Soft paws - any vets can advise me Please?

[Badcat2020]

Hello,

My cat attacked me really badly the other day. I’m cover in scratches some of which will scar. I’ve been put on antibiotics from the doctor.

He’s a lovely cat but is aggressive and spooked easily when he’s been outside fighting with other cats. I’ve now made the decision to keep him indoors and he seems much better. But I want to be able to walk past him without worrying that he’ll swipe at me so was thinking of getting soft claws. Anyone used them? Any vets have an opinion on them?

I’ve tried feliway etc - doesn’t work.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Si-yk1KxYX0

I don't think these are very nice at all. The poor cats must feel very uncomfortable with them.

They are marketed as an alternative to declawing

Declawing is such a horrific and barbaric thing to do to a cat that yeah anything is going to look "humane" and/or "harmless" in comparison to it but cats need their claws, they aren't just there for show, they are useful to them. A lot of the publicity claiming claw covers are fine and cause no problems comes from the US where declawing is "normal" so I can't begin to trust it as their compass as to what is fine and causes a problem to a cat is so far out in the first place - and I realise a lot of Americans are against declawing, but it's so ingrained into the culture that pets are possessions to be done to what you like. Just no.

I think it's awful - imagine someone sticking great rubber caps over the ends of all your fingers, or over your teeth? Even if it didn't hurt it would be bloody annoying. I don't even like cats in collars so denying them access to a part of their body they use for balance, to scratch, to groom, to grip just seems inherently wrong to me.

Please don't put the caps on him, he's an unhappy cat that is going to be more unhappy. He may resort to biting if he feels he can't defend himself. What sort of time do you spend with him, any at all? If he is shut away from everyone all the time it isn't fair on him, rehoming should considered.
Instead of the plug in you are using try Pet Remedy. You can get sprays, plug ins etc. The cheapest place is Vet med( or some such thing). It's brilliant stuff.

He’s not unhappy all the time, just very aggressive when confronted with other cats, he’s always been like that and I don’t like the insinuation that it’s somehow my fault, I dote on him. Anyway I’ve taken that out of the equation now and stopped letting him outside and he seems so much better.

I spend about an hour in total a day with him, stroking and playing, the rest of the time he’s either asleep, staring out of the window, playing with his catnip toys or eating. He has a toy called da bird that he loves and lots of catnip toys. How long do you all play with your cats for?

I’ve read that the caps are fine, safe and don’t interfere with claw retraction etc. And they don’t bother the cats at all. I’m just trying to protect myself against an unpredictable animal that’s all 😂

OP, you've posted here asking for advice on something, the consensus is that it is cruel and you shouldn't use it, yet you keep brushing it off with laughing emojis.

If you're so determined to push on and use them, why post?

You need to make a choice between your cat and your baby because soft paws/declawing is barbaric.

I just don’t think anyone has read the link, I just don’t understand how they are cruel?

I would never declaw my cat, where the hell did I say that???

Soft paws are just stick on caps that come off naturally as the claw grows. I honestly don’t see the problem. Apparently they are recommended by vets?

How can I get rid of my cat. He’s old, male, black and has aggression issues. No one would take him and he’d just he put down in a shelter. Plus he would be terrified, I could never do that to him.

Also I don’t think I’ll be giving up my child, what a mad thing to say 😂

Hi OP, I'm a vet and tbh I normally avoid getting into animal related debates online as much as possible (I come here to switch off from work!) But I felt a bit compelled to answer this. I deal with 1000s of pet and feral cats of all temperaments on a constant basis and had never seen or heard of these before. I honestly don't see how a cat could retract their claws while wearing these. Yes the website says they can but I think it's a suspect claim at best. I would not be comfortable about it it at all. (Also, it's a separate topic, but declawing is a horrible horrible procedure only done in the US, it's a different world over there wrt this topic, so I wouldn't go by the opinions of vets in a country where declawing is normal!!)

P.s. I appreciate you are trying to protect your baby, which is 100% valid and the responsible thing to do. I do suggest you forget the softclaws but speak to a veterinary behaviourist, who can give you excellent advice on how to handle the situation

I wouldn't do it, but I'd advise you to talk to your vet about it OP. They'll be able to give you an educated opinion.

Why are you worried about it happening again if the cat is now kept indoors away from other cats? You say he's only done it when wound up by another cat, and that's just not going to happen now you're keeping him indoors.

I wouldn't worry about it happening again. If it does then it does, a cat scratch usually isn't the worst thing in the world and it's likely he'll give your baby a wide berth anyway. Cats don't normally like how unpredictable babies are with the flailing and avoid.

(EDIT - or listen to the vet who posted above me)

Well don’t ask people’s opinions if you don’t want to hear them . No one has been rude to you, just taken time to answer your enquiry. I really doubt cats would be able to retract their claws with them on but the website suggests they can. As a pp suggested they probably are kinder to cats than the alternative of declawing which thankfully isn’t an option in this country. If your cat is no longer going outside then it won’t be an issue anyway surely?

I have a 3 yo who my cat has always been wary of. Generally cats aren’t interested in children unless they know that they’re calm and predictable.