What's the best solution for my cat?
I wanted to de-claw him but I remembered that it’s taking a part of the bone off and not just the claw, which makes me feel scared and guilty even thinking of having it done. My husband and I have a tendency to forget to keep up on routines; something you have to face with "soft paws". We had this HUGE scratching tower made for cats and he loved it but not only loved the post but loved the curtains and grandma’s furniture she passed down to me. I was FLOORED! Everything basically got ruined b/c he is a very rambunctious cat. We had to replace our furniture as it was torn to shreds and totally crushed me to pieces. He is actually both indoor/outdoor cat and an adult. So basically, I have an adult cat that comes and goes. Oh and it will take a lot of work to hold him down and mess with his paws!!! I don’t want to invest in something that won’t work and will be a pain in the butt but I don’t want to hurt em’ either nor can I bare to find a new home for him. What are my options?
Filed under: Cat Furniture
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PetSmart has a spray that deters them from scratching in certain areas. Cat aisle near the spot remover for accidental poopings and such.
Other than that, front claws are used to keep enemies at bay and to pull themselves up trees and such. I had my 9 year old declawed and she still climbed the walls with her back legs. Literally to the top of the doors. I hated having it done, but it saves me when she has to go to the vet. Back claws are still in and she uses them quite well when she feels like it
Put the nice things in a room that can be shut so the cat cannot get in there.
Cats don’t have opposable thumbs, so they are often baffled by doorknobs.
If he goes outside, you can’t get him declawed.
I was going to suggest the nail caps that can be glued on, but if he’s indoor and outdoor, he may one day need those claws. If you decide on them, they can be placed over a clipped nail and will stay on for a fair amount of time, but for his protection you’d have to keep him inside after that.
I have the same type of problem, times six — three of my own kitties and three feral kitties that found their way into the kitty door and to the catfood, and are not really feral anymore. With the kitties going in and out, they need their claws to defend themselves against dogs and wildlife.
Perhaps the lunatics are running the asylum in my house, but the best solution I’ve found is to buy my furniture at the local nonprofit thrift store. It doesn’t cost all that much, I can always find a good, matched set, it has no sentimental value to me, and it takes all six cats about a year to scratch the furniture to shreds. When it gets unsightly, I just make another trip to the thrift store and replace the scratched-up furniture. It’s not expensive at all, and everybody’s happy — me, the kitties, and of course, the local nonprofit gets to make a few bucks.
If you have a cat that goes outside decalwed you are putting him in great danger. Far beyond just being flattened by a car he will also be in the possition that if he is attacked by another cat or any other animal he will not be able to defend himself.
I have had cats of my own for over 30 years and had many rescues/fosters come my way in all of those years and all of those cats I never had one that wrecked my home. They were never declawed.
Cats who are distructive are usually bored. They don’t need expensive things to keep them happy, but if they don’t have things to do that’s when the problems start. A table tennis ball can keep a cat amused for hours as can a rolled up pice of paper a bottle top etc.
If you have to have the cat decalwed, which I myself am totally aganst it must be an indoor cat only with no exceptions. If he has to go out then he has to keep the claws.