Discussions

What are you thoughts on declawing a Kitten? I am debating to have mine kitten done. The surgery seem unpleasant and ouch to the cat...but which surgery is pleasant and pain free even for human.  
But if go ahead, the procedure seem less severe and heal quicker if at early stage of the cat (2-3 months old).  
Mine will never let go outside in the yard of freedom. Furniture are not cheap.  
AN ALTERNATIVE??? If not go for declawing the kitten, is spray the cat with water/vinager or water/peppermint be a trick to stop the cat scratching furnitures or not?  

We did our cat. We had both front and back done. For sure saved money on furniture and carpet. You will always have those on here saying how bad it is but you are the one living with the cat. Ours never goes outside either.

Find a nice carpeted scratching post! My cat used to claw the furniture when I first got him but once I bought a scratching post he went straight to it instead of the couch. I bought mine at Walmart, its got carpet and also a post with a harder rope wound around it.  
 
Declawing a cat would is similar to if someone removed up to the first knuckle of your finger! How would you feel? Most cats after getting declawed loose their sense of protection and will start biting instead.  
 
Invest in a scratching post and put it near where your cat tends to scratch. Make a noise that surprises the cat when its doing something you don't want it to, like saying PSST loudly. I also use a little squirt gun filled with water if that doesn't work.  
 
Hope you find a better solution than declawing!

There's vinyl nailcaps that fit over claws with special adhesive, and don't come off, with good reviews. Have a look.  
http://www.softpaws.com/soft-paws-feline-kitten/  
 
Could be used until cat is older and well trained, or for lifetime.

I really hope you do not declaw your kitten it is a horrible dangerous surgery and some vets have stopped doing it. It's so wrong the poster above is right it's like removing the first knuckle of your fingers!! So get a scratch post or get the soft paw nail covers. They sell them at Pet Valu! If you wanted to know more info on why you shouldn't get your cat declawed if you have Netflix watch The Paw Project!!! Non of my cats are declawed I'd read about how terrible the procedure is but when I watched this movie it broke my heart that people think it's safe cause a vet will do it... it shouldn't even be legal and in some places it's not anymore! Doing it can make some cats extremely aggressive, some get permanent damage and have problems with their feet, some get horrific infections... It's not worth it for your pet it's selfish there are easy ways to stop your pet from wrecking your furniture without harming your cat for it!  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Edited by Katherine., 2015-12-04 13:46:52

Definitely go with soft paws. Much gentler and they work!!

Don't declaw your kitten causes future pain ,aggression get the caps for its nails to protect your furniture declawing is horrible

Try the other options. A lot of vets won't even do this surgery - very painful for the animal.

Not all cats will stay just to the scratch pad and leave the furniture. Soft paws are ok but they fall off and some cats will chew them. We had house cats and there was just way too much damage! They are now barn cats. Some people don't have that option and the best thing would be to declaw. Do what is best for you and your cat.

Declawing is an inhumane horrifying procedure. Consider removing a child's fingertips for chewing on their gloves. It's the difference between training your cat properly or being lazy.

 
 
Edited by Katherine., 2015-12-04 14:44:01

lovemygirl said "Not all cats will stay just to the scratch pad and leave the furniture. Soft paws are ok but they fall off and some cats will chew them. We had house cats and there was just way too much damage! They are now barn cats. Some people don't have that option and the best thing would be to declaw. Do what is best for you and your cat. "

It might be the best thing for YOU but it's definitely NOT ever the best thing for a cat!

was declawed when she got spayed, flew thru the surgeries and is a happy cat!

Johnbisonbear said "was declawed when she got spayed, flew thru the surgeries and is a happy cat! "

Exactly with ours too. We had it spayed and declawed all at the same time. Plus updated shots. Our cat is playful and happy. It is nice to not have to worry about children around the cat as it won't scratch them. We found before the claws came off that when we got scratched there would be a lot of redness or slight infections from the scratches. People will talk about the cat biting. With our without the nails our cat bit. What we have found is when he gets mad instead of scratching he will bite but it is basically holding your hand in his mouth without squeezing. Then we stop playing for a while.

I have a cat that was declawed and spayed at the same time: she is now 11 years old and the most loving, affectionate cat I've ever met. She has never bitten, and still scratches the furniture as if she had claws.

So a few years down the road when the cat has clawed all the furniture, carpet, etc and the family has had enough and then get rid of it, abandon it, euthanize it....that sounds more pleasant for the cat??

I have two cats who have been declawed on the front paws. They come and bounced around happily the moment they were put down, which is unlike my childhood cat who seemed to be in so much pain, the old method. I did feel bad making the decision but they are strictly indoor cats and unfortunately I would have been unable to keep them if I had not done the procedure. The vets stance was that she would rather the cats be declawed than euthanized. I believe both of my cats to be happy. They run around and play and do all the things other cats do, except they don't climb my curtains or scratch my furniture (even though they still think they can)

train your cat to not claw the furniture. i got my rescue cat at 6 years old and he never clawed furniture. Always used his cat tree to claw. He use to be bad for jumping on the counter or table - trained him not to do that. If you have animals or kids - your furniture is bound to get damaged at some point in the furnitures life. I agree that most vets will not do this procedure, lots of cats have pain when they use the litter box as covering it after they are done is painful after they are declawed. this can lead to the cat peeing in other spots in the house. Declawing is essentially taking off the first knuckle. As said before by others, get the caps or get kitty used to having their nails trimmed so its not a battle. I trim my kittys nails cause him and the dog wrestle together.  
Why not call around or go to a couple vets in the area and see what their stance is in declawing

don't know what vets in Brandon offer but I read on line 3 methods to declaw: guillotine method, blade method, laser method.  
I have an old senior cat that she doesn't like to use any scratch post so moving to my new house she damaged my new sofa valued at $1400 each corner looking fuzzy now and she scracthed each corner of vinyl/leather bench valued $200 and plus more she damaged 2 antique chairs.  
I am debating because if this kitten doesn't use scrach post and doesn't listen and scratches my stuff like my other cat than if i decide to declaw my mind and opinion is better do it while she is still young.  
The thing is the kitten will be probably in pain but are there human surgery done that is harsh on a human ...does the doctor refuses because the patient will suffer for a while.  
I am not sure what to do

If you declaw a cat you run a high risk of causing the cat to become aggressive or crippled. Just don't do it, it's barbaric and cruel. If your furniture is that important or you don't want to buy a $5 bottle of scratch deterrent spray...don't get a cat. They detach the first joint on the finger...like clipping off the end of your finger. If you get a cat, don't declaw. Get a nice scratcher/tree and some nice toys.  

We took in a cat last summer that is declawed and he hasn't shown any aggression. he is a happy, lazy cat. however that being said I dont know how he was right after surgery. I also have a friend who had her cat declawed and she said he was just miserable and drowsy the day after and then he was good. Don't think it's something I could personally do to my pet. But hey, don't let the negative comments get to ya. You're not the first and won't be the last. I'm glad my cat is. At least your looking into info on it.

While I don't agree with declawing, I agree with it is better to declaw than to euthanize. It's also probably better to do it young than older.  
 
That being said, cats will scratch on what's attractive. If you have furniture made of not-attractive materials like a tight weave, and give them things appropriate to scratch on that is more attractive, like carpet, they will usually opt for the appropriate thing like the carpet scratcher.  
 
I never declawed my cats. Did they do damage? Yes, usually when they were bored or stressed. But they're cats. They have claws for a reason, and they are just barely domesticated. If you can't handle the damage, maybe getting a cat isn't for you. Declawing should be a last resort instead of first-line defense.

don't get a cat! My furnitures are more important???? It's a kitten in the country that the mother cat abandoned her 7 kittens and one baby froze in the cold so one kitten has now a home and warm place to be. He now will not freeze, not go hungry and/or not feel pain by being attack and viciously killed by any animal in the woods.  
What was I thinking to be cruel to the animal!

Get a scratching post or two. Get a towel rub it on the cats scent glands (cheeks) then rub it on the scratching posts. We did this with our cat, he is NOT declawed. He only scratches the posts and has never ever scratched the furniture. Don't declawed, it is very very painful for the cat. Your cat is family, do what's best for it, not you. Good luck with your decision.

1 chance said "don't get a cat! My furnitures are more important???? It's a kitten in the country that the mother cat abandoned her 7 kittens and one baby froze in the cold so one kitten has now a home and warm place to be. He now will not freeze, not go hungry and/or not feel pain by being attack and viciously killed by any animal in the woods.   What was I thinking to be cruel to the animal! "

I guess you shouldn't have asked if you didn't want the feedback.  
 
Spray bottle and a couple of scratching posts are all you need.

A declawed cat that lived to be 15 years old. He was very affectionate and active. A good hunter and loved to be outside in the summer ( I live in the country). He was declawed when neutered as a kitten and was never sick or miserable.  

Anyone who thinks its ok to cut the tips of their cats "fingers" off to try and save some scratched furniture should not ever consider getting a cat... Or a dog....or any animal... Or children. It takes time and effort to raise furr babies. You you dont have time and dont care to put in a little effort to care for, teach and train your pets then PLEASE dont get one!! Wake up!

You can quite easily train them not to scratch. The naysayers obviously didn't put enough effort in. I brought in a log from outside and put them on it whenever they went near furniture. Also had a spray bottle of water. They got the hint. They also have cat trees to scratch. You can also use nail clippers every few weeks, much more humane, or nail use covers. Yes it's an indoor cat, but what if it escapes. It will have no claws to defend itself, and it likely won't be able to hunt to survive.

silverpawz said "You can quite easily train them not to scratch. The naysayers obviously didn't put enough effort in. I brought in a log from outside and put them on it whenever they went near furniture. Also had a spray bottle of water. They got the hint. They also have cat trees to scratch. You can also use nail clippers every few weeks, much more humane, or nail use covers. Yes it's an indoor cat, but what if it escapes. It will have no claws to defend itself, and it likely won't be able to hunt to survive. "

We have had several cats over the years and we trained each and every one not to claw the furniture. If you can train your puppy not to chew your furniture, you can train your cat not to claw it.  
 
Just stay on top of the cat's behaviour and be consistent with the training.

1 chance said "don't get a cat! My furnitures are more important???? It's a kitten in the country that the mother cat abandoned her 7 kittens and one baby froze in the cold so one kitten has now a home and warm place to be. He now will not freeze, not go hungry and/or not feel pain by being attack and viciously killed by any animal in the woods.   What was I thinking to be cruel to the animal! "

I took in a cat that needed a home. The previous owners had her declawed. She was an indoor cat 100%. We had her years. She got out one night when we answered the door for the pizza guy. Got into the neighbors yard and was attacked by their dog, and had no means to defend herself. She ended up having a leg amputated and eventually suffering to the point we had to put her down. You can not guarantee a cat is only ever going to be indoors.