did you declaw your cat?
By britt_200
@britt_200 (1226)
United States
December 26, 2009 11:38pm CST
Im thinking about declawing my cat, but i heard it is painful. She wont stop scratching the furniture and she has her scratching posts and i have tried to spray cat nip on it. Nothing has worked so im thinking about getting her declawed. Im hear its painful and not good for them. shes an indoor cat so im not worried about that. i just dont want her to be in pain. i love my cat so i only want the best for her. I did her about alternatives such as the soft paws, to put over their claws, but those are expensive to keep changing out all the time. so im wondering if you have ever declawed your cats, and how their recovery process was and what they were like afterwards.
3 people like this
17 responses
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
27 Dec 09
Declawing is very painful for cats. We've never done it to any of our cats, my sister did it to one of hers. But I would never do it to one of mine.
Have you tried training your cat? Whenever you catch her scratching the furniture don't be afraid to swat her butt and scold her. And if you notice new scratches you didn't catch her doing you can show it too her and swat her bottom, like people do when training their dogs to potty outside. And continue encouraging her to use the scratching posts. Maybe try getting a different kind of scratching post?
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
27 Dec 09
Maybe there is some kind of product you could spray onto the couch that will stop her from scratching. We have something called "Scat Cat" (I think) that we use to stop our cats from going potty outside their litter boxes. Maybe there is a product for scratching. I know we had a product once that sprayed a scent cats don't like, so they stay away from the area it was sprayed...maybe you could look into that and spray it on the furniture.
@britt_200 (1226)
• United States
27 Dec 09
lol a couple of these i have tried. her scratching post is by her food and her kitty bed. so thats a good thing. the balloon lol....she actually likes balloons and plays with them like balls. she wont claw at them. she just pushes them around. i just thought that was a funny little side note. the water bottle is a great idea! i remember someone telling me that a long time ago! i think that will be my next attempt. before i have to try something drastic! i hear that works well. even the dog doesnt scare her, cuz when anyone yells at her for getting at the couch the dog will chase her away. but she will still go back. i will definitely look into the spray for her, that was also a good idea. but i think i will try the water first its probably the least expensive at this point.
@britt_200 (1226)
• United States
27 Dec 09
This is the reason im feeling so desperate! i have done those things. i have two different scratching posts, one upstairs and one downstairs and she uses them but still insists on using the couch! everytime she does i spank her and put her on her post, but she still wont stop. i talked to a guy at a pet store that said to use cat nip on them so she would smell it and use them, she wouldnt stop on the furniture! so its not like shes not using them. she does, but cant stop with the couch! I had my own place, and there she didnt scratch anything but her post, now that i moved back in with my parents she seems to want to use their furniture, so my mom is pushing me to get something done with her.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
27 Dec 09
Declawing your cat is extremely painful and the paws remain painful for the rest of the cat's life. I did that to one of my cats and he would always wince when he jumped down from someplace high, if someone touched his paws and when he would clean his feet. It is classified as mutilation in many circles.
There are sheaths that you can glue over the claws that will keep the cat from damaging your furniture. Like the other person stated, you can clip their claws. It doesn't hurt them, and if you use a pet nail clippers the claws will not be jagged.
Talk to the people at the pet store, there is stuff you can spray on the furniture that will repel the cat and make them leave the furniture alone instead of clawing it. Another thing is how tall are the scratching posts? They need to be taller than the cats so they can stretch when they claw. If you watch outside cats they stretch when they claw so the usual scratching posts are too short for the cat.
Mom always cured the cats scratching the furniture by swatting them on the top of their head with a newspaper. Just hard enough so it makes a noise and remains in their minds as a negative response to their negative behavior. I have also found that a good spritzing with a spray bottle full of water also works wonders.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I forgot to add that if your cat gets outside their natural form of defense is taken away. Not only can they not use their claws against their enemies, but they also can't climb trees to get away from adversaries. Also if you ever need to find your cat a new home, you aren't guaranteed that the home that the cat goes to will keep the cat as an inside cat.
Declawing isn't an easy choice, and shouldn't be rushed into. Personally I would NEVER declaw a cat again.
@britt_200 (1226)
• United States
27 Dec 09
yeah another person mentioned the water. and i dont know why i havent tried that! that seems like the easiest most inexpensive way! i think im going to start there, and if not then i will try the spray. i just dont have the money to do too much at this point so im looking for something inexpensive. her scratching posts are long enough. one hangs on the door nobs and has a little danglie thing at the top that she has to climb to reach. so that one is long enough, and the other one is as long as her also but it stands on the floor. i made sure to get them pretty big, so as she grew she could still have them, kinda like shoes lol!
@britt_200 (1226)
• United States
27 Dec 09
i really really dont want to do that! i thought it was a bad idea ever since my mom has been suggesting it! i just knew it has to hurt them! and i love her so much i dont want to hurt her. im hoping one of these alternatives work because i definitely dont want to declaw her. people were just mentioning it and trying to tell me that it doesnt hurt, so i started looking into it and turns out my instinct was right! it just isnt a good idea!
@shaggin (72131)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I never had any of my 3 cats declawed because I think its just cruel but now they claw the door frames, wooden doors and couches and chairs. I regret ever getting animals. Although at times they were a lot of fun now they are just a burden and one more thing to take care of when I'm already busy. We bought a brand new couch for $700 and no sooner had we got it home then the one cat started clawing it up. I think I am going to take that cat to the pound as well as the one other cat we have that is like 8 and pees on everything out of spite. I am tired of feeding them and having them turn around and be rotten. I've put them outside but they wont fend for themselves they just claw at the doors to get back in.
@shaggin (72131)
• United States
29 Dec 09
I used to believe that about cats not doing things out of spite but that was wrong in a sense. This cat had gotten a uti and got blocked up we spent a LOT of money to have him unblocked and medicated and then spent the next 2 years buying him really expensive cat food to keep him from getting another uti again. After this uti was cleared up he continued to pee on things out of spite. If we dont feed him at the exact same time everyday say two hours off he will pee on the shower curtain. We keep him in the bathroom because if we let him out he pees on everything in the house. If my son gets into the cat food and the cat hears it he gets mad that he doesnt get fed and will pee on the floor. He may be trying to tell us he wants food but he gets fed and he needs to learn to wait until its time for the next feeding and stop peeing on things. I dont want to put him to sleep that just makes me feel guilty so I figure I'll wash my hands of him by taking him to the pound. I will tell the people at the pound the truth that he is a really nice cat, hes fixed but he pees on everything. Its up to them what they do with him after that. The other cats are really nice but claw the furniture. The one cat I can deal with but the other two have got to go. If my husband leaves he can have the one cat since he got that one and I didnt want it. I told him no more animals and after my daughter was born he brought that kitten home from his friends house. I was not happy I had a new baby to take care of I didnt need a kitten to take care of as well. They are all super nice cats very loveable but just have issues. Once these cats are gone I will never get animals again. They ruin your house and besides cats, dogs are to time consuming for me. I dont have time for them I will never get a dog.
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
27 Dec 09
Why would you take in animals that you obviously hate? The one peeing out of the box is doing so for a reason. Animals don't do things out of spite. People, however do.
@sasalove (1709)
• China
28 Dec 09
Well, it is really a headache for the cat's clawn. When I was young, I see that my mom declaw the cat's claw in front of us and advised that she is not nice to scratch us. I really hate the cat if she scatch me as it will be painful, but I still not suggest to declaw your cat. It will deprive of the ability of God endowed to the cat. If you would like to avoid the scratching of the Cat, why not just trim their nails or tie it to a tree or a conner of your house.
@britt_200 (1226)
• United States
28 Dec 09
yeah i really dont want to declaw her i just want to have her stop scratching .
@kaylachan (69709)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 Dec 09
It can be very dangerous to declaw a cat after they reach a cirtin age. The recovery is not only very painful, but to needlessly put them under isn't good and can do more harm to your cat. I won't declaw Precious because he is too old, and I've been told, and have heard that anathisa can harm, or kill your animal so it is advised not to declaw them after a cirtin age. (usually a year).
If the cat does survive the sugery, the pain would be overwelming and they could be effected physoclogically. They are so used to the claws, that it could heart them when they relize they can't use them.
You can have your cats trimmed and that will protect your furnture. It needs to be done every two weeks to a month, but there is an inexpencive option called pedipaws. You can find it in any pet store or buy online at pedipaws.com It files the cats nail just like you or I would file our nails and it helps. They still scratch, but the nail is dull and won't do damage. And the best part of all the animal won't be in pain.
@britt_200 (1226)
• United States
27 Dec 09
yeah my baby is only 6 months. she still needs to be fixed. so i heard they do it while they do that surgery, but i just dont want her to be in pain. so im glad you mentioned that. most people i have talked to say its painless, but how can it be. theyre ripping their nails off. i just REALLY dont want to put her through any pain. shes my baby, so i want it to be painless and easy for her. i was thinking about cutting and filing them, but im still scared she can get at the furniture. its not me that wants her declawed its my mom. i just moved back in and i had to bring her and my mom is pushing me to get something done so she will stop, but she thinks that it is pain free. i even heard the humane society discourages it! so im definitely looking into alternative things.
1 person likes this
@britt_200 (1226)
• United States
27 Dec 09
im trying to do the most inexpensive least painful things first. then if it comes down to it declaw her but i really dont want to do that!
@kaylachan (69709)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 Dec 09
Six months is the safest time to do it. Because that's the age most vets recommend doing it. And, no they don't rip the nail out, they cut it out with a special tool. It is virturally painless when they are that young. Only thing though they will have to have special litter for the litter box while the inssions in the feet heal.
When George and I got our cat little Bit, he was old enough to be declawed. So The vet that fixed him,also did it. Little bit walked away from it pain-free because we caught him at the right age.
We didn't do Chinia though because we couldnt determine her age (she was the runt of her litter) and was nearly full size when we found her.
But, if your cat is healthy, then six months is a good age to do it.
@RAVENBLADE0842 (493)
• United States
27 Dec 09
DO NOT declaw your cat. I realize you said it was an inside cat, However if that cat is declawed and gets out of your house for any reason, you are taking away its ability to defend itself. The thing is, its not really neccessary either. Take it to a groomer and have them trim it's nails, and teach you how to do it properly. This is something that can be done on a regular basis, and will go a long way towards saving your furniture.
@britt_200 (1226)
• United States
27 Dec 09
i didnt even think of JUST clipping her nails because i figured there would still be jagged edges on her nails that she could claw things. and still ruin the furniture...idk if this is so. if im wrong please let me know. im looking for the most inexpensive least painful way to get her through this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I agree with Ravenblade. You can easily trim your cat's nails(claws). I think you might want to try this first because it is a lot cheaper than replacing furniture and having the nails removed. Besides the cat may just be going through a phase as far as using the furniture as a scratching post. Good luck. I was told by a vet not to declaw a cat after a certain age and if they are BIG the vet won't do it either. Ask your vet about cats bleeding out after surgery.
@thessay89 (57)
• Philippines
27 Dec 09
yes i agree with you raven, declawing a cat is like taking its ability to defend itself. i could just imagine my poor sylar when he was declaw, there was this was time when he got out from the house and when he return, his face was full of blood and scratches and wounds. huhuhu :( ...but i understand others who have experience damage furniture because of cats, i know its not easy but its part of being a cat. why not give them their own mattress or pillows or stuffs that they can scratch on instead?!.. (i just thought!) :)
@septemberstar76 (57)
• Philippines
27 Dec 09
aww, that hurts a lot. God gave them claws to scratch, which means it is their nature. my niece tried doing that stuff and the cat ended up with a bleeding hand..it grew of course but it came back to its old habit of scratching LOL! just try to accept them for what they are..
@britt_200 (1226)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I DO! its just my mom who is trying to make me do something about her!
@apples99 (6556)
• United States
28 Dec 09
I hate it when my cat claws in to my furniture too, but I dont think I'll ever declaw my cat and the reason why I won't is because even though my cat stays indoors there's always a small chance that my cat may accidentally get lost outside and be unable to protect himself out in the big world and I just dont want to risk leaving him helpless so instead of declawing him I'd rather just get my cat a scratching board or buy a safe spray at petsmart that can be used on my furniture to prevent my cat from wanting to scratch on my nice things, I think its a better idea then completely removing my cats protection.
@britt_200 (1226)
• United States
28 Dec 09
that is. and thats what im trying to do i dont want to do anything big, and regret it. if she does ever get out i would be very sad thinking of all the other animals that could get her and kill her! i would be very sad! so im trying simple things like the squirt bottle.
@neelianoscet (9615)
• Philippines
27 Dec 09
Nope, I never done it aside from it it is a cruel things to do, and i am better off to just trim my cat nails. My cats protect us against rats and because of their claws their is rarely mouse in the house.
@britt_200 (1226)
• United States
27 Dec 09
yeah but im going to have a groomer show me because i dont want to do it wrong or hurt her. i want to be able to do it right and have her nails look ok.
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
27 Dec 09
dear britt,
how are you? been a long time i havent seen you.
this is the first time i heard of that, declawing a cat? well i dont think that is good. their claws are very important to them especially when they are catching prey.
i have known of cats having nail trim but never of declawing. it would resemble to be like cutting their toes (even if only the claws are cut), wouldnt it? no i dont advise that.
Merry Christmas and a Happy new your to you and your family.
ann
@britt_200 (1226)
• United States
27 Dec 09
yeah im not sure where youre from, but in some countries its illegal. i heard it was illegal in europe.
@SharonJohnson (459)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I have a couch that my cat has torn into. I want to buy a new set and can't/ Loin will tear into the next one as well. I wanted to declaw him as well. But,i thought about his needing to have them for safety reason. Plus he would not be able to scratch himself either. Mice would be able to run away as well. So I left my sweetie pie alone to scratch the house down. They have this spray you can buy. I got tired of spending the money so it cost me a couch. It's called stay away and it works fine. You just have to keep using it.
@britt_200 (1226)
• United States
27 Dec 09
yeah i dont want her to accidentally get out and not be able to defend herself. she hasnt torn up anything that bad! hopefully she doesnt!
@Ambreya3 (100)
• United States
27 Dec 09
I think it is best when they are kittens, which is what we did with ours. And we also only did the front claws (less to remove equals less pain) because they don't use their back claws to scratch things, plus our went outside sometimes and that left them some defense. We have had 4 cats and all had declawed and recover was fine for them all, but again they were all kittens at the time. We even had a cat with 6 claws on each paw.
@britt_200 (1226)
• United States
27 Dec 09
shes still 6 months but im not sure i want to put her through that pain,and did you change out her litter because i hear you have to change out the litter so it doesnt hurt their paws.
@Ambreya3 (100)
• United States
28 Dec 09
yeah you can buy special stuff or shred newspaper. seriously, our kittens weren't even phased by it. i think being fixed is more painful and these "pain free" people can't say that isnt necessary. did you discuss this with your vet? surely they could give you the best advice, its their job and they have more knowledge on it than anyone on here.
@xuara1 (82)
• United States
28 Dec 09
I don't have a cat now, but if I did I would NEVER EVER declaw it!
I don't know about it causing them pain, but I do know that it throws off their balance as cats primarily use their claws and tails to balance with.
Have you tried spraying something with a strong citrus scent on the things you don't want your cat clawing at? I haven't tried it, but I heard it's supposed to work wonders on keeping cats from clawing. Has to be fairly strong though, but some sort of lemon or orange scented spray would work great and be a lot cheaper than those soft paws things, from what I have heard.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
27 Dec 09
try to find food grade orange extract to put on the fabric.
cats usually hate that scent with a passion and will run away from it.
once in a while you get one that doesn't mind it,but most of mine never touched that particular piece of furniture again.
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
27 Dec 09
As a rule I didn't declaw most of my cats, however we have a cat that it was the best choice for. He hates people and having to take him for a trim got more and more stressful on him. The decision to declaw was made for his benefit. We also have two more cats. One of them has been declawed and the other goes in on the 4th to be declawed and neutered. The decision to declaw both of them was so they would not be able to claw our one cat. An unfair advantage.
It really isn't that bad. Once in awhile a cat will have problems after declawing but it is a simple fix. My cats are fine and happy. They do still try to sharpen phantom claws though. LOL