Since you are a Veterinary Technology major, let me ask your opinion. How do you feel about declawing cats? I use to say that it was horribly wrong, and abusive to cats. But lately my cat has started a bad habit of clawing the couch and the sheets, leaving snags and holes. And when she sits in my lap, she neads her paws and her nail are digging in deeper and deeper. Last night I screamed it hurt so bad. I clip her nails about every two weeks, but it doesn't help. It has never been a problem with her before, she just seems to be getting worse. I am now debating wether or not to get her declawed. I really don't want to put her through it, but I am worried about my furniture, and myself, not to mention my future children. Would it be terrible of me to declaw her? What other options do I have?
I've always thought it was a horrible thing, and I hate to see all the little kitties in the vets office overnight with their claws all bloody and bandaged up.
But it's a thing I'm going to have to deal with while working at a Vet clinic.
I'm sure you already know, but I've encountered a lot of people that don't really know what "declawing" really is, so I'll tell you a bit.
The name is really missleading since the surgery does not just leave the cat without claws. It actually takes out the last bone in all of their paws (usually only the front paws since the back claws are rarely used for scratching) See the last digit on your fingers, the part where your nail is attatched? It would be like removing that on all of your fingers.
It leaves the cats trying to use their claws. Sort of like the feeling of "I can feel my leg" even though a person's leg has been amputated. I imagine that it is a very painfull procedure and aftercare.
After saying all that, I will say that in some cases it can be useful and necessary. For instance, I have talked to someone who knew an older lady who was deathly allergic to cat scratches, yet she had her cat for years. She did not want to get rid of her beloved cat, but she could not risk getting scratched. In this case, it is a good idea to get the cat declawed.
In most cases I would say that clipping the nails can be very beneficial, but you already do this. I would say that you should try to use nail coverings, to see if that will work. I've never actually seen them, but there are some coverings that you can buy, that will go over the cats claws and prevent her from using them. Like I said, I've never seen them, and don't know how well they work, or how easy they are to put on. But it seems like it would be worth a try.
http://cats.about.com/cs/declawing/fr/softclaws.htm
Here's a helpful little website that you could look at to start you off with information.
If this was only a problem with your furniture, I would suggest working with scratching posts and putting sticky pads on the places that you don't want scratched. But, when it becomes a problem to yourself and your children, then that makes it a bit more serious.
Another thing I might add is that, since this is a new behavior, it might be a health problem. There may be something wrong with your cat's claws that are causing her pain and irritation. She may have an infection or some sort of parasites that she is trying to get rid of by scratching everywhere.
It could also be that your not trimming her nails short enough, but that would be something that only a professional, who can see the claws, can evaluate.
Try the softpaws nail caps. If that doesn't work, then see a Veterinarian. He/she can give you a good idea of every option you would have. If nothing works, then it's not horrible of your to declaw her. Most people would have sent the cat to a shelter by now, at least your working with her and trying to find out about every option available.
Oh, also, as I was writing all this, I kept thinking that maybe she just has some scratching urges inside her that she needs to get out with a bunch of scratching posts. But I could just be thinking that because of the Futurama episode where Bender had to become a Bender for a while because of his pent up need to bend things. Eh, it's worth a try. :)
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Thanks, I am going to try cutting her nails shorter. I usually just trim the tip. Softcaws are the biggest pain to put on, I gave up!
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