Had to have mine declawed..
Posted By: sm on 2007-04-21
In Reply to: I love these cats of mine but need some help - Sari
I have a Siamese who is very, very...did I mention very stubborn. She started destroying my couch, chairs, etc. I tried all the tricks mentioned below, spray bottle, stomping feet, yelling, double-sided tape, etc., and nothing worked. It just made her more determined to go after my furniture.
So, I eventually broke down and made an appointment for her to be declawed. It did not make her anymore aggressive, mean, etc. She got over the procedure within a couple of days and was fine after that. In fact, she still makes the scratching movements or tries to scratch the furniture years later except she's not ruining anything anymore.
I only got the front paws declawed, and it wasn't too terribly expensive (a lot cheaper than replacing furniture for sure). She is an inside only cat obviously, so we don't have to worry about her needing to defend herself outside or I obviously wouldn't have had this done.
She has had no problems either with behavior or medically since having this done 5-6 years ago. She is a spoiled and quite content cat who still thinks she rules the house front claws or not. So, basically she's happy, and we are happy to not have our house trashed.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
I have mine declawed, never again. I had leather
furniture that he was ruining (he had 32 claws) so I had him declawed. He went outside to sit on the front porch in the sun occasionally. Two dogs killed him because he couldn't climb a tree. He was the sweetest, beautiful Himalayan mix, talked to me all the time.
I declawed one and not another.
I took in a kitten back in 1985. She was a big-time scratcher and ruined all my drapes, tore up two sofas, and a door jam. Nothing I did, no alternative scratching areas kept her from tearing up my furniture and climbing up my draperies. I was on the verge of giving her up. Instead, when she was about a year old, I had her declawed. I could tell that it was a different feeling for her, but she adjusted very quickly. She ended up living to the ripe old age of 20 in our house, doing no damage and very loved.
After she died, we took in another kitten from a rescue organization. This one is not declawed, but she has a totally different personality. She is very submissive, very sweet. She never puts out her claws for anything other than stretching briefly in sunspots on the floor. I keep her claws trimmed, and she is satisfied with that. Had she been an incorrigible scratcher like her predecessor, I would have had this cat declawed, too. I can offer a lifetime safe and loving home to cats, but I don't want my things torn up. So I really don't have any problem with declawing when necessary.
My first cat was declawed (sm)
because I lived at home with my mom and he was tearing up her 2-year-old custom-made curtains.
I had it done, stayed at home with him and babied him for a few days, and once he healed, did not seem to realize he didn't have them. He "scratched" the rest of his life with his nubs.
I wasn't going to declaw the second cat, but the first one was "scratching" everything and I guess she couldn't figure out why he could and she couldn't. I did notice, however, that her recovery time was longer (Cat #1 had it done pretty young).
Many years later, we got a kitten when cat #2 was about 11 years old. Cat #2 didn't do much scratching by then, and we were able to train Cat #3 not to scratch. We now have another clawed cat, adopted at age 5. He's a bit of a nuisance with his scratching, but it's not to the point where I'd have to do something. If it gets worse, I'll try the nail caps.
IMO it's a very individual thing between cat and owner. And I agree, I think it's better to do that than to subject the cat to abandonment, if that's the only negative behavior involved.
I declawed a cat and wish I hadn't.
Got new couch. Got new cat. Cat scratched couch. Declawed cat. DH out of work 4 months on disability, made sense to get a puppy, right? Not to the declawed cat, who lost her mind and started urinating in our bed. Also, she could not exercise properly when she couldn't hook those claws to climb, grab toys, etc.
And I think cats would rather be declawed than
x
I just adopted a declawed cat
who was abandoned. she looks like she has no toes, with floppy little hair tufts and going the wrong directions. Like other poster said, she does not cover her stuff in the litter box (maybe feels she cannot manage it) and her attitude is so defensive to the other cats, even after a month, and i wonder if it isn't because she feels so defenseless. I sure would not do it to a cat.
Maybe she is defensive because she was declawed
And being approached by possibly feral cats, no wonder she is wary of your other cat. I wonder if she just doesnt have litter box issues, regardless of being declawed. Maybe bad litter habits are what got her put out. I just think her being declawed may not have anything to do with her issues. Maybe, but, IMO, pobably not.
Getting your cats declawed in my opinion
is inhumane. I would really reconsider it. They have caps that you can buy, relatively inexpensive and last for awhile, that you put on their nails. You glue them on over the nails. You can even do a color scheme in them if you like, pink, etc.
There are too many alternate ways out there to deter cats than declawing
We had our 2 indoor cats declawed, too.
They never go outside either and they both have done fine since.
All the vets I ever worked with had their cats declawed.
adf
Never declawed any of the dozen cats I have had over my lifetime - sm
It is rare, in my opinion, that a cat cannot be trained to claw in appropriate places and not on furniture, etc. Are you providing good places for the kitty to claw, such as a nice scratch post (mine really love the sisal rope kind)? They also love those simple cardboard inserts that are in the Turbo Trackers and the Alpine Scratcher. When I get a new kitty I direct them to the appropriate places to claw and lavish praise. These acceptable places need to be some place you pass by often because the kitty wants you to be there when they are good. Mine run to the scratching posts because they know I am going to lavish praise on them. :-) If they claw somewhere they are not supposed to I immediatly squirt them with a water bottle set to stream. Something called a Scat Mat also keeps them away from the inappropriate places should they want to test you further. I have had young kittens, adult cats, you name it, and not a single one of them could not be trained to scratch where appropriate. I also have nice furniture (even leather). I would only declaw after I had exhausted all other options and it was a choice between that and giving up the cat. Just my two cents, for what it is worth. :-) Let us know what you decide. Best of luck!!
Cats declawed front only can still climb trees and
x
My brother's declawed cats have a great life
They stay indoors, they are spoiled rotten, they are happy cats. There are 4 of them, all adopted at different times, and you couldn't ask for more sociable content kittehs.
Don't know about your God, but mine
my God is more forgiving than that!
She is not doing anyone any harm, so to say she will burn in h*** for celebrating the fun part of Halloween, not evilness, is the whole reason I do not attend church!
I never did it with mine. For one, I would have been
too embarrassed. My mother used to do it, but we have come a long way since then. I find it kind of primitive. I think nothing is wrong with it in your own home, but in public, I really think you should think about it. There are all kinds of weirdos out there and you just don't know what is in their minds. I see nothing wrong with breastfeeding INSIDE YOUR HOME, but there are folks who would get offended by doing it in public. I would not be offended, but really...I think you could put some of that breast milk in a bottle before you go out.
Mine is up
and FAKE -- Me and my fam are all allergic!
Have red/white/blue/silver these. Looks awesome. Have lights up outside too!!!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Mine would be...
Laxatives
Laytex gloves
a metal detector
mine too
have to light a fire under his butt in an attempt to get him out of the house.
Mine did nothing at all, at least he went out and tried - sm
more than my DH did, though mine did ask me what I wanted, I told him, he told me to go buy it. This is typical for him. He used to get me beautiful jewelry for b-day, Christmas, annivarsary, that lasted for about 2 years or so, then it has been buy yourself what you want. I do not get bent (what is the point) though a little effort on his part would be nice. He did surprise me on our 10-year anniversary though this year, got me a beautiful opal necklace. As for the kids, my one daughter gave me 2 things, my other nothing, but she gives me wonderful drawings and such all the time, she just has a selfish streak I guess and does not think of others only herself. I just talked to her about this, maybe in the future she will remember our little talk and some good will come from it. My DH needs to learn somehow to have the kids get things for mom on special occasions, yours does too it seems. My neighbor has the same problem with her husband. Basically they are lazy people. He does none of the shopping, gift wrapping, packing to leave (except for his stuff of course), etc. He did buy 1 or 2 gifts, which I of course wrapped. This will probably never change until the kids are gone and he is an old man. I have seen it happen but not until grandchildren are on the scene and these men become model husbands for some reason, whether it is out of boredom or fear of the wife finally saying "I'm out of here, go fend for yourself", or they get struck my lightening, who knows, but beating yourself up about it is not the answer. If you are truly unhappy, get out, or kick him out. But if this is his "flaw" then either live with it, and buy yourself what you want each year or do something about it. It is your call how you deal with it.
mine went away
I had one on my nose for about a year and all of a sudden it just vanished and has never come back. It always bothered me because it was so ugly, but it never hurt and I didn't have to pay to zap it.
Two of mine have had and he will run
fever if he does not drink or eat the popsickles and get sicker. You probably know but you can cool him down with tepid water, try that. You will really have to keep up with you have to drink or eat cool, cold so he will not run that fever.
Yes, mine are
never and I mean never tempt fate. i could never say I was sick or someone else sick say if I wanted to be off from work, no, no, might come true. I have to knock on wood when I say something that is an iffy thing, don’t want to jink.
LOL, I had mine do just that
I gave him a testing tape. It took him hours to get through a page, typing with two fingers, with everything lumped together in one big paragraph, headings and all. Not to mention all the mistakes. lol He now says he has no idea how I do this. I told him I don't know either. : )
LOL! Mine does that too!
And I love how they can never puke/cough up hairballs on the tile, they always have to find a carpeted area (which stains). They can be in the middle of the tile kitchen and find the only rug!
Mine do that too! LOL!
I have tiles in my kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room, yet they decide to leave me presents in the living room or bedrooms where it is carpeted! I own a steam cleaner just for that purpose! LOL!
ok, here's mine...
Awesome: Ellen Degeneres (sp?)
Lame: Oprah
Mine is like that too. (sm)
I don't know why they so strongly believe that aggressive driving is good driving. DH always wants to drive or else he goes nuts, but when I occasionally end up being the driver, he needs to keep quiet so I can concentrate. Just because his BP is through the roof shouldn't mean mine has to be. Lately even when I'm the passenger I don't put up with it. As he starts up, complaining about traffic the moment we've pulled out of the driveway, I calmly remind him he'll live through it. He is starting to realize what a pain he is in the car.
Mine did this ONCE -
We were first married and actually WERE, uh, busy...You never saw someone hit the door running so fast. It never happened again. However, if I were you I would definitely lock my door and put up a sign asking everyone to please knock. It is YOUR house.
Here's how I got out of mine...
I called the cell phone company, said I was trying to cancel but got disconnected and had to call back. When the rep said I had to pay termination on both phones I said the previous rep said I only had to be for 1 phone disconnect fee. After going back and forth a little bit, the rep caved and only charged me for 1 disconnect fee. Worth a try. Good luck.
Mine
used to go on "business trips" and would never check in as well and came up with a world of reasons why. He was seeing other women. That also played a role in lowering my self-esteem, but now I look back and actually feel sorry for him. He's alone and will never have the respect or relationship I have with our children. It's just pitiful, but he made his bed.
I hope you have family you can talk to and get support from. If you need to email me, please feel free. I just know how you feel and I hurt for you right now, but I promise you, it'll all be okay.
Here are mine...sm
Knitting, crochet, cross stitch are my favorites, but the projects keep piling up in a corner because there is no time, and too tired to get through even 5 pages of a book at bedtime. Wish I had an adventure-filled life to blame it on. 
I got mine a GPS....sm
he gets lost VERY easily so I figured he'd love it.
mine are like that too.
The last time one of them was home he straightened out one my cupboards and they like to cook with me and play board or card games.
That is exactly how I fix mine, YUM! (nm)
x
First mine said he was gay
He deliberately married me for a "front" (he was in the military) and didn't bother to tell me he was gay until we'd been married 6 months. After years of confusion, he ended up having a sex change after marrying a second woman and having a child with her.
If you're lucky, he's just curious. But you really need to get the truth out of him, and be prepared for the worst. If he's really confused about his sexuality it may take him years to figure out who he "is" and what he really wants, so it may be difficult for him to tell you the truth because he might be in denial about it himself.
Mine was only 10 or 11, but she had - sm
aggressive, metastatic breast cancer that spread to her lungs. Vet said I would "know" when to have her PTS.
I knew when she didn't want to do anything but sit on the couch and stare off into space. No longer wanted food or attention, just occasional water, and kind of a blank stare. Was also out of breath all the time. So I had a long talk with her about it, and she just seemed to be saying, "Do it - I'm ready."
Well here's mine (sm)
I can lean on the slacker side sometimes too so here is what I do: get my tea- start half an hour early - read any interesting news on Yahoo, check and respond to emails, look at MTstars ;-) - just get that out of the way. Through the day I tell myself I can't switch over and check email or anything until I have done a certain number of minutes, etc., which earns me an email break. I also have motivational music on my computer - like The Blur's Woohoo! song that I play in between when I am doing things that don't require listening, like sending my work and things like that.
here's mine
 Life is good, I am SO blessed!
Mine is on my arm
I want a new one on my back but i'm afraid to get it done here; my one and only was done in Austin, Texas. Mine's pretty big, it takes up almost my entire upper arm.
yes, I got mine on 05/02
I was under the assumption that married people get 1200. Not true. We only got 600. The VA took 167.00 of it, so that left us with 433. Not exactly what I was expecting, but will come in handy.
I'd rather be where you are but here's mine:
http://www.arkansas.com/
Mine does this too
And I am in my 20s. I have them sometimes many times a day for a week straight or so. I am going to my cardiologist again soon but I assume it is nothing to worry about because they dont seem worried. I have a feeling they will do a Holter or something, but it is so hard to catch them because it seems it essentially just does it when it feels like it.
Mine is not like that but just as bad
After 25 years of being together he still has most of his stuff. He doesn't touch my stuff and I don't touch his. It is so hard to get him out of the mindset of keeping everything. He says there is a lot he wants to get rid of but the actuality of doing it? He can't bring himself to part with it even though he says he needs to lighten up.
Mine is....
"hisself" instead of himself. Drives me crazy.
Here goes mine..
ax instead of ask,
beedroom instead of bedroom (I think that's an Australian thing) or for that matter, betroom instead of bedroom
Daytawn instead of Dayton (& from residents too!)
The use of the f-word & the s-word in every other sentence... (if not every sentence)
The over-use of the word "basically" As in starting every other sentence, "Well, basically it's...."
Mine are:
warsh for wash (a common Hoosier-ism, I guess, but I still hate it)
liberry for library
chimbly for chimney
and my mother-in-law pronounces crayons "crins" 
Mine is 10 now
and of course he doesn't remember this anymore but my hubs asked him the other day if he wanted a hangaburger. He just thought his dad was weird. LOL Kids are so much fun.
Here's mine....see pic
I usually have a calico kitten sleeping on my notebook, but I'm not working this afternoon, so not sure where she is.
mine are not that age yet
thought about what i would do should that happen... i did it when i was young and i made some very poor choices during the time i smoked. though that's not happened yet, should it happen, i believe i would try to be with my kids as much as i possibly could. i would take them to school, i would pick them up, if they have a school function, guess what? mom's going too.
you know, when i was younger and did that, my parents DID have a clue... they may have wanted to act all naive but they KNEW.. and as ticked off at them as i would have been had they ever confronted me about it, i look back and truly wish they had and maybe shown some tough love. i think your son's father may be going overboard with wanting to kick him out.
the most important thing is, regardless of how you decide to deal with this, is to let him know how much you love him. bottom line is, if you didn't love him, you wouldn't care what he does.
Some of mine are.............sm
The Christmas Shows with Rob Lowe.
Santa and Pete with Hume Cronyn.
The Angel Doll with Keith Carradine.
The Santa Clause with Tim Allen
And my all-time favorite is It's a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart.
Here is mine...sm
It is Souper easy (I know, groan!). Chicken, beef or veggie stock (not broth), frozen veggies depending on mood, quite a bit of garlic and onion, frozen tortellini, and maybe some bits of meat (usually not), and herbs depending on the other ingredients being used. Amount depends on how many people are being fed. This is good for using up leftover veggies, chicken and beef, too.
|
