No Choice But To Declaw?

by Steven

"If she can not be taught to use her claws on her cat tree and not the couch, I will have no choice."

I have asked multiple times for advice about teaching my Maine Coon not to scratch furniture. There has been no reply.

She is to be spayed in two weeks. If I have heard nothing before then, I will have no choice but to have her claws removed.

It is from you that I heard this is not the best option. If you do not care enough to give a little advice, I must assume that the matter is of no importance.

I am trying to avoid having to declaw our Maine Coon kitten. She sharpens her claws on expensive furniture.

People have said that it is possible to train kittens away from furniture. Every request I have made about this has met with silence.

If no answer is coming soon, I will have no choice but to have her declawed. I would hate to declaw her, but if she can not be taught to use her claws on her cat tree and not the couch, I will have no choice.

Reply:

Hi Steven,
I can hear your frustration. I see that you replied to a PAWSitive Passages email newsletter and expect an email answer. You might have seen the following note at the end of the newsletter you replied to:

"PS: For folks who reply to these emails, I do love to hear from you! I enjoy your greetings, and hearing about your cats and their quirks. Thank you for these nice messages!

Please Read Before Emailing a Question: For those who ask cat care questions or "Is my cat a Coon?" questions, please know that I may not be able to answer every cat care/behavior question. Look for Q & A's in future PAWSitive Passages. And please check out our Cat Care Questions page; you may find your exact problem has already been discussed there!
Thanks!"

Upon visiting the Cat Questions link, you'll see hundreds of cat care questions and answers, along with this quote: "Over time, this section on Maine Coon Cat Nation has grown so much! Almost every conceivable cat question, problem, or subject has been asked.

Now, since we are receiving variations on the same themes almost daily, we are closing the submission form. Please take some time to browse the questions above. I'm sure you will find similar cat questions to your own, and helpful advice."

As you might have noticed, this is a community website happily managed by just one person, not a corporation with staff. After answering hundreds of individual questions personally, I had to realize I've written about almost every Maine Coon subject!

Folks often post questions on our FaceBook page or in the comments section of other pages. This is a great way to get the fast feedback you are looking for.

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Simply by browsing the site, you can find most of the advice you are waiting for. Here are some examples:

Cats Scratching Furniture

Here is a quote from the above article:
"First, decide where you'd like your cat to scratch. Provide him with a well-made cat scratching post.

Make sure it's accessible to him, and in a good location. Put it where he likes to "hang out" and preferably where you can see it, too.

Whenever you catch your cat scratching furniture, make sure to distract him immediately. Give him a startle by clapping, or saying "No!" or "Psst!" Don't scare him. Then get up and physically take him to the cat post.

Help him by revealing his claws and showing him how to scratch. He will make the connection. It will take time, persistence, and as with any type of pet behavior training, consistency is key!

When You Can't Be There
If your cat has run of the house when no one is home, consider covering his favorite "cat scratching furniture" with a sheet or blanket. Or try some double-sided tape on his favorite spot. Also, there are sprays and other products designed to deter cats from an area."

Visitor pages:
Cat Declawing - What's Your Opinion?
No Maine Coon For Me
Both of these above pages are good choices for asking and answering questions.

As you can see, I care about the subject so much that I have written everything I can think of about it, and dedicated several pages strictly to the subject! So much so that I cannot think of anything more to add!

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Cats scratch, it's natural. Use your connection to your kitten to work with her. Read and research cat behavior training. Contact your family vet, contact your breeder. Every animal has a unique personality. My girl only requires a soft tap on her paw and she settles in purring and happily not scratching. My boy needs regular, firm reminders. As mentioned many throughout the site, clipping the claws is a perfect compromise. Soft Paws work wonders. Please explore your options. You may even find an online cat behavior personal consultation service!

Lastly, I must add, please do not hold me or any other person responsible for whether or not you declaw your beautiful kitten. She is fully your responsibility, and my answer would be no more than common sense. I would merely imagine myself in your shoes, in your house, and give common sense suggestions such as clipping her claws, using soft paws, covering furniture, or keeping a spray bottle handy. Coming up with a training plan is something you can do, easier than I can, since she is your kitten and you know her best.

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Steven, I've posted this for you, so you can get the community advice that makes Maine Coon Cat Nation so special. Hopefully our friends here will add their advice and experiences soon.