To declaw or not to declaw

[Mediocre Man]

We just got a kitten who is 9 weeks old. He is awesome, but like all kittens and cats he scratches the heck out of our furniture. Should we declaw, or go with a scratching post, soft paws , etc and hope for the best?


This cat will always be indoors

 

[santeesioux]

Scratching post.

 

[HailBlazers]

Get a tower with Sisal, my cat exclusively sctraches on this now (21S):

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/for/3253739687.html

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Bump on the road.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en...pw.r_qf.&fp=46ecbc68b3deee78&biw=1680&bih=884

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

We have 2 different scratching posts and our cats still use the furniture sometimes. It really pisses off my wife. We tried soft paws before, but they came off all the time. I'd like to declaw them, but it seems so cruel. It's gotta hurt like hell!

Sly - not cool! I expect better from a mod.

 

[bigbailes]

DON'T GET A CAT IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!!!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Sly - not cool! I expect better from a mod.

I was just tying into a discussion in a different thread.

 

[julius]

declawing is taking away their best form of defense, even if you say they're an "inside" cat.

just have cat houses, or scratching posts, or accept that maybe you need to provide some more form of entertainment for the cat.

Or just start clipping the claws. My sisters cat is used to it and allows her to clip his claws and doesn't fight her at all.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

My parents have had a few cats over the years including one that they couldn't get to stop clawing the furniture so the vet removed only the front claws. It was a total indoor cat but if it ever got out the rear claws are enough to get the cat up a tree and out of danger and most cats aren't coordinated enough to claw furniture with their hind legs.

 

[crandc]

Don't declaw. It's not just clipping fingernails. They cut off the entire first joint of each toe. It's painful, sometimes gets infected, and gets irritated. Cats need to keep their claws sharp. You need to show the cat where to scratch. Use a sharp "NO!" or a squirt from a water pistol when the kit uses the wrong spot, then place the paws in the right spot. Stroke and reward the cat for using the right spot. Does the cat go outdoors? Trees are their natural choice.

I let the cats use the legs of a very battered homemade table. And they use trees. I've never had serious furniture problems, even though all three arrived as kittens.

 

[Haakzilla]

...never trust a grown man that owns a cat!

 

[barfo]

I have a boy, he's great and all, but I'm wondering if I should have his penis removed, so that he doesn't get any girls pregnant.

barfo

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I have a boy, he's great and all, but I'm wondering if I should have his penis removed, so that he doesn't get any girls pregnant.

barfo

Be sure you take the testicles too; castration does extend a male's life by 13-19 years. You'd be doing him a great favor adding to his longevity like that.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

i didnt even neuter my cat, that shit is cruel beans

 

[Denny Crane]

I have a boy, he's great and all, but I'm wondering if I should have his penis removed, so that he doesn't get any girls pregnant.

barfo

Do it.

 

[julius]

Be sure you take the testicles too; castration does extend a male's life by 13-19 years. You'd be doing him a great favor adding to his longevity like that.

while at the same time, removing some of his longevity at the same time.


signed,


ABM