Cat Declaw???

[Deana]

I love, love, love my kitty, Mr. Peepers. He's my baby. I worry about him sometimes more than I worry about my husband! (I sometimes talk to him more too!!!) :biglaugh:
Well, I'm starting to consider getting him declawed. I've always clipped his nails, and I even tried those cat 'paws' (they are little claw covers -- he eats them). I know declawing is not the nicest thing in the world to do to a cat. But he's a pretty fiesty guy and in his playfulness, he's destroying several pieces of new furniture and a few areas of our new carpet. We've tried scratching posts and burbar rugs, toys, etc. but he just wants to go after the brand new sofa. I know it's selfish....
What are your thoughts? For those of you with declawed cats, what age did you have it done? (peepers is 2 yrs old).
Any input?

[Cheatara]

I'm against declawing, but I have to tell you, now that I'm going to have a baby, I've considered it. Luckily our older cat is perfectly happy to keep the soft paws things on, and if we do decide to declaw Cinder she is still a kitten.

Some cats, and the statistics go up as they get older, do NOT react well to being declawed. They might become aggresive, cause they have no more modes of defense in their opinion, so they are scared, or they might stop using the litter box cause the first time they use it after they are declawed it hurts.

My vet doesn't declaw, and quite a few european countries are making it illeagal. The humane society and some vet groups are even pushing to illeagalize it here in the US. The sheet I have from the humane society says over and over agian "your cat is a living thing, your furniture is not." It of course never says "your cat is a living thing, your newborn baby is not."

Anyway, in my opinion I would never declaw a cat for furniture, it just seems selfish to me, which you already said. I care much more about my cat's well being and comfort than I care about our sofa. But I am afraid that I'll have a 4 month old pull Cinders tails and she'll turn around and bat him/her acrossed the face. And if I'm going to declaw her, I should do it now, not 13 months from now. So if you are going to declaw your cat you should do it as soon as possible, the younger he is the less painful it is for him, and the less chance for a bad reaction to it.

[brandis77]

I'm also against declawing. It seems like such a horrible thing to put your cat through for the sake of furniture. However, if I were in Cheatara's situation (baby on the way), I may have a different point of view.

My advice to D - Try everything you can to stop Mr.Peepers from scratching your furniture before you decide to declaw him. I use a spray bottle with some vinegar to squirt my kitten when she is being bad. It is best to spray the cat when he/she is scratching and isn't looking at you, that way they learn not to scratch the sofa AT ALL instead of learning not to scratch it when you are around.

I've also heard of lots of sprays you can use on furniture to keep your cat away from furniture. A friend of mine uses one called "Get Out of my Garden" or something, and she says it works very well.

[Deana]

Thanks Cheatara and Brandis.
The odd part is, is that I'm against declawing myself! But I'm at my wits end. I'll try the vinegar/water bottle idea. And a friend at work told me about a product called "NO!" - you spray it where you don't want kitty to get near. I'm willing to try just about anything.
Anyone know anything about a product called "Feliway"?

[Cheatara]

Everything we've tried spraying, besides just water, Corban has been allergic to, so we've given up. Just our luck to have a cat with allergies and asthma...he's probably allergic to himself...

[Csara]

I am unsure of the name, but my mom used a spray on the couches that deferred the cats from scratching the furniture. It really worked. (I can ask her the name if you'd like, D). My cat is terrible, she scratches everything, but I would never declaw her. Gotta get that spray!! First of all she is way too old (9), but secondly, I just think it's like torture. I mean, it does really suck that we can't get these beautiful leather couches we want b/c we know they will get ruined, but my cat is my baby and she is definitely much more important to me.

[Deana]

Originally posted by Csara
I am unsure of the name, but my mom used a spray on the couches that deferred the cats from scratching the furniture.
Csara - I would really love the name of that spray if you get a chance to ask your mom. thank you!
(I also read on a website that spraying deoderant works too, but I think it would leave quite a reside?!?)

[meliz]

Now I might be dreaming this... but I *think* I have heard of a new procedure, where they don't actually declaw a cat (which is apparently painful and runs a very high risk of infection) but where they do a much less drastic and dangerous procedure in which they clip tendons at the base of the claw... the claw remains in tact, but the cat just cannot extend and retract their claws. You might wanna ask your vet if he/she has heard of this. I think I recall hearing of this as a safer and more humane alternative to declawing.

I'm against declawing as a matter of principle too, and I would never inflict that pain on a cat. BUT having witnessed the damage that cats can inflict on clothing, furniture, woodwork etc, I can see how people with indoor cats might be compelled to go ahead with it... I know when we move out we (I mean my roomate-- I sure as heck am not!) are going to have to pay big time for the damage my roomate's 'angels' have inflicted on our apt's woodwork (not to mention our chairs, bookshelves, tables etc etc etc). And there was no curbing of this behaviour. We bought cardboard scratching posts and carpetted ones... we used squirt guns when we were home... nothing worked and nothing substituted for the antique woodwork in our place. Sigh...

[ksix]

Our oldest cat is front declawed, but when we got our second one, we didn't want to declaw him...so instead he ruined our furniture :(. Our love seat is a bit scratched in front...luckily the couch was spared. For a few weeks we covered our furniture with old blankets until we decided what to do...we didn't want to declaw him, like I said, so instead we gave him to my inlaws for temporary custody until we were out of an apartment and able to take him where he could be outside...he was great when we were there--he took one swipe and got squirted with vinegar water, and never again did he do it in our presence...but when we weren't there was when he took to scratching...we are going to be getting him back soon, and although he will be predominately outdoors, he does like to sneak in for a little lovin'...so...long story short--I'd also like to know of product names to keep him away from the furniture.

And...as for the couch--anyone know how to hide little snags on fabric? It's a heavy cotton weave material (no idea what the actual material is called :rolleyes: )...seems like I've seen a product that kind of "smooths" out the little snags to make them less visible...any ideas? I know it's a long shot!

*Just thought I'd clarify...we didn't just toss him to my inlaws because we didn't want him scratching things...he also had some health problems and as we both work a lot of hours, we couldn't be with him and give him the special care he needed. My MIL was willing to take care of him, and baby him for several weeks until he recovered. She nursed him to health and he's now an active out door kitty--who was recently spotted on their barn roof--much to my horror!! Good thing he's steady on those little paws!

[Trina]

I'm completely against declawing. Before you decide to declaw your kitty, please read a couple of these links. I just couldn't imagine doing that to any baby of mine... furry or not.

I'm not coming down on you for thinking about doing it, Deana... you know I love ya', girl! But, maybe you could keep Peepers in the bathroom or bedroom while you're away during the day, then slowly train him not to mess with the furniture during the time you're at home? My neighbors declawed all three of their cats after they destroyed their sofa; however, the outcome isn't too great for their oldest boy cat (he's only 2 1/2 years old)... he has started having some very bad behavioral problems now, which include lots of spraying and not using the litterbox. Apparently, this can be a common side effect of declawing... Personally, I'd much rather deal with scratching than spraying ANYDAY! Ughh!!!

Here are the links. Beware, one of them is very graphic (it shows pictures of an actual declaw surgery):

http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declawvettch.html

http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declawpics.html

http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declawstory.html

http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declawguide.html

http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declawsoftpaws.html

http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declaw1.html

[Deana]

Now Trina, you know that I don't give in to gross out tactics! Ha - only kidding! I respect everyone's opinion on the whole declawing issue.
It would absolutely be a last resort to declaw him. I want to try everything else.
And Meliz, I have heard about the tendon clipping. My vet told me about it some time ago, and it is much less invasive. You just have to trim their nails often, or else the nail will curl into a circle, and possibly get infected.
Actually, now that you mentioned it, if I do anything that's probably the route I'd go. :D

[Csara]

D, that spray is called Heart's (or Hart's) Indoor NO!

[suzieq728]

OH gosh, dont declaw your kitty D..!!!
My sister used to have like 10 cats at one time, and they destroyed her furniture. So the one cat that was the worse she declawed him. Not only is it a painful prcedure, but the cat got out one day, and the dog next door chased him, with no defense mechinism the cat was killed by the dog. This was not a outdoor cat, he just slipped threw a window one day. My sister thought since he was a indoor cat, she wouldnt worry about that part. She knows better now.
There is some kind of spray that she uses, its not vineger,I will have to ask her what it is that does work great and deters the cat from the furniture.
I have to admit, in your case with a baby coming along, I would be very conserned about a cat and a newborn. I have heard some horror stories...
Talk to your vet, he/she would know best about these situations..
Good luck... ;)

[Rrricola]

First let me say that I always use to preach to people about declawing.... painful, cruel, selfish..... until I had to do it to my kitties (I still think it is painful and mean, but I don't really tell people not to do it, cuz you gotta do what you gotta do!). I was living with my parents, and the cats were destroying their custom made funiture and silk oriental rug, after trying EVERYTHING to no avail, it came down to get rid of the cats or get rid of the claws.... I chose the claws....

Anywho, here it goes, I am going to add my input here, I have 2 kitties that are declawed and I lived through their recovery period. Also working at a vet clinic and having seen many surgeries and their outcomes, I know that the surgery is very invasive - and their are good and bad outcomes (believe it or not the good outweighed the bad).

Let's see, my kitties.... Bobbi was young and she is small, her recovery was *almost* instantaneous. Never had a problem with the litter box afterward, and no behavior problems.

MeMe was older (approx. 2 years) and she is a big kitty (big boned) she seemed to have more pain- age and weight are definite factors- and the healing process seemed longer. She did not have any litter box or behavior problems either.

Ultimately, I don't like the idea of declawing, it really does seem like cruel punishement, but like I said, you gotta do what you gotta do.... and I just wanted to let you know that it is an option and your kitty will *most likely* recover just fine and be normal and healthy afterward.

Oh, for about 2 weeks after the surgery, your kitty should use paper litter (you can shred paper or buy some pellets from Petsmart or your vet - pellets work better) and you have to change the paper litter like 1-2 times a day. Regular litter can cause infection. Your doc should send home pain meds to use for 3 days after the surgery, if you have a large or older cat, ask for a couple more days worth of the pain meds.

[meliz]

I feel for ya Nicola... that was a tough decision to make. But you're right... in the real world, sometimes you have to make yucky (but right) decisions. I'm sure your kitties are very happy and healthy and have forgiven you! I was wondering about that other procedure that I mentioned above... is there a way of cutting tendons withour removing the claw? Do they do this at the clinic you work at? Maybe this is no 'better' than the traditional method?

[Rrricola]

Yes it is possible to cut the tendons without removing the claw/bone. It is called flexor tendonectomy. I found a little info online about it...... A tendonectomy leaves the claws intact but prevents cats from extending them. The tendon controlling claw extension is cut and a small portion removed while the cat is under general anesthesia. After a tendonectomy, owners must monitor the cat's toenails and keep them clipped, because the cat's ability to shed and sharpen the claws is limited.

The clinic that I work at does not do that procedure *yet*. And I am told that only about half of the clinics in the area do it, and growing. Also, it is painful, but I imagine not as bad as aputating part of the cats toes.