Help!!!!! Buddy's new owner wants to declaw him

[moosmom]

Hal called me and said that Buddy has been scratching up a storm on his carpeting and he wants to declaw him.

I told him if he was going to do that, I'm taking him back. He said absolutely not, that he has become attached to him and wants to know what else he can do to prevent it. I told him all the problems he's looking at if he did declaw him. He asked me about the tendonectomy. I checked with my vet and he said that it WAS popular in the beginning, but not many vets will do them. I also told him that if he got out ("Oh he won't get out) he'd have no way of defending himself.

I told him about Soft Paws and how I would be glad to apply them and re-apply them as needed. He's going to try that first. I also told him to get a piece of firewood and put it on the floor on some newspaper and sprinkle it with catnip. I also told him use the squirt bottle which he hates, cuz I've used it on him and cringes when I even point it at him.

I do miss Buddy but would like to see him stay in this awesome home, as Hal has become very attached to him.

All this guy has done since he got Buddy is complain about him and things he's done.

I guess Buddy needs PT prayers. He's only 2 years old and very curious. I really don't know what else to tell Hal.

Any suggestions?

[Catty1]

With a tendonectomy, the claws keep growing, and still have to be trimmed.

I am SO glad he is willing to try the Soft Paws and the log with catnip!

With my guys, I have a few scratching posts scattered around...one cardboard catnip one not far from their food dishes. ETA: I also check/trim their claws regularly.

If he had a couple of even cardboard or sisal ones, Buddy would enjoy those and leave the carpet alone...along with spray bottle reinforcement!
The cardboard ones aren't expensive and are flat like carpet.

Remind Hal that his cat was older and wasn't as naughty as a "teenager" like Buddy!

Prayers for Buddy!

[sasvermont]

Hey Donna, why doesn't the guy spring for some scratching posts? They work for me. Most cats will use them if encouraged to do so. This is a tough call. Gosh, what a mess. I hope the man eases up a bit.

[kb2yjx]

Thank heavens Buddy will be fitted with Soft Paws!!! I have to agree, the guy should spring for a few scratching posts and put them all over the house. The Clan are very good about using the posts(and the cardboard ones). Even Bianca Rose, who was declawed when we adopted her, LOVES to use the posts!! Prayers that things work out for Buddy!!! Maybe you can find a video on the internet that shows the declawing of a cat, and make the owner watch it!!

[Karen]

Thank you for discouraging the declawing, and working with him as far as alternatives. Does he have scratching posts? That and a bit of catnip rubbed on it if Buddy is a nip-loving kitty might be a good idea.

Bless you for keeping up with Hal and Buddy. I am sure things will work out with some more time.

[Randi]

Donna, I'm glad you're standing up for Buddy's claws! How about Hal learns to clip his nails? If I can clip Fister's, anyone can learn it!

[Taz_Zoee]

Ok, I guess I missed the thread about Buddy being adopted.

Of course scratching posts are a must. But Taz trained himself to scratch on an area rug. When I first moved in with Bruce I didn't bring it and he was scratching on other things. I brought down the rug as soon as I could and he will run back to the bedroom (we keep it back there because it is a tattered old rug) to sharpen his claws on it.
I am going through the training a cat to scratch phase as we speak. Paizly like to scratch on the carpet, and we have berber carpet. Her nails are not doing too much damage because she's still so small. But I need to redirect her starting NOW.

I'm glad he's not just going out and getting him declawed and that he's willing to work with your suggestions.

Good luck!

[moosmom]

Taz Zoe,

Good news is Buddy was adopted about a month or so ago. It's the perfect home except for this declawing issue. The guy is 79 years old and is afraid to do it himself cuz he doesn't want to hurt him. His former cat was declawed (by his wife when she had him neutered) so he didn't have to clip his nails.

Buddy has his original scratching post. I've told Hal that whenever he does scratch the rug, squirt him and bring him over to his scratching post.

The problem with using carpet remnants is the cats don't know the difference between the remnant and the carpeting. That's what my vet told me. I had a beat up old chair that I allowed my cats to scratch the heck out of. When I got new furniture, they started scratching it. That's when my vet told me that cats don't know the difference between and old chair and a new chair. Made sense, so I re-directed their scratching to a cat tree. Worked like a charm!!!

[catmandu]

I WOULD WAIT UNTIL YOU CAN GET BUDDY A NEW SCRATCHINGPOST , AND SEE IF HE WILL PLAY WITH THAT.
I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT IF BUDDYS RUINING AN EXPENSIVE CARPET , THEN HIS NEW GUARDIIAN MAY HAVE A GOOD POINT.
WE ARE HOPING AND PRAYING THAT SOMEHOW A COMPROMISE CAN BE REACHED.

[Taz_Zoee]

That totally makes sense about the cat not knowing the difference. But for some reason Taz only scratches on that rug. It's an actual small area rug, not a carpet remnant. You know the ones with the fringe along the ends? Trust me I'm not going to go get a carpet for Paizly, LOL. I'll redirect her to her scratching thing. Actually I need to buy her a new one.

So Buddy has his scratching post already. Could it be possible that he is sorta "marking his territory"? I have no idea if cats do that or not, just a thought.

That is great that Buddy found such a good home.

[Medusa]

The problem with using carpet remnants is the cats don't know the difference between the remnant and the carpeting. That's what my vet told me. I had a beat up old chair that I allowed my cats to scratch the heck out of. When I got new furniture, they started scratching it. That's when my vet told me that cats don't know the difference between and old chair and a new chair. Made sense, so I re-directed their scratching to a cat tree. Worked like a charm!!!

You took the words right out of my mouth, Donna. Sisal or cardboard scratching posts are better for that very reason. Otherwise, Buddy will look at Hal and think "Why can I scratch on this carpet but not that one?" I do hope that he gives the soft claws a try.

[Catty1]

Donna, I think it is a very good sign that he phoned YOU first, instead of just getting it done. That tells me that maybe he was hoping there is another answer - and there is and are.

A couple of catnip cardboard posts would be inexpensive, and would give Buddy more variety.

I hope he trains out of it soon. As I mentioned before, just remind Hal that Buddy is still a teenager!

[moosmom]

I am NOT going to allow declawing. I'll pull the cat from the house, as I have the vet paperwork still.

One thing I noticed is it seems everytime he calls, he complains about him, saying "If he didn't have the same face of my other cat..."

He says that Buddy has become a lap cat and when he yells at him for being naughty (I told him yelling at a cat does nothing), he'll rub against his leg as if to say "I'm sorry".

I'm reserving my opinion right now. He doesn't want to give Buddy up. But, if he wants, and he's so worried about his carpeting, I'll find him an already declawed cat. Oh yeah, and in his living room he has a HUGE velvet portrait of a naked woman that shows EVERYTHING (and I do mean everything) that makes me very uncomfortable. To each his own, I guess.

[orangemm]

He's 79 and has "artwork" like that out in the open??

My guys LOVE the round trackball with cardboard scratching area in the center; as soon as I unwrapped it and set it on the floor, there was a flurry of scratching. I didn't think they would take to it, but it still is a hit.

Another scratching post that really works is one that looks like a squat tripod. I bought it years ago and have replaced the sisal once. They can sit on their haunches and scratch like mad on that thing. There are so many options out there. Methinks Buddy's person should wander around PetSmart and see what's available.

[moosmom]

I called Hal this morning. He complained about Buddy wanting to be in high places, him knocking things off their places while Hal's asleep. I told him I was not going to spring for Soft Paws, and that Buddy CAN be retrained to use his scratching post. He said he's been using the water bottle which Buddy hates and it's working so far. He asked me if I should rub catnip on the scratching post. I said it would be another option and maybe a good idea. I told him I would pull Buddy before I'd allow him to maul him by having him declawed. He got very defensive. "You're going to take him back after only a little while??" It's been over a month and all he's done is complain. Buddy happens to be noctournal. That's all part of his unique personality. Then he said, "Maybe I should just get a kitten." He'll have to find it on his own.

When Buddy was with me he loved knocking things off my tv and stereo, and being high up on the refrigerator or the cupboards. It didn't bother me at all. That's his personality.

He promised me he'd give Buddy back before he'd declaw him. I'm at the end of my rope.