De-clawing cats

[Bloo]

Yes, AP you are right. "SoftPaws" as it's mostly known by, is a very good solution.
Here is also a very good website on Cat Scratching Solutions and a further article with more information on the actual Procedure of declawing a cat.

 

[abstract]

i was just going to recommend those nail "caps"....there are a ton of places you can order them online for very cheap...you should only need to use them on the front paws and they actually hold up very well (my 1 year old "kitten" is a little nightmare and they rarely fall off of him)...best alternative to declawing by far - plus the cat will still instinctively use his nails to scratch and after a day or two won't even notice they are on the nails....you should look into them - although over time you will pay more money then a declawing procedure it is well worth it!!

 

[OrkyBetta]

2 of my 3 cats are declawed. It was DEFINITELY not my choice, but my parents said we couldn't have them if it wasn't done. It was either get them declawed, or have the people we got them from put them down. If we didn't take them, that would have been their fate, unfortunately. I was appalled with my parents when they had it done, but at least I have my 2 beautiful, healthy kitties which still manage to climb trees and enjoy their lives. The female cat, Felicity, got chased out of our yard one day by the german shepherd next door, and she managed to survive for 2 weeks without claws in the wilderness in the dead of winter. We found her, thank God.

 

[mm_simb]

The female cat, Felicity, got chased out of our yard one day by the german shepherd next door, and she managed to survive for 2 weeks without claws in the wilderness in the dead of winter. We found her, thank God.

Unfortunately, not all kitties are that lucky. I personally wouldn't even consider getting a cat if I was going to be forced to put him through such discomfort (not hinting anything btw). My mother actually told me to do it to Simba (the tabby) when he was getting neutered. I didn't even know what it was then but I knew it was wrong. After I found out what it was, I was horrified. Plus, he was in enough pain already. He had to get a splint on his leg that same day because he broke it somehow. I will never leave my cat with someone again when going on vacation .
I haven't used the soft paws but I've heard from a friend that they work. I would try getting them on Simba...I think I'll be putting a claw a soft paw a day since I wouldn't be able to do them all the same day .

 

[gaya]

Lots of great ideas guys. I really like the nail cap idea chook. So would those things last around a month or so? Would it last longer than getting the nails trimmed? If some miracle worker can manage to the things on Zeno, I'm game. I do want to find some kind of natural sedative for him, at least for when he goes to the vet.

 

[mm_simb]

Soft Paws/Claws last approximately 3 months and the kit includes 40 nail caps, glue, and an instruction book. They are non-toxic so it wouldn't matter if he accidently ate them. Have you tried Feliway to calm him down? Sometimes catnip works to soothe them a little but you cant give it as often because then it wont affect them later on.

 

[OrkyBetta]

I felt horrible when my cats got declawed. I had been trying to talk my parents out of it for weeks, but they went and did it anyways. Grr! They came back from the vet's and looked like death itsself. My parents even felt really bad about it and swore to never do it again. I just feel bad that my cats had to be the ones to prove it to my parents thst it is no good.

 

[gaya]

I've never heard of feliway. I will definately check that out.

I wonder if someone ever gave him drugs (recreational drugs). I've been told that he was a mean kitten but I know these people (the ones who had him before me) like to party.

 

[MegTheFish]

Both my cats are declawed. They are put to sleep when it happens, and they will probably be uncomfortable when they wake up like anybody would be after having any kind of surgery. They have never had any problems with it. They are both outside cats and can do everything a normal clawed cat could. They can catch birds, they can climb trees, they have been able to defend themselves too whenever they get in a scrap with another cat (because they have never been injured, my male cat is actually the "boss" of the neighboorhood, LoL). They're back claws have become a lot stronger and they have learned how to use them instead and can still defend themselves.

 

[Haiku]

I haven't had anything to add to this topic since I do not have cats and never have had cats (mother didn't like them, and husband doesn't care for them, as well as always having birds). But... Megthefish, why in the WORLD would you declaw an outdoor cat?

I've read enough about declawing on other sites to feel it should be a last resort... i.e. If the person stated either cat gets declawed or gets taken to a shelter and probably PTS..

Edit: This link was posted on another pet board as regards to declawing. Apparently it can potentially cause behavioral/psychological problems too.

Nala's Story

 

[gaya]

I don't agree with people declawing their cats for the sole purpose of saving their funiture or what ever. If soft paws last three months I can't imagine a better option. I'm very excited about this prospect. When i had Zeno's nails trimmed the things grew back in no time and the vet did a very poor job at it as well.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Never had my cat declawed and never wil either. She doesnt rip furniture, or anything of the like. She killed a few birds, but we stpped her killing alot more. Your cat sounds mean. I encountered one cat like yours in a homestay in japan when i went. Man that thing ripped me to threads, even when they had to put him in the cage! Mind you they never let him outside so he was being mis treated anyway. You can buy kittie "socks" Put some of those over his paws. Wolf is right, they can be taught not to be like that, although acupuncture ! Sounds quite hilarious!

My cat just catches mice now, she is too slow for birds! But she loves here mice!

 

[Haiku]

Gaya, I certainly understand why you were considering declawing as an option. It's not your typical "the cat is ruining my sofa" scenario that one usually hears. I am glad to hear that the soft cap alternative may be something you can resort to instead.

 

[gaya]

I don't know how easy it would be to train a 5-6 year old cat (i wish i could train him). Zeno was ten times worse b4 i had him fixed. So that did help somewhat. I've lived with many other cats and all of them were total sweet hearts and all were rescue missions as well. I had this one cat Darth who I used to take to the park with me. He was like a dog. He was too old to chase and kill other animals which is why i would bring him. He would just hang out on my blanket with me and when he did go roam around he would come back when called.

 

[Kiarra]

Having had it done to a very problematic cat when she was small...I would NEVER do it again unless it was the only option to save the cat.

How so? There are some people who have problems cat that will be taken to the pound if they don't stop damaging the furniture, or their families! Clipping the claws is recommended in this case, but I'd go so far as de-clawing (as humanely as possible) if it meant being able to keep the cat out of the pound. I know I'm being vague, but I haven't slept in two days and I've been on my feet much of that time. I have known families who have faced this situation, where declawing the cat was the only thing that kept that cat out of the pound and certain death.

However, I think it's a last resort. Clipping claws with a special clipper whenever they start to get sharp or whenever the cat has been using them on the wrong things has worked with four of the five cats in my house (the remaining cat is declawed in the front, but has her claws in the back).