas she still clawed when she wanted too. She even put me in the hospital after biting me so badly when I tried to trim her claws.

I know that she sounds like an evil cat, but she's really pretty sweet. She just likes to get her way I guess

 

[PiratesRock]

I was completely opposed to declawing before we rescued Gin, my bobtail cat. We love her dearly but she is aggressive. She would hide, then leap and attack my kids heads and faces. We called them fly-bys. When she attacked 2 of my young nieces, I scheduled her for declawing, front claws only. (She had scratching posts and every toy known to cat-dom, it wasn't boredom. And she comes and goes freely) My vet declawed her, and we put shredded paper in the litter box for a couple of weeks after. She now is still an indoor-outdoor cat. She climbs trees, catches and kills birds, mice and whatever. The kids still call her "evil step-mom" because she'll watch them playing, then just walk over and slap them, then stalk away! In our case, it was de-clawing or the pound, and we chose declawing. If I got another cat, I would still do everything I could to train it and keep it's claws, but if I had too, I would declaw.

 

[alliedogsmom]

I have 5 cats. 2 are front declawed, the other three will be done as finances permit. I use one of the most respected veterinary groups in the state, and they do laser declaw. My last cat that was done last year was walking the same day with no bandages. They kept her overnight as a precaution, but she was just fine. My cats are strictly indoors-even if I lived in a rural area, I would NEVER let any cat outside due to the risks of disease and predators. I have to agree that if it comes to a choice to either try to re-home the cat or declaw, I would definitely do the declaw without hesitation. As for the behavior issues you mentioned, they do make a feline version of a Prozac type drug. Talk to your vet, and if you are not happy with their response, I would get a second opinion.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[jrogalny]

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.

Please do not declaw the cat. It's literally like cutting off each of your fingers at the knuckle. It's extremely inhumane. Have you tried a cat tree with a scratching post? They sell cat scratching carpets that you can hang on doorknobs, etc. Is the cat altered? If not, I would do so immediately. That will ease the urge to go outside. It's your decision, but please do some reading on declawing. It's a horrible thing to put a cat through. I have two cats. A 3 year old and a baby. They are not declawed and we trim their nails about once a month and they are VERY good about it. If we cut their nails, they don't destroy the house BUT if we neglect to trim their nails due to our laziness, that's when damage can be done.

 

[LSchrow]

I had one of my cats at the vet yesterday and a woman was there picking up her cat who was declawed. I was truly shocked, since I didn't think they did that anymore. ( I had to sign a contract with my Ragdoll that I would not get him declawed. ) The vet said if it's between the at not having a home, and getting declawed, they opt to declaw. There are way too many homeless kitties ( two now live with me!) out there to not look at this as an option if she is destroying your home. Is she spayed? That might help if she isn't. If you do declaw her, you wouldn't be able to let her out any more, and then she might take her anger out in other ways. Good luck, and hope you find a better way.

i was going to post, then then sunny day posted exactly what i was going to say
i have 3 cats (plus many others that are no longer with us , & none were declawed).
however, when it comes down to death or declawing, declawing is the only real option (that lazer surgery is interesting ~ i've never heard about that before).
please, please though, keep her in the house only though. unless you have access to a protected area without other animals, you will taking a great (& potentially heartbreaking & costly) risk every time she goes out.

laurie s

 

[sunnyday123]

Sometimes the whole keeping their nails trimmed just doesnt work. My ragdoll and calico have no problem. The ragdoll likes to bite the clippers, I guess to show them he's the boss, but then lets me clip another nail. (this goes on for each individual nail!) my baby calico falls asleep. HOWEVER, my tortiseshell has to be sedated,taken to the vet,wrapped in a towel, and held down by two very large women. It's actually embarrassing when I walk in and they say , "oh...you have Mallory today." They also wear gloves up to their shoulders. I am sure you have tried scratching posts, most of it is a learned behavior, and God knows it's hard to teach a cat anything especially if they don't feel it benefits them!

She is only 7.5 pounds.
Good luck!

 

[KatheeME]

Declawing an indoor cat is fine. When ever someone says something nasty about it to me, I relate the story of a co worker that lambasted me for doing so to my kitty, but CUT her dogs ears off, a Boxer .. now tell me the difference?

Kath

 

[OKW Mom]

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

I did not want to declaw our kitten, and she was picking at the carpet.

We keep her distracted with cat toys, keep the nails trimmed, provide cardboard scratching platforms in places around the house (get them at walmart for $4.98) and squirt her with water when she picks at furniture, etc.

There are little covers you can buy at the vets and they can help with your getting adjusted to installing them.

The toy attention we gave Darla Boots has kept her from scratching the furniture - since we have leather sofas that was important.

Early on we also used foil on some furniture to keep her from getting at some things.

Good luck!

 

[tonilea]

(Unlike the old-fashioned way, that they still cry even when they are having the procedure.)

Are you trying to say that while they are under anesthesia they are crying? From my experience, working in a veterinary clinics for over ten years, that is simply false.

 

[shortbun]

We've had a bad winter here. My cat has begun scratching our woodwork. She's 11 and has not done it prior. I got a couple pieces of split wood and I toss her on them, the bark side anytime she starts clawing. It's been a month and now when I approach her, she goes to the wood and claws it. I'm hoping anytime now, I won't have to be part of the action. Try it, I did it with another cat years ago and he took to it too.

 

[fakereadhed]

My husband now says either get it declawed or it's gone.

You can't keep this cat inside.

You have a couple of options IMO, because I am guessing the husband may have more pull than the cat.
1)Find the cat a good home
2)Front declaw. The cat can still climb trees and defend itself, although not as well.
3)Make it an outside cat only. You would have to make a suitable place for your cat to be comfy and warm- maybe a barn or garage.

As far as the outcry for declawing, of course it shouldn't be considered the first option. But I would much rather someone declaw than put the cat in a shelter, have it put down, or something worse.

We ended up with a deaf kitten. We picked the quietest one. We tried to give it back to the family we got him from- they refused. No one else wanted him. It was a real problem because when you were behind him, he would startle and attack you. Not either one of our faults- just something that couldn't be avoided. My kids were 3 and 4 at the time and were being clawed just for walking around the house. We debated what to do, and ended up going for front and back declaw since a deaf cat should never be outdoors for their own safety anyway. After 11 years, 2 dogs, another toddler- let me tell you, that cat can defend itself in no uncertain terms even without claws. And our case is extreme- usually declawing only includes the front ones. And they do grow back! We still have to trim them from time to time, but the cat usually picks at them and pulls them out by himself with his teeth. Cat TMI.

Just try to do the best thing for the cat, which is IMO whatever you need to as long as you have its best interests in mind. Good luck with whatever you decide.