QI, Claws and Quilts

I don't envy you Dogmom. Our two, Samson and Maisie, are really good with the quilts (they just love to sleep on them) but are fond of the carpet and doona covers. I seem to have got them trained to one corner of the lounge room where we have a scratching post (in need of new carpeting) and a large rug which I've doubled over. The rug is backed with like a thin rubber stuff to stop it from slipping but the cats enjoy ripping it off. Now with it trapped between the two layers of carpet it's like a new game.

Let us know how you go.

I have never had a cat declawed, but I'm on the board of directors for our county humane society, and so am in a circle of "animal people" and hear a lot of stories about people's pets. Yes, your cat may start pooping and peeing all over the house. It's actually common. That's because there's a chance he will be left with painful toes the rest of his life. He'll start to associate the pain with the litterbox, and start to avoid it. That's the #1 complaint of the people who relinquish their declawed cats to the shelter. The other is that the cats tend to turn into biters. I'm actually a rabid anti-declaw proponent, but am trying not to come off that way out of respect for whatever decision you make. But I'd really like for you to make a 100% informed decision. Please do a google or two on "declaw" before you decide. I have five cats (yes, five!) in the house and honestly, I have never had a shredded quilt, not one. It's the cat hair that's the problem here! I know nail clipping is a drag, but that's what I do. All you have to do is just clip the "hooky" part off. That reduces *tremendously* the ability to actually damage anything. Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Sherry

Like it doesn't matter what the cat suffers so long as your house stays nice?

Give the cat to somebody who cares about it.

We get our chair covers clawed. We just replace them every few years.

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I am also a life member of the Animal Welfare League and have therefore associated with "animal types" for years as well as having a constant feline live-in population of 2 to

And I am also absolutely against declawing. I try to maintain a non-emotional response to those considering this action to save their furniture as I feel everyone must make decisions they can live with. But sadly this procedure can result in lifetime discomfort/pain for the cat, and his reaction may leave you worse off. All my cats are adopted strays or rescues (who might reasonably be expected to have behavioural problems) and all have been taught not to scratch (or fight or spray or toilet) in the house. It is a matter of establishing territorial boundaries. Inside the house is MINE, outside the house is THEIRS. If you truly have an incorigible scratcher I would suggest that there is some as-yet-unidentified reason that triggers this behaviour.

If you truly cannot live with the cat's behaviour is there any chance of rehoming him? Perhaps cats are not the perfect animal companions in your household, and you need to consider an alternative.

We have a large scratching post which all the cats use everytime they pass it, for a good stretch and a little scratch. It is just the basic post covered in thick string, without any little houses/holes etc to distract them. All three cats learned to use it very quickly, and sometimes even get up, go and scratch and then go back to sleep. They don't treat it as a toy but as a necessary and appreciated piece of equipment for their wellbeing. Scratching posts are readily available from Pet Stores.

Hodge loves to sit on a discarded piece of our clothing that smells of us and knead with his paws in pleasure. Is this what your cat is doing to your bed quilt? Why not just shut the bedroom door to keep him out. Our cats sleep in the Conservatory or the kitchen, in their own beds.

It isn't just the claws that are removed, they go back to the first joint. I had an operation to shorten two of my toes - the pain was excruciating. I understand that the refusal to use a litter tray is because they associate it with the pain they felt when they used it after the op.

It is illegal in this country and most of Europe to declaw cats.

'Nuf said.

Over my lifetime I have had several cats, and never had one with a scratching/clawing problem. Some were strictly outside cats, some were inside and outside, some were strictly inside cats.

The inside cats always had a scratching post and/or a "claw box". They also had access to clawing up a carboard box if they wanted. They never wanted to use the sofa or chair or any furniture for clawing.

I have worked for veterinarians also in the past, and saw the devastating effects of declawing on cats. Remember, their front claws are their main weapon of defense. Not only are they able to reach out and touch someone/something with them, but they can run up a tree because of their claws. If your cat accidentally gets outside, after declawing he is pretty much defense-less.

D> Tomorrow Bo, our neutered cat, is fixin' to lose his front claws. DH and I

My cat is strictly indoors as well and I have never had a problem with clawing things he shouldn't after getting after him a few times sternly or with a spray bottle. He also has his own quilt I made for him with the "batting" of plastic grocery bags and catnip. He LOVES it. It get scratched and mauled and licked and drooled on and beat up and then slept on. Since giving him his own quilt in his own corner I have never seen him scratch at anything else in the house. Oh well I lied, he does once in a while scratch at the mat in front of my door.

We have absolutely NO carpet in my house, it is all laminate flooring throughout and he has never once taken to scratching my furniture or bed or quilts for satisfaction. Only his own little piece of carpet and his quilt.

I am against declawing as well. I had a friend that had her cat declawed and he turned into a vicious animal biting everything and everyone that was within range of him. They had to get him put down only 4 months after having paid to have him declawed because of his aggression. And to think that it isn't just the nail that gets taken off, it is actually a joint off each toe that is removed! Ouchies!

Sorry, I think I would find him a new home or just keep trying other tactics until he is broken of scratching where he isn't supposed to.

~KK in BC~ adding her 2 cents as well

Our Abby started on one corner of the couch. Got some spray stuff at the pet shop that smelled like oranges and she's stayed away from it since. We were also given a scratching post that is covered in carpet and on the pole is covered in sisel. She LOVES that. That's the only thing that she claws now.

I feel for you. We have a door frame where on one side our cats have clawed clear through the wood and into the plaster. We have done just about everything you have, with about the same results. Even clipping their claws doesn't help, they just claw all the more franticly. The one thing we have found that has significantly reduced the amount of doorframe damage is that cheap SuperScratcher thing. The one that is just a box full of corugated cardboard on edge. All of them love the thing. Even Stripey who was declawed well before she came to live here sharpens her non-existant claws on one of those. None of them would so much as glance at regular carpet or sisal scratching posts. They still attack the doorframe, but not near so often. They also are much less determined about it, a sharp word and they quit.

I am going to have to try spraying the doorframes with orange stuff after reading the responses you have gotten.

NightMist

I wanted to offer a link that's on the subject that's pretty good, because it offers alternative solutions to declaw, and kind of an insight into the psychology of scratching.

Sherry

Very interesting; the doctor confirms my own private theories about claws. Dora is a good kitty and she uses her scratching posts almost exclusively. Kay-Cee (my mother's cat) prefers furniture. Mom had Kay-Cee declawed when she was very young, against my advice, but I must admit the operation has had no visible effects other than preservation of furniture. Kay-Cee still jumps to the top of the china cabinet, threads her way through the knick-knacks on the window sills, and plays enthusiastically with her toys. As for affecting her balance and general health, I believe she displays no signs of discomfort and she uses her litter box faithfully.

That said, I still would not have Dora declawed under any circumstances.

Dogs are hard enough. Kitties just present too many problems for me ever to consider having one for a pet. It's sad; they're so beautiful. But at least my dogs will "perform" for a bit of food. A kitty would just look at the delicious tidbit between my fingers and make a rude gesture in my general direction. Good luck, dogmom..... And Bo. Sounds like you'll both need it.

Sunny

Dogmom,

I will give you a bit of advice....after declawing a cat, it is extremely helpful to use shredded newspaper or something else soft in their litter box! It will help them to keep from infection by getting bits of litter in their claw holes and makes things much softer for their tender paws. This should help greatly with the littering issue! Ask your vet how long it takes the paws to heal and use the paper a few weeks longer, then slowly transition back to your regular litter. You might have to change the box more often as well, a couple of times a day....but it will be worth it!

Whatever your decision, just remember to love your kitty lots and lots!

Good luck!

Dannielle

DogMom,

I love cats but I am allergic to cats. Our cat Dini, was only 6 weeks old when my husband and children found her hidden under my car. We brought her to all the neighbors but no one claimed her. Even though I was allergic, I found ways to keep her. I wanted our children to have a pet to love and take care of. I thought it was a GREAT experience for them. I take allergy meds, have air cleaners in three rooms, the wall to wall carpeting has been replaced by hardwood floors and no animals are allowed in my bedroom. Dini loved to scratch. She tore up two chairs and a sofa. I had multiple scratching post/ devices, nail clippers, spray water bottle, we even tried those ridicules rubber things that you glue to the cats nails (they were all off in two days time). The vet did not want to de-claw her. One day, Dini was playing around, she was about two years old. She jumped on my slipper as I was walking past her and she scratched my leg. A very small scratch. I didn't think anything of it. I went to bed and woke up with a red bumpy rash, head to toe. Went to the doc, went on three different meds as well as an EPI pen, in case I went into anaphylactic shock. I took Dini back to the vets and she de-clawed Dini right away. Dini is now 10 years old. NEVER had a problem with the cat box. She NEVER acted like she was in ANY discomfort. Always has a WONDERFUL appetite. She just stopped ripping everything. She still jumps up on the windowsill to inspect the yard. She's still the QUEEN of the house and well loved.

Good Luck with your kitty, SandyFromNJ

This makes me smile because you have never met any of my Babies! I will admit that Cassie (Baby Cat) would never lower herself to "perform" for *anything* -- but then she IS a Himalayan! She will come to the top of the stairs if you call for her -- eventually she come down the stairs but waits just long enough so that it doesn't appear that she is coming when called -- LOLOL. Reno (Black Cat), OTOH, is just your standard garden variety medium hair black cat and will stand on her hind legs and meow when told to ask nicely for a treat :-). My first Himalayan, Patches (she was tortie point) was a real performer. She would speak when told to and had a large vocabulary -- different meow when I said different things. When told to, she would stand up on her hind legs, sit, go around in circles **always** came when called, etc. She loved to have DD dress her up in doll clothes and put her in the doll carriage. Then she would let DD walk all around the house and yard while she sat there looking out! I think the difference is that we got Patches as a young kitten and Reno & Cassie were adult rescue kitties. Cats are every bit as trainable as dogs IF you have a cat with a pleasant, amenable temperament. People don't try to train their cats the way they do their dogs but that's OK. Gives those kitties more time to lay around and look pretty :-). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

I found that the problems I do have with doona covers and the like are caused when the cats get a bit purry and excited and give us a massage!!! Their claws tend to stick.

Samson will sit up and beg for a treat, just like a dog.

Cat's have different body language from dogs and until you learn it you will never understand them. Debra in VA See my quilts at

I hope you didn't do it. All you needed was to spray some Feliway on things you didn't want scratched.

Debra in VA See my quilts at