Declawing a cat has been a very popular thing in the United States. Actually, we are the only country that really declaws our cats. In England, it is considered inhumane and there are many European countries that have banned the practice altogether.
Rags is declawed. He was born in 1989 and at the time, his vet recommended that we declaw him to prevent him from destroying the furniture. Rags, as a result of this declawing, now stands a little bit different. I feel awful about it, but I was 10 years old at the time the decision was made to declaw him, so there is not much I can do about it.
However, there is one thing that is very special about Ragdolls and that is, they are so relaxed that they rarely, if ever, are prone to ruin or destroy things.
A way to encourage positive behavior when scratching is to get a scratching post that isn’t like other fabrics or textures in your home. For example, a scratching post with carpet on it would be a bad decision because it would teach your cat that it is okay to scratch on carpet. Whereas, a scratching post with sisal rope on it might be a good option, since it is likely you do not have this product dispersed throughout your home. Also, you can use treats or catnip to encourage playing and therefore, the instinct reaction to sharpened there nails on the scratching post.
Cats, however, are attracted to their own scent and marking an idea over and over again. If your cat has started to mark their scent on carpet or a piece of furniture, if at all possible, the best thing to do is to remove that piece of carpet or that piece of fabric and put it onto a cat scratching post to encourage them to use that and stop the use of the stairs or piece of furniture that they have been using.
If you are considering removing your cat’s claws, please read all the links to information below and read through the information on those links BEFORE you make a decision about declawing your cat. Declawing has been and will continue to be (until it is banned) a decision pet owners make for their own convenience and not for the convenience of the feline.
Declawing.com – Learn about the harmful effects of declawing
Solutions BEFORE You Declaw
As I mentioned above, there are solutions to dealing with the scratching before you remove your cat’s claws. The most important one is keeping your cat’s nails’ trimmed! Click on the link below to learn how to properly trim your cat’s nails.
A company called, “Soft Paws” makes a product where you literally superglue small plastic nail covers over your cat’s nails. They are very fun because they come in a variety of colors, from black to pink. They also come in a variety of sizes–from kitten to large (for those of us with Ragdoll or Maine Coon cats). Soft Paws / Soft Claws for Cats – Medium Black
As mentioned above, a scratching post with sisal rope is usually the best way to go. Ultimate Scratching Post
There are also one that you can lean against a wall or a door: Lean-it Scratching Post Wide 20-Inch, Colors May Vary
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