Can I have the rear claws on my cat removed?

I have a cat (strictly indoors) which was abandoned in our driveway about three years ago. he was declawed (front) and neutered. He's beautiful...all white with blue eyes. Unlike many white blue eyed cats he is definitely not deaf. quite the contrary. his behavior has been a challenge to say the least. I have had other cats in the past and NEVER one like this. He's been on Valium and other anti anxiety medications but those had the opposite effects. So right now he is taking nothing. I would have him put to sleep before I would give him away. So you can see that I am committed to dealing with this "problem child". However I do not want to give up my furniture, etc...things we've worked very hard for. right now the most difficult problem I am having with him is that when he gets anxious (often) he bounds off the furniture...anything in his path...chairs, sofa, dining room table, china cabinet, etc. nothing is off limits. I have tried keeping him off forbidden places with aluminum foil and rubber mats that have those pointy things on them, just to name a few of my unsuccessful attempts. I now have pulls in my upholstered chairs and sofa and scratches on the wooden furniture. I am desperate. So...my question is this...can I have his rear claws removed? I keep them clipped but it doesn't stop the damage. It is not something I want to do...but after three years of unsuccessful training...this is the only option I see that would end the problem...other than having him put down. Any ideas out there???

clip his claws you'll end up paying $1000000 for you're furniture

I think that would be pretty cruel. how would he scratch himself if he has an itch? he wouldn't be able to do normal cat things.

I've never heard of doing something like this.

Yeah I did just ask your local pet store.

I think declawing cats is cruel. But on the other side of it, if it would mean that he would remain in a caring home, the best thing to do would be to talk to your vet. Rear declawing isn't common practice, but it can be done.

There are also little caps you can put on their claws. they are made of soft plastic or rubber. your local vet/grooming shop may offer this service. You have to have them replaced on a regular basis as your kitty sloughs off his claws naturally.

You would have him put down before you'd give him to a new home where they are willing to deal with his quirks?? what is that about??

You would see him dead rather than in a new home??

I'm sorry he ended up on your doorstep. I really am. he could have chosen the next house, but didn't. But you elected to take him in, so the responsibility for his life now is yours. I think you should take him to a rescue organization and hand him over so they can find him a home, and save your furniture, because it obviously means more to you than his life does.

Yes, you certainly can, both of my cats rear claws are gone. You may want to try some Rescue Remedy from the health food store for his anxiety. Speak to your vet. they may be able to help with some other meds too for him. Or speak to someone at the health food store too. sometimes they can help you with many things. be careful of the amounts you give on the rescue remedy. These are concentrated. very powerful, only drops are needed. You would put it in his water or mix it in his wet food to make sure he gets it all.

Oh my. Kinda mean isn't it? Cats can be tamed, but not trained. Cats are very independant. So no. Just move the furnish to another room. Try bean bag chairs.

i dont agree with having them declawed , if they were meant to have this done they would not be born with them
why not clip them yourself very carefully and you can file them with an emery board .
but please dont let him have no claws atall

Please remember that 'declawing' a cat is not trimming their nails. It is severing the 'finger' at the first 'knuckle' so as to get the entire nail bed. This can be mildly traumatic to a kitten but devastating to an adult cat. I suggest getting claw tips like those at Softpaws.com and weekly clipping his claws. You can cut back a lot farther than dog's nails because it's a claw and doesn't have that vein in it.

I don't see how killing a cat is more humane than having it declawed, however, and if it comes down to that choice, then get the poor thing declawed. (I'm trying not to be judgmental, but I also don't see how killing a cat is more humane than trying to get it adopted by someone else.)

I wish the best of luck to you.

Don't remove his rear claws. he needs some sort of defense if he gets in a pickle. he sounds very timid. keep him in another room when you have guests and come at him slowly to keep the panic down.

It sounds like you are really hunting for permission and rationalization for declawing him completely. Honestly, you don't need to get approval from the online community before you make your own decisions - and really, you're likely to meet with more disapproval than anything else by posting in a place like this.

You say you're so committed to him that you'd rather put him to sleep than give him away - but you say the only way you can keep him is if your anxious baby stops damaging your furniture. This, to me, does not seem like much of a commitment. I appreciate the fact that you've tried to make your cat's life a little more comfortable by providing medication and care since he is so on-edge, but the fact that you come to the choice of either declawing his back feet or having him put down doesn't sound very nice. I think you might just have to get over your selfish pride and give him to someone else that is willing to help him through his anxiety issues without worrying so much about their furniture. There is no shame in giving up your cat because you can't afford the damage to your personal property, but don't try to act like the most selfless pet owner; call a spade a spade.

Note - Just read your additional comments - how can you assume that you are the only pet owner out there that would take care of a cat with issues? This sounds horribly arrogant, stating that "NO ONE" will take care of the cat like you would. Wow. You certainly sound like you've already made up your mind to get the poor thing completely declawed, so why are you even bothering with this question when you get upset because people disagree with your reasoning?

The rear claws should not be declared, he needs them if he gets an itch. have you taken him to a vet, to find out why he is so high-strung and gets so anxious, maybe there is a medication, he can take to calm him down. I'm sure there is something a vet can prescribe for him to be able to relax.

I would not suggest declawing your cat's back claws. This may, in fact, make him more anxious as he may feel less able to protect and defend himself.

I recommend trying to trim his claws using clippers and using a product called Soft Claws on his back claws. This will protect your furniture, let your cat keep his claws, and will not run the risk of making him feel less secure.

Also, if it comes down to it, instead of having him put down, try visiting a site like PetFinder to find rescue agencies that take on problem pets and find them very suitable homes. I understand not wanting to put him in a shelter, but there are many options available to look into before having him put to sleep.

When we had Oreo declawed the VET gave us the option of front only or both front & back. we chose the front only because that's the claws he used when he drew blood when he scratched us. (I still have a 2" scar on my arm from his claws.) It was lots more expensive to get the rear also.

We tried "soft claws" for months and they were useless! Clipping didn't work either. since we love this sweet kitty, we had him declawed.

You can't train cats. "Cats don't have owners, they have staff."

You shouldn't get them removed, but you should get them trimmed. Ask a groomer.

I agree, a cat is an animal. You have to do what is best for you. Declawing is not cruel and you CAN have the rear claws removed.

Please don't put your cat down. And declawing can be very painful for the animal. the vet actually removes the bone that the nail is attatched to. I have three cats and all have back claws. everyone has this problem. Try covering the furniture when you're not using it and get your cat some cat furniture of his own to climb on. they sell all kinds of pieces at the petstore. Also, if you trim the claws once a month--just clipping the very end(be careful not to cut the quick)--the cats claws will be less likely to cut into the furniture.

Yes you can have them removed,, however you are rendering
the cat defenseless.

no.. it is inhuman to even if ur cat doesnt go out...
no vet will do it..

Certain vets will remove the back claws, but most will only do it if they feel that it is nessecary, if you will not be letting him outside, ect.. they dont want to leave them defenseless, my advice would be to call some of the vets in your area and ask if they offer the proceedure

Can I have the rear claws on my cat removed?