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I sure hope that everything will work out and that Barclay won't have to be declawed. :) I was also going to suggest that you buy some kind of a couch cover so that if he still tries to scratch the couch, he'll be scratching the cover instead. I bought one for my couch and it's been working out great. :) Mine isn't the best looking but I've seen some that are quite pretty. Good luck. :D
I am a much reformed (and forever guilty) declawer. I would never consider doing it again. No excuses. And, sadly, that is what it seems like the 'reasons' always are-excuses.
I had a St. Bernard once upon a time. Binx had more hair than he knew what to do with, and plenty of slobber that made its way everywhere. I mean everywhere. Ceiling, walls, pictures, television screens, furniture, my bed, my pants, my cats. I wouldn't dream of de-tonguing him, or dehairing him, because of it. It is part of pet ownership.
It isn't the cat that needs to be altered, but, the minds of the people sharing their lives with them. You get scratches on couches? So what. I have a child that will do more damage to my couch in two years then the cats could ever dream of. Scratches on walls? I imagine Jonah will find a pencil, pen, marker, eye crayon, whatever, and mark my walls up good. Kids do that. Red cool-aid? Grape juice? Ever see the damage a dirty diaper can do? I have a shirt that I still can't get the stain out of.
My point is, adjust the thinking to "well, we share our lives with cats, and there is going to be some damage done. Let's just try to limit it, or deflect it, and not make it the cat's problem".
Think about it...America is one of the last places that permits declawing. Other countries have banned it, considering it inhumane.
(and lest anyone tell me I don't 'know' what she is talking about...I did have a new couch in April 2004. I can't remember what I paid for it...about 1200 or 1800???, but, it does have scratches up both sides. Did it bother me? Sure, but, not to the point I would do something to the cats....)
I probably shouldn't be commenting, since I own a strong candidate for the World's Most Clawed Couch. :rolleyes: Don Juan wouldn't use a carpet or sisal scratcher.
Then, I adopted Zerlina through a Petsmart adoption center. The big pile of Petsmart coupons that came along included one for a FREE carboard scratcher (hi-test organic catnip included). And.... Don Juan loves it. (He also likes to work his claws on the carpet.) :D
Oh, yes, there was also a coupon for a free claw clipping. SOOO much easier to do when one person holds the cat and the other works the clippers. (Don Juan won't let me do his back feet, and Zerlina doesn't like it at all.) The Petsmart near me charges $8 for a claw clip.
Now, for the controversial part. My sister had one of her cats declawed (brought home by her daughter without permission) after exhausting all the other remedies. The vet accomplished the claw removal through laser surgery, which I believe causes a little less trauma than the traditional surgical method.
Liz
I would rather not have a cat declawed again. That is why I adopted Tango at 2 yrs old, cause he was already declawed. I wouldn't call it educated, but I was made to feel that I shouldn't own cats/I'm a horrible person/whatever cause I mentioned getting a cat declawed. Although I wouldn't go do it for the hell of it, if you have tried everything you can, and it's get rid of him or declaw, I would go for the declaw and I wouldn't hold it against you. I think it may be just as stressful to rehome the cat/chase him/her having a crappy home. Goodluck.
You're hubby should see our leather couches.... :rolleyes: :eek: . But declawing : NEVER !!!
Just wanted to add by 2 cents worth....
Both Thumper and Eleanor came to us declawed and their personalites are sweethearts. As for the biting of nondeclawed versa declawed, get Skinny and Cindy over stimulated with play or belly rubs they will bite. They both have claws. Cindy actually taught Skinny to use the cardboard things (Eleanor and Thumper love to lay on them to nap, looks unconfortable to me LOL but not to them :) )
I'm getting better at nail trimming but I'm so happy to see another groomer coming in town. Previous groomer who folded up her business charged $5 bargin :) I'm hoping this new one is just as reasonable. Our vet charges $9 but n/c Thumper and Eleanor. It's a 28 mile trip one way not cost effective to use them on regular basis (time/gas) for nail trimming.