Declawing Your Cat What Is Your Opinion On This Issue?

Have you tried a scratching post or box? I sprayed my furniture with ammonia and used two sided sticky tape on all the places I could attach it. Be carefull with the ammonia it's very strong and can ruin furniture.

Well this is my first ever reply on a forum and I would really urge you not to have the cat declawed.
One of the joys of having a cat is that they scratch at stuff and its a bit of a pest, but its not a reason to declaw the cat.
Declawing cats is something that does not happen here, thank goodnerss for that.
Buy 2 or 3 scratch pads and place them in places the cat goes.
Fill a bottle with small stones and when the cat scratches the furniture, shake the bottle filled with stones at him and I am sure he will soon stop.
If he still doesnt stop, and you really cant put up with it, find the kitty a new home, it would be the fairest thing to do.

I'm glad you decided not to declaw your cat. It's a cruel procedure that should only be done if the cat is hurting itself, not to protect furniture.

Get a few scratching posts so your cat has a safe place to scratch. Get a cover for your furniture so your cat doesn't damage it any more. And spray your cat with water when you see it scratching where it shouldn't be.

Declawing cats is mutilation and it's cruel. It's a lazy solution to a problem that can be easily solved by providing appropriate scratching places and positive training for your cat. Cats that are declawed can develop litter box problems because after being declawed they may find the litter to be uncomfortable to dig in. They can also develop foot and leg problems, since losing part of their toes shifts the way their feet balance and can cause strain to their muscles. Declawed cats can also develop other personality and behavioral problems such as antisocial behavior. Overall, the procedure is a bad idea and carries too many risks.
What you really need to do is get your cat some scratching posts or pads. Sisal fabric (not sisal rope!) works best. If your living area is large, get several scratching surfaces spread around the house. If you live in a tiny apartment like I do, one good-sized scratching post will probably suffice. It's tempting to put the scratching surfaces in dark corners where they won't be visible, but this usually doesn't work. Your cat wants to be part of the living space, and that's why he scratches in your primary living space. Put his scratching post next to the couch or whatever else he scratches.
Punishing your cat for scratching in bad places won't help- you need to use positive reinforcement. Encourage your cat to use the scratching post by praising him or giving him treats when he does. Play with him nearby the scratching post so that he associates it with positive things.
If you want to try to deter the cat from things you don't want him to scratch, you could try spraying vinegar or lemon juice. Cats detest both, and neither is as harsh or smelly as ammonia. The double-sided tape suggestion is a good idea, too. Cats hate feeling sticky things, so if you make his favorite scratching places sticky, he'll leave them alone.
Good luck!

Good question!!! I, like you, have very mixed emotions when it comes to declawing a cat. I adopted one cat that had been declawed & it sure was nice for me!!! I've adopted 2 male cats since she died & I just can't bring myself to do it to them. I know I wouldn't want my fingernails pulled out so why would I do it to one of my beloved babies??? The majority of the cats that have been declawed get along just fine. However, a small percentage has troubles from day one. I just wouldn't want to take the chance that my baby would be crippled for the sake of my furniture. I had a friend who had his cat declawed & then the cat made himself an outdoor cat. He got to where he could fight dogs with just his back claws & could even climb trees with just his back claws. I can tell you from having my little girl whose front feet were declawed, the back claws are hell on your legs. She'd be laying on my leg & lose her balance. As she started to fall, she'd dig in with the back claws. The ONLY suggestion I have on the declawing is just DON'T do it!!! Would you want your nails removed??? You MUST be careful with the litter box right after declawing too. You don't want any litter getting in the raw spots & creating an infection.

I do have one suggestion for taking your guy to the vet. When my guys won't get in their carrier, I sit the carrier up on it backend & open the door. I then pick up my baby by the scruff of his neck. Cats automatically draw their hind legs up when you hold them by the back of the neck. I then drop his butt through the open door & then shut it real fast locking it as quickly as possible. This method has NEVER failed to work for me. My little girl used to go spread eagle when time came to go in her carrier & I learned this method with her. I ALWAYS managed to get her in & get her to the vet with NO problem.

Good luck with your baby no matter what you decide.

try looking at the links in this discussion

http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1948964.aspx

I am sad when I hear about cats being declawed. They derive so much pleasure from being able to use their scratching posts (we have 2 cats), it seems to be so much a part of who they are--I think they maintain their dignity this way. We have two scratching posts and my husband made a 4 foot mat that our younger cat can climb--it is attached to the door (he used a Craftsman Stapler to attach it). I think animals know when they are being respected and honored and they usually respond in kind. By the way, when our cats are anxious and just can't seem to relax, I put on BirdsongRadio.com for them and they really like it--I think they loved feeling connected to nature anyway they can just like us. Namaste.

I am surprised that your vet will do this. It is a very painful operation which involves amputating the last phalange on each of the cats toes. Please do NOT inflict this on your cat, get scratching posts and try to make sure that he uses them. Getting your furniture scratched though is part and parcel of having a cat. You can get new furniture your cat can't get new toes once it has been mutilated.

Sorry to come on a bit strong here, but this is a subject that really gets me worked up.

I'm so totally against the idea of declawing cat's claws it's not funny. A lot of people don't understand what it really is...it's NOT just removing the claws but is in fact an amputation up to the first joint..think of it this way, it would be in comparison of a surgeon removing your fingers up to the first joint. Many cats suffer personality problems after being declawed as well...some can become lethargic while others downright aggressive since they don't have their main form of defense anymore. In many European countries they have actually banned declawing which should say something about how even vets think this is a bad for cats

Declawing my cat was an option, but only the front claws. They can still climb and do things their nature intended them to do. My cat didn't take well to nail trimmers so I really would have no other option. I think maybe a one-time operation is better than putting your cat through a gruesome session of nail trimming every week or so.