Issuing an open challenge to pro- declawers

[Randi]

It's interesting what you say about Soft Paws, Jen. I have considered using them, but never got around to getting some. However, I have learnt how to cut Fisters nails. One at at time though - two if I'm lucky.

Patience is what cats require!

[CatMama78]

Originally posted by Randi
It's interesting what you say about Soft Paws, Jen. I have considered using them, but never got around to getting some. However, I have learnt how to cut Fisters nails. One at at time though - two if I'm lucky.

Patience is what cats require!

Mike, my BF always says to the kitties, We're going to get softpaws, kind like a I'm going to count to three before your whooping, lol. But we've never really looked or seriously thought about getting them.

Also with the nail trimming, we don't do it nearly enough, hence the love scratches we both have (but that's our lazy fault). I guess we do it once every three weeks. But it's usually a two person job. He hold and trims (I'm a chicken), and I sooth and scratch and rub and talk to them while he does it. It really seems to help, me talking and petting, while he trims - seems to calm them down. We really only snip the sharp edge off - we both don't want to cut the quick. Then afterwards, the cats can count on a bit of Cat Kaviar or Soft food.

[nibblets]

All claws intact on Miss J!
She has 3 different scratchers that she uses...One is her favorite. Its sisal rope on a board that is supposed to hang on a door knob, but she prefers it flat on the floor. I purchased some good claw trimmers and we sit down as needed and take the tips down a bit. She doesn't much like it, but other than growling and a couple of little love bites to say 'Meowm...I'm not diggin' this' , she endures it. Does she get my furniture...yep, she does pretty well but sometimes a kitty just has to get that one corner of the loveseat that calls to her. Do I care? Nahhh...I don't have expensive or really nice furniture right now, and I probably won't until my son is through school and off on his own. Believe me, the 15 yr old son is way harder on the furniture than Miss Julie could ever be.
I have worked with her to train her to use her soft paws when we play. When she was little and would get to fiesty with her claws I would make a little whimper noise like she was hurting me(well, actually she was!) but it worked! She would hear me and stop. She soon learned to keep her claws to herself. Now if she scratches one of us, it is accidental. I gently nudge her from scratching on the loveseat and she will go on over to her scratcher.
They are cats and cats have claws and they use them...but with patience and gentle persuasion they learn when it is alright to whip em out and when its best to keep them in.

[moosmom]

Johanna,

Believe it or not, when I was looking for a place to live in Michigan, almost ALL the ads in the "rentals" booklet required that cats be declawed!! I was fortunate enough to find a place where, not only does the landlord not care how many cats I have, but didn't even require a pet deposit, let along require me to have all my cats declawed! Believe me, he is a SAINT!!!

I would NEVER live in a place where declawing is required and I think it should be against the law that it's required in some places.

[lisalee]

I've never had any cats declawed. My family never saw any reason too or myself, mainly because furniture/material things are replaceable. Sash has certainly done his share of shredding to my furniture though but I could care less.

I never understood declawing to be such a horrible thing though, until reading on many message boards about it. I would have to agree though that I would rather see a cat declawed and happy in a home over being very depressed or pts in a shelter. That would break my heart more.


Lisa & Sash