# Speaking of declawing cats...(Not a debate, please) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 17, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790 "2006-03-17T18:42:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/1 "2006-03-17T18:42:20Z")
De-clawing the cats in my house has always been a given. Since the first cats we had as kids when I was 3, it’s been SOP to have that done. I never gave it a second thought, and never paid much heed to the arguments against it. Then recently here, I read a couple threads on the matter, and felt my ignorance being fought. So recently, it got to be time to have **Cuervo** fixed, and I asked the Bus Wife how she felt about NOT getting him de-clawed. Now keep in mind, we just moved into a new house in August and have tons of new furniture around the place, including a barge-sized sectional that cost a few week’s salary. But he’s got a scratching post he loves and some toys, and has never used his claws on any furniture, only on me when we play rough. Surprisingly - she agreed. I initially made the appointment to have him neutered and de-clawed. Took him on the day to see Dr. Heather, and in the room I told her we changed our minds and we’re not de-clawing him. She said oh good, because she’s not a fan of doing that. So that was a week ago, and he’s a whole different cat without those nasty hormones affecting him. He’s still playful and funny, and not too bright yet, but he’s not “on edge” all the time. he’s a lot calmer, and will fall asleep on a lap now - though still only MY lap. And he hasn’t done a single destructive or aggressive thing with the claws - well aside from defending himself against the **Evil Fat Scarlett**. She’s none too pleased he can scratch in defemse, but then she’s got 10 pounds on him, so too bad for her. So, on behalf of you Dopers who convinced me NOT to de-claw the little booger, thank you from the bottom of his little orange, furry heart. ---
**Author:** ![dmatsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@dmatsch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dmatsch)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/2 "2006-03-17T18:51:24Z")
Ask your vet about those wee plastic sleeves that go over the claws. They have to be replaced every six months or so, but it’s still better than declawing the poor widdle kitties. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/3 "2006-03-17T18:54:21Z")
Hurrah! Yep, neither of mine are declawed. They don’t do any claw damage, either – and any times I’ve been scratched have been obvious accidents. They do like to knead, though, and if I’m having small children over I try to give their claws a clipping first. Even though a good _SWACK!_ with a clawed paw can be a very good education. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/4 "2006-03-17T18:57:16Z")
> [@dmatsch](#): > > Ask your vet about those wee plastic sleeves that go over the claws. They have to be replaced every six months or so, but it’s still better than declawing the poor widdle kitties. You can get those online at Doctors Foster & Smith. They’re called Soft Claws, and they come in all sorts of fun colors, if you decide that your cat needs a HUGE lesson in humility. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/5 "2006-03-17T19:12:03Z")
> [@Daithi Lacha](#): > > You can get those online at Doctors Foster & Smith. They’re called Soft Claws, and they come in all sorts of fun colors, if you decide that your cat needs a HUGE lesson in humility. 😃 The only one that needs that lesson is already de-clawed or I’d be ordering these RIGHT NOW for Scarlett. I see her in a nice floozy red. ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/6 "2006-03-17T19:15:11Z")
Another hooray for not de-clawing! I have 5 cats and live in an apartment. The only thing that gets scratched is the door jamb between the living room and kitchen, and that only because previous tenants had a large dog that clawed the jamb. Cats are habitual and territorial, and they sorta went “Oh! So that’s where we scratch!” They’ve never once touched any of my (Salvation Army) furniture. [Paper towels and toilet paper](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/rasa23/caught.jpg) , however, are a different story. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/7 "2006-03-17T19:30:38Z")
I would think the Vet should worry that his heart is furry and orange. ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/8 "2006-03-17T19:45:36Z")
> [@dmatsch](#): > > Ask your vet about those wee plastic sleeves that go over the claws. They have to be replaced every six months or so, but it’s still better than declawing the poor widdle kitties. Those are called [SoftPaws](http://www.softpaws.com) and my one not-declawed cat wears them. He’s a furniture destroyer and if it weren’t for those I’m sure my couch would be in shreds by now. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/9 "2006-03-17T21:45:15Z")
I’m glad to hear it, **Mr Bus Guy**. I might have to look into those Soft Paws - both of my girls have some nasty scratching habits, and neither of them tolerates nail clipping well. Little boogerheads. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/10 "2006-03-17T22:35:30Z")
Yay **Mr Bus Guy** for not declawing Cuervo! My mom had a cat when I was a teenager, and had it declawed. I think being declawed made it more vicious. Neither of the Neville kitties are declawed, and they are sweet and friendly (even if Luna did accidentally give me a good-sized gash on my leg that’s still healing, but I know she didn’t mean to do it- she was sitting on the couch next to me, slipped and fell, and tried to hang on). I know, the plural of anecdote is not data… The Neville kitties do scratch the furniture and the carpet sometimes, but they haven’t wrecked anything (well, except for a few rolls of toilet paper). And if they did it wouldn’t be a big deal to me- I put my feet on furniture, put glasses down without a coaster, and eat in the living room all the time. You should get some claw clippers at your local pet supply store, and get him used to having his claws clipped. Mine don’t like it, but they tolerate it. I used to take them to the grooming center at Petco to have their claws clipped, but now I do it at home- I think it’s less traumatic for them. You can probably ask the vet what to do if you need to, though I managed to figure it out without too much trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/11 "2006-03-17T22:52:31Z")
> [@Anne Neville](#): > > Yay **Mr Bus Guy** for not declawing Cuervo! > > My mom had a cat when I was a teenager, and had it declawed. I think being declawed made it more vicious. Neither of the Neville kitties are declawed, and they are sweet and friendly (even if Luna did accidentally give me a good-sized gash on my leg that’s still healing, but I know she didn’t mean to do it- she was sitting on the couch next to me, slipped and fell, and tried to hang on). I know, the plural of anecdote is not data… > > The Neville kitties do scratch the furniture and the carpet sometimes, but they haven’t wrecked anything (well, except for a few rolls of toilet paper). And if they did it wouldn’t be a big deal to me- I put my feet on furniture, put glasses down without a coaster, and eat in the living room all the time. > > You should get some claw clippers at your local pet supply store, and get him used to having his claws clipped. Mine don’t like it, but they tolerate it. I used to take them to the grooming center at Petco to have their claws clipped, but now I do it at home- I think it’s less traumatic for them. You can probably ask the vet what to do if you need to, though I managed to figure it out without too much trouble. Thanks, I have a set of clippers because the other cats have their back claws, and they’ve gotten used to the clipping already. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/12 "2006-03-17T23:25:18Z")
Cats can have widely varied personalities. I currently have two cats, and one of them claws ONLY her scratching post, and the other one loves to claw the sofa and various chairs. Fortunately my furniture is pretty old and junky anyway, and I’m going to get rid of it in a few years. At that point I’ll be in the same predicament as you. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/13 "2006-03-17T23:34:57Z")
> [@Daithi Lacha](#): > > You can get those online at Doctors Foster & Smith. They’re called Soft Claws, and they come in all sorts of fun colors, if you decide that your cat needs a HUGE lesson in humility. 😃 We tried them and it was pretty funny to watch both cats chew, chew, chew until they were all torn off in a matter of days. Ah, well… ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/14 "2006-03-17T23:38:56Z")
If you have a second person around to help, you can use the “kitty burrito” method for claw clipping. Lay a towel out on the floor, put the cat in the middle crosswise, and wrap fairly tightly. (Not so tightly that the cat can’t breathe, but enough to prevent escape.) One person holds the burrito while the other pops out one paw at a time to clip the claws. You might be able to do it by yourself, but I haven’t tried that. ---
**Author:** ![WomanofScorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@WomanofScorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WomanofScorn)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/15 "2006-03-18T01:51:49Z")
My cat has her claws, and she does claw the furniture. I can’t make her stop because she only does it when we’re not home, or when we’re outside with the dog. Blast her. I won’t de-claw her though I want to. ---
**Author:** ![BooBoo316](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooBoo316](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooBoo316)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/16 "2006-03-18T02:58:46Z")
We have three cats that are not declawed and don’t have a problem with them clawing the furniture anymore, but it took a little work to get them to stop. About two years ago, we were looking at cat trees to deflect the clawing from the furniture to something else, but all the ones we found were either too small or too expensive. So my dad and I built a cat tower over two weekends for about $100 bucks that we would have paid $500 or so from a store. This thing is huge! Over five feet tall and about four feet wide with five posts and three shelves. They absolutely love it and haven’t scratched anything else since we got it home. I’ll try to find some pics to post, but I highly recommend something like this if you can find someone with some tools and the time to build one for yourselves. ---
**Author:** ![\_tretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/ac91a4/32.png) [@\_tretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_tretch)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/17 "2006-03-18T03:17:23Z")
Ooh, I have scratchy cat too. Well, half mine as my boyfriend and I adopted her togther and she lives at his place. Luckily, she’s young so she was very easy to train. Some say you can’t train a cat, but they’re just not persistent enough! Anyway, when we brought her home, she made a beeline for his sofa. All it took was catching her in the act, firmly saying “NO!” and then picking her up and showing her the catpost and that was the only acceptable place to scratch. It only took three times and now that’s the only place she scratches! If your cat isn’t as smart and doesn’t learn as quickly ( 😛 ), you can always get anti-scratch stuff they sell at the pet store and spray it around the area they’re prone to scratch. ---
**Author:** ![\_tretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/ac91a4/32.png) [@\_tretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_tretch)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/18 "2006-03-18T03:21:47Z")
Ooh, and I want to add that even if your cat isn’t prone to scratching furniture, you should still clip his/her claws regularly. Well, maybe it’s a tricky issue if they’re an outdoor cat because they need them to defend themselves, but if we’re talking about declawed cats, I assume they would be indoors in the first place. If you don’t clip the claws regularly, they can grow so long that they dig back into the cat and every step he/she takes hurts them like hell. Besides, the more you trim them, the more the quick in their paws will reduce, and I’m not sure exactly what advantage there is to that (my boyfriend is the cat expert who explained this to me) but there is definitely an advantage. Maybe some more enlightened cat knowledgeable doper can fill in that last bit of missing information for me. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/19 "2006-03-18T03:35:30Z")
About those **SoftClaws** … will a vet put them on for you? Or can you do it yourself? Our cat is psycho about having his paws touched. But Nomar is also psycho about going into his cat carrier. I don’t know which would be worse … ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-declawing-cats-not-a-debate-please/348790/20 "2006-03-18T03:37:09Z")
Damn - I meant **SoftPAWS**.