My cat Jack is about 9 months old and is the cutest thing ever. As he is getting older he seems to be getting crazier and crazier. He has numerous toys and a scratching tower as well as a cat tree and I play with him atleast an hour a day, so I can't figure out why he is so bad with clawing me and my boyfriend. He literally will jump on our heads claw them then run away. It's getting to a point where neither of us can leave the house without a new scratch and as much as I would hate to do it, I'm thinking the only way for us to live with him and not lose an eye would be to declaw him. Does anyone have any suggestions?????? P.s. we do have the squirt bottle but he runs away before we can spray him. Help!!!!
2007-02-14 08:18:59 · 18 answers · asked by Samantha T 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
You can get the claw caps at pet stores, even in different colors! In the meantime, keep his nails clipped short and tell him NO firmly when he scratches you. This worked with my cat. Also praise him when he uses his scratching tower.
He might also just have a lot of kitten energy. I would suggest you play with him (maybe throw toys for him to chase) to help vent the energy.
2007-02-14 08:30:23 · answer #1 · answered by mortgagelns 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get him fixed if he isn't yet, that may well calm him down. Also when he does this, sternly, loudly say 'no' and ignore him afterwards, take a break in the playing. I can't see it happen through the computer screen but somehow he's getting 'results' from clawing you like this, perhaps the chasing him afterwards with the spray bottle is done so he only sees it as part of the game? Use this stern 'no' only when you're serious, and when you do make sure he understands. Be very short, just 'no!', a long 'no Jack, don't do that, it's not nice' or whatever doesn't work, but a cat can understand one-word commands, my cats know several.
By all means clip his nails (only his nails, it's not that hard to do), but don't declaw. While many cats do come through declawing reasonably well (after a painful recovery period), many others do have complications, from tender feet that cause them to stop using the litterbox, to arthritis later on in life because declawing changes their posture, and another frequent problem from declawed cats is that they start biting instead. Your Jack, if he loses his claws but you don't manage to correct his behavior problem, may well do that. You won't leave the house with scratches, you'll leave the house with bite marks, great improvement. :P
In short: please train, don't amputate, not only 'cause it's cruel but also because chances are it will only change the problems you're having with him, not solve them!
2007-02-14 21:16:54 · answer #2 · answered by Sheriam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can clip his claws. I clip my cats claws about every two weeks. Just clip the sharp point off, being careful not to cut the qwik (it will bleed if you do... and it hurts so he will learn to fight it).
There are also claw covers that you can either buy at the petstore and do yourself, or that your vet can put on. They need to be reapplied every few months.
Also... any chance of getting him a playmate (of the kitty kind)? Even playing with him for an hour a day isn't enough to use up all his kitty energy. My boys are 4yrs old and they play almost all day long.
Also, if he's not yet neutered... that can sometimes calm them down a little bit too (plus if he's not yet neutered, he's bound to start spraying any time!).
2007-02-14 16:30:25 · answer #3 · answered by kittikatti69 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe try giving him treats when he is good? When you play with him is it with your hands or with other toys? sounds like somewhere along the way your cat started considering you an equal and not a master. I dont know if they make these, but maybe you could get something that attaches to his collar that sprays water or some kind of citric spray.. they make these for dogs that can be triggered by barking or by a remote.
Do you trim his nails?, im sure thats a dangerous activity, but get a few treats in front of him to pre occupy him and trim his claws. Make sure you dont cut off too much since they have nerves in their claws.
If all fails, you could try just declawing his front ones. You want your cat to have some form of protection just in case.
2007-02-14 16:38:19 · answer #4 · answered by trout0915 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know you don't want to declaw Jack, but I did have my 2 cats declawed and they are just fine. However, if he likes to be outside, you probably shouldn't consider it. (My cats run from the door whenever it opens up- so I am safe there.) He'll lose too much of his defense. My cats were jumping up on the curtains and being "naughty". I had them spade and declawed with a lazer all in one vet visit and it has been for the best.
2007-02-14 16:55:48 · answer #5 · answered by racin_44chick 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Another option for declawing, is having the vet do an operation where they cut a tendon in each of the cat's paws. They cat still has it's claws, but can't retract them to. I have heard that It is less painful than when they cut off the first knuckle. I am not quite sure exactly what is invoved, but you should ask your vet.
2007-02-14 16:43:21 · answer #6 · answered by Stacy K 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No need to de-calw. Take kitty to the vet and have them apply "Soft Paws" on his claws. Cheaper and SANER than de-clawing! Also, you can discourage some of his more objectionable habits with various kitty discipline techniques (squirt gun, aluminium wrap, clapping your hands real lud etc.). Moreover, your cat is still a kitten and as he matures, he'll become a lot calmer. No need to de-claw... that's mutilating the cat. Seriously. In many westen countries, de-clawng is illegal becuase of the obvious cruelty.
2007-02-14 17:12:06 · answer #7 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are these things sold at pet supply stores and some vets that are called soft claws they are soft platic nail caps you glue on thier nails. Cats hate them though so you may have a hard time keeping them on the cat but it is a god alternitive to declawing. And declawing is not a bad thing if kept indoors. But soft claws they are like soft plastic lee press on nails for cats but prtect your skin and furniture just keep checking them to make sure they are staying on.
2007-02-14 16:28:39 · answer #8 · answered by motherofcats 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've heard that there are caps you can put on a cat's claws so you don't have to declaw your cat. I don't know much about it but if you ask a vet they'll be able to tell you more.
2007-02-14 16:22:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep his nails cut short all the time--something you should have started doing when he was a kitten so he'd be used to it by now. My big male cat used to accidentally scratch me all the time until I start clipping all fo his nails (front paws and back) so now he can't hurt me. If you can't do that regularly (like every week), most pet stores sell these plastic nail sheaths for cats (come in small, medium and large depending on the size of your cat's feet) that you glue on (sort of like fake nails). They have a rounded tip so your cat can no longer hurt you. Supposedly they stay on for a couple of months (will come off when your cat sheds the outer layer of his nails). And they come in colors!
2007-02-14 21:01:28 · answer #10 · answered by Inundated in SF 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋