Clawing at the Furniture and the Carpets.

[greg dolecki]

I'm Greg and I'm brand new here.  I have a 5 1/2 month old domestic shorthair name Lexi.  I'm determined to let her keep her claws and make my best effort at teaching her to scratch only on her her things designed for that purpose.  My spouse would rather I have her declawed as we did with our first 2 cats, but is willing to let me try. The thing is that it has been over 20 years since I taught a kitten to do this sort of thing. I have many different textures and shapes of scratching materials, but I would say she is showing a definite preference for sturdy, vertical objects. To that end, I purchased a 6 foot tall tower to put in the front hall near the staircase. I think you've all seen these advertised if you don't actually own 2 or 3 yourselves. She likes the tower and her scratching posts and I play with her on and around them several times a day. The thing is that I am not dissuading her from clawing at OTHER things to any significant degree. I tell "No!" sternly a couple of times and put her on her nearest scratching item, but she just collapses into fur ball at the base of it with no apparent desire to claw at anything. Anyone have any suggestions??? The thing is, I am not convinced she has a plan at her age. I think she's walking or laying around, touches something with a paw and says, " Feels right! Claw it!" Also, I trim her nail once a month to keep them short.

 

[peterbald love]

DON'T DE-CLAW THE CAT! PLEASE!

Mabye try double-sided sticky tape or squirt some water on her when she scratches the furniture/carpets, you can also say "NO, bad girl", that's what i do...

Kiki's Mom

 

[Willowy]

Try trimming her nails once a week. This should keep them dull enough to prevent damage. You can also apply nail caps (Soft Claws or off-brand), or have a groomer apply them. Because, yeah, at that age her attention span isn't good enough for her to remember where she should scratch.

You can also try having multiple scratching pads around the house---the closer one is, the more likely she'll scratch that instead of the furniture. Cardboard scratch pads are fairly cheap. When you move her to to the cat tree, try scritching your fingers on the post to get her more interested in scratching it. If you're consistent in moving her to an appropriate scratching surface she should get the idea soon. There are more tips in the links in my signature .

 

[lonelocust]

I had good luck with one of the sprays intended to keep cats from furniture, on a cat that was quite set in its ways of scratching the couch. This plus adding scratching posts to several areas (the flat cardboard kind worked great) broke the habit. I'm afraid I don't remember what brand of the spray I used. The downside was that I found the spray to smell pretty bad to myself as well, but it faded after 2-4 weeks, and that seemed sufficient for the cat to have changed habits. Also apply catnip to the things that you want her to scratch. (I understand some cats don't react to catnip prior to puberty, so this might not work, but I've known kittens who liked it.)

I have a recent kitten (now 5 months), and I just clipped his nails until he got the idea of where to scratch via encouragement and treats when he scratched correctly. It helped that I had an older cat who used the post, and he likes to mimic his mentor.

I did not have to do any negative reinforcement (spray bottle to the face) in either of these cases, but combining positive and negative reinforcement may work better for you. 

As others have said, if you don't manage it, please get her nails the rubber coats at the vet or a pet groomer. She will then continue the scratching behavior, but the claws will not actually scratch anything. This is both not painful to your cat and allows her to use all her other muscles involved in scratching behavior.

Good luck!

 

[greg dolecki]

Thank you all so far for you advice.  I just wanted to mention that before I posted here, I spoke to my vet about Soft Paws "rubber nail covers" and she was very discouraging about them.  She said it is a big deal because the cat must be sedated to apply them properly.  So you bring the cat to the vet in the morning and pick it up at closing time.  Furthermore, not all cats tolerate them.  She put them on one 4 1/2 month old kitten who had removed 9 of the 10 covers in less than 24 hours.  She was not negative about the concept as much as how it goes in real life.  Lastly, she reminded me that they are only good for about 2 months because of normal nail growth.  So, she said, your cat has to be sedated every 2 months and there is always a small risk of death with every sedation.  I have to say that if nothing else suggested worked, I would only be inclined to try the Soft Paws ONE TIME and would then probably have the cat declawed instead of having it sedated every 2 months.  The other thing is, she said, that it is better psychologically for the cat to be declawed sooner rather than later so she has not build up a dependence on her claws. What are all of your opinions please on this information on Soft Paws???

I just want to end by saying that I am still in the kitten teaching stage and I have everything at my disposal that you all suggested.  I have the deterrent spray; the double sticky tape; many,many different sizes and shapes of scratching "toys"; etc. I don't want her declawed and have not given up. I just asking for opinions and advice.

 

[fyllis]

 
Thank you all so far for you advice.  I just wanted to mention that before I posted here, I spoke to my vet about Soft Paws "rubber nail covers" and she was very discouraging about them.  She said it is a big deal because the cat must be sedated to apply them properly.  So you bring the cat to the vet in the morning and pick it up at closing time.  Furthermore, not all cats tolerate them.  She put them on one 4 1/2 month old kitten who had removed 9 of the 10 covers in less than 24 hours.  She was not negative about the concept as much as how it goes in real life.  Lastly, she reminded me that they are only good for about 2 months because of normal nail growth.  So, she said, your cat has to be sedated every 2 months and there is always a small risk of death with every sedation.  I have to say that if nothing else suggested worked, I would only be inclined to try the Soft Paws ONE TIME and would then probably have the cat declawed instead of having it sedated every 2 months.  The other thing is, she said, that it is better psychologically for the cat to be declawed sooner rather than later so she has not build up a dependence on her claws. What are all of your opinions please on this information on Soft Paws???

I just want to end by saying that I am still in the kitten teaching stage and I have everything at my disposal that you all suggested.  I have the deterrent spray; the double sticky tape; many,many different sizes and shapes of scratching "toys"; etc. I don't want her declawed and have not given up. I just asking for opinions and advice.

Bull-Hackey! Your vet is blowing smoke up your proverbial butt!  Soft Paws can EASILY  be applied at home and there is never a need for sedation! It seems your vet is wanting you to pay for a service that is totally UN-warranted! Seems she also would like you to make her next Mercedes payment by having your cat declawed! NOT my kind of vet!

As far as how long they will last - yes, when they are initially introduced (to any cat) they are most likely going to chew them off because they are foreign to the cat. After a few weeks, the cat will adapt to them and leave them alone. I suggest getting colored caps because it is easier to see at a glance if one is missing and they are easier to find on the floor than the clear or neutral colored ones are. They generally last about 6 to 8  weeks and their nails need to be trimmed before applying the next set. 

Training a kitten, or any cat, can be time consuming, but they do eventually learn!  You have to be patient and consistent though. And never yell or otherwise punish you cat for 'being a cat'. They don't understand it and it only effects them emotionally which can create other issues down the road.

As LoneLocust pointed out, there are many options to deter your kitten from scratching furniture or other inappropriate items. 

Redirect the kitten by offering a toy or physically removing her from the furniture and taking her to her scratching post. Interact with her on the post. Sprinkle catnip on it and rub the catnip it to activate it. Give treats when she is at the scratching post. Keep a spray bottle of plain water nearby and spritz her on the butt (NEVER the face) and redirect her. 

Some suggest spraying the furniture with citrus spray, but that never worked for my boys. But it might work for your little girl. In the meantime, keep your furniture covered (remove it for company). 

I've spent lots of $$ on scratching posts, but my guys much prefer the inexpensive corrugated cardboard pads from Walmart! 

If there are issues of your kitten scratching your or your wife, do the same thing - redirect and ingnore her behavior. Use a toys that keeps your hands out of her reach, like a wand type toy. Do not rub/tickle her belly if it results in her scratching or biting (either defensively or playfully). On the occasions when either of boys start playing 'rough' with me (usually at my instigation) all I have to do now is firmly ssay, "Play nice!" and they immediately stop biting and scratching me! They DO learn!

Will accidents happen? Will she occasionaly scratch the furniture? Of course she will! Heck, my daughter is 22 years old and just last week she spilled food on my brand new $1500 couch! And SHE was trained! LOL  Even though I keep a cover on my couch, my boys still sneak behind it and scratch the back because they think I can't see them! But a quick, "Hey! What are you doing back there?" and they immediately run to their scratching pad! They know better, but they just can't resist! 

As far as getting your cat declawed... Do NOT do it! it is nothing more than unnecessary and inhumane mutilation of an animal! It is illegal in MANY countries and in at least 8 counties of California. They are trying to get it legally banned in the U.S.! 

If you have NetFlix, sit down with your wife and watch the new documentary: The Paws Project. It tells (and shows) what declawing can and will do to your cat. It one hour long and VERY informative. Many vets are speaking out against declawing. The only ones who promote it are those who are in it for the money! One vet in the documentary states that he is mad about it being outlawed in his county because that is how he makes his living. He stated he makes about $75,000.00 a year on declawing alone! 

In closing, let me say that the cost of declawing, in and of itself, is fairly minima but, in the long-run, you WILL be paying out the nose for follow-up treatments for behavioral problems, infections, arthritis, litter box problems, and personality/temperament issues. Is it worth mutilating your kitten for your own vanity or the sake of a couch?  While my couch was expensive, I have a LOT more invested in my cats monetarily and emotionally than I do my inanimate piece of furniture! 

 As many here would ask, "Would you have a puppy's teeth pulled because it chewed your slippers?". NO! Cats use their claws for multiple reasons: to climb, for balance, to grab objects (toys and prey) and also for defense! Not to mention, to merely scratch and itch! 

I pray you can convince your wife to NOT have your kitten declawed!

I hope this has helped! There are other threads on this site that deal with an explain more about declawing and the Pro's and Con's. Scan through the site and read up on it. Google it!  Become well informed about it. In between all your reading, make a few phone calls and find a new vet!

 

[Columbine]

I've never used Softpaws, but as far as I can tell they do NOT require sedation to apply. The manufacturer's site says they can be applied at home - though it may be a two person job! If your kitten is ok with you clipping her claws, putting Softpaws on should be straightforward. The only situation that would require sedation that I can think of is if you were dealing with a highly resistant or aggressive cat.

A little background on scratching - one of the main reasons cats scratch is to mark their territory. They have scent glands between their toes, and scratching allows them to spread their scent - 'owning' their home in an appropriate and positive way.

For scratching posts etc to work, they have to be placed in socially significant areas - ie, the places you spend a lot of time. If she has nowhere appropriate to scratch in those areas, then of course she'll scratch where you don't want her to. A good start can be placing scratchers close to/in front of the places she likes to scratch. You can get wraparound scratchers to protect furniture and doorways too. This is one example - there are tons available http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015HLSMK6/?tag=&tag=thecatsite

Play is a great way to get her onto the scratchers - just use a wand toy to guide her to the posts. Catnip can be a great ally too.[article="0"][/article][article="32493"]
Please show your wife the following articles [/article][article="29667"][/article][article="22411"][/article][article="29668"][/article][article="29644"][/article][article="22520"][/article]

 

[PushPurrCatPaws]

Sometimes it is hit or miss whether a feline of kitten-age will react (positively or at all) to catnip. But some sources say, try rubbing some catnip on the scratching poles to attract a cat.

 

[Willowy]

I guess I can imagine SOME cats needing sedation if you wanted to apply Soft Claws, LOL. But if you can clip a cat's nails without getting killed, you can apply Soft Claws to that cat. You basically clip the claw, put superglue in the nail cap, stick it on the claw and hold for 10-20 seconds or so (or clip the claws earlier that day, if kitty gets too antsy to do it all at once). You can do one or two at a time if doing all 8 at once is too stressful (I see no reason to apply the caps to the "thumb", as they don't do much damage with that claw as long as you keep it clipped). Most cats might wiggle a bit but no big deal. I don't think much of a vet who can't restrain a cat long enough to do that; vets are supposed to have all kinds of fancy restraint methods. Some vets just aren't very good with cats---you might want to see if there's a cat specialist vet in your area. Saying that a normal cat needs to be sedated for applying Soft Paws seems like a blatant money grab or possibly an admission of incompetence.

Ask some groomers in your area if you want to try Soft Claws but don't want to try doing it yourself. Look for ads that say the groomer specifically works with cats---some of them aren't very good with cats either. But I think they'd have a better grasp of how to apply nail caps than a vet would.

Personally, I find that if I clip a cat's claws once or twice a week (only the ones that have gotten sharp again, don't cut the already-dull ones too short!), that keeps them just as dull as applying Soft Claws would. So if you can just keep up on the clipping I don't think you'll have to resort to nail caps. But if you find yourself not being able to keep up with frequent trimming, nail caps are a fine option. They're also kind of fun if you get the colored ones .

 

[lonelocust]

I am extremely surprised that your vet thinks that cats need to be sedated to apply SoftPaws. I know many people who apply them themselves at home (bought from Amazon, very cheap), and many people who have them done at the vet/groomers without sedation. I can only imagine an extremely aggressive cat needing to be sedated.

Honestly, I have not gone to a vet in my adult life who would even perform declawing, and many of them had pamphlets about why they would not perform declawing and highly recommended against it. I am trying to avoid the preachy tone, but I might check for a second opinion veterinarian, if you don't live in a place too small to have more than one vet, because I'm afraid your vet sounds extremely out of the current mainstream in terms of thoughts on declawing, and the claim that cats have to be sedated for softpaws just sort of sounds like they're making crap up, because I am 100% sure that that is not true in most cases. 

This is my method for clipping my kitten's claws (the older cat has never scratched anything but the post, so he doesn't need it):

*Get him when he's sleepy, and have a pile of treats nearby. I use cheese, which is a treat he likes and ONLY gets when he is getting his nails done. 

*Pet him gently, and grasp one paw. Pop the claw out (by pressing on the toe pad), and snip. (I just use human nail clippers, but there are also cat-specific ones.)

*Clip 2-3 nails, then give a treat. Repeat.

I generally do the front two, and then a few hours later or the next day do the back two. If your cat is more jumpy maybe just do one hand in a session.

I imagine the same will work fine for putting on SoftPaws. 

You also can try to start training the cat to like having her paws messed with by having the treat pile and just popping her claws out while you pet her, and then give her treats. Then if you decide whether you want to trim or apply softpaws, it's not much of a change from something she's used to. I'd try to start at least a little of this ASAP since kitten personalities are more malleable.

 

[catspaw66]

@Greg Dolecki, I am so glad that you came to this site instead of just going ahead and having the kitten declawed.  This is an anti-declaw site, and you will get lots of information here.

What I do if any of them start clawing when I am awake, is to say NO firmly and shake a medicine bottle with BBs inside. This catches their attention and they forget about clawing (usually). If that doesn't work, I start getting up and that catches their attention more. "Is two-legs going into the kitchen? Can I extort a treat or two out of him?"

Keep trying different things to distract the kitten. Also, try different textures of scratching surfaces. My Ladies have cardboard, sisal rope wrapped scratchers, vertical and horizontal wood scratchers, and finally the stovewood pile. They still try scratching, but only to get the tips back sharp after I have trimmed them.

And finally, Welcome to TCS. Another CCG is always nice to find.   (CCG is short for Crazy Cat Guy)

 

[paiger8]

 
 "Is two-legs going into the kitchen? Can I extort a treat or two out of him?"

   "Two-Legs".... hilarious!

@Greg Dolecki  The Soft Paws are also fairly easy to put on if the kitten is sleepy. Play with her, feed her, then pet her and nap time! Make sure you have all the supplies near by so once she gets sleepy, you can go to work on trimming and applying Soft Paws. The trick is to get them used to it early. Older cats that aren't used to them tend to fight it more.

 

[SeventhHeaven]

 
I'm Greg and I'm brand new here.  I have a 5 1/2 month old domestic shorthair name Lexi.  I'm determined to let her keep her claws and make my best effort at teaching her to scratch only on her her things designed for that purpose.  My spouse would rather I have her declawed as we did with our first 2 cats, but is willing to let me try. The thing is that it has been over 20 years since I taught a kitten to do this sort of thing. I have many different textures and shapes of scratching materials, but I would say she is showing a definite preference for sturdy, vertical objects. To that end, I purchased a 6 foot tall tower to put in the front hall near the staircase. I think you've all seen these advertised if you don't actually own 2 or 3 yourselves. She likes the tower and her scratching posts and I play with her on and around them several times a day. The thing is that I am not dissuading her from clawing at OTHER things to any significant degree. I tell "No!" sternly a couple of times and put her on her nearest scratching item, but she just collapses into fur ball at the base of it with no apparent desire to claw at anything. Anyone have any suggestions??? The thing is, I am not convinced she has a plan at her age. I think she's walking or laying around, touches something with a paw and says, " Feels right! Claw it!" Also, I trim her nail once a month to keep them short.

Hi  Greg    

Cats love corrugated card board scratchers as well, they're inexpensive, you can sprinkle with cat nip. I always have some of those lying around....

Cats don't like citrus  throw a slice or two of lemon into a baggie, leave opened pin to where you don't want her to scratch. 

water spray bottle

It sounds like your kitty is scared of your  "NO!"   she just crumbles    using a softer tone, (and because you're a Big man voice)  this may help allot.  Forgive me if I'm wrong. She should just carry on OK playing on New stand when you redirect her using a wand or other toy and she is not. 

If they have their furniture scratch items they do pretty good!  Cats aren't all destructive. They scratch to release frustration, when happy, for exercise, fun it's natural they truly need it. They do have scent glands in their paws so they do like to touch everything at least once to say approved on it!   It  takes a little time to build trust.    

   

 

[ellag]

there are plenty of videos on youtube showing how easy it is to apply soft paws. that vet is fos! if you've never done it before, have another person help and wrap the cat burrito style in a towel. there is NO reason for sedation! it's a good idea to get all kittens used to getting their nails clipped when they are young, that makes it really easy..

 

[losna]

Oh my god. My only response to this is ....

GET A NEW VET!!! NOW! YESTERDAY!! LAST WEEK!!!!!

How awful that a vet would say such a thing. You do not need to sedate a cat to put on softcaps, and declawing is akin to cutting your fingers off at the knuckles. Right up until just this moment the only thing I've ever considered saying about a vet when I disagree with them is to recommend seeking a second opinion. But any vet should know that you don't need to sedate a cat to put on softcaps, so this one is either lying to get you to pay for a service you don't need, or ignorant. Neither of these is a trait you want in a vet.

And to say that declawing is preferable to softcaps? Gah. Gah. Gah. Gah.

I'm going to crawl off now and squeeze my kitties and try to shake off the horrors of that tale.

Before I go though, I will attempt a constructive comment - try putting a scratch pad by the furniture she claws. One of the reasons cats claw is to mark territory, so if you give her something to claw in a spot she is trying to mark it may be helpful.

 

[greg dolecki]

Hi  Greg    

Cats love corrugated card board scratchers as well, they're inexpensive, you can sprinkle with cat nip. I always have some of those lying around....

Cats don't like citrus  throw a slice or two of lemon into a baggie, leave opened pin to where you don't want her to scratch. 
water spray bottle

It sounds like your kitty is scared of your  "NO!"   she just crumbles    using a softer tone, (and because you're a Big man voice)  this may help allot.  Forgive me if I'm wrong. She should just carry on OK playing on New stand when you redirect her using a wand or other toy and she is not. 

If they have their furniture scratch items they do pretty good!  Cats aren't all destructive. They scratch to release frustration, when happy, for exercise, fun it's natural they truly need it. They do have scent glands in their paws so they do like to touch everything at least once to say approved on it!   It  takes a little time to build trust.    aw:    

Thanks 7th Heaven. Lexi, my new kitten who just turned 6 months of age, has no interest in corrugated cardboard. She has 3 different shapes of cardboard scratchers, but the most she will do is lay on the one which is flat. I have tried to show her how to scratch on them, but no go. She does not yet show any interest in catnip unless I put 2 tablespoons of it on some newspaper. Then she will roll in it very excitedly! The key seems to be using a LARGE amount.
She does scratch on her scratching posts, but other things as well. She doesn't like sisal. I think it feels too rough on her paws. She likes smooth, soft things that stand straight up. I paid $47.36 to have the vet put the Soft Paws on. For the time being, I went to the veterinarian who said she had to be sedated to put them on because I am under a lot of pressure from my wife that she (Lexi) not be allowed to damage the living room furniture. Sadly, one of the nail covers has come off and my wife now points to that as a big problem. I am in the process of searching for a groomer or veterinarian who will apply them for less money and without sedation. St. Louis is a fairly big city with many veterinarians and groomers, but I take Lexi to The St. Louis Cat Clinic recommended by several people as being the BEST PLACE for cats. Clearly many in this thread disagree. So the training goes on...

 

[mservant]

1.  Spend time looking through the articles and videos people have shared with you, and encourage your wife to look at these too so she can truly appreciate what she is suggesting happen to this young cat.

2.  Spend as much time as you can getting your young kitten used to her paws being handled and do what Willowy has suggested and clip her claws very regularly. Keeping her claws nice and short and blunt both minimizes any damage done when a cat is deliberately clawing and scratching at a surface to shed the outer, loose claw sheaths  (yes, it actually sharpens their claws, it does not wear them down or blunt them), and also to reduce the inadvertent damage done when they are racing about your home using you and your furniture as their playground.  

No need for Soft Paws or declawing if you can keep her claws naturally clipped and short, and the stress of the process is kept to a minimum as she can get used to the regular handling with people she lives with.   Support regularly clipped claws with basic 'training' to encourage your young cat to stay off the surfaces you want to protect and there is no reason your home should suffer. 

 

[greg dolecki]

Thank you very much.

 

[losna]

You don't need a vet to apply the soft gels, it's a very simple process so you can put them on yourself.  A shelter or a pet store should sell them. It's pretty much just put the adhesive into the cap, and apply to the claw. If you take @MServant's advice on getting your kitty used to having her feet handled, it won't be long before it's a standard routine for her, especially if you finish off the application with treats.

Here are the instructions on the company's site, so you can see how easy it is to do. http://www.softpaws.com/application-instructions-for-cats/

I really think it's almost criminal for a vet to tell you it takes a sedation.

 

[greg dolecki]

Thank you Mouse Servant.  My wife is a wonderful woman who doted on our last 2 cats (which she insisted be declawed)  However, she is not going to look at any articles on declawing, etc.  She doesn't care how many countries or other States have made it illegal.  The only way I could even get a scratching post into her living room was to allow her to select something she thought would be inconspicuous.  She selected an umbrella thing that she covered in sisal for the cat to scratch on and immediately stuck an umbrella in it so visitors would get the "right idea."