My cat is destroying everything in my house, moldings, doors, furniture etc...
Does anybody know anything about declawing??? I am confused.
Oh, my dilemma is to declaw or not declaw.
Love,
Mo
to declaw or not declaw........help!
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
to declaw or not declaw........help!
I'm having a huge dilemma,
My cat is destroying everything in my house, moldings, doors, furniture etc...
Does anybody know anything about declawing??? I am confused.
Oh, my dilemma is to declaw or not declaw.
Love,
Mo
My cat is destroying everything in my house, moldings, doors, furniture etc...
Does anybody know anything about declawing??? I am confused.
Oh, my dilemma is to declaw or not declaw.
Love,
Mo
-
annie oakley
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3859
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 5:56 pm
When I worked at the Humane society I had witness to how de-clawing effects a cat. It's a bloody painful experience for the cat. There are very few known pain killers for cats. They can't take Tylenol or asprin. It;s a personal choice. I always reccomemmened that people purchase and try scratcing posts and or a scratch Box....corregated cardboard in a base for the cats to scratch before de-clawing. And have several around the house. If that doesn't work then declaw. Maybe others that own cats would have more Info on it and maybe they have new pain killers for cats. Ihad My director at the Humane society put it like this...It would be like you waking up to find all your finger nails pulled out. Sorry, I am against declawing, but I don't have a cat tearing things up either. I was never a cat person til I had to care for them...Now I have great respect and alot of Empathy when they are in Need. Love Oma
P.S. Have you tried any sprays
P.S. Have you tried any sprays
May I be more compassionate and loving than yeterday*and be able to spot the idiots in advance
Thanks OMA,
about an hour ago I decided to cancel my vet appt. to declaw. After reading many stories on the internet against declawing, I have decided to buy more scratching posts including the corrugated cardboard kind that you mentioned.
I'm getting new bedroom furniture this month - they have clawed up the old stuff - so I'm going to keep a spray bottle by my bed and put a scratching post in every room!
One cat hardly scratches the other seems to love to scratch all day long.
Have a good night,
Love,
Mo
about an hour ago I decided to cancel my vet appt. to declaw. After reading many stories on the internet against declawing, I have decided to buy more scratching posts including the corrugated cardboard kind that you mentioned.
I'm getting new bedroom furniture this month - they have clawed up the old stuff - so I'm going to keep a spray bottle by my bed and put a scratching post in every room!
One cat hardly scratches the other seems to love to scratch all day long.
Have a good night,
Love,
Mo
Mo,
You do indeed have a dilema. I have to agree with Oma, declawing is a pretty harsh treatment. However, maybe it just seems that way, because we are wimpier than we used to be.
When I was much younger, we had a country doctor who, if a patient came to him with a smashed fingertip, would put the patients elbow against the wall, (so that the arm couldn't be pulled away), and jam the lower cutting edge of a scissor under the nail, and proceed to split the nail in half, right down the middle. He would then take a pliers, and pull each half of the nail out by the roots. All without any deadening, of course.
After seeing my brother get that treatment from him, I decided to just let my smashed nails fall off on their own, when they were good and ready. Ok, so I'm a wimp, but it works for me. Anyway, the point is, if people can tolerate that kind of treatment, so can animals.
As I see it, (from an engineering viewpoint), you have four possible solutions, if you don't wish to stand helplessly by while your cat damages everything in your house that he can reach.
1. Try to teach the cat to use a scratching post
2. Declaw the cat
3. Trade cats, and hope that you have better luck with the next one.
4. Buy, rent, or borrow a dog that absolutely hates the sound of claws scratching on wood or fabric.
I dodge the problem by not letting my cats in the house. Of course that's a lot easier to do down here in the southern half of Texas, than it is way up north.
Love,
Wayne
You do indeed have a dilema. I have to agree with Oma, declawing is a pretty harsh treatment. However, maybe it just seems that way, because we are wimpier than we used to be.
When I was much younger, we had a country doctor who, if a patient came to him with a smashed fingertip, would put the patients elbow against the wall, (so that the arm couldn't be pulled away), and jam the lower cutting edge of a scissor under the nail, and proceed to split the nail in half, right down the middle. He would then take a pliers, and pull each half of the nail out by the roots. All without any deadening, of course.
After seeing my brother get that treatment from him, I decided to just let my smashed nails fall off on their own, when they were good and ready. Ok, so I'm a wimp, but it works for me. Anyway, the point is, if people can tolerate that kind of treatment, so can animals.
As I see it, (from an engineering viewpoint), you have four possible solutions, if you don't wish to stand helplessly by while your cat damages everything in your house that he can reach.
1. Try to teach the cat to use a scratching post
2. Declaw the cat
3. Trade cats, and hope that you have better luck with the next one.
4. Buy, rent, or borrow a dog that absolutely hates the sound of claws scratching on wood or fabric.
I dodge the problem by not letting my cats in the house. Of course that's a lot easier to do down here in the southern half of Texas, than it is way up north.
Love,
Wayne
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex, you got an "Oh my God!!" out of me and that's not easy!!!I'm definitely with you..........let nature take it's course as far as smashed fingertips go. I'd NEVER consider treatment like your brother got. Are you sure that doctor had a license. LOL
Sounds more like a torture expert.
I'm having chills..........
Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
-
kate_ce1995
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1321
- Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 5:53 pm
- Location: Vermont
Declawing is worse than Wayne's treatment option because it totally removes the nail, which requires actually breaking the little bones in the tips of their toes.
How old is the cat? trimming the claws helps too. Maybe a vet appointment for that unless its a calm lap cat. Of course I've had ones who weren't fans of toe trims so I'd get them when they are asleep. Its easier if you start when they are kittens.
The most effective position if you are doing it alone is to flip the cat on its back in your lap. Then you can use your clipping hand to press into their ribs and they can't move. Use the other to hold the paw in question and spread the claw out.
Alternatively, get someone to sit on them (kneel over them, sort of crossing your feet behind you so they can't scoot behind you, hold their shoulders with your knees, but you aren't really putting any weight on them). You can do this alone although its a good 2 person option if the cat is persnickity. This also works well for pilling a cat.
Good Luck. I am personally glad you opted against declawing.
Katy
How old is the cat? trimming the claws helps too. Maybe a vet appointment for that unless its a calm lap cat. Of course I've had ones who weren't fans of toe trims so I'd get them when they are asleep. Its easier if you start when they are kittens.
The most effective position if you are doing it alone is to flip the cat on its back in your lap. Then you can use your clipping hand to press into their ribs and they can't move. Use the other to hold the paw in question and spread the claw out.
Alternatively, get someone to sit on them (kneel over them, sort of crossing your feet behind you so they can't scoot behind you, hold their shoulders with your knees, but you aren't really putting any weight on them). You can do this alone although its a good 2 person option if the cat is persnickity. This also works well for pilling a cat.
Good Luck. I am personally glad you opted against declawing.
Katy
-
annie oakley
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3859
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 5:56 pm
We had a cat at the Humane society...Remember Gizmo? We had to wrap him in three towels to do anything to him. You can as you mentioned use a spray bottle full of warm water...everytime the cat goes to scratch on anything other than what he/she is suppose to....wham-o, spray bottle and a face full of water spray. They soon quit doing what you don't want them to do. Love Oma
May I be more compassionate and loving than yeterday*and be able to spot the idiots in advance
A lttle late here with the advice...but I say NO, don't do it. There are many options to de-clawing and I'd try every one first. First and foremost keep 'em trimmed. My Buster bites me (when I get to the 8th out of ten nails, and he IS gentle, as am I) every time I trim. I only do the front claws. I call it our PAW-DE-CURE session.
paw-de-cure! That is so cute! 
I came to my senses....no declawing.....they are more precious to me than my moldings, closets, dressers, doors, etc.....
I will try trimming Molly's nails while she is sleeping - is that a good idea?
I'm going out to PectCo and PetSmart to look for more scratching posts! Hey, It was going to cost me $400 for 2 cats - that's a lot of toys!!!
Happy Saturday!
Love,
Mo-ster :)
I came to my senses....no declawing.....they are more precious to me than my moldings, closets, dressers, doors, etc.....
I will try trimming Molly's nails while she is sleeping - is that a good idea?
I'm going out to PectCo and PetSmart to look for more scratching posts! Hey, It was going to cost me $400 for 2 cats - that's a lot of toys!!!
Happy Saturday!
Love,
Mo-ster :)
If Molly sleeps through that, you'd better check her pulse. LOL.
Wow! $400? I'm in the wrong line of work.
Hey, you made the right decision.
You might be interested in reading the advice on this site, (written by a veterinarian), if you haven't already done so.
http://www.catscratching.com/
I don't know if they're mentioned on this site, but there is also a product known as nail caps, that you might want to consider, if she proves to be a challenging student.
Love,
Wayne
Wow! $400? I'm in the wrong line of work.
Hey, you made the right decision.
You might be interested in reading the advice on this site, (written by a veterinarian), if you haven't already done so.
http://www.catscratching.com/
I don't know if they're mentioned on this site, but there is also a product known as nail caps, that you might want to consider, if she proves to be a challenging student.
Love,
Wayne
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thank-you, Wayne!
I went to the store last night and spent about $75. I bought a nice scratching post with a little round perch on top (Lucie, my black Main Coone cat loves it!) It has toys that hang off of it (My cat Molly, loves that part the best)
I bought a corrugated cardboard scratching box (it's on a slant) for my bedroom (turns out it is too noisy while I'm sleeping) I moved it...
Of course, I had to buy them some cute little furry mice to chase around...
And let's not forget the water spray bottle that I use when she's scratching - it scares the poor daylights out of her!
Love,
Mo
I went to the store last night and spent about $75. I bought a nice scratching post with a little round perch on top (Lucie, my black Main Coone cat loves it!) It has toys that hang off of it (My cat Molly, loves that part the best)
I bought a corrugated cardboard scratching box (it's on a slant) for my bedroom (turns out it is too noisy while I'm sleeping) I moved it...
Of course, I had to buy them some cute little furry mice to chase around...
And let's not forget the water spray bottle that I use when she's scratching - it scares the poor daylights out of her!
Love,
Mo