I love pets. I want a cat.?

Question

I don't want it to tear up the furniture. Is it a good idea to go to the animal shelter and get one that has already been declawed? I will never again declaw a cat. It was a mistake .(I was much younger) If one has been declawed by another person and needs a wonderful home I have lots of love to give. Any downfalls to this. I do not wnat to get attached to a pet and give it up.

Answer 1

Just make sure if you adopt a de-clawed cat from a shelter that it hasn't decided that biting can replace scratching. A friend of mine had her cat declawed now she's a nasty biter. That's the only downside I can think of if the cat's already been declawed. None of our cats are declawed but we provide them with alternatives to furniture, like cardboard scratch posts, deck posts and trees.

Answer 2

I think it's a great idea to look for an already declawed kitty at your local shelter. They tend to be older and are harder to adopt out than kittens, so you'd be doing a very good thing. You could also check Craigslist on the internet if you have one that services your local area and call or visit local vets, who usually have ads up for loving declawed cats needing homes.

If you are having a difficult time finding a declawed kitty that suits your personality, you could try Softpaws. These are adhesive covers for a cat's nails. I must warn you though, that not all kitties take to these. Some will rip them off in a matter of hours and some will leave them alone for the several weeks they last. I must say that my undeclawed cat luckily never touches my furniture and we have her well-trained to using her scratching post. Every time she went for the furniture we placed her, paws still outstretched, on her post until she understood. Sprinkling catnip on the post helps too.

If you are not willing to risk any scratching fiascos at all, I recommend waiting patiently until you find the perfect declawed kitty. There are plenty out there that need your loving home. Just keep checking for that lucky kitty.

Answer 3

This is exactly why the argument that "it's better to declaw than give up your furniture-destroying pet to a shelter" is garbage. Obviously you recognize that our nation's animal shelters are filled with abandoned, declawed cats in need of loving homes. I've met many a wonderful declawed cat, but I've met many more declawed cats with aggression and fear problems. I've met others who experience chronic pain in their paws and therefore refuse to use the litterbox. Declawing is such a crapshoot. I applaud you for recognizing that and wanting to give a homeless, declawed kitty a loving home. Personally, I think you should just go to a shelter and let the cat pick you and find out if they have their claws later. Pick the cat that suits your personality. It very well may be an in-your-face friendly cat...or it may be a shy, fearful cat that you want to bring out of it's shell by showering it with love. If you happen to pick a declawed cat, find out why the previous owners gave it up and make sure you are willing to accept the additional challenges you may face. If you pick a cat that does have it's claws, even better. I say this because paws come with claws and you won't have to worry about any of those behavioral issues with a declawed cat.

Now here's the part where I tell you how to live in harmony with a cat and its claws. First off, you have to accept the fact that cats MUST scratch. It's in their nature. They scratch to groom their feet and to stretch their flexible spines. So given this, you must provide your cat with an acceptable place to scratch. And this "place" must be acceptable to your kitty as well. Some cats don't particularly care for those 2 feet tall, skinny posts. Some don't like those cardboard scratchers that shred to bits in a few weeks. What cats like are TALL, sisal rope, cat trees with perches. They just LOVE them. They can climb them, they can hook those claws in the rope and get a real good, long stretch, and perch up high and feel like supreme masters of their universe down below. Some people think these trees are expensive. I have found them on the internet for less than $200. I've found the "deluxe" ones at a CFA cat show for under $150. But even if you were to spend $300 on a cat tree...it's still cheaper than a declaw surgery. And they come in every color under the rainbow so you can match your decor. Put it in a corner near a window and your kitty will not find a need to scratch anywhere else. It doesn't hurt to have one of those little ones in another room here and there, but the tall one will be your kitty's haven. Good luck!

Answer 4

If you want a cat without claws, adopting one that's already been through that horror would be the noble thing.

But just because a cat has claws, that doesn't guarantee it's going to scratch up your furniture. There are ways to train cats to not do that. Spray bottles, air horns, double sided tape, couch protectors, and scratching posts/cardboard scratchers.

Both of my cats have their claws, and neither one of them tears up anything but their toys and their scratchers.

Also keep in mind that if you get a declawed cat now, then a cat with claws later on down the road....it's possible that the cat with claws will "bully" the one without. Or that the one without will "bully" the one with because it feels helpless and has to compensate.

If you plan on never having a cat with claws, however, adopt one that's already declawed. Adoption is the best option anyway:)

Good luck!

Answer 5

Well if they have any that are already declawed I say go for it. I do not really see any downfalls so long as the cat remains strickly indoors. A cat who has been declawed should not be allowed outside from the lack of self defense.

Answer 6

We admire the fact that you're willing to bring home a shelter cat. Good for you!

If you get a cat, it doens't have to be declawed to keep it from ripping up the furniture.

We have "assessment" cats in our shelter, and keep them from scratching at our furniture by applying two sided tape to the side of the sofas and chairs. Cats can't stand having anything sticky on their paws. At the same time, we make sure to rub catnip into their scratching posts to make those more appealing to them.

Answer 7

YES!! the cats that are at the shelter & already declawed will be older. And they need good homes too.

Answer 8

I absolutely LOVE my cats! I have 13 and have been a cat owner since I was born. I am 11 years old too. Names: Beanie Baby Sammy Sassy Lily Pookie Toowie Tommy Dinker Kitcat Anna John Mama

Answer 9

usually when you go to the animal shelters the cat picks you so if you find one that picks you, you should have no problems

Answer 10

I love cats!!!! if you dont want one with claws i think it good get one from shelter thet already has claws gone. my cat has claws and does lots of scratching but i still love her!!