Declawed cats scratching?

First of all, I would like to ask that any posts in reply to this one, are not done to attack my decision to declaw, but to provide any answers that you may have. (I posted a few weeks ago and was thoroughly flamed)

My cats have been declawed for almost a year, and their recovery took about a week. Since then I have noticed that they still "scratch" their scratching post, as well as my couch, rugs, and all of their "favorite" scratching spots. They still swat at each other as if they had claws, when they are playing.

My female use to stretch out, paws first, after a nap on the area rug, and then dig into it. She still does the same thing, she really goes at it like she is accomplishing something. When she is fustrated she stil attacks the furniture.

My youngest cat use to love scratching the front of the speakers, until we would clap or spray water to get him away. We noticed him in front of the speakers one day assuming the position, then he turned around and looked at us like, "aren't you gonna clap?", when we did nothing he turned around swished his tail back and forth and had the "scratch" of his life, he then turned around with his ears back and meowed loudly, then bounced happily up the stairs. It was all my husband and I could do to keep from laughing (we were trying not to scare him because it was so funny).

Is it normal for cats to not be aware that they are missing their claws? I know what is involved in the surgery, and would think that it would be hard not to notice that your fingers have been partially amputated.

Does anyone else's declawed cat do this?

Thats the thing about declawing, they all say it is inhmaine to do it but cats forget it was even done to them shortly after. I would rather you declaw your cats then leave it at the shelter to be killed. I unlike most here, are not against declawing.

I think cats have scent glands on their paws so they are kind of marking their territory by scratching the posts.

Good luck

my peedoodle, who was declawed by a previous owner still 'scratches' the furniture. they do have scent glands on their paws and are leaving their scent.

Mishon: All of my declawed cats growing up did this, exactly for why Kiwideus said.

And just out of curiosity, I'm not trying to flame you here, but I wanted to know if you bothered to look up information on what declawing really is yet, and there is a wealth of information on the internet and in books for you, as to the hows and whys of cats behavoirs after declawing.

AngelzOO,

I did look up information about declawing both before, and after the cats were declawed, so I am aware of the details of the surgery. The only information I could find about behavior of declawed cats, was in reference to behavior problems such as not using the litter box, excessive biting, walking funny, anti-social personality after the surgery, and other similiar issues.

I could not find any information about declawed cats still behaving normally as if they had claws. Every website I went to, said that declawed cats will almost always exhibit undesirable behavior after the procedure. ALL of the websites I found about declawing are Anti-declawing, and only address issues that relate to that view.

Whether or not you agree or disagree with declawing, I think it is important to understand, that not every cat responds in a directly negative way to being declawed. Some cats actually make a heathly recovery, and go on to live happy lives.

I do not consider myself pro-declaw, I think a lot of people rush into declawing. They buy a scratching post, and when the cat doesn't use it, they call in the next day to make a declawing appointment. I strongly believe that it should only be a last resort, when all other methods have been exhausted. I tried for two years, with every alternative method I could think of. I don't think that returning them to the shelter would have been an appropriate measure, I know that most (but not all) people that adopt from a shelter, do not give the animals the level of care they deserve, and odds are that they would go to seperate homes. I wanted my cats to stay a family and be taken care of in a way that they deserve. I was very reluctant to declaw, but I was VERY lucky that my cats did not develop any undesirable behaviors.

Cats that have been declawed still have the natural instinct to carry on as if they have their claws. That, coupled with the fact that they need to leave their scent around is why they still do this type of action.

You are right, most cats can bounce back and be okay after a declaw, but most of this board does rescue and when you get a declawed cat turned in, it is because of behavior problems. Common destructive behavior amplified times ten by the pain and torment the cat had to endure. Perhaps that is why you got such a jaded response the first time- most of us only know the bad side of declawing.

I have 18 cats and all my furniture is in great shape with the exception of the cat couch upstairs which is the designated scratching couch for all the cats. I have cat posts and scratching posts and cat ramps and my cats go outdoors as well and run up and down the trees which blunt their claws.

This board is very much anti-declaw and sometimes these threads can spiral out of control because of attempts to educate mixed with heavy emotion based on life experiences.

I'm glad that you have at least done the research, what's done is done, and I know that we can't change everyones views.
At any rate I have had declawed cats living with me, some of them did just fine and others had some reprocussions from the event. And virtually ALL of them became hard biters afterwards. And these cats were even some of the indoor/outdoor ones, (owned by my parents growing up.)
My parents furniture was ruined from the cats biting it so much, but never because of any cats and their claws.

I adopted Sam 1 1/2 years ago, he was 5 and had been declawed. He scratches on specific items; a wicker basket, and the carpeted side of his cat condo.

I adopted Bailey 1 1/2 months ago, she is about 4 and not declawed. I got her brand new fancy scratching posts. She has ignored them, does some scratching on the carpet (which is fine with me) and has never ever touched any of the furniture.

Sam, the declawed cat, LOVES the new scratching posts. Bailey sits and watches while he goes crazy.

Along with leaving their scent, cats also scratch to stretch their back muscles. Even without claws, they still have to stretch so they do it the only way they know how. My declawed kitty (before I knew what it was, vet recommended )scratches on the scratching posts and pads as much as my clawed kitty.

Hi there ,

I have adopted a kittie that was declawed from the shelter and he still tries to "scratch" at things . I think it's just an instinct . My new kittie does it all the time. He loves to claw at a Teddy Bear that I have and also loves to kneed it...It's instict . And I'm sorry you got such a bad reaction to the "Declawing" of your kittie . Personally, after I learned what it entailed , I wanted to toss a cookie. But he was adopted that way . It's a matter of personal choice . Certainly NOT mine to judge .


Take care ,

Rebecca

My previous Siamese kitties were declawed and they used to 'go at it' like crazy on all sorts of surfaces. Their favorite was a cardboard box cause they could make a 'thumping' sound when pretending to sharpen their claws.

I moved to Massachusetts last year, into an apartment with a landlord who allowed one cat. For many years I lived in a house and have rescued many dogs and cats over the years; the last, elderly dog lives with my ex. Anyway, I adopted my kitty through Petfinder and he came to me from Houston. He was 4 when I got him, and had been declawed as a kitten. He likes to pluck at the area rugs and the underside of the bed, and my leg sometimes.

I recently did a search for the reason declawed cats still "scratch" and I get now that it is because of the scent glands in their paws, also makes sense that they like the back-stretching. Maybe I'll get him a scratching post ... thanks everyone for the information.

BTW, my cat is Siamese, mostly anyway (his eyes look brown except in certain lights when the rims are blue). He is the most affectionate cat I've ever had, never wriggles away from being hugged and smooched and likes to sleep on my chest or nestle into my side when I'm lying down. I wonder if it is a Siamese thing.

catkin56 said:

I moved to Massachusetts last year, into an apartment with a landlord who allowed one cat. For many years I lived in a house and have rescued many dogs and cats over the years; the last, elderly dog lives with my ex. Anyway, I adopted my kitty through Petfinder and he came to me from Houston. He was 4 when I got him, and had been declawed as a kitten. He likes to pluck at the area rugs and the underside of the bed, and my leg sometimes.

I recently did a search for the reason declawed cats still "scratch" and I get now that it is because of the scent glands in their paws, also makes sense that they like the back-stretching. Maybe I'll get him a scratching post ... thanks everyone for the information.

BTW, my cat is Siamese, mostly anyway (his eyes look brown except in certain lights when the rims are blue). He is the most affectionate cat I've ever had, never wriggles away from being hugged and smooched and likes to sleep on my chest or nestle into my side when I'm lying down. I wonder if it is a Siamese thing.

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I have a calico cat that we adopted from a friend because she needs so be an "only".
She is declawed and does the scratching all the time but only on her few certain things she's chosen (my daughters backpack, a case of bottled water in plastic and the pantry). It's kind of funny to watch her.
I was really responding to you wondering if the cuddling was a Siamese thing. Our cat is very friendly and likes to "bump" us and will beg to be petted but hates being picked up or cuddled. Wants nothing to do with it. My mom had a calico that was the same way so I wondered if it's a calico thing?

Hm, I wonder.

Mine likes to do it on the base of the bed, the rug, a leather writing notebook I have. My leg ...

I visited some friends in NY a couple of weeks ago. They had a Burmese, which I once read was on the "most affectionate" list along with Siamese cats. Their kitty reminded me of my Albert, really loved my petting him though he didn't know me; when his human mom came home she was making a fuss over him and hugging and kissing him as I do to Albert, and he was loving it.

They are cats. They're MADE to scratch. So whether you cut their toes off or not they're going to scratch. btw, they know they don't have claws..

They scratch to leave their scent (and probably to stretch.) Be sure to check on your cats as they get older since they are more likely to develop arthritis. Declawing changes the way they walk. Declawing is actually the wrong word. They should call it toe digit removal. Since cats walk on their tip toes it often causes problems later in life. Personally I was horrified when I found out what declawing actually was. I had declawed 2 cats in my past. I felt so guilty! My current boys have their claws What is done, is done. You can't give your cats their claws back. So just try to give them a good life ... which I'm sure you were trying to do since you adopted them

Just to agree with other posters- cats have scent glands on their paws, which is why even declawed cats will try to scratch. Although I wonder if, in addition, declawed cats can have symptoms similar to phantom limb syndrome, as seen in human amputees.

catkin56 said:

Hm, I wonder.

Mine likes to do it on the base of the bed, the rug, a leather writing notebook I have. My leg ...View attachment 189511

I visited some friends in NY a couple of weeks ago. They had a Burmese, which I once read was on the "most affectionate" list along with Siamese cats. Their kitty reminded me of my Albert, really loved my petting him though he didn't know me; when his human mom came home she was making a fuss over him and hugging and kissing him as I do to Albert, and he was loving it.

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I wish she was a little more affectionate but we still love her. Snooty attitude and all lol.

Aw, what a cutie.