The breeder and Vet recommend declawing my maine coon at spaying. Since will be strictly indoor cat, have had doors fixed with auto closures and Patio enclosed

After my short time with her I see why, have brought post and play towers which she uses but still hits the furniture.

I don't want to keep her locked up in a small room for the rest of life and for peace between us can see its the route to go.

question- is there any specific questions that I should ask the vet on this procedure.

Randy

-- Anonymous, November 14, 1998

Answers

DONT DO IT!!!!

CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE

http://members.aol.com/catz4u/ragdoll/declaw.htm

IT EXPLAINS ALOT. THERE ARE SO MANY ALTERNATIVES. TRAINING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. A WATER GUN DID THE TRICK FOR ME. PLEASE RECONSIDER DECLAWING. I WOULD NOT WANT PARTS OF MY BONE SHAVED OFF. GOOD LUCK & I HOPE YOU MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 1998

I had mine done recently and don't regret it

-- Anonymous, January 28, 1999

Before you proceed with declawing visit a net site called Amby's Information Site at amby.com/cat_site/. I hope the information convinces you to reconsider.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 1999

I have a MC "type" cat. I did NOT get him declawed and never regret it. To get him to stop scratching your couch (mine did the same too), simply get:

A BIG LONG scratching post (mine liked to stretch when using the scratching post - I brought one of those expensive scratching post that is padded with carpet.)

A bottle of "Crazy cat, pheromone magic stain & odor remover". It is suppose to "repel" cats. We used it all over our brand new couch for a month and the cat didn't go near the couch. You can find the bottle at your nearest Pet Smart.

Hope this helps!

:) Wei

-- Anonymous, January 31, 1999

Try not to declaw him. Try cutting his nails and try to train him not to. Get a scratch board with catnip from the company call cat claws. My MC seems to like this.

Good luck

-- Anonymous, February 01, 1999

i fully agree with the DONT DECLAW people, but the reason i dont yet have the maine coon kitten i've been dreaming of is my fear that i wont be successful at training him to use the scratching post. i have two maine coon types that i adopted from two different sources. one had been declawed by the previous owner, the other has all her claws and was beautifully trained by her previous owner--she loves her posts and her 'rug wall' and has never clawed my furniture. so i have the evidence that cats have the ability to be trained, but no confidence in my ability to do the training--in which case i would end up in love with a beautiful destructive cat and shabby furniture, carpeting and drapes!

-- Anonymous, May 14, 1999

Dear Randy, Didn't you have a contract that you agreed to when you bought your kitty from the breeder? Reputable breeders will have discussed this with you right off and will not allow this procedure under any circumstances. You don't realize what you are doing when you have that done to your cat. You are setting your kitty up to have all sorts of problems in the future if you do this. Please go to the websites the other people have listed regarding this. This is very cruel to do this to a cat. And I am sorry, but a vet will not tell you this. It's sort of like a doctor would never agree with a homeopathic doctor. Please don't do this. Get a big scratching post, make it or whatever. Your kitty has to be able to totally stretch it's full length standing on this post for it to use it. My kitty uses hers and has never scratched anything else and I have a leather couch that is quite available, but she does use her scratching post. The little dinky ones won't cut it though, need a sturdy tall one that is about 4 to 5 feet high. Well worth it.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 1999