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Reprieve for Widget!
Tonight Sebastian started crying and begged Teri not to take Widget's claws. He said it would be okay if Widget scratched him, unless the blood started "dropping on the floor". He was utterly heartbreaking.
I was nonetheless a bit surprised when Teri decided to wait for a few weeks on the declawing to give alternatives a try.
One thing we're going to try is getting a MUCH BIGGER litterbox. The one we have now is too damned small anyway; even when we only had the two cats, they always kicked litter all over the basement floor. So upgrading is long overdue.
Apart from that, we can look into those glue-on claw covers, or clipping, or sanding. Heck, I lived with clawed cats for most of my life; I think we can find a way to survive.
Of course, Widget will still be neutered tomorrow, the poor little guy. I feel a lot of sympathetic pain and sadness. But I know that it's necessary.
My father made up a song that he sang when our cats came back from being neutered; the main lyric was "Empty pockets, but a heart full of love".
I was nonetheless a bit surprised when Teri decided to wait for a few weeks on the declawing to give alternatives a try.
One thing we're going to try is getting a MUCH BIGGER litterbox. The one we have now is too damned small anyway; even when we only had the two cats, they always kicked litter all over the basement floor. So upgrading is long overdue.
Apart from that, we can look into those glue-on claw covers, or clipping, or sanding. Heck, I lived with clawed cats for most of my life; I think we can find a way to survive.
Of course, Widget will still be neutered tomorrow, the poor little guy. I feel a lot of sympathetic pain and sadness. But I know that it's necessary.
My father made up a song that he sang when our cats came back from being neutered; the main lyric was "Empty pockets, but a heart full of love".
no subject
Thank you for not declawing.
I personally have had cats all my life, I've been scratched and bitten many times. I do not believe in declawing, it's inhumane and illegal in most countries. This website explains declawing and alternatives and it is not graphic (unless you actually click on the links to the photos), but very informative.
The product you mention is called Soft Paws, they are stick on caps that cover a cats claws. They do need to be replaced often as they do fall off as the cats claws grow. I just trim my cats claws regularly. It's not difficult. If you don't know how to do it, have a vet do it or ask them to show you how. Clippers are inexpensive, usually less than $10, before I got clippers, I used wire cutters. Clippers are easier. I clip my three about once a month.
Cats can be trained to claw only appropriate things, my three do not claw on the furniture, they have cardboard scratching boards that they absolutely love and a couple carpeted posts.
When you declaw a cat it removes it's first line of defense, therefore if it needs to defend itself it will turn to it's next line, it's teeth. It is not uncommon for a cat who has been declawed to start biting. A cat bite is very dangerous and most of the time will require anti-biotics to treat the infection that it leaves. Personally I would much rather be scratched by a cat than bitten.
Also declawed cats are more likely to have litterbox issues, some even refuse to use a litterbox because it can be painful on their feet. If you expect declawing to stop poor litterbox habits you are thinking exactly opposite what will happen. It's more likely a cat will avoid a litterbox once declawed.
You should have one litterbox for each cat and one extra, they should be cleaned at least every other day. You can get by with fewer boxes if you clean daily. We have three cats and two boxes because we don't have the space for more, we clean daily, if it goes any longer it gets kind of gross. If you have a problem with them throwing it all over the place, get a couple covered boxes. Or do what I did when I had a cat that didn't like covered boxes. I took a large cardboard box, Cut off the top flaps so the top was open adn cut a small opening in one side just big enough for the cat to get through. I put the litterbox in it, the litter the cat tossed around stayed in the cardboard box and once a week I just poured it back into the litterbox. I also put a scrap of carpet right outside the box for catch excess litter on the cats paws. It didn't get all of it, but it cut down on them tracking litter everywhere.
Sorry, I'm a crazy cat lady.
no subject
We have a huge, HUGE litterbox we got from Petsmart or Petco or one of those. It's got two compartments for scoops and a lipped edge which helps keep some of the litter in. I tried the pan liners thing, but all cats enjoy ripping them to shreds. Honestly it's just much easier to buy a small kitchen sized garbage can and keep it nearby, and then just tip the box over every few weeks to change the litter.
Clipping is very easy. Be sure to have a vet or groomer show you first as if you clip too far up you'll hurt the cat and it will bleed. Also be sure to provide many things to scratch - my cats go crazy for that corrugated cardboard thing that just sits on the floor and is loaded with catnip.
I've got two cat scratch posts that my cats don't use, so I can send them along if you'd like to give it a shot. It's kind of silly to buy cat toys, as they are so picky and the toys ain't cheap. :)
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