Regarding the issue of declawing a kitten/cat? "Train" the kitten not to scratch furniture or other unwanted..

Question

...objects by directing it to a scratching post with catnip, spraying it with a water bottle, etc. But what about when YOU ARE NOT HOME and the kitten is scratching the furniture? How do you redirect the behavior then? I do not like it, but I will probably get my kitten declawed because I cannot guarantee my fiancé that our new kitten will not scratch the furnative. The argument against that it takes away their nature defenses against predators is void b/c my kitten is an INDOOR one and will NOT go outside.

This is an invitation for suggestions, opinions on the subject. The decision to declaw has not been made lightly, but rather through a lot of research. I would like to have some feedback from both sides. Cat owners who have declawed cats--How is their behavior? Did it change after the surgery? Do you regret getting it done? Those who refuse to declaw -- how do you keep your cat from scratching unwanted objects? Are you at home all the time? What do you do when you are away at work?

Answer 1

I'll try to play the devil's advocate here.
In my apartment we have a 1 year old declawed cat and my new almost 4 month old kitten.
I have toyed around with the idea of declawing - but my hesitation has nothing to do with it "taking away their natural defenses." Like your cat, mine will be strictly indoors.

I have asked my roommate about her cats declawing experience and she said she didn't seem traumatized by it much - that it was only 4-5 days before she could switch back to using regular litter (she used paper shreddings in the interim so that the litter didn't clump in her .. scabs.. really.. in the area where the surgery takes place).
She did say with a family cat they ended up getting the back feet declawed as well and there was a definite difference in the behavior of the cat afterwards - almost a sort of depression.. and a complete 180 in the way the cat behaved or acted. So it was sort of traumatized by it.

I have also researched alternatives..
I wouldn't want to spend the constant money on the "soft paw" caps.. it just seems like a waste, and we've tried that on family cats before and they never last as long as they claim. Our cats would bite, chew, whatever.. to get them off.
However.. I clip my kittens claws on a regular basis.. Those things are never more than nubs - and as a result he's never really been able to START clawing my furniture. In fact - he can barely jump up on it because he has no claws to grip into the fabric, he usually just slides down or falls.

Now.. if a cat is scratching religiously in one area.. I've been told that taping Aluminum foil (while ugly and annoying) on the area for a period of 1-2 weeks will stop the cat from scratching there. They hate the feel of it. (Think.. putting an old E battery on your tongue sort of feeling).

My roommate absolutely didn't regret doing the surgery but here's the thing:

I have two separate friends who both work in two different vet clinics. One of the clinics has completely refused to continue declawing - the other one will only agree to do it once consulting with the owner and offering plenty of other alternatives.
The vet there does it - but he's stated repeatedly how much he wishes he could make the owners watch the declawing being done - or watch *A* declawing being done first before making the decision.

The literally cut the entire first joint of the digit off of the toe. While not ALL declaws result in complications - a large majority of them suffer from excessive bleeding, or complications with the claw continuing to grow despite the joint being removed, and then when it DOES grow it grows in all deformed, can grow BACK into the foot, etc.. and require additional corrective surgeries to fix it.

But.. if it is seriously something you desire I would definitely get it done sooner than later.
Much like surgery on children vs. adults - less pyschological impact if they're babies when it takes place.
Just be prepared.

Here is an article specifically asking NOT to declaw:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://chitchatcats.com/images/declaw.jpg&imgrefurl=http://chitchatcats.com/declaw.php&h=332&w=281&sz=27&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=XJc5wT-48iCoTM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkitten%2Bdeclaw%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

I had a tough time finding anything that was really "pro-declaw" but here's a forum string with information:

http://www.piftails.com/forum/upload/showthread.php?t=1786


What I make sure with my kitten is that the only scratching items I provide are Sisal/Rope and NOT CARPET. If you give them carpet to scratch.. how the heck can they really distinguish from what's okay carpet/fabric to scratch?
Since giving my kitten the Sisal rope scratching board he has ONLY scratched on that. Infact, he has never once even attempted to scratch the furniture.. but he's also only 3.5 months old.

EDIT:

Here are links to ACTUAL certified (unstaged) vet pages with pictures and information on LASER:
http://valleyanimalhospital.com/laser_procedures.htm

and CONVENTIONAL:
http://www.thepetcenter.com/sur/catdc.html

Declawing.

Answer 2

1.I have taken in more than 10 kittens. It was so easy to train them not to scratch anything! Whenever they tried scratching, I grabbed them gently from the neck, say No, and put them on the scratching post, where I encouraged them to scratch. After about 3 attempts, they all learned not to scratch anything, and as soon as they know where it is not permitted to scratch, they don't scratch even when you are not there.
2. The argument against declawing is not about their defense. It is an awful mutilation, and totally unecessary. They cut off half their finger. After that, the cat has trouble walking and digging, and will often stop using the litterbox and start biting. We have seen even here so many questions like "I declawed my cat and now she poops everywhere in the house", because it is no fun digging in the sand with no fingers! And then there is nothing you can do about it.
3. There is a great alternative, plastic claw caps. Check out http://www.softpaws.com
This is humane, cheap and practical. Why declaw unless you have tried every alternative?
4. It is my understanding that you don't actually haave a scraatching problem. Declawing as a preventive measure is totally wrong! You should discuss it only if your cats fail to learn to avoid scratching. So many cats have been in my house and there is not a single scratch anywhere. And even if your cats scratch and you fail to train them, try SOFTPAWS first, please.
5. If you are getting a cat to amputate it, it's better to leave it alone. This is not an act towards someone you supposedly love!

Answer 3

I refuse to have my cat declawed because it hurts them emotionally and physically.When I am at school and I notice something is ripped at home I have what is called a water pistol(its a water gun but it doesn't squirt out like a firehouse,it squirts out a few drops,my cat gets a little wet and stops.My cat has not scratched any furniture since I first used that water pistol.However,my other kitten was just declawed which I regret because I am against it but my parents were getting mad that my other kitten was still ripping up furniture so they had her declawed.I did not notice much behavior change except for sleep,she isn't running around the house like a maniac anymore,she just lays on my bed until I get home.But they only are like that because the paws are still sensitive from being declawed.(My cats are both indoor cats.)Do what you think is right.If you think your cat will patient and learn not to rip of the furniture,don't declaw your cat unless you want to,but if your cat has no patience,it looks like it's time for an appointment with the vet.

Answer 4

My cat was declawed and she has no problems. Her personality and behavior has not changed because of it. She is able to jump up and down from furniture and she has no bitting problem,no balance problem,no litter box problem,no problems playing with her toys. My cat has not had any of these problems after I had her declawed and people are wrong about what happens to a cat that has been declawed because my cat did not have any of those problems. She is a happy cat and she gets a lot of love and she get to roam the house. The cat is asleep and they don't feel it. They use a special kind of cat litter until the paws are healed.
I found out that softpaws a month is 103.00 amonth and to replace it everytime would be 103.00 and that is too much money to waste. I don't regret it at all about my cat getting declawed. My cats behavior is just as sweet as can be . She sits on my lap and sleeps and she will play and have fun. My cat did not change after the surgery at all.

Answer 5

I clip my cats' nails once a week. No biggie, they've been used to it since they were kittens. Also, cats tend to pick "favorite spots" to scratch at anyway. The won't do it anywhere, just in a couple of strategically selected spots (they love to scratch near any entry of a new room, to signal this is their territory too, near their bed and near their food), the scratching posts or boards should be put in the spots they enjoy using them in.
Please don't declaw your cat, if you know how the procedure is done (some very explicit pics can be found online) you will see it's mutilation; a full declaw is like 18 amputations of the first "fingerbone"- and it's done with guillotine clippers!
You already made the suggestion yourself, and it's true; many cats do get behavioural problems after being declawed, one often heard is that they start biting when insecure.
It's cruel and unnecessary to put a cat trough this; just get it used to nailclipping.

Answer 6

Do you have a laundry or spare room (even the garage would work) to put your kitten in while you are away? With the scratching post, and food and water of course.
My in laws have declawed all of their cats, it takes a while for them to recover from this, but they are playful and healthy. Just make sure if you have it done, to find a GOOD vet that has good experience in it. Do some research in that area, don't just go by price, but by who does a good job, or comes recommended for it. Your cat will recover, and do just fine. I myself live in the country, and my cat is indoor/outdoor, there fore I will not declaw him. But I taught him with a spray bottle not to scratch on furniture, and gave him a good choice of three different scratch posts placed throughout the house. My furniture looks great, and we have no problems with scratching.

Answer 7

I have had multiple cats over many years and have never had a problem with them scratching up my furniture. I have always made sure that there are plenty of scratching posts and/or kitty condo's around the house for them to scratch on. I sprinkle each one with lots of catnip and whenever I see them scratch on one of them, I make sure I praise them and give them a treat to reinforce the behavior.

Please do the research on declawing your cats. I had considered it at one point as well until I did the research. When they declaw a cat, the vet cuts off the first knuckle on each toe to remove the whole nail bed. That would be like cutting off each of your fingers at the first knuckle. Even if you do have them declawed the cat will still "scratch" at objects and kneed because it is instinctual for them.

Answer 8

Declawing is the removal of a cat's front claws so it can't scratch furniture or people. Declawing is very controversial. Some people believe it's inhumane to declaw a cat because the surgery causes needless pain and suffering. They compare declawing a claw to amputating a finger.

If your cat still scratches the furniture, try clipping her nails or try a product like Soft Claws® Cat Nail Caps that allow you to place plastic caps over your cat's trimmed claws.

Answer 9

When my future hubby and I joined households a couple of years ago, he had a declawed cat, and my kitten had claws. When he suggested declawing him (to make it fair, more than anything) I thought it was inhumane! I went along with it though, having the cat neutered as well, trusting his judgement. I remember when my kitten first came home, I felt horrible for him. A few years later, I realize it was the best move I could have made!! He is always scratching at things still, and I can't imagine how destroyed my furniture, doors, etc. would be if he had claws. And best of all, he doesn't remember a thing! He still has his back claws, which he uses quite effectively when we're playing. Overall, I am very glad I did it, and would do it again if the situation arises. (different cat, of course!!)

Answer 10

Neither of my cats have been declawed, and they will not be because I am against it. We have had problems with them scratching furniture, etc. To get them to stop we put double-sided tape on the areas they are scratching, cats hate the feel of it. In addition we keep our cats nails trimmed and have provided them with 3 scratching posts. If you continue to have problems with scratching you should look into a product called soft paws. These clip right over their nails and prevent them from scratching your furniture and carpet.