I was very much against the declawing of my cats, but it became a decision of rehoming them or declawing them, we decided to declaw them, especially cause rehoming them would probably have meant putting them in the shelter where they may or may not have been euthanized since Philly shelters are so overbooked.
Honestly, they seem just as happy (one of them actually seems happier) with no claws. It was really an issue of safety since they had both become a little violent since I got pregnant and we couldn't risk them behaving that way around the baby.
@MommaBean I actually tried those before! They ripped one of my cat's claws off when he tried scratching the carpet and I was afraid it hurt him, so I stopped using them. Maybe we put them on wrong? We were so scared because he was trying to scratch us while we put them on. Maybe I can get my vet to do it!
@jennpearl007 I thought I once heard that cats can get picky about the litter being used. I know they have clay, and non clay versions plus dust free and clumping .... and so on, but have you tried switching the type of litter? I don't know for sure if it will matter but it might be. Worth a shot.
@mommabean we kept our laying hens separated from our other chickens. (Meat birds with hens and roosters) so I never worried about a fertilized egg. True Story though, we recently bought fresh eggs off a guy and after we paid we found out he had a rooster in the coop and pen so I fed all the eggs to my husband and kids and I wouldn't eat them lol
@Spicyweiner team cock is how I ended up on this board.
@Gretchypoo the chickens have a little door on their coop that opens 30 minutes after sunup and closes 30 minutes before sundown. This keeps them safe from predators (who are mostly hunting at night) and they will instinctually go to their coop before sundown, so they are safely in there when the door closes them in. Without an automatic door, you have to be the one opening and closing the door; being late or forgetting can mean dead chickens. The door is $200, but ours paid for itself the first time we left town-- out house sitter only has to come by once a day to check food and water for the animals--at whatever time works for her--rather than once in the morning and again at dusk. That's $20/day vs $40! And sometimes we ask a neighbor to check on them, rather than paying the housesitter, and it's not a huge favor because they basically take care of themselves except for food/water.
As for poop...we let it build up and self-compost in the coop and don't notice it in the yard (though we have only 8 chickens and they free-range on over an acre). My friend Julie has chickens in her small backyard and she complains about poop on her back stair. #everybodypoops
@jennpearl007 the veterinary clinic where I used to work would put Soft Paws on for you (for a fee). The vet techs were pretty good at getting them on even disagreeable cats.
Maybe your glue wasn't dry and got stuck to the carpet and that's how the nail ripped off? That usually would not happen! Although Soft Paws aren't permanent and do need to be replaced every few weeks or if one falls off. Declawing is amputating each digit at the last joint, so it has become controversial whether it is humane. Young cats and cats that are a slim weight seem to recover quickly. Older chunky cats are prone to ongoing pain and slower recovery. As you seem to already know, outdoor cats should keep their claws for defense.
@MommaBean - my cats don't do that, BUT my male coon cat did hump the crap out of my husbands foot when he was sleeping and I almost peed myself laughing. He was watching my husband slightly move his foot, made a little chirp and pounced on it. It was hilarious....he is fixed so I have no idea what drove the urge but it was very amusing...although my husband waking up to me laughing my ass off and a big fluffy cat violating his foot was not amusing to him at the time
Re: FFFC (9/16)
Big Bro 7/14/13
Little Bro 2/6/17
Honestly, they seem just as happy (one of them actually seems happier) with no claws. It was really an issue of safety since they had both become a little violent since I got pregnant and we couldn't risk them behaving that way around the baby.
TTC since January 2016
BFP - 3/12/16 - MC 4/5/16
BFP - 6/11/16
@MommaBean @blush64 @BumpasaurusRex Ah, yes, I remember now. That's why we nixed that option when we first researched it.
@MommaBean I actually tried those before! They ripped one of my cat's claws off when he tried scratching the carpet and I was afraid it hurt him, so I stopped using them. Maybe we put them on wrong? We were so scared because he was trying to scratch us while we put them on. Maybe I can get my vet to do it!
@mommabean we kept our laying hens separated from our other chickens. (Meat birds with hens and roosters) so I never worried about a fertilized egg. True Story though, we recently bought fresh eggs off a guy and after we paid we found out he had a rooster in the coop and pen so I fed all the eggs to my husband and kids and I wouldn't eat them lol
@Gretchypoo the chickens have a little door on their coop that opens 30 minutes after sunup and closes 30 minutes before sundown. This keeps them safe from predators (who are mostly hunting at night) and they will instinctually go to their coop before sundown, so they are safely in there when the door closes them in. Without an automatic door, you have to be the one opening and closing the door; being late or forgetting can mean dead chickens. The door is $200, but ours paid for itself the first time we left town-- out house sitter only has to come by once a day to check food and water for the animals--at whatever time works for her--rather than once in the morning and again at dusk. That's $20/day vs $40! And sometimes we ask a neighbor to check on them, rather than paying the housesitter, and it's not a huge favor because they basically take care of themselves except for food/water.
As for poop...we let it build up and self-compost in the coop and don't notice it in the yard (though we have only 8 chickens and they free-range on over an acre). My friend Julie has chickens in her small backyard and she complains about poop on her back stair. #everybodypoops
Maybe your glue wasn't dry and got stuck to the carpet and that's how the nail ripped off? That usually would not happen!
Although Soft Paws aren't permanent and do need to be replaced every few weeks or if one falls off.
Declawing is amputating each digit at the last joint, so it has become controversial whether it is humane. Young cats and cats that are a slim weight seem to recover quickly. Older chunky cats are prone to ongoing pain and slower recovery. As you seem to already know, outdoor cats should keep their claws for defense.
Big Bro 7/14/13
Little Bro 2/6/17