[Bacongirl]

So we want a pet, but due to me working part time, we've decided that a puppy/dog may not be the best fit.

We are considering getting a rescue cat. If we get a cat it will be strictly indoors, or within a run as we have lots of wild birds and lizards in our area and I've seen enough destruction from a couple of neighbourhood cats that are allowed to roam We have a large home, so lots of room for the cat to roam safely indoors.

But DH is worried about the damage to our wooden floors and/or furniture.


My parents had a beautiful Russian Blue while we were growing up and they had to get it declawed due to the damage it caused from scratching (table legs, sofa corners etc) even with a number of good scratching poles. At first they only declawed the front paws, but Mischief later learned how to open door knobs by swinging side to side while hanging from the doors, so he scratched arcs into their doors and they had the back claws removed. He lived until he was about 12-14 and travelled with my parents. Mum even taught him to walk on a lead.

But I digress.


WDYT about de-clawing a strictly indoor cat? Is this cruel?

[Sinister Bonnet]

Yes it's cruel and I am pretty sure it is now illegal in Australia.

Not all cats scratch furniture though.

[slvhwke]

Yes it's horribly cruel.

Please don't do it. I think it's illegal now though thank god.

[Furfeathersfleec...]

Cat declawing is most definitely cruel. I have 2 indoor only cats. They are perfectly happy and much safer being indoors, not to mention better for the local wildlife.

If they have space, somewhere high to climb on, can sun themselves by a window etc, then they are fine indoors.

As for the scratching, I have a scratch post they use but they do still scratch tHe furniture . I just accept it as natural cat behaviour that I was aware of when I made the commitment to my cats.

You can also trim their nails like you would a dog - that might minimize the damage.

[Kalota]

I used to live with a roommate who had 2 cats. They both had gorgeous natures and plenty of cat toys/scratching posts but yet they still managed to ruin every piece of furniture in the house!

Having said that though, I would never de-claw. It's far too cruel in my opinion (and I think illegal?!).

DF and I want to get a puppy/dog but are worried about not having enough time to spend with it either. We are going to rescue an older puppy/dog that doesn't need as much attention and I'm going to make sure we adopt it during my holidays when I have ample time to help it settle in!

[graceful lily]

my cat has this huge scratching tower I got off ebay... he doesn't claw anything else but that.

[Sunnycat]

Declawing is awful and I hope it is banned.

If you're worried about furniture getting ruined I wouldn't get a pet.

I have 6 indoor cats and there is always some destruction involved.

[aidensmum]

Ours doesn't scratch. She does kill flyscreens but she does that by biting a hole with her teeth to weaken it and then shoving her head thru to escape outside.

[Mousky]

De- clawing is horribly cruel, i doubt you'd find a vet willing to do it.

You can try these cat claw caps. My ex's cat had them on and she didn't even know it.

http://www.softpaws.com/

Bad spelling edit as per usual.

This post has been edited by Mousky: 03/12/2012, 06:43 PM

[dreamingofcats]

Yep, I really dont encourage declawing and TBH it kinda of comes part and parcel with having a cat. Not all cats are psycho destructive cats, but a little damage is par for the course.

We have four indoor cats and while they use the posts 98.9% of the time, on occasion they will have a go at something else, but after a gentle squirt with a tiny bit of water on their back or butt (not face) they tend to get the picture. Its not the only way they scratch either, jumping on furniture they tend to let their claws out a little, or even walking/running around the house.

While I dont want to seem harsh, if your DH cant live with that then perhaps a cat isnt for you (as sad as that is).