Pets
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Cat Question?
We have our first kitten and an older pup (10 years old). Our friends have warned us to have our kitten Angel declawed. What do you think? Please be kind, we're new at this.
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Re: Cat Question?
Don't do it. Declawing is a painful procedure akin to removing your fingertip at the first knuckle. It will often cause cats to bite more as they feel defenseless and can cause other behavioral problems as well. If you adopted your kitten, you may have already signed a contract saying you won't declaw.
Are they suggesting you declaw to protect your dog? Because your kitten is unlikely to be able to seriously harm your dog, especially if he is a larger breed.
I can personally attest to this; I've encountered quite a few declawed cats that were biters.
If you are worried about scratching, you can help things by cutting the kitty's nails often to keep them blunt. There is also a product called Soft Paws that consists of little plastic caps that you put on the kitty's nails. I've heard mixed reviews of the product, but I think it's certainly worth a try.
Definitely do not declaw. I think it's bizarre that your friends think you should just because you have a 10 year old dog. What?!
Provide several appropriate scratching items of various types and if needed, use Soft Paws (which I've used for years with a lot of success).
Please dont declaw! In addition to what PP said, it can lead to litterbox problems because the litter hurts their feet when they have to walk on their knuckles. Some people get lucky and their cat is fine, other people end up with a biting cat that pees everywhere! Also, if your cat happened to escape outside (I hope it is an indoor cat!) it needs a way to defend itself. It has been such a common practice in the US that people still think it's fine, but other countries have begun outlawing declawing because it really is inhumane.
Since you have a kitten it should be pretty easy to get them used to nail trims. Handle their feet frequently and then gently squeeze on their paws to make the claws show. Take it slow with lots of treats and you can get them used to having their claws clipped.
NO! Don't do it!
I took a cat from a friend when she was about 1-y/o. She'd been front declawed when they found her around 6 months. Thankfully, she doesn't have biting or litter box issues, but she does limp slightly on one leg from time to time. I had a vet look at it once, but he couldn't find anything. I really think her paw on that leg pains her sometimes because of the declawing. It breaks my heart a little bit to think that she's in pain because a human did something to her for their own convenience.
Get a few scratching mediums (cardboard scratchers, carpet, sisal) for your kitty to try out (show her to scratch my scratching it yourself and making a big deal about how great it is); redirect her to one of these if she tries scratching something inappropriate.
Clip her nails often to start with, and give her lots of treats while you do it, so that she grows up knowing nail clipping is a good thing (my other kitty, with all her claws, has never come around to it, though, so we wrap her in a blanket and pull out one paw at a time).
If you feel the need, use the Soft Paws PP mentioned.
There's no reason your kitten should harm your older dog. Chances are, the kitten will grow up being friendly with the dog since she's so young.
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Please don't declaw your kitten. There are so many issues, as the PP's have stated, and it's just not worth putting the cat through all that.
Definitely start your kitten getting used to having her feet handled and nails clipped. We use Soft Paws and swear by them. DH usually has to replace one or two caps per cat once or twice a week and our girls are so used to it now. They don't love it, but they aren't agitated. They know it'll be over soon and yummy treats will follow!
Don't - for reasons PPs have mentioned.
Our cat, Rosco, is declawed. He's a biter because he has no claws. Sharp little teeth. I actually think it's worse than nails half the time.
If you're worried about kitty hurting the dog, you can get the nail caps (can't remember the name, but others have mentioned this, I think.) Keep them clipped and posts/toys kitty can appropriately scratch on. It might take a bit of training, but it works.