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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to wish that declawing a cat wasn't such an awful thing to do.

46 replies

Silvercatowner · 05/10/2013 20:59

I love my cat, I really do. But he's 'odd'. He loves cuddles but cuddles are accompanied by needle sharp claws being inserted into whichever body part he happens to be close to - often my tummy. It REALLY hurts. It does put me off cuddling him and I'm sure it freaks him out when he's getting comfortable and snuggly and I suddenly yell and push him away. I've had lots of cats and haven't had another cat do this in the way that this cat does. I wish he wouldn't. I never would declaw him but I wish there was such a thing as cat scratch mits.

OP posts:

RandomMess · 05/10/2013 21:01

cocoon yourself with a folded faux fur blanket?

Be thankful he's not like my neighbours cat that randomly turns around and bites you, often quite hard!!

weeblueberry · 05/10/2013 21:05

How often do you cut his nails? My two are house cats and their nails get really sharp. I eventually started cutting them every couple of days and it's made a big difference...

undertheboredwalk · 05/10/2013 21:06

Buy These
We tried them on ours he wouldn't stay still long enough to get them on, but worth a go?
They're temporary, a few weeks I think until they're shed but would be nice for cuddles

florencedombey · 05/10/2013 21:07

One of ours does this. His claws seem to grow faster than the average cat as well, so they don't retract fully. We get the vet to clip his claws every few months. He (DCat not vet!) doesn't seem to mind and still hunts etc but it means we can cuddle him without having our legs ripped to shreds.

LaurieFairyCake · 05/10/2013 21:10

I don't declaw him but I do use nail clippers on the tiny retractable curved bit every few weeks - literally about 3mm

He can still sharpen his claws, but he doesn't lose them in stuff or rip them

PhallicGiraffe · 05/10/2013 21:23

You need to train him not to use his claws. If you touch the area between his paws and his claws every time he does it, he should soon stop.

Original poster

Silvercatowner · 05/10/2013 21:39

Thanks for all the hints and tips - I may well try the nail caps! I had no idea you could get that sort of thing.

OP posts:

pigsDOfly · 06/10/2013 00:05

Are you outside the UK OP?

I ask because declawing is not something you hear many people talk about here. It's a vile thing to do to a cat and is actually illegal in most countries outside of USA as it involves the dangerous amputation of the tops of the toes.

I understand that your post is mean't to be a bit lighthearted so apologies for taking it seriously, but even the claw covers that Undertheboardwalk recommends would make life difficult for an outdoor cat. It would have no way of defending itself and/or escaping as it would be unable to fight or climb. Much better to train him to keep his claws to himself.

TheSeaPriestess · 06/10/2013 01:34

I used to clip my cats claws, just the very tips. You have to be very careful not to cut the 'quick'. Snipping the ends just blunts them slightly.

only do this with very placid cats if you value your life

Tabby1963 · 06/10/2013 01:52

I'm like Random, and have a blanket handy because my two cats like to knead (and dribble) too.

Toadinthehole · 06/10/2013 02:03

pigsDOfly

You might equally say that keeping a cat (which is always to the detriment of the local fauna) is a vile thing to do to the local birdlife. You could also say that putting a bell on the cat causes psychological (and thus "vile") damage to the cat.

I'm with this chap.

lessonsintightropes · 06/10/2013 03:17

Erm Toad no it isn't. It's the equivalent of having your fingers removed at the top knuckle for a cat. Of course a bell isn't damaging for a cat. Ridiculous statement.

loopyluna · 06/10/2013 04:30

My adopted cat was declawed as a kitten in the States.
We got her when she was 6 and her American family needed to have her re-homed. She's gorgeous, affectionate and gentle but so neurotic. She was afraid to go outside until we got a cat flap and now she obviously feels safer in the knowledge that she can get back in quickly if she needs too.
I'm sure her nervy character is mostly down to having no claws (though the transatlantic flight probably didn't help matters.)
Now she goes out, she does catch mice, but will never know the catty joy of climbing trees!

sashh · 06/10/2013 06:20

Nail clippers - from the vet and a special 'cuddles' cloth/blanket.

I say that but when I am on the computer mine likes to climb almost inside my dressing gown and give my boobs a paddy?

Original poster

Silvercatowner · 06/10/2013 06:26

He's an outdoor cat, rescued from the RSPCA, and I love him to bits - yes, we are in the UK. I suspect he has 'additional needs' - some of his behaviour is bizarre (as I said before I am an experienced cat owner). (Oh... and Pigs.... yes - my OP was very clear - this is not something I would consider doing so please do not tell me off....) I've had some really useful ideas, hints and tips on this thread so thank-you.

OP posts:

garlicvampire · 06/10/2013 06:40

YANBU, anyway My cat's also 'adopted' from a neglectful home, and clearly never got a chance to learn about retracting claws when being affectionate/mithering. I am covered in punctures & scrapes.

There's fuck all I can do about it - she gets collars off within 5 minutes, so there's no chance of her wearing gloves! I wish she'd stop kneading me with claws out, at least. It bloody hurts!

garlicvampire · 06/10/2013 06:44

Oh, I just followed the links and am all excited that cats' claws can be trimmed!!! I thought the whole idea was verboten - I've had cats all my life, but the others knew about retraction. Right then, I'll be consulting the vet on Monday!

Thanks, thread

Original poster

Silvercatowner · 06/10/2013 06:45

It does hurt, doesn't it!!!!

OP posts:

yegodsandlittlefishes · 06/10/2013 07:00

Our cat also has extra long claws and does this. We have gone down the 'massaging paws' route and it does seem to be having an effect now. However she has also shredded the sofa arms (she loves to sit on the scratching post). She has slowly learned to do her pawing on a blanket (she won't come and cuddle someone without a blanket now). It has taken over a year for her to realise.

We used to have cats who did this and we had their claws trimmed by the vet. Unfortunately this results in rough, dirty ends to the claws and if they scratch you for some reason it can be quite nasty. I found out about the massaging/pressure point technique and used that on them. It worked within weeks and they stopped. However, they were quite nervous cats and not great hunters. I regretted having their nails trimmed as they never seemed to grow back to a fine point.

ICameOnTheJitney · 06/10/2013 07:41

We also clip just the ends off our cat's claws. He's a Siamese and very lazy doesn't like to go out much so his claws don't get worn down. He's fine about it...DH nips about a millimetre off the ends.

MidniteScribbler · 06/10/2013 07:46

Dremel grinders work brilliantly on pet nails. Use the sandpaper attachments and start on low. If you regularly grind the nails back to the quick it will actually get shorter, which means you can get the nails shorter. It also means no sharp edges like with nail clippers.

kitbit · 06/10/2013 08:18

Nothing wrong with asking the vet to clip the sharp tips off, our old lady has this done as otherwise she gets her claws caught in the carpet as she walks. She doesn't go out enough to naturally blunt them on pavements, trees etc.

Taking the whole claw off..noooo ... God no. But blunting I feel is ok when it helps the cat. Bless her, she sits still and lets our lovely vet do it, don't even need to hold her still.

Toadinthehole · 06/10/2013 08:57

A bell not damaging for a cat?

Imagine you're a cat. "Oh! Bird!" creeps closer ... pounces Tinkletinkletinkle! bird flies off Fucking, fucking bell!!!

Repeat scenario 1,000,000 times.

I wonder what the natural population of cats would be, if no one kept them as pets.

Toadinthehole · 06/10/2013 08:57

And, for that matter, the natural population of various rare birds.

Binkyridesagain · 06/10/2013 09:02

My Cat likes to cuddle my breasts, he plonks his head on the top of one and then wraps his paws around it, then he starts to pad with claws. I am not going to delve into the animal psychology of why he does this, as I fear the answer. I wish he wouldn't do it though.

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