New Kitty, need tips

[dehlers43]

I hope you will reconsider about getting your cats declawed. It's a really really painful process and can cause a lifetime of pain and stress. Is there a specific reason why you want the cat declawed?

[ChikeiStar]

I hope you will reconsider about getting your cats declawed. It's a really really painful process and can cause a lifetime of pain and stress. Is there a specific reason why you want the cat declawed?

I don't know why we're getting him declawed, my grandma runs the house. I've never ever seen a cat that's had a lifetime of pain and stress after being declawed. We got Mizzie fixed and declawed the same day and I think she spent a day and a half under my bed and did an attempt to climb the curtains and after falling down gave up and got over it.

But it is up to my grandma ._. so I can't say if we'd reconsider or not..

[phesina]

Something else to keep in mind: a declawed cat is helpless. It can't fight and it can't climb. It would be totally vulnerable if it accidentally got lost outside.

I hope your grandmother will reconsider, too.

[Karen]

I don't know why we're getting him declawed, my grandma runs the house. I've never ever seen a cat that's had a lifetime of pain and stress after being declawed. We got Mizzie fixed and declawed the same day and I think she spent a day and a half under my bed and did an attempt to climb the curtains and after falling down gave up and got over it.

But it is up to my grandma ._. so I can't say if we'd reconsider or not..

Talk to your grandmother, and ask if you can just trim the kitten's nails instead. If you start now, you can get the kitten used you touching her feet, start doing that just in play, and petting time now, so if you do end up either trimming her nails or using "soft paws" (nail covers) she's okay with it!

[ChikeiStar]

I did talk to my grandmother, she said we might just get caps put on his claws every month since he is a little older. She hasn't decided yet. Not much progress in them getting along yet though.

[dehlers43]

If your grandmother is worried about the kitty scratching up the furniture there are a few things you can do. One, give the kitty something it's allowed to scratch...a cat tree, scratching post, something like that. Two, you can use aluminum foil or tape that is sticky on both sides to cover areas on furniture, usually the ends, arms or corners. Cats hate the feel of these things! You don't need to use the foil or tape very long, just long enough for the kitty to learn its better to scratch its post...

[moosmom]

Watch this video. It might change your mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niMgBGfMgFc

Declawing is not a matter of just clipping the claws. It's cutting off the first knuckle of a cats toes. It can cause behavioral problems, litterbox issues, and the cat is defenseless and will resort to biting.

I think Granny needs to be declawed.

[Karen]

I did talk to my grandmother, she said we might just get caps put on his claws every month since he is a little older. She hasn't decided yet. Not much progress in them getting along yet though.

The claw caps is way better than declawing - keep her along that line of thinking!