 |
| Softclaws--I'll let ya know how it goes... |
For me. But not for folks I ran into. A surprising number said "Oh, are you going to declaw?"
I don't like to make people uncomfortable, but the look on my face had to have shown my shock at the very suggestion. People do it. Even today.
Someone at work told me about Softclaws, little claw covers that are applied with adhesive and last six weeks. Naturally, it's for indoor only cats. He told me they work, but he had these neat tips...
- 40 claws are $20 at pet stores, but they can be reused (soak in water to remove adhesive.
- They come in several sizes, from Kitten to "Maine Coon" (XL).
- Some cats try to shake them or bite them off. Try to play with them or feed them right after they're applied.
.jpg)
I just wanted to say I could not AGREE WITH YOU MORE about declawing.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried scrathing post or the cardboard scratching block? My cat loves them. My boyfriend got his cats a huge log. I hope the soft claws work. I'm so glad you are giving him a chance and not rushing to the vet to get him declawed.
ReplyDeleteI used these on one of my cats to great success. I've also discovered that a trick to keep them from scratching furniture the the double sided sticky sheets you can place on their favorite spots to discourage them and to supply them with multiple alternate sources. In a one bedroom apartment I have a multilevel carpeted cat tower, a tall cat tree, and 2 cardboard scratchers. I was eventually able to stop using the double sided sticky matts by training them that the other locations were a much better option for scratching.
ReplyDeleteDid it once, won't ever do it again. My cats love a big split log with bark on it, laying on the floor. Also, we use fingernail clippers and keep them trimmed. One of us pets/holds cat, the other snips and the more often you do, the less of a deal it is. Not a big deal, and FREE
ReplyDeleteMy kitty has the pink soft claws :) I think they help. She still scratches the couch, but it doesn't do as much damage and she can't leave scratch marks on the leather furniture. It also allows her to play with the Chihuahua and not hurt him, so I don't mind putting them on her about once a month.
ReplyDeleteI've used orange and lemon peels with success. Just rub a little on the corners of the furniture of choice every now and then. It depends on the furniture too, of course. Good luck with the claw covers, I've never heard of that. It might be a funny video, kinda like dogs in boots for the first time. Silly stuff.
ReplyDeleteWill also add that they do need something to scratch on - with cats that can go out, they scratch outside on trees and such. They use the furniture if they have no other suitable options. (and some cats seem not to scratch at all)
ReplyDeleteIf the application is too difficult, I think you can go to the vet to get them put on. Of course, bring your own claw caps.
ReplyDeleteWell, I used soft claws on my elderly Siamese. They worked, but stayed on too well. She didn't get them off, and one of the claws grew so long it curved up into her paw pad before I noticed. So I'd use them again, but be sure to monitor much more often.
ReplyDeleteI have had luck with a spray that discourages clawing; can't recall the name but I purchased it at WalMart, pet department. A scratching post with catnip spray (WM again) on it directs kitty to an appropriate outlet. I think scratching is essential behavior, or so my cats have told me!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get the pretty pink ones!
ReplyDeleteDeclawing actually involves removing the cat's toe joint, so it's really a serious operation.
ReplyDeleteI keep my cat's claws trimmed on a regular basis, but still get a few places where they scratch when they shouldn't. But with trimmed claws the damage is minimized. I've seen these claw covers before. I'll be interested to hear from a real person how they work.
My older cat -loves- when I use the soft claws on her. I'd put them on her and she'll sit and pose. Don't know about the younger one.
ReplyDeleteThey're great. Some cats will chew the tips off, but those won't harm them, and it'll still help protect the furniture, since they can't chew past the nail. Just make sure to clip the nails as short as you can before putting them on. :)
I like the matching claw covers to eye color look on the demo kitty ;)
ReplyDeleteDeclawing is barbaric...
We've used these! Our cats tolerate them very well and they're pretty easy to apply as well. Another thing that works great is to periodically spray a scratching surface (tree, scratch pad, etc) with liquid catnip. It helps remind them where to scratch! :)
ReplyDeleteI am a veterinarian and all of my indoor cats are declawed. If done properly with a laser, it it extremely humane.
ReplyDeleteI am a veterinarian, and all of my indoor cars are declawed. If done properly with a laser, it is very humane.
ReplyDeleteI keep my cat's front claws trimmed very short. She's super good about it - I just use a human nail clipper every week or two, and it only takes a minute to do. She's got scratching posts and all and she uses those, but just in case she takes a shine to a piece of furniture, those short little claw nubbins don't do any damage.
ReplyDeleteClaw covers??! LOL, only in America! Hee hee ;-)
ReplyDeleteI have a sisal rug in the living room which is the favorite scratching place for mine. Makes no difference to the rug, even after 4 years, and they have stopped scratching the furniture.
ReplyDeleteI grew up with declawed cats belonging to my parents and I always thought it was no big deal... theirs were ouchy a few days but did not seem traumatized and always acted content. Frankly as far as pain and suffering it seemed less traumatic than a spay by far. It was also nice to be "kneaded" without being clawed. But then they got one who lost his tiny little mind when declawed. It made him anxious and turned him into a biter. He would also box with his paws. That cat was literally ruined by being declawed, and completely changed my mind about it.
one of my cats scratches the couch and i found this double sided tape made to stop furniture scratching. it looks a bit ghetto but less so then a ripped couch!
ReplyDeletewww.walmart.com/ip/SmartyCat-Scratch-Tape/14962340?sourceid=1500000000000003260550&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=14962340
That is so weird, (in a cool way, mind you ;o) I never even heard of claw covers. Likely because I don't have a cat. *grin* Hope they work!
ReplyDeleteDeclawing is so sad. When ours were young we kept a spray bottle by the sofa and gave them a squirt when they clawed it. Worked right away.
ReplyDeleteLex- I assisted on quite a few declaws (was a vet tech before I was turned out to pasture to be a mommy). Both my cats were declawed. I agree that when done correectly, the process is humane. Like anything else, don't go "behind the alley" to get surgeries done! ;)
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think Newman would look good in green, to match his eyes. :)
I used to use these Softpaws. I found them very useful. Add the glue just to the tip of the nail, and not to the entire claw. Then they can fall off, or get chewed off, when the nail grows too long. This seems less annoying/invasive for the cat. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI'm not much of a cat person. We just put my last cat down and I've got no interest in getting another (dogs are definitely the animal, aside from horses, for me). Our first cat was kept clawed and our second cat came to us declawed. I young when we got our second cat (I was in kindergarten then, and am now in my first semester at college) so I haven't heard anything on the claw/declaw argument. I'm curious about it now and would love to hear some pros and cons from you all.
ReplyDeleteI can't see myself ever having a cat declawed. I'm lucky and live where it is safe for my cats to go outside, but I have them in from dusk till dawn to minimise risk to themselves and wildlife.
ReplyDeleteTo protect furniture I have indoor scratching posts available, put heavy covers over soft furniture they might damage and don't buy stuff that can't cope with indoor cats and dogs.
Declawing seems the same as removing human fingernails to me - even if done with local anaesthetic can't see how it is humane.
I'm glad to hear about the claw covers although I have never tried them on any of may cats. I'll be interested to hear more about how well they work. Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteGood luck and I can't wait to hear how it goes. I'm also against declawing and have suggested these to people, but never heard back how they worked. I've never used them before.
ReplyDelete