My beloved cat is like part of the family, but I have just about had it with his clawing everything. My leather chair is wrecked, my cabinets in the kitchen are all clawed up from when he is reaching up to get something. He will not allow us to clip his nails, unless we want to wind up with very little skin. What can we do? Will a vet clip his nails on a bi-monthly basis for a fee.
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Yes a vet should be able to trim the nails. You can even try a groomer. Do you have a scratching post? Cats will scratch even if you trim the nails. They use scratching for marking their territory both visually and with scent. You will need to put one where the cat is scratching the most (usually in the middle of the living room). There are different textures (ropes, carpet) and heights of posts. Find what your cat likes the best.
A scratching post might help. Cats like to stretch out their full length when the scratch and most commercial scratching posts are not tall enough. Get a carpet remnent and hang it high enough.
Personally, I wouldn't spend money on claw-clipping. At least try putting the cat on the floor, on his stomach, and then have one person sit on the cat (without putting their weight on him!) and hold him firmly in place with their thighs. Then person #2 should be able to firmly grasp first one paw and then the other and clip away.
Be careful and don't clip too far. If he's had an experience with having his claws clipped into the quick, this would explain his reluctance to allow the clipping. It's just as painful for him as it would be for you. Only clip the clear portion of the claw.
There are also nail caps that you can either have the vet apply or buy online and do yourself. But if claw-clipping is impossible, the caps might be impossible, too.
I also agree with the scratching post feedback. Try putting a nice tall one in every room where the cat normally scratches. When you catch him scratching something he shouldn't, tell him "no," and spray him with a plant mister set to stream. Then take him to the post, put his paws on it, and praise him. If he's more than a year old, it might be too late to train him, though.
Good luck getting your errant family member to behave!
Well not sure what your Vet will do but there is a product called Boundary by Lambert Kay. It is in a spray bottle and you spray your furniture with it and cats stay away. I have 5 cats so I can tell you this works. But you must provide a scratching place for them; I just got a couple of those cardboard scratchers at Walmart that comes with catnip and they are happy.
Hello,
There is a product by the name of "Soft Paws" that you can have applied at your Veterinarian's office, they are like acrylic nails for cats. They are applied with glue and placed over your cat's nails. The nails must be replaced once in awhile and they also come in different colors. I suggest using the colored ones then you will be able to see when your cat loses one. Please DO NOT consider de-clawing, as it is very painful and inhumane
Good luck with your Fur-Baby
Linda,
Your best bet is to have the cat de-clawed. and it will be a lot cheaper in the long run. Nail clipping isn't going to help. It is a cats NATURE to scratch ! You will NEVER have anything scratched again , including your skin once he is declawed and it is NOT harmful to him.
Kay
I have to disagree with Kay when she says declawing doesn't hurt the cat. Yes, they're asleep when it's done but it actually amounts to having the ends of the claws cut off. Picture your fingers being cut off just below the nail. This is the only way to keep the nail from growing back. HOWEVER! They do recover and seem to forget and be happy. HOWEVER! for the rest of the cats life it MUST be an indoor cat.
We had cats for years and always got them de-clawed! And they never stayed in the house permanently either! They went outside all the time and they can still climb trees with their claws missing. I wouldn't have a cat that scratches everything. We even had one that used to beat up on our dog!
Few simple words... declaw...no outside.
Just a note: Once declawed, some cats have medical problems and most have pain for the rest of their lives. It's to the point that some states are considering making declawing illegal and there are fewer and fewer vets willing to do it.
Have you tried different types of scratching posts? Some cats prefer those that lie horizontal on the floor rather than those that are vertical. And cats will get used to having their claws cut after a while, although they still might not like it. I understand what you're going through. I never had a cat that clawed in the house, until recently. Mine is no longer able to go out, and gets frustrated and claws (even with lots of scratching posts and his claws cut). It's hard to stop normal, instinctive behavior permanently. Good luck.
Please do not declaw it is so cruel.
Have a spray bottle with water in it and when you see him scratching on something he is not suppose to, spray him! Cats hate water so this does work. When you spray him.say his name and say no or stop.
This worked for my cats and I also got them a good scratch post. Cats love to scratch, give them a place to do so!
If you don't want to spray them with water, when you catch them scratching on something that is not suppose to be scratched take them and physically put them on the nice big scratch post you got them.
When you see them scratching on the post, praise the heck out of them.Eventually, they get the idea.
You should also take them every 4 to 6 weeks to a groomer or vet to have the nails clipped. But please do not declaw.
One of the reasons they scratch is because the nails are long and they are cutting them back themselves, it is also instinct! Be patient and try what I have listed here.
Good Luck!!
Do NOT have him declawed. They actually remove the the first knuckle on each toe.
We have a scratching post and something called a Turbo Scratcher, which is round and lays on the floor. Both of our fully clawed females use both of these, as has any cat that we have ever had.
We either take them to the vet to have their nails clipped, or my husband and I "double-team" them! Hubby holds them while I clip their nails, and I usually don't do all four feet at the same time. I've also found that if I can catch them after they've just awakened from a nap that they are more easy-going.
I'm on the fence about declawing. While I know all the bad stuff, I also know that many cats would remain in shelters or abandoned rather than be in good homes without their claws. I am fortunate none of mine touch the furniture. We built a special scratcher when we got our Maine Coon because he was so tall when he stretched up that I couldn't buy anything that would work.
Declawing has been a wonderful success story for every cat I have ever owned. It doesn't change their walk, they still use clawing motions on the cat tree. It has no effect on personality except, perhaps, to make them a bit calmer and happier. After all, no one says,"Ow!" when the cat kneads their lap with the declawed front paws. No one acts stressed because the cat has shredded the new drapes or their slacks. Our cats are in perfect health, happy, playful, and loving. I would ignore the horror stories about declawing and save the furniture.
There are millions and millions, well maybe somewhat fewer of de-clawed cats that are perfectly FINE and live a wonderful and pampered existence. The "poster" who said they would rather stay in a shelter needs to stop and realize what she is saying! that is pure nonsense and I can't believe that anyone would believe such a thing!
Have their claws removed when they are as young as possible and the cat will be fine. Honestly.
Vets will trim the nails on your cat.Also some goomers too as well as some pet stores offer that service. We have our dog's nails cut every month, because he was neglected so before we got him. Also a spray bottle of water shot at the cat will let him know not to do that...You have to keep it up until he wears down...Don't give up..and PLEASE do not have him declawed. GG Vi
I adopted a two year old cat several years ago.
at the time I was totally against declawing (owned cats all my life) But like you I got soooo tired of everything being ruined from the cat clawing. My vet suggested a procedure where they snip the tendon that controls the clawing which in turn prevents the cat from clawing. the only drawback is you have to clip the cats toenails every 4-6 weeks. This is very unpleasant and he hasn't gotten used to it either. I have since adopted another cat and had him declawed immediately, although he was a teenager. Not a kitten and not full grown so his recovery time was quick. If you have a vet that you go to regularly, talk to him/her about declawing. My vet does an excellent job at declawing. My friend had her kitten declawed by another vet and the poor thing had severe complications so I think it is very important to use a vet who has a good reputation with declawing if that is the route you want to go. I would never declaw all four paws. I think that is cruel.
good luck-I have lived with cats clawing furniture, etc. for yrs.
PLEASE DO NOT DECLAW YOU CAT
You need to educate yourself on exactly what it means to declaw a cat and from the looks of it so do a lot of people reading these posts.
Declawing is cruel and inhumane and it is done by people for their benefit, not for the benefit of the cat. I am an antique dealer and have valuable antiques throughout my home. I also have 3 cats neither of them have been declawed.
England banned declawing years ago because it is so cruel and many states have done the same. There is a reason for it.
If you were one of the ignorant who advocated declawing, please do yourself and your pets a favor and read what the American Human Society has to say about it. You can say that it doesn't hurt or the cat doesn't feel it but that is because you didn't have it done to you. How would you ever know what it felt like. Many cats who are declawed acquire behaviour problems or they will bite because biting is the only defense they have left, some end up walking awkwardly leading to hip and back problems.
PLEASE DON'T DECLAW - Here is one article which will explain the procedure to you and the results but there are many more on the internet.
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