Declawing an indoor cat....?

[pearlieq]

We don't believe in declawing, and we've been able to coexist just fine with our cats.

They have a few scratching posts, we trim their claws every couple of weeks, and we used some sticky tape to keep them off the one chair they had shown an interest in. I was able to take the tape off in a few days and they've left it alone ever since.

It works well for us, and I feel very good about my choice.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

if you wanna talk about circumsizing..... i wonder how many people would NEVER declaw a cat but circumsize their sons?? ::::runnin' and duckin':::

I personally would never declaw my cat OR mutilate my child's genitals. My opinion is if you want a cat, then you have to be prepared that cats have claws. Claws are part of the cat. If you don't want claws then get an alternative pet, or don't get one at all for that matter. Same with little boys. If that fold of skin bothers you don't have children. Personally, I trust that mother nature made both cats and humans the way they are for a reason and I see no reason to tamper with that. You asked and I'm just giving my opinion. I know it's not popular but it's how I do things in my home. Any creature that comes into my house, be it a pet or my own offspring, is going to be left to live and exist the way God made them.

 

[Sherri]

We adopted a cat that was declawed already. We adopted a kitten that wasn't but later on decided we better. Our stray cat of nine years fell ill and we decided to keep him and keep him as an indoor cat. He is not declawed, he is too old to be. I think if you do it as a kitten it seems less cruel. I am sure many people don't agree.

 

[LK03]

It takes time but you can teach your kitten where to scratch. My siamese I got from a breeder and once I showed him the scratching post he was golden. Didn't need much help. I adopted my Balinese from Petsmart and she's a bugger. I had to show her a lot at the beginning and still every once in awhile I will show her the posts again. I read about it several times. Want you want to do is hold both of the paws in your hands and kind of push so that their nails come out. Then move those down the posts, or on the scratching pads on the floor. This shows them where to do it, HOW to do it if they don't know and praise them. Ohhhhh good kitty, soo good. You will probably have to do this several times but they'll start to get it. If they go for the furniture, and my adopted one would keep going for the chair I'd clap real loud, say no Bella, and immediately pick her up, expose the nails and run them down the posts. She has never gone for my furniture again, but the carpet she will still go for sometimes. PLEASSE at least try these methods before you even consider declawing. It can mess up their personality and scar their actual paw pads. A friend of mine's cat's paw pads are severely damaged from a declaw years ago.

Oh, and another quick tip, keep their nails trim! I notice when my cats start to claw at the carpet it's time to clip their nails.

 

[SadieDog]

When my mother adopted 2 cats from the shelter I tried to talk her out of having them declwed. When they were declawed, 1 had problems and was in a LOT of pain for weeks. The problem now is that she has a new puppy. She is trying to teach him not to chase and torment the cats, but having difficulty. When the puppy wants to play with the cats, they have no way to let the puppy know to back off. They hit him with their paws, but since it does not hurt, the puppy continues. He knows that my cats have claws. When he comes to my house he is very respectful of my cats and knows when to back off. One swipe with the claws was all it took. He also is very careful with new cats he meets. A declawed cat is also more likely to resort to biting for their protection.

 

[Charade]

I'm staying far Far FAR away from this one!!!

 

[phorsenuf]

Good Lord woman, you would have been better off saying that women who want to work instead of stay home with their kids ought not have children!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

well as I've said on all these other threads - I haven't had cats for a couple of years now but when I had them, I had them all declawed after $1,000's of dollars in damage to the house.

We took them home the day after the operation and none of them even limped. None of them had reduced appetites. None of them really seemed to even notice anything was different. They still ran all over the place fake scratching. They all even smacked the dog around plenty afterwards, and the dog seemed just as scared of them as he ever was.

They all lived incredibly long and happy lives --- 18 to 20 years.

Oh, and I've mutilated the genitals of my 3 son's too. Hasn't seemed to slow them down much either.

 

[MinnieM3]

I have in no way decided on what to do....I am only asking.



Feralpeg: How did it affect your cat? Any adverse reactions?

I'm not FeralPeg, but Our indoor cat is front declawed, BUT we adopted her already that way. There are many pre-declawed kitties up for adoption at your local shelter. Maybe try there first? Our kitty is fine. The most affectionate cat people have ever seen. She's a sweetie!

 

[azgal81]

You could give me all the money in the world to declaw my cats and I would still refuse.

There are other options out there triming claws, soft paws and teaching the cat not to scratch.

However it is your decision and I'm sure you wll do what you feel is right for everyone involved including your cat.

 

[luvdzne]

I had 2 cats that had 2 scratching posts, however decided that our new furniture worked better for them. We talked to our vet that would only dewclaw as a last resort.

We tried the soft paws, however they are a pain in the butt!!!! You super glue them on the cats claws by the time you are finished their pads of their paws are stuck to them as well as your fingers are full of super glue. They only last a few days before the cat chews them off and they are rather expensive. We spent over $50 in a month trying to get these things to work.

We made sure that we clipped their nails at least every 2 weeks, sometimes more. This did help a lot, but not enough.

We did the can with pennies, foil paper you name it. Our furniture was starting to look ratty. What did work for us was taping the corners of the couches and chairs. It didn't look the best but it did work and when we had company we would just take it off. When they left we taped it up again.

 

[Planogirl]

We've had several cats and only one turned out to be a problem clawer. We tried literally everything and he literally shredded our furniture. We had him declawed but I never quit feeling bad about it.

I suggest at least trying it without declawing first. Zap em with a water gun if they try to claw and get a scratching post and a piece of carpet to claw on. My cats always liked a flat piece of carpet best.

 

[jess_denmark]

Hi,

Please DON'T declaw your cats. Declawing is animal abuse and should be banned. It is bannaed already in: England, Scotland, Wales, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.

 

[mermaidlady]

We had our cats declawed. It was because as a child my brother had over 150 stitches in his face neck and head from a cat who attacked him with claws. He did nothing to provoke the cat. The vet thought it might have been a head injury. I would not have a non declawed cat around my kids.

 

[NikiM20]

Our cat was declawed because she is THE MEANEST cat in the world. She would walk up to you and scratch you (she still does but there is no claws!!) . we had been debating for a long time but finally decided to when I had to bring her to the vet and I looked like I had been in a briar patch. We got to the vets office and she attacked him and the vets assistant. So when they sedated her to give her the shots we went ahead and declawed. She spent the night at the vets office due to anesthsia and was home the next day. She has acted no different at all and she didnt have all the bleeding that others suggested. The only thing different we had to do was put non clumping litter in the litterbox.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

we have had 5 cats and have tried everything...they refuse to learn where to /where not to scratch - with each one we make the effort to try to train them, it fails, we declaw .....it comes down to them having a home vs. not being declawed and not having a home (at least here)....so I think declawing is fine..let's face it many, many need homes and I think many would not have them if there was no choice...I understand how some people feel, but I don't share the view..it is, like most things a personal choice depending on your own point of view and what is best for you, your pets, your family and home! It isn't a decision I make lightly, but wouldn't honestly do it differently.

Out of five cats (one "found" us already declawed) we have had no problems.

edited to add: the caps thing sounds awful - I would not put super glue on my or my childs nails or fingers either(to use that argument)....sounds like a major pain too

 

[phisigprincess]

We have always had our cats' front paws declawed. My dad always says, either they have the surgery and have a home with us, or they get put to sleep by the animal shelter. We've never had any problems and the cats have always been fine!

 

[jspahn]

I have 3 cats - none of which are declawed, and I would NEVER EVER declaw them.

If you want a resource on declawing facts (and alternatives) this is a good site:

http://declawing.com/

 

[Jpgirl]

We have 5 cats in our house 2 are ours and 3 our dd's. 3 are declawed and 2 aren't. My dd was a vet tech and when she fostered and adopted her 2 latest she said they wouldn't get declawed (she's seen it done and didn't want to do it to her kittens). I said fine she could pay for damage. She found a solution-Soft Paws. They're little plastic covers that you glue on to their paws. They stay on for about 2-4 weeks and come off as the cat's claws shed. They work great and no damage to the furniture. They come in lots of colors-her kittens are very prissy and dd makes sure that the claws match the season. They can be bought at Pet stores or online.

 

[almacdonald]

If you're worried about your furniture then you shouldn't even have a cat to begin with. Pets are living beings with feelings. They aren't an accessory that you can manipulate to your liking. Declawing is nasty. I don't care how many of you say that you've done it with no ill effects. It's abuse. It's also dangerous. Sure, you say that your cat is an indoor cat but what if he slips past you one day? If you don't want your precious furniture being scratched OR if you're worried about your cat scratching yourself of your children then get a pet rock.