Should I declaw my cat?

Question

She is a 3 year old spayed Maine Coon named Samantha. I love her so much but she is clawing my furniture. She has only been outside once which was a walk so she is obviously an indoor cat. She claws my chairs, bed, tables, everything. I need help so much.

Answer 1

Please don't de-claw her, if she gets outside and has no claws she is a goner. Could you get her a scratching post to use in the house? Other than that, this will sound insane, but it works--put some aluminum foil on the surfaces she is scratching, she won't want to scratch the foil, it freaks them out for some reason, and after she's adjusted to not scratching you can take off the foil. Good luck--Maine Coon Cats are awesomely cool!

Answer 2

I posted this answer to a similar question:

Declawing is inhumane. It is illegal in much of the world, including Europe, Brazil, Australia, and Japan. I don't know why America hasn't banned it yet. In declawing, the entire first joint is removed, not just the claws. It's equivalent to the first knuckle on each of your fingers being chopped off. Moreover, declawing is extremely painful. If the cat has to use the litter box after a declawing and its paws hurt, it may associate the litter box with pain and stop using it. Moreover, cats use their claws to get a proper stretch and to some extent, for balancing. Declawed cats often become stressed and have personality problems. Moreover, there is a high possibility of medical complications. And if a declawed cat gets out, it has lost its first line of defense. It doesn't matter how vigilant you are about keeping the cat indoors - cats are very clever critters.

There are several good alternatives. First, ask your vet to show you how to properly trim your cat's claws and then do it twice a month or so with a cat nail trimmer, not a regular human nailcutter. They don't cost much at all. Second, get a good, solid, tall scratching post - something made with sisal is best. Don't bother with carpet. Third, you can get Soft Paws, which are little plastic caps that you put over the cat's claws. Fourth, if scratching is really a problem, cover the area with something the cat doesn't like. For example, most cats hate the feel of double-sided tape. Stick some on the side of the couch and they'll leave it alone. [I think someone else also mentioned aluminum foil, another good cat deterrent.] Or you can redirect the cat. When it starts to scratch somewhere you don't want it to, say "NO!" and redirect the cat's attention to the scratching post. Fifth, you can buy bitter apple or bitter herb spray at any pet store. It's non-toxic and cats hate the taste of it. Spray it anywhere you don't want your cat clawing. [Cats are trainable, despite common belief. If you are patient and consistent, the cat will eventually learn to stop scratching the furniture, and then you won't have to bother with sticky tape and sprays and stuff.]

Cats tend to use their claws in a dangerous manner only when threatened or provoked (or when you try to give one a bath, lol). It is unlikely that you or other humans would be seriously scratched. If you have kids, teach them to respect the cat, not to play too rough with it, and never, ever yank its tail.

If you are insistent on getting your cat declawed, you shouldn't have a cat in the first place. Sorry if that sounds mean, but it's the truth. Other than the extremely rare instance where declawing is medically necessary, declawing only benefits the human at the unjustifiable expense of the innocent cat. Please read the links below.

Answer 3

NEVER declaw a cat. Declawing is major surgery involving amputation of the first bone of their toe. Claws are very important to the cat both as defence and a way to mark off territory. Alot of declawed cats become psychologically affected by the surgery and can result in a very timid animal. That is the affect we can see. There is no telling what affect this has that the animal simply can't communicate to you. Ask yourself how would you like the first joints of all your hands amputated for scratching up furniture. Get your kitty some good cecile scratch posts. Also,ask your vet for training options. Oh, I also have a main coon and she is a delightful BIG baby.

Answer 4

Don't declaw Samantha. She is such a nice cat and if you declaw her you won't be able to play with her until a couple days after the surgery. Even though she is an indoor cat and has never gotten out before there is still a chance she might get out someday. And if she does end up getting out of the house a dog might chase her and she will need her claws to climb up a tree to get away or to scratch the dog to defend herself. I really want you to think about declawing her before you go and get the surgery done.

Answer 5

Here are pictures of an actual declaw surgery. Look at these pictures and tell me you still want to do this to your cat.
http://community-2.webtv.net/stopdeclaw/declawpics/


Declawing is torture, many people do not know how serious this really is. They think you are only removing the claw, when in reality the vet is chopping off the bone to the first joint. The poor cat has no pain medication, and does not get the choice of using crutches like we can. The cat still has to walk on its feet. It still has to dig in its litterbox, and the litter gets stuck in the wounds on the feet. For many cats, they associate the pain that they get when they dig in the litterbox to the litterbox and find somewhere else to eliminate. It does cause great psychological damage to the cat and most cats will never act the same after having a declaw surgery.

Answer 6

If you're unsure about declawing, try trimming her claws once a week. You can buy clippers at any store that sells pet supplies. I bought mine at a pet store (it was either PetCo or Petsmart) that had a vet on site. The vet assistant showed me for free how to trim kitty's claws. She didn't like it the first couple of times, but I give her a treat when I'm finished, so now she usually sits still. It only takes a minute to do. Also, be sure to have a scratcher or scratching post. My cat likes the kind made of cardboard (you can buy them at Walmart or Target, probably pet stores, too).

Answer 7

Yes. I had my cat declawed in just the front, but I wish I had had him declawed in the back also. I have SCARS from trying to hold him or take him to the vet, and he tore up a wood floor while playing. If the cat is causing damage to your house and furniture, and is an indoor cat, then I would recomend it. The reason she is scratching things is to either dull, sharpen, or shed a claw. Just my 2 cents.

Answer 8

I would get her declawed. A lot of people say that you shouldn't I know, but my vet told me some great advice once. If it means that the cat is going to be in a nice loving home, and you will be happy with the cat then it is worth it. I have declawed all of my cats, and they have been just fine.

Only have her front two paws declawed. That way if she does get out she won't be defenseless. Cats when they fight grab on to their opponent with their front paws(like hugging), and then attack with their back claws.

Be sure to go to a reputable vet and everything should be just fine.

Answer 9

I had my 16 year old cat declawed when he was 5. My six year old cats were declawed at about 4 months. I had more trouble with the kittens ripping their bandages off and diving off the bunk bed onto the hardwood floor and ripping open their incisions. They are now all very well adjusted and happy cats. And they would be tearing my woodwork in my new condo to shreds if they had claws. I say, love your kitty and love your nice stuff. Get her declawed!

Answer 10

No. you should NEVER declaw a cat. It's basically like ripping out the last joint of your finger. Nails provide cats with a sense of protection, and also aide them in balance. I worked in a cat shelter, and we wouldn't even adopt out cats to people who said they were thinking about declawing.

An alternative is a Soft Paw nail cap. You put these rubber caps over the claws and your cat can't scratch. Much safer and recommended by vets.

Here's the link http://www.softpaws.com/
And the info about declawing:http://www.declawing.com/
Alternatives: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_declawing_and_its_alternatives.html