When can you get a kitten declawed?

Question

Ok our kitten is starting to getting into trouble like shredding the furniture and curtains. They aren't ruined yet but we want her to be declawed as soon as possible so she can't ruin the furniture? When age can a kitten get declawed?

Answer 1

Declawing is your choice, but I urge you not to do it. As others have pointed out, it is inhumane. Their feet are actually mutillated - the ends of their toes are cut off in the declawing process!

Some alternatives to declawing:
- There is a product called Soft Paws, I believe, that slips on over each claw, which your vet can show you how to put on,
- You can clip the kittens claws with a nail clipper (but start soon so she will get used to it). Just make sure you don't cut too short.
- A product called "No Scratch!" that you can buy at a pet shop, which you spray on furniture, etc. to deter the cat from clawing there. My mom uses it and says it really works!
- A product called "Sticky Paws" which is a clear, double sided tape. Stick it wherever you don't want the cat to claw. Because it is sticky and feels icky, they won't want to claw there again.
- You can also train your kitty to use a scratching post.. Whenever you catch her clawing, pick her up and bring her to the scratching post.

You can use any combination of these suggestions.

Answer 2

Hi I hope I can help you make another decision. I moved to Sweden 19 years ago and found out that declawing is illegal. It is considered animal abuse and it is becoming illegal in some states in America. They do no remove just the claw they actually twist and pull off the first knuckle. Cats do not show pain easily as they are instinctively protecting themselves. In the wild a cat in pain will be killed by predators. With the knuckle removed the cat feels pain the rest of it's life when walking. 33% of declawed cats get behavior problems which cannot be changed. My siser in law insisted against heated arguments from me to get her cat declawed in America where she lives. 3 months later she put him to sleep. His paws were so painful he wouldn't use any litter he would find a soft place to go all over the house. Even when locked in the bathroom he would go on the scatter rug. She turned around got another cat and took him to the vet for declawing. The vet said no after her last cat he no longer declawed and gave her the first pkg of soft claws.
My cat went right to the scratching post as I rubbed it with catnip. We also got couple of the cardboard scratch boxes that just lay on the floor and I sprinkled cat nip in the holes and she would lay on those boxs and sniff and scratch. She never once went to furniture. Of course we had the scratch post in the living room. It was like furniture.
Please change your mind. Read the other posts with suggestions of products to use. Please check the links I give you.
http://www.declawing.com/
http://www.cowtowncats.com/Declawing%20Your%20Cat.htm
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Answer 3

You should talk with a vet. There are alternatives to declawing. Have you tried getting your kitten a scratching post and other scratching toys? That might deter her from going after the furniture. There are covers that you can put on your furniture to protect it as well.
I declawed one of my cats because she was scratching the inside of the doors. She had scratching posts. She was doing it to get attention. I regret it because she's a wonderful cat. It is cruel. She healed well. Please at least consider the alternatives to declawing. Once it's done, it is done.
But you should call your vet if you just want to have it done and they will tell you. They will probably want to see her and check her out.

Answer 4

I won't have any of my cats declawed anymore. Just trim with nail clippers. Get one person to hold cat upright and by scruff of neck. Get other to gently squeeze each claw out and trim just short of red vein. If you cut too far it will bleed. Put a little corn starch on it if it does.

Declawing is actually a poor description. They cut off the toe to the first joint. Look at you hand and imagine the ends of all your fingers cut off to the first joint behind your finger nails. I believe they banned declawing in Britain.

Answer 5

I would tell you NEVER!!! Have a little patience and train your kittie to use some form of scratching post. Do not have her knuckle taken off , as this is what happens. Most vets that I know will not even consider this, unless they are having some other kind of surgery, and then are VERY reluctant to declaw!!!

Answer 6

Teach her not to shred the furniture: grab her from the neck whe sh edoes that, say No, and put her on a straw mat, that she is allowed to scratch. I have never failed to teach any of my kittens, by consistently teaching them.
If you declaw, besides the fact that it is a cruel amputation, the cat may start biting or stop using the litterbox, because it is no fun digging without fingers. we have seen so many posts here of people who want to get rid of their cat for having such bad "habits", after they have ruined him by declawing.
As an alternative, you can use claw caps, check out http://www.softpaws.com
easy to use, and humane.

Answer 7

The way i look at it is if you cat got out by accident and they didnt have any claws then they wouldnt be able to defend thereself ya know and they could get hurt :-(

please do not declaw:-(would you want someone to rip ur finger and toenails off(i wouldnt)i heard it is a very painful for the kitties.and you oviously like cats or u wouldnt have one...but that spray stuff that you can spray on whatever you want to then they would learn not to do it after some time.or you can try soft paws to put on there claws(you clue them on)get a scraching post(if you dnt have one already)use a water bottle and spray them if they scratch.there is so much stuff out there to help with teaching a cat behavorial problems-best of luck and please dnt declaw

Answer 8

Declawing is a horrible and inhumane procedure that is illegal in most countries. It causes behavioural problems such as 'frustration biting'. Why not just trim your cat's nails like most normal people do? Or if you are unable to look after the cat properly then find it a decent home where no one will cut off half of its fingers.

Answer 9

NEVER!!!!
Before you do anything else please go to this website
http://www.declawing.com/htmls/declawing.htm
If you are planning to declaw you kitten you shouldn t have got it in the first place. This procedure is illegal in over 40 countries. And I wish U.S. would have the same law.
There is alot of other ways to keep cat away from destroying the furniture which you can find on this website http://www.declawing.com/

Answer 10

Please don't declaw- it is INHUMANE and pointless.

Kittens have claws, just like ferrets smell bad- it's a part of life. Taking away her claws is like cutting your daughters hands off. Stupid, isn't it?

Declawing is one of the cruelest things you can do. Then there are the REALLY uneducated people that declaw ALL 4 paws! Give me a break. Did you have all your dogs teeth pulled? No? Well, then don't declaw your cat.