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

[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.

[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.