Cat declawing? (living in, single, cats)

[Backliteyes]

Originally Posted by Buffyfan

There are alternatives. There are little plastic covers for the claws. I forgot what they are called. You dab glue and slip them over the nail. Try that. Seen them at Pet stores.

Soft Paws! I've used them, they're the best alternative I've seen to declawing.

To OP: It's your cat, declaw it if you need to. Regardless of it's legal status elsewhere, it's legal here. Whether someone should do it or not is a matter of opinion, I've met plenty of cats that were perfectly happy post-declawing from everything their owners could observe. I personally would not want to do it to a cat, but I would if I had to.

[GlorifiedMalcontent]

though i am /vehemently/ against declawing, it looks like enough people have already gave you an earful. caps like softpaw are amazing, my friends cat had them and everyone was better off for it. the cat got to keep his fingers and the couch got to keep it's stuffing. you cat should be completely indoor though. though cats can do some climbing and such if they accidentally make it out doors, caps of course dull the tips making climbing and defending themselves harder. if that was ever the case, best to have partial use of claws (and eventually full use once the caps fall off) then not at all, forever.

[taknbyd]

I stopped reading after I saw a few personal attacks about your question so I am unsure if you got your answer yet but I added my cat to the banfield plan at pet smart and they gave a HUGE discount on the declawing probably around $150 and got all hit shots etc.. You can always remove him from the plan after. I still keep my dog and cat on their plan since the price is seems right. I asked the vet before doing it and she said as long as its in indoor cat it would cause no harm and since she did go to school for a very long time I think I will take her word on it. My cat still jumps from extremly high places.He is always on top of the fridge jumping down etc and never seems to mind at all. He also loves to go play with my 7yr old he is always crying by his door at night just waiting to see him when i open the door in the morning to wake my son up and he jumps right in bed to wake my son up. I love the fact that I can feel comfortable with him around my son. With so many cats dying every day in the shelter I used to volunteer at one when I lived in FL and sadly got to see it first hand I am surprised anyone would suggest you not own one and save a life....
Life > Claws
So if you want its worth calling banefield to figure it all out :0)

[RevImmigrant]

I've had cats over 50 years so I have a little experience. I'm not crazy about declawing, but given the nature of your problem, it is probably a good solution for you. It's better than having to give up a beloved cat and the cat will undoubtedly be happier at home with her family and no claws than she will be in a strange household with claws. Many years ago I had a cat declawed; he suffered no ill-effects from it. I presently have 4 cats. I clip their claws regularly, have a scratching post and NO overstuffed furniture; my furniture is essentially cat-proof throughout the house by design. Keep the cat and declaw her.

[Mom2Feebs]

OMG, TexasRedneck, what were you thinking posting this?? Did you not know about the hand of Judgement that would come down upon you?? People flip out at this kind of stuff.

[johnts71]

Originally Posted by TexasRedneck

Okay....I'm at my wits end. We have a cat that we love, but she's now destroyed over $4k worth of furnishings. It's either declaw or decat. Any idea as to what kind of money we should be looking at? Want to do the front claws only - she's an inside cat, never goes outside - but on the off chance that she got out, I'd want her to have SOME means to defend herself!

Thanks!!

its best to get cats declawed at a young age. Remember its like taking off a knuckle. Do you have scratching posts around the house? I have one cat with all claws and she never tears anything up.

[TexasRedneck]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

OMG, TexasRedneck, what were you thinking posting this?? Did you not know about the hand of Judgement that would come down upon you?? People flip out at this kind of stuff.

There are some folks that can't be happy unless they're giving others grief!

But it coulda been worse - I coulda been asking how to get rid of 'em......

[KittySkyfish]

Not sure if you still need quotes, but five years ago I paid about $830 for two adult cats to have laser declawing. We chose to declaw because all options weren't working, even the Soft Paws, and were left with either declaw or get rid of them. Since both were five years old at the time and inseparable, declawing (although not ideal) was the eventual best option.

The vet kept them overnight and we had an empty room ready for them to recover in. Even the window ledges were blocked. This prevented any jumping and breaking of stitches. I stayed in the room with them for company and gave them oral liquid pain medicine as needed. After three days, they were ready to roam around the house. They had a vet inspection after a week and were complication-free throughout the process.

Six years later, they're still the same cats with the same sweet and gentle personalities. They have no trust issues with either of us.

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by TexasRedneck

There are some folks that can't be happy unless they're giving others grief!

But it coulda been worse - I coulda been asking how to get rid of 'em......

or how to filet 'em

[TexasRedneck]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

or how to filet 'em

Rut-roh......