If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Best Method for Declawing a Cat?
on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:44:58 GMT, eDog wrote:
Divorces are messy things. I would like to avoid getting to that "Me or the cats"! moment. And I would really like to avoid getting to it AFTER declawing the cats. That would be the worst of all possible worlds. I would divorce someone who put the 'welfare' of a piece of furniture ahead of the welfare of a living, breathing, LOVING creature that I had commited to taking care of for its lifetime... but I digress. Take the option of declawing OFF the table. Seriously. -- Lynne |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Best Method for Declawing a Cat?
On Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:31:43 GMT, eDog wrote:
I already trained the cats to use a scratching post. They don't scratch the leather sofa on purpose. I ordered SoftPaws and am expecting them to show up today. I am a little wary of them for a couple reasons. Plastic can do a pretty good job of scratching leather too for one thing. Not to shift blame, but my spouse is far less understanding about cat damage than I am. A ruined sofa is going to do a lot to stress my marriage. It's really very simple. Get rid of the expensive furniture, the cat, or your spouse. In reality, quit being so ****ing anal about the furniture and understand that it is going to take some wear and tear from their being animals (you and your wife included) in the house. |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Best Method for Declawing a Cat?
In all honesty - front declawing the cats will not affect the
furniture. The leather will be scratched from their back claws every time they leap. I posted on your other topic too, but wanted to stress that front declawing will not do the job that you want done - I've been there, done that with shelter kitties. eDog wrote: Divorces are messy things. I would like to avoid getting to that "Me or the cats"! moment. And I would really like to avoid getting to it AFTER declawing the cats. That would be the worst of all possible worlds. "Matthew" wrote in : Wife's can be replaced for if it was the cats or her she would find her self out the door specially if is was something materialistic -- Looking for a clue. |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Best Method for Declawing a Cat?
I also tend to just keep my furniture covered unless I am having company over.
Keep in mind, that declawing cats was actually made illegal in California just to show you what a terrible and mutilating procedure that it is. Please rethink declawing your cat. I know when I was really little, and this sounds terrible, I used to actually chew on my parents wood furniture. Should my parents of had my teeth pulled to prevent me from doing this? Edna Pearl wrote: There is no humane way to de-claw a cat. Learn to trim your cat's claws, provide adequate scratchposts and scratchpads, and train the cat. ep Although I am against it, a new and rather expensive leather sofa has raised the possibility of declawing my 3 cats. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] If I keep my cats nails trimmed short will they still be able to (unintentionally) damage my leather sofa? -- Message posted via CatKB.com http://www.catkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...ealth/200701/1 |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Best Method for Declawing a Cat?
"eDog" wrote in message . .. Although I am against it, a new and rather expensive leather sofa has raised the possibility of declawing my 3 cats. If I have to get them declawed what is the best way to do it? What kinds of questions should I ask the vet? What kind of equipment should he have/use? Simply declawing their front paws may not accomplish much with regard to protecting the furniture. Also, I am going to ask in a separate thread: If I keep my cats nails trimmed short will they still be able to (unintentionally) damage my leather sofa? -- Looking for a clue. There is *no* "better way" to declaw a cat. Any method of declawing results in the same situation -- that is, you have just performed amputation, a cruel and unnecessary procedure. Worst of all would be to declaw all four paws (which you are considering). That compounds problems such as lack of muscle control and possible early onset of arthritis. Ironically, you may also cause an even worse problem *for yourself* than scratches on furniture. That is, approximately 1/3 of declawed cats begin to urinate outside the litterbox. How will you feel if you begin to find fresh urine in your bed or on your carpets? Your selection of the leather sofa was probably a poor choice, but it is done now. From your description, it does not sound as if your cats are using the sofa as a scratching post. Instead, it appears that their claws leave marks because they need some traction. You can help to reduce this problem if you look for an attractive (but sturdy) cover that you can wrap around the cushions. Whatever you do, please *do not* let your husband talk you into declawing the cats. Think of it this way. If you had small children who damaged your furniture, would you consider cutting off their fingers to the first knuckle? Well, of course not! The very suggestion is outrageous. But that is what you would actually doing to these helpless kitties. They are part of your family, and they rely on you to love them and provide *good* care. I would like to include a short quotation from a message that Lauren posted some time ago: "Cats can develop declaw related problems years later, like developing arthritis, muscle atrophy and nerve pain. A declawed cat is much like someone who is clubfooted. Since a cat is digitigrade, meaning walking on tip toes, the cat can't walk normally with his weight back on the rear of his pads. His posture is changed and his gait is now off. Cats use their claws as a means of communication, much like we use our voices. A declawed cat is much like a person without a larynx...." Here are some web sites that look at the issue of declawing. Please share some of this information with your husband: http://www.stopdeclaw.com http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/declaw.html http://www.cara-adopt.org/declaw.html http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declawvettch.html http://www.maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.ph...=show&item=002 MaryL Photos of Duffy and Holly: 'o' Duffy: http://tinyurl.com/cslwf Holly: http://tinyurl.com/9t68o Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
Best Method for Declawing a Cat?
MoMo via CatKB.com wrote:
I know when I was really little, and this sounds terrible, I used to actually chew on my parents wood furniture. Should my parents of had my teeth pulled to prevent me from doing this? Hmmm, maybe that would have worked - ha! Did your parents ever consider taking you to the vet? I'll bet Feliway would have helped. Rhonda |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Best Method for Declawing a Cat?
eDog wrote: Although I am against it, a new and rather expensive leather sofa has raised the possibility of declawing my 3 cats. If I have to get them declawed what is the best way to do it? What kinds of questions should I ask the vet? What kind of equipment should he have/use? Simply declawing their front paws may not accomplish much with regard to protecting the furniture. Also, I am going to ask in a separate thread: If I keep my cats nails trimmed short will they still be able to (unintentionally) damage my leather sofa? -- DO NOT HAVE YOUR CATS DECLAWED, I REPEAT, DO NOT HAVE YOUR CATS DECLAWED. for most people the fact thatit is cruel, nasty and barbaric woudl be enuogh to put them off the idea but you seem tobe someone who cares rathjer more about his furniture than the welfare of a living creature who loves you and has put their trust in you to protect them and care for them and to keep them safe from harm and not put them through unnecessary and painful mutilation (poor misguided creatures eh?), so i will use another argument. Declawed cats will show some rather unpleasant behaviours after the op due to not being able to mark their territory, inability to communicate their presence to other cats, and possibly also ongoing pain after the amputations. These behaviours will include urinating around the house (to replace normal marking of their home), and also defaecating too in inappropriate places, they may also start to bite you as they are incapable of defending themselves with their now non-existent claws. since you don't want your kitties leavign marks on your obviously far more beloved furniture how will you feel about the same kitties coming back form the vets and peeing and pooing everywhere instead and possibly also becoming vicious little biters because their main line of defence (their claws) has been taken away from them? Will this argument convince you it is very bad idea indeed? btw I have leather sofas, dark burgundy leather, and had 2 cats (just 1 now) and the one who passed away summer 2005 had been in a car accident we think and could not retract his back claws at all but he never seemed to scratch the sofas at all, not sure how he managed that but he did. Jessie is always on them, either perched on top looking out the back window into the garden or climbing on them or (most fun) trying to catch a pingpong ball or scrunchy ball on one (usually failing as with the slippery leather surface they just go flying as does she), and i can't see a mark on them. christ if you are that bothered about your f*cking sofas then why do you not try to get your cats rehomed with someone who does put the priorities and needs of a living creature above that of an inanimate object. better they go to a new home than get mutilated for the sake of a sofa. bookie ps i live in a rented house, part furnished, the sofas are mine so i dont care what happens to them, the bed in my room came with the house though and therefore if it is damaged in anyway then I/we may well lose our deposit on the house if/when we move out. both jasper and jessie have ripped the covering on the side of the bed base (boxspring you call it in the states? not sure) to shreds, not much left to rip now, so unless I go out and purchase a new bed base for when we all move out and the place is inspected we will definitely lose the deposit. I reckon i will just be going out and buying a new double bed for the house when we go, simple as that, but to be honest i couldn't care less, it is no big deal, nobody has died have they? it is only a bloody bed. I am sure some anal yank would probably have whipped both J and J off to be declawed ages ago to prevent further damage but to me life is just too ****ing short to get stressed out about furniture etc and as i said it is only a bloody bed. I would rather have happy cats able to do whatever comes naturally to them and a shredded bed base than miserable mutilated cats and pristine furniture anyday. pps yes they have both had scratching posts, jasper ignored his, jessie loves hers, both go outside and scratch trees inthe garden, but they also liek a good scratch onthe side of the bed as it seems to get me out of bed inthe mornign and downstairs to serve breakfast quicker than normal methods |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Best Method for Declawing a Cat?
I would like to add this - about 50% of the cats that I have had in my
60-year lifetime have been declawed - shelter, etc. I have NEVER noticed the strange behaviors that everyone on this forum list. Just wanted to state that fact. I currently have a front declawed Maine Coon from the shelter - declawed before I got him at age 3 - who is the sweetest kitty I have ever had. But I will restate that front declawing will not save the leather couch! bookie wrote: eDog wrote: Although I am against it, a new and rather expensive leather sofa has raised the possibility of declawing my 3 cats. If I have to get them declawed what is the best way to do it? What kinds of questions should I ask the vet? What kind of equipment should he have/use? Simply declawing their front paws may not accomplish much with regard to protecting the furniture. Also, I am going to ask in a separate thread: If I keep my cats nails trimmed short will they still be able to (unintentionally) damage my leather sofa? -- DO NOT HAVE YOUR CATS DECLAWED, I REPEAT, DO NOT HAVE YOUR CATS DECLAWED. for most people the fact thatit is cruel, nasty and barbaric woudl be enuogh to put them off the idea but you seem tobe someone who cares rathjer more about his furniture than the welfare of a living creature who loves you and has put their trust in you to protect them and care for them and to keep them safe from harm and not put them through unnecessary and painful mutilation (poor misguided creatures eh?), so i will use another argument. Declawed cats will show some rather unpleasant behaviours after the op due to not being able to mark their territory, inability to communicate their presence to other cats, and possibly also ongoing pain after the amputations. These behaviours will include urinating around the house (to replace normal marking of their home), and also defaecating too in inappropriate places, they may also start to bite you as they are incapable of defending themselves with their now non-existent claws. since you don't want your kitties leavign marks on your obviously far more beloved furniture how will you feel about the same kitties coming back form the vets and peeing and pooing everywhere instead and possibly also becoming vicious little biters because their main line of defence (their claws) has been taken away from them? Will this argument convince you it is very bad idea indeed? btw I have leather sofas, dark burgundy leather, and had 2 cats (just 1 now) and the one who passed away summer 2005 had been in a car accident we think and could not retract his back claws at all but he never seemed to scratch the sofas at all, not sure how he managed that but he did. Jessie is always on them, either perched on top looking out the back window into the garden or climbing on them or (most fun) trying to catch a pingpong ball or scrunchy ball on one (usually failing as with the slippery leather surface they just go flying as does she), and i can't see a mark on them. christ if you are that bothered about your f*cking sofas then why do you not try to get your cats rehomed with someone who does put the priorities and needs of a living creature above that of an inanimate object. better they go to a new home than get mutilated for the sake of a sofa. bookie ps i live in a rented house, part furnished, the sofas are mine so i dont care what happens to them, the bed in my room came with the house though and therefore if it is damaged in anyway then I/we may well lose our deposit on the house if/when we move out. both jasper and jessie have ripped the covering on the side of the bed base (boxspring you call it in the states? not sure) to shreds, not much left to rip now, so unless I go out and purchase a new bed base for when we all move out and the place is inspected we will definitely lose the deposit. I reckon i will just be going out and buying a new double bed for the house when we go, simple as that, but to be honest i couldn't care less, it is no big deal, nobody has died have they? it is only a bloody bed. I am sure some anal yank would probably have whipped both J and J off to be declawed ages ago to prevent further damage but to me life is just too ****ing short to get stressed out about furniture etc and as i said it is only a bloody bed. I would rather have happy cats able to do whatever comes naturally to them and a shredded bed base than miserable mutilated cats and pristine furniture anyday. pps yes they have both had scratching posts, jasper ignored his, jessie loves hers, both go outside and scratch trees inthe garden, but they also liek a good scratch onthe side of the bed as it seems to get me out of bed inthe mornign and downstairs to serve breakfast quicker than normal methods |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
Best Method for Declawing a Cat?
eDog,
I saw your other posting before I saw this one. What in Sam Houston possesed you guys in obtaining new leather furniture when you already had 3 cats? Now you want to declaw the critters. No sympathy here Dog, ya'll appear to be a self centered and a tad dim. From my perspective you have 4 choices (in no particular order): Cover the furniture with quilts for everyday use, stowing them and the critters when company comes. Ditch the cats. Ditch the sofa. Ditch the wife. "eDog" wrote in message . .. Although I am against it, a new and rather expensive leather sofa has raised the possibility of declawing my 3 cats. If I have to get them declawed what is the best way to do it? What kinds of questions should I ask the vet? What kind of equipment should he have/use? Simply declawing their front paws may not accomplish much with regard to protecting the furniture. Also, I am going to ask in a separate thread: If I keep my cats nails trimmed short will they still be able to (unintentionally) damage my leather sofa? -- Looking for a clue. |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
Best Method for Declawing a Cat?
I'm the husband.
The cats are my buddies. "MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in : Whatever you do, please *do not* let your husband talk you into declawing the cats. -- Looking for a clue. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|