Barclay and declawing

[PJ's Mom]

Hubby saw Barclay shredding the couch this morning and got furious. He said either Barclay gets declawed or we will have to rehome him.

I've tried the soft paws...but we can't get them on ourselves and the vet charges $25 every time we have to get him to do it.

Truthfully, he is killing the couch and the carpet on the stairs. I don't know what to do. I yell his name when I catch him doing it, but he only moves to another spot. I've tried to spray him with a water bottle and it only stops hijm for awhile, and obviously I can't be here all the time, so he still gets away with it.

Hubby wants me to make an appointment by the end of the day.

Please help. I've been fighting this for the last couple of years, but I'm about to lose the battle.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I'm assuming you have scratching posts around where it's ok for him to scratch?

At the petstore they sell this sticky tape kind of stuff that you stick on the object they are scratching. They don't like the feel of the tape so they stop scratching. However, they are going to scratch somewhere, so you have to be sure to offer a good alternative - like a scratching post. Load the scratching post up with catnip. Try those cardboard scratching things they have at the petstore. If he likes to scratch on the carpet, give him a piece of carpet of his own. We have a rug rolled up downstairs in the basement - with the "wrong" side out - and CJ loves to scratch on that and goes to it everytime we go to the basement. Just for the record, CJ was declawed when we got him, but he still likes to "scratch" things.

Hopefully others will have some helpful suggestions. Good luck!

[catnapper]

Do you trim his nails often? Like 2-3 times a month? I forget if I showed you how short Harry's nails are because he had the same bad habit. His nails are so short now that he can't do any damage.

I'm lucky, in that Harry is actually GOOD when I trim nails. I hope Barclay is decent with nail trims.

[PJ's Mom]

Originally posted by catnapper

I'm lucky, in that Harry is actually GOOD when I trim nails. I hope Barclay is decent with nail trims.

I wish he was good with it. Of course it's our fault he isn't. I didn't know you could do that to a cats nails. The only time we tried, there was a lot of screaming (his not ours) and a little blood (ours not his). The vet had to tranquilize him to put the Soft Paws on.

[PJ's Mom]

Originally posted by Tubby & Peanut's Mom
I'm assuming you have scratching posts around where it's ok for him to scratch?

Yes. We have one next to his favorite window. He's never used it. I've even picked up his little feet and placed them on it to show him what it's for. I'll try the catnip to see if that does any good. He's the one who seems to be immune to it, though.

[lvpets2002]

Oh Dawn I am so sad your hubby wants to put your baby thru pain of declawing.. Have you tried PetsMart for that stuff you can put on the corners of your couch & stairs.. Its like a sticky stripe.. Oh there is also a spray you can get [they dont like the smell] which I have never smelled & we two legged may not like the smell too.. I know I have all kinds of scratching post & then the big cat tree & each Sunday what I call nipping the sharpie points of the toe nails & my girls still go for the couch.. But they dont hurt it to bad due to their sharpest tips are always kept nipped.. Hope this helps & good luck & keep us informed..

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by PJ's Mom
Yes. We have one next to his favorite window. He's never used it.

Try the cardboard thingys. Like people, cats have different preferences and maybe whatever is on the scratching post just doesn't do it for him but some other material will?

[moosmom]

Please, DON'T declaw Barclay!! It could lead to other problems and then Barclay will be out the door.

How old is Barclay? The only suggestions I can make is wherever you see him scratch, put a scratching post. Put a couple of coins in a can and whenever you see him go to scratch, shake the can loudly and yell "NO!!!". When he goes for the furniture, you can also squirt him with water. Another suggestion would be to retrain him. It may take a little time and patience but it'd be worth it in the long run. Whenever he goes for the furniture, grab him, yell NO!!! then bring him over to the scratching post or whatever you have for him to scratch on, take his paws and make the scratching motion with them on the post.

Debbie is also correct in that alot of cats like different kinds of textures like sisal rope, corrugated cardboard (they have those real cheap at the pet store that come with catnip to sprinkle on it). You can also buy a can of spray catnip. Get a couple of carpet remnants or more scratching posts and spray the heck outta them with the spray catnip.

I hope you'll please try these before declawing Barclay. Tell your husband to at least try these suggestions before declawing. Also tell him that declawing would be like cutting off HIS fingers and the first knuckle and expect him to walk on them.

Good luck and PLEASE keep us posted!!

[PJ's Mom]

Originally posted by moosmom
Please, DON'T declaw Barclay!!

I'm trying not to.

We just got back from the vet where I had his claws trimmed. I can't find the glue to the soft paws but when I do I'll be getting them put back on. At least that'll buy me some time to come up with other solutions.

The vet strongly suggested I get him declawed now, before he gets any older.

I'll try to get some spray catnip and cardboard today. Thanks for the suggestions.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I sure hope that your husband doesn't make you declaw Barclay. This can lead to other behavioral problems like biting. Hopefully he'll like the cardboard scratchers. Good luck and please keep us updated.

I can't trim my furkids nails either so I take them to a grooming school and they only charge $9 per cat. I try to take them at least every 6-8 weeks or so. Petco and Petsmart will also trim nails and they're much less expensive than having your vets do it.

[jazzcat]

I've had that problem with Ripley. He's ruined some furniture over the years. Finally I found that sticky paws tape to put on things, it helps. Also I pinned some aluminum foil over the places he was scratching most, that helps. I keep a water bottle around and spray him and anyone else I catch scratching in the wrong place. I then try to take them to the scratching post to show them but they usually run after being squirted.

I have a variety of scratchers for them. They have three posts and three cardboard scratchers. They all seem to like the Alpine Scratcher - maybe you could interest Barclay with that. I think it's about $12 at PetsMart. I also have two cat trees that they are free to scratch and dig all over. I didn't cover the legs with carpet so my little wood scratcher Jazz could use that. She will sharpen her paws on wood table legs and wood door frames.

I also trim all my kitties claws but Jazz and Rocky are pretty difficult. Still I just keep working with them. Even if I just get one claw clipped at a time I give them a treat and now they are getting better about it.

[RedHedd]

All the tips here are good. Try different scratching posts and more than one - I have one in each room and one in the hallway for my two. The M's like the tall carpeted ones and ignore the ones that hang from the door ... all cats are different in how they like to scratch. That spray (Cat Away?) stuff never worked for me in the past. Please don't declaw Barclay

[AbbyMom]

One more idea:

Most of my fosters have preferred to use the wicker laundry hamper over either the cardboard style or the carpeted scratching post.

A cheapo hamper might entice him...

Good luck to you and Barclay.

[jenluckenbach]

1st....find a groomer who will clip his nails, it should be cheaper.

2nd.....don't keep the scratching post by his window, put it as close to where he LIKES to scratch as possible. I have the plain post types DIRECTLY in front of a favorite sofa corner.

The double sticky tape works, and you can hardly even see it once it is in place.

Good luck because declawing might save your couch but may just get you an even worse problem later.

[PJ's Mom]

Oh, it's a clear tape? Good.

I'm moving the scratching post right now.