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Thank you so much for all the advice....I do really like Lady PurrPurr but am against adopting her. I will let my boyfriend read your post about de-clawing. In the end I think we are more suited to getting a puppy though(when that time comes)Originally Posted by LDG
Awwwwwww......
I am so sorry to hear about that horrible, horrible experience. I am SO sorry.Yeah, all our pet kitties are indoor only. It can be really difficult with the ferals. We find ourselves worrying endlessly when they don't show up. Life outside can be really cruel. And it's not considerate to the neighbors or the wildlife... I think there should be leash laws for cats, just like there are for dogs. Well, they have to be properly structured to account for people who care for community ferals. But that's a different issue.
But I have more bad news for you. Declawing is not like removing your fingernails (as if that weren't bad enough IMO). It's like removing your finger at the last joint. It has to do with the way their claws/toes are constructed. It's quite a cruel procedure. In fact, it's illegal in 23 countries, and several US cities. Scratching isn't something cats do to be destructive, it's a natural behavior related to many things... Stretching, grooming, marking... honestly, if you're not prepared to deal with it, it's best not to get a cat. Declawing also can come with other behavior problems, such as biting and litter box avoidance. Cats actually walk on their toes.Cut off the end of their toes, and it displaced the weight improperly. Many wind up with arthritis when they're older. BTW, TCS is anti-declaw.
There are alternatives, like nail caps. But really, if you're not prepared to deal with a cat and work with kitty to manage their natural behavior as opposed to seeing it as "bad," it's best not to have a kitty become part of the family. I think you two should stick with the plan to get a dog! They're much easier to train to "our" concept of "good" because of that pack-animal nature. And they don't go vertical lol.
But the bottom line is that if your furniture comes first, don't adopt a cat. There are certainly ways to help them "scratch appropriately," and we can help with that. But please think long and hard about whether you really do want to make that life long commitment.
And I know, that's what you were asking! But there's a little more input for your consideration.
But if we did get her and didn't de-claw and got a scratching post...how could we teach her to use the scratching post and not the furniture? Is there a way????
Because I know my boyfriend will bring up a scratching post!