Cats and Declawing ?

Question

Is there an alternative to declawing other than the actual surgical procedure of removing a cats claws? My cat is 10 years old and I really don't want to put him through that, I have heard it can also take away a cat's feeling of being able to defend himself.

Answer 1

Just forget the whole thing.  I find it mean to declaw cats. They are not safe without claws because they don't have anything to protect themselves if they get attacked by another animal.  And why do you want to do it? Is he an outdoor cat? If he goes outside, it's out of the question whether you should.  They are safer with them.

Answer 2

Declawing is cruel and painful.  Use softpaws.  They are caps that fit over the nails.  They have a web site you can check out www.softpaws.com.  I have used them with great success.

Answer 3

you can clip them, using the peticure thing. or acrylic nail covers.  

Answer 4

Well first off that's like taking off the first joint of ones finger.

Alternative: Clipping.

Answer 5

It is way too hard on him at the age of 10 years.

Answer 6

Leave him be at 10 years old. He's an old man. If you are concerned with him clawing the furniture, there are other alternatives that you can buy. Sprays, furniture covers, etc. Go to your local pet store and talk to them about the different alternatives.

Answer 7

i've seen these plastic nail covers but i don't remember the name of it. they fit right over the nail

Answer 8

You absolutely CANNOT have your cat declawed! It's cruel.

And it's not the "cat's feeling" of not being able to defend itself that's the issue - it's the ACTUAL FACT that the cat cannot defend itself, or climb a tree, or properly groom itself.

Accidents happen, things change, we cannot predict the future. If something happens where you DIE, or the cat gets lost  or stolen - it will be a disaster for your kitty.

Answer 9

I usually just use nail clippers and a nail file to trim and smooth them.  My cat actually enjoys it.  You just have to be really careful not to cut too far up on the claw.

Answer 10

The only thing I know of is to trim his nails on a regular basis.  That's what I do.

Answer 11

I'm glad that you've already decided against declawing.

Trimming your cat's claws on a regular basis will help reduce their potential for accidental damage.  This link has good advice on how to do this.

http://www.catscratching.com/htmls/artic...

If he's scratching furniture or wallpaper, then you need to provide him with something of his own like a scratch post, a wooden log or even a sheet of corrugated cardboard and encourage him to scratch those instead.  These links have advice on scratching and how to prevent it, which may be helpful to you.

http://www.celiahaddon.co.uk/pet%20probl...

http://www.catscratching.com/

Answer 12

Jenny:  Declawing is simply a result of people not managing a cat's natural instincts to sharpen their claws and mark their territory.  I highly suggest you educate yourself more on your pet.

Training is the preferred method of handling this.  Get a scratching post 2-3 times the size of your cat, and rub it with catnip.  The catnip will draw him to it and when he scratches it, praise him highly.  They also respond to treats very well as a training method.

When they have behavior problems, it is due to poor pet management.

You are their guardian; it's your responsiblity to be prepared for the issues that arise throughout their lives.

Please educate yourself on your pet.  If he's been scratching everything else for 10 years, it's your fault, not his.