cats and claws

[ardnaxela]

my cats are ruining the furniture. what should I do? ? ? ?

[wolflady]

Hi ardnaxela,

There are some really good suggestions under the help! My cats are destroying the wall. Topic under Cat Behavior, so you might want to check there as well...but for me, I use soft paws nail caps on my cat Marius. They work great! It might take awhile for the cat to get used to them, but once they do, you only have to reapply them about once a month since the cats shed their nails http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif Check out www.softpaws.com (http://www.softpaws.com) for details about them. It's definitely a better alternative than declawing.
Also, maybe put up a scratching post somewhere away from the furniture that your cat is targeting. Put a little cat nip on it and praise your cat when he/she uses the scratching post. Soon, your cat will know to go there instead of the furniture.

------------------
"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

[lhg0962]

Will the softpaws protect me?? http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif My Butter has scratched my hands terribly, and he is just playing. Very rambunctious kitty, very unlike his "step sister" Mimi.
He doesn't scratch the furniture, but believe me, these hands won't be doing any "modeling", ever!

[Genia]

Wolflady, went to the site, very interesting. I just have to ask...Do you have to sedate your cat to apply those http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif Really, is it hard applying them? It really sounds like a wonderful idea!

[4 feline house]

I haven't tried it, but there's something called Sticky Paws that does not harm your furniture but repels your cats because they don't like to touch sticky things. You can get it at Petco and PetsMart, as well as in pet supply catalogues. I've heard good things from people who have tried it. I will soon because since I have moved my couch it has become very attractive to my 20-pounder and his giant talons!

[wolflady]

Hi everyone!

I'm so glad you are all asking about the nail caps. Marius is just a doll when I apply the nail caps. I was a little skeptical at first before I ordered them because I wasn't sure how my cat would react to me putting these things on. But, it really isn't too bad once you get into the groove. At first it took both my husband and I, but now it's a one person job(and, since my cat has adjusted to having the caps on, I only have to reapply them about once a month...at different intervals cuz the nails shed at different times). What I do is lay out how ever many nail caps I need to reapply. I put the glue in each one, then I put the cap on the nails that need it.

They really do help in protecting the hands too http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif They really smooth down the feel of the nail. The only scratches I get now are from the hind feet! But, I suppose I could put them on the hind feet too....hmmm haven't thought of that! I've just been putting them on the front! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif

------------------
"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

[Martin]

Re Softpaws. Has it ocurred to anyone that putting these things on a cat will impede it when it comes to A) climbing trees and fences, limiting it's ability to get to it's favourite places, and B) hurt other cats when in a fight, limiting it's ability to defend itself and it's territory? Hey, it's a tough world out there. Taking away a cat's sharp claws is like taking away an American's car and their gun http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/wink.gif

[lhg0962]

Martin,
Your point is well taken and I can't speak for the others on this post, but I think the "American" way is for most folks to keep their cats indoors at all times, which I understand is much different than the traditional cat in the UK. Our veterinarians stress that their lives are extended by keeping them indoors. Most of us are against declawing too, although many people still utilize that practice to avoid the shredded furniture. A declawed cat must most definitely stay indoors.
I personally wouldn't mind if my cats would stay indoors, but they don't and won't! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
Therefore, all claws are intact, unshielded by nail guards, therefore if they decide to scratch me, I really get scratched.
Maybe the others can elaborate and let us know if they are keeping their cats indoors when they wear the "shields" on their claws.
Logan

[Martin]

Hmm, Interesting! Thanks for pointing out the differences between UK and US cat cultures. While I'm thinking "they keep their cats in?" you're all probably thinking "they let their cats out?"

[This message has been edited by Martin (edited February 13, 2001).]

[wolflady]

Both of my cats are indoors only. The soft paws nail caps that my white cat Marius wears are meerly for protection of our declawed cat Scooter(my husband's cat) and for the furniture and carpet, since I refuse to get my cat declawed. It's definitely a better alternative to getting a cat declawed if that is what is being considered by somebody. Logan makes a good point about the cultural differences. I hadn't really thought about that! But, yes, everyone that I know that owns cats keeps them as indoor pets(unfortunately the people that I know seem to go and get their cats declawed without thinking about the consequences). It's a pretty common thing to do. My Marius was a stray and he transitioned from being an outdoor stray cat to being an indoors only cat quite well. It just takes time and patience to have them adjust.

"Soft Paws® are great for households with small children, as they guard against the child getting scratched. They are also extremely useful for people who are away from home all day(like me) and simply can't apply the watchfulness necessary to train a cat to use a scratching post. An important caveat here, however; they should be used only on indoor cats."


------------------
"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

[Martin]

I have to admit that, until this discussion, I'd never heard of a procedure to de-claw a cat. My opinions about that are probably un-printable, so I'll back-out of this discussion. Thank you and goodbye!

[Troy]

Martin, I think you will find that most people in these forums are against declawing and those that aren't tend to keep quiet.

It is refreshing to see that in this topic nobody has even suggested it, instead they are going for non disfiguring options like the claw caps.

...our feline friends will be happy http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

[Fuzzy317]

My hat is off to you, SpencerTheLion very well said.

Opinions differ between countries, houses, and even people of the same family. I hope we can all get along. Its our love for cats that brought us together to discuss issues. I feel discussing differing view-points makes humankind as a whole stronger.

[Martin]

lhg0962 and SpencerTheLion, I am humbled, and I am back http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif! I have only recently found the site “pet of the day” and whilst I have noticed that about half the topics under discussion seem to be about litter tray behaviour http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/eek.gif, the rest of the discussions are pretty entertaining and I enjoy them http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif!
Yes we in the UK let our cats come and go as they please. They usually have a cat flap (door) http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/cool.gif, but I guess you already know that!
I trained both my cats to do (or more accurately, not to do) everything neccessary to keep them under control, using a water pistol. (see current discussion on wallpaper) Apparently, I'm lucky in that it worked!

[lhg0962]

Welcome back, Martin!
Isn't it a shame that we can't get everyone to handle their cats and other pets the way that is more humane? Unfortunately, there will always be people who mistreat pets, as well as engage in practices that we don't agree with. The declawing issue is a prime example. Many people LOVE their cats, but still feel its ok to declaw. We're working on getting the message out, little by litte, and as we have seen in just this post, there are alternatives like the nail caps.
One thing I have learned with bulletin boards, is that there will always be differing opinions. As long as we control our responses in a way that we are respectful, while still making our point, I think it makes for some healthy discussion.
I'm so glad you're back.
Logan

[wolflady]

I had no intention on offending anyone about the claw cap issue. I actually thought it was a better alternative than declawing, which I will refuse to do. They naturally fall off, and I clip my cat's nails before reapplying the caps. Also, since they are indoors only, the claw caps meerly protect my husband's disadvantaged cat and the house since we're gone a lot. I love my cats dearly and wouldn't want anything to happen to them! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

------------------
"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

[Martin]

Right then, I'm glad we've got that sorted out without anyone getting too upset http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/wink.gif! Getting back to the 'protecting the furniture' issue then; do you folks in the U.S. have cat scratching posts in your houses? it's a 2x2 wooden pole, wrapped in rope, on a flat base, sometimes with toys adorning it? My cats love theirs, and they always get a special cuddle http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif when they use it!

[Fuzzy317]

From your desciption, we have the same type of scratching post. I recently bought another type, one with the same thistle rope that hangs on a door knob. I thought the cats would like that also, but I have not seen one of our cats use it. It may be the door moving that has cats leaving it alone, it may be used if it was on a door closed most of the time.

[lhg0962]

Wolflady,
You didn't offend anyone! We have just learned that we have some cultural differences between countries. Its ok. I think if your cats are indoors, the claw caps sound like a wonderful thing for them, and for your husband's cat! Not to mention your hands or furniture.
Don't worry. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

[wolflady]

Thanks Logan http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
I actually have a question about scratching posts too. Is it true that if you have a scratching post with carpet covering it, will the cat associate that with the floor carpet? We have a carpeted cat tree, that my cat loves to sit on. But I notice that he likes to "dig" at the floors. I got a cardboard scratching pad with catnip sprinkled in, and they both seem to like those a lot. I was hoping that would deter him from using the floor http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif So far it seems to be working http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif

------------------
"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

[Martin]

Wolflady; my scratching post had both rope and carpet on it when it was new, but the carpet was nowhere near tough enough and disintegrated fairly quickly, so now it's rope and bare wood. My cat's are fairly good at knowing the difference between the floor carpet and the scratching post. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

[wolflady]

Spencer, I know what you mean about those urine marks...Yikes! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/eek.gif We're still working with scooter on that one...

I might have to try a wood post. Those sound really good. Right now I have a plain ol' piece of firewood on the floor that my cat loves to get on and scratch at along with the cardboard scratching pads...

------------------
"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

[Vi Co Bi]

Fuzzy and I have talked about moving the doorknob mounted scratching post, but so far we've just talked. I guess we're too busy being with the cats to think about it.

One of the things I do to keep our cats interested in their scratching post is to put kitty treats on top of it from time to time. Rosie and Fluffy love kitty treats, Jackson leaves them for someone else to enjoy. For Jackson, I freshen up the catnip scent on the post ever-so-often by rubbing catnip on the sisal and leaving some scattered on the carpet.

Of all the things I've used to get the cats to stop their inappropriate scratching, double stick tape works the best. Whether it's the back or edge of Fuzzy's Lazy-boy, a speaker cover, or whatever, the doublestick tape never attacks until attacked and always lets us know exactly who was up to tricks. Since two of our cats are long haired, it's sometimes a trick to get the tape off, but I've been so impressed with how well it works that it's been well worth the effort.

[Pam]

Thanks for clearing that up Spencer. I had never heard of the alternative procedure until visiting this site.

[wolflady]

Alternatives are always better, but people should definitely do a little more research before declawing...to find out the good and bad aspects. A negative result of tendonectomy that happens on occasion, is the claw will grow right through the cat's pawpad (since it can't extract)...Ouch!!! It is a little less traumatic than declawing however...

[pam_pesto]

http://homepage.mac.com/honeys718/CatPerch/

This website has information on the "ethics" of cat declawing.

http://www.angelfire.com/80s/pestoswitzer/pestatscratchingpost.jpg

We are on Pesto's second scratching post because she loves it so much. Except her new one she prefers to just hug it and lick it. Her old one is torn and tattered, but she loves it. The post's carpet is very close to colour to our own carpet, but she is never confused. And we have not had ANY trouble with her whatsoever scratching anything but her post. I guess we are lucky. Whenever we come home she runs over and attacks her scratching post, which is close to the door. It is her little ritual.
Not really all that relevant I suppose, but I love to tell stories about my baby. And now that I have figured out how to post pictures of her, I'm sorry but you might see more of her than you'd like!
------------------
Personal servant for Pesto

[This message has been edited by pam_pesto (edited February 26, 2001).]

[wolflady]

I agree. It is sad that a lot of people just join in with everyone else when it comes to subjects such as this. It's mostly a matter of convenience, I think, for a lot of people. A lot of times they don't consider the alternatives to declawing type surgeries(claw caps...even better than either surgery).
At the no kill rescue where I do volunteer work, we have actually refused people who, right of the bat, said that they were going to declaw the cat. Even after talking about alternatives, they refused to consider it, so the adoption didn't go through...