Okay, cat people, please come in

femmegem

Frankie, our kitten, is driving me nuts. Well, he's almost a year old now, so I'm not sure he's a kitten anymore.

I got our two older cats declawed when I got them over 10 years ago. I know, it's horrible. I was ignorant and really didn't understand what the procedure involved. So Frankie still has his claws but I don't have a lot of experience in dealing with cats who have claws.

After we got him neutered he was really calm for quite awhile, but recently he's started attacking our legs again. He often comes up and stretches his front paws up onto my legs, essentially clawing me. I'm bleeding and tired of this so I tried clipping his nails a few minutes ago. He used to not mind it but now he's decided he wants no part of it, so that didn't work.

Have any of you tried Soft Paws? Or do you have other suggestions for discouraging him from clawing us? Or any tips to trim his claws even though he doesn't want me to? It really hurts and I'm getting supremely irritated at him.

hikerbeth

My neighbor/friend is our vet and she uses soft paws on her cats!

femmegem

hikerbeth:

My neighbor/friend is our vet and she uses soft paws on her cats!

This is so good to know. My knees thank you.

Yodajo

I used Soft PAws on one of our cats and thought it was a pain.  I was young and irresponsible at the time though, so I can absolutely see how they would work better for someone else.

j-w

I am evil, but we had our cat's front claws done.  I couldn't watch him climb the screens one more time.  Or listen as his claws dug in when he jumped up on the couch.  Even still, he destroyed DS's crib before he was born by jumping in and his back claws scratched thecrap out of the footboard, pushing off.  So, for me, it's a no brainer for the front declaw.

chelle828

My mom's cat chewed them off.  My one cat hates it, but I just tackle him and get it done.  1 year old is still going to act like a kitten....    my mom swears by a spray bottle of water with her one crazy cat.  GL!

jpowell3

To make cutting their nails easier I wrap them in a bath towel first. This way they can't wiggle around or scratch you.

hopefulmom

My cat is a stray that would not leave our deck so we finally took her in.  We have leather furniture so she is declawed (all 4).  We would not have a cat otherwise.  I have heard that the Soft Paws work really well though.  I'd give them a try if I was against declawing.

DandelionMom

Poor Femme's knees!  I have lots of random thoughts for you that I can't organize coherently because DH made me a rum and coke and WOW. 

I can tell you he'll probably outgrow this.  Clipping nails is easier when kitty is sleepy.  I've never tried soft paws but have heard good things about them.  Making a sharp shriek and then redirecting kitty works well when they paw at you.  And make sure he's getting enough exercise because he's probably doing this out of boredom. 

Kellina

We use soft paws! They are a PITA to get on though, and my cat is very cooperative. You basically put them on with a superglue-like substance!

My groomer puts them on for me if I want when he goes in though! HTH!