Aggressive Cat HELP! - Page 2

[bethwl]

Declawing should be an absolute last-ditch effort after EVERYTHING else has been tried. Yes, it's better than euthanasia or shelter life, but it really shouldn't have to come to that. Most scratching is provoked and once the kids and cats learn to coexist, it should be fine. I've read that some declawed cats become biters (which one owner of a declawed cat in this post mentioned), so that doesn't really solve the problem, does it? The nail covers are called Soft Paws. If you are able to handle your cat to trim the nails (do it every two weeks at least to make sure that the nails are never too sharp), you should probably be able to apply the Soft Paws. Also, you definitely need a cat tree and toys and train the cat to use them by giving treats when he scratches the tree/post, put catnip on the post. Play chasing/prey type games with him. There's a toy (Cat Dancer) that's basically a thin wire with a little bit of cardboard on the end that you bounce in front of him and he'll pounce on it. Also, have you considered getting another cat? If he's friendly to other cats, his playfulness might be directed toward another cat (I would go for a young adult rather than kitten, but still a young cat who wants to play). My other suggestion is a simulated cat pheromone spray called Feliway, that is supposed to calm cats and decrease marking behaviors (one of which is scratching). It sounds crazy and it ain't cheap, but it seemed to work to keep our cats from scratching the furniture and rugs.

Hope this helps.
Beth

[Marsupialmom]

You are also forgetting 10 years ago somethings, like soft paws were not available. I know when I mentioned to a vet on clipping my cat’s nails he just laughed at me that was 8-9 years ago. Now my vet would show me how.

I use to be completely against declawing until I met someone with MS (now a good friend) with a declawed cat. It was a “companion” animal. She could not have kept the cat if it still clawed furniture. She half the time does not have the abilities to train it not to claw but this cat keeps her spirits up. Keeps her company. The cat is well cared for.

[anothermama]

Originally posted by angela&avery
ive found many written arguments that counter that statement

here are some links

http://www.felinefuture.com/catcare/declawing.php

http://cats.about.com/cs/declawing/a/declawing.htm

http://www.declawing.com/

Two of those are HIGHLY biased.

I have been volunteering in shelters and in a vet office for the past two years. I've been there. I've witnessed declawings. I've also witnessed cats put down simply because they were given up because they ruined a couch.

It's not as horrible as the propaganda makes it out to be. As another said, I think it should be a last resort, but IMO it's a better thing that a shelter.

Check out a local vet school......often times they'll let people observe declaws if they are thinking of doing it themselves. You'll see......it's not this mangling horific thing that extremist groups make it out to be.