topic Re: Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes? in Pet Lovers

Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes?

JeanLouiseFinch — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 11:29:59 GMT

Nothing is definite, but we're contemplating adding a kitten to our household. Recently one of our kids visited for several days, brought a little furball with, and both DH and I kinda fell for him. He's young, claws/toes intact, and I'm sorry to say he caused a little damage. More than once we caught him climbing door frames leaving scratch marks. He also hopped on the back of DH's leather office chair and we can now see and feel little pricked areas. Inasmuch as we'd like to add a kitten/cat to our lives, we are concerned about potential damage to our furnishings.

In the past we always did front declaws on all the cats we've owned over the years. Now that I understand what the procedure actually is, I'm not in favor of doing it to the new family member unless furniture and/or carpet is being damaged and it would be the ultimate last resort. I've read about Soft Paws claw caps, but wonder how well they really work. The genuine version cost around $19 for 40 caps and will last 4-6 mos. There are knockoffs on Amazon that cost less, but they don't get terribly great reviews. My questions: Do these claw caps really work? Are they easy to apply? Do kittens/cats cooperate and tolerate getting them applied? Can the kitten/cat bite them off? Is the 4-6 month time frame accurate? Are the dupes OK or a waste of money?

Also, I realize declawing is a very touchy subject so I'm hoping this thread won't end up being a source of shaming those who prefer to declaw. I'm really hoping for information/feeback on the claw caps themselves.

Thanks

Re: Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes?

ID2 — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 11:50:23 GMT

Perhaps having this discussion with your vet is the better way to find out correct info. This thread is destined for the moderators removal.

Re: Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes?

JeanLouiseFinch — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 12:29:43 GMT

@ID2 wrote:
Perhaps having this discussion with your vet is the better way to find out correct info. This thread is destined for the moderators removal.

Thanks, @ID2, I hope not, but you never know. I do plan on discussing this with the vet as well when I bring the dog in for his annual check-up in a few weeks but was hoping to get some real life user feedback.

Re: Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes?

lolakimono — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 13:00:39 GMT

Perhaps @beach-mom can assist since DH is a vet.

Re: Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes?

Jessesmom — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 13:58:58 GMT

I tried these. I found them lying all around the house. They work if the cat will keep them on. I tied aluminum foil and gauze on furniture. Nothing worked. My vet convinced me to go ahead with (cruel) surgery. I rescued my little buddy and he does have a high quality of life. You have to balance that out. Where would they be without us?

Re: Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes?

BarbB — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 14:21:53 GMT

I've never used Soft Paws but would think they would be a pain as cats' claws shed and you'd be constantly replacing.

I find a lot of people who have problem with cats destroying furniture is because they don't have enough other proper places for cats to scratch such as cat trees and floor scratchers (lots of different cardboard scratchers). I have 9 cats (none declawed) and very little furniture damage.

Re: Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes?

Libbylady — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 15:34:06 GMT

Our vet practice will front declaw a kitten under 6 months old. Never after. They have you watch a video so that you understand what happens. My vet says they adapt fine when that young. The claws and spay/neuter are done at the same time to avoid extra surgery.

Our 3 were front declawed as babies and we have never had any issues. They do not go outside. Just like any cats, they race around the house chasing each other for exercise.

They use their litter boxes just like cats with claws.

I'll admit their back claws haven't been kind to leather furniture, but that is the trade-off.

I hope the haters don't spoil OP's thread. I just wanted to provide another perspective.

Re: Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes?

beach-mom — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 16:19:43 GMT

Hi @lolakimono!

@JeanLouiseFinch - I just asked DH about this. First, he doesn't believe in declawing at any age. He said he believes in "trimming." As far as the caps go, he laughed and said, "Good luck"! He said cats are always going to be trying to stretch and exercise their claws, so they will wear out and you'll have to replace them often. He also said they would feel them on their claws and possibly try to get them off.

If you get a kitten and start trimming its claws, it should adjust to having it done regularly.

Ours have always had claws. If you train a kitten early to go to a scratching post, you shouldn't have much of a problem.

But he said, as he always does, check with your own veterinarian!

Re: Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes?

JeanLouiseFinch — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 19:22:29 GMT

@lolakimono Thanks for that recommendation. I'm glad @beach-mom saw it.

@Jessesmom Thanks for that perspective. It was pretty much our reasoning for doing it in the past.

@BarbB Whew- 9 cats?!? At one time we maxed at 4 and I thought that was plenty. LOL We'd definitely look into scratching options. I realize that's a need whether declawed or not. Our declawed cats would do it on the side of the couch or chair. I always said they must have had itchy paws

@Libbylady That was always my understanding too. And like yours, all of our past cats managed just fine

@beach-mom - Thanks for asking your DH. His reponse is right along the lines of what I guessed would happen with these things. One of those "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" things. I'm so nervous about trimming claws and getting to close to the quick. I won't even do my dog's for fear of hurting him. Our vet charges a very nominal fee to do it so I just take him there. Maybe a cat would be easier since they're smaller and thinner, and I could learn since I'd just have to n-i-p (the board filter wouldn't let me write it without the dashes ) off the little sharp tip.

Re: Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes?

sandraskates — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 18:20:44 GMT

I've found that the best things that deter our 3 cats from clawing furniture are the cardboard scrathers and sisal rope scratchers.

Bait them with catnip and the cats discover some great alternatives to scratching fabric. Also, playing with a feather or string toy and running it over the cardboard scratcher lets the cat sink it's claws into the cardboard, thus reinforcing the idea that this is the thing to claw into.

(I do have to confess that we have one incorrigible cat, adopted at 8 years old, that sometimes does revert to scratching what he shouldn't).

Re: Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes?

feline groovy — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 04:48:42 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@lolakimono Thanks for that recommendation. I'm glad @beach-mom saw it.

@Jessesmom Thanks for that perspective. It was pretty much our reasoning for doing it in the past.

@BarbB Whew- 9 cats?!? At one time we maxed at 4 and I thought that was plenty. LOL We'd definitely look into scratching options. I realize that's a need whether declawed or not. Our declawed cats would do it on the side of the couch or chair. I always said they must have had itchy paws

@Libbylady That was always my understanding too. And like yours, all of our past cats managed just fine

@beach-mom - Thanks for asking your DH. His reponse is right along the lines of what I guessed would happen with these things. One of those "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" things. I'm so nervous about trimming claws and getting to close to the quick. I won't even do my dog's for fear of hurting him. Our vet charges a very nominal fee to do it so I just take him there. Maybe a cat would be easier since they're smaller and thinner, and I could learn since I'd just have to n-i-p (the board filter wouldn't let me write it without the dashes ) off the little sharp tip.

Kitty claws are translucent and you can actually see the pinkish quick:

Just trim a tiny amount of each claw at a time.

Re: Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes?

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 23:43:56 GMT

Well, it happened sooner than we expected, but we picked up a little boy on NYE. He's about 2.5 mos. old and has the cutest face. I brought him in for his first vet visit today, for a wellness check, deworming, lukemia test, and to start on vaccines. While I was there, the vet trimmed his claws with a plain old toenail clipper. Until now, he's been jumping and attaching himself to my leg now and then, but after the claws got trimmed he can't hold on anymore. I got up close and watched the vet and the trimming doesn't seem that complicated or difficult.

Re: Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes?

feline groovy — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 05:19:00 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch

In-person kitty magic finally wore DH down, huh?

What color is your newest furbaby?

How is your Golden boy reacting to his new little brother? LOL

Smart to get the little dude used to all kinds of grooming now; it'll be easier and less stressful once he's bigger.

Congrats to the whole family.

Re: Soft Paws Claw Caps and/or Dupes?

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 13:16:27 GMT

@feline groovy wrote:
@JeanLouiseFinch

In-person kitty magic finally wore DH down, huh?
What color is your newest furbaby?
How is your Golden boy reacting to his new little brother? LOL

Smart to get the little dude used to all kinds of grooming now; it'll be easier and less stressful once he's bigger.
Congrats to the whole family.

LOL, @feline groovy, yes, it did. Our new little guy is all grey with little green eyes. It's hard to tell but when the light hits right I sometimes think I might see a tiny bit of white in a couple of places. I guess we won't know for sure until his kitten fuzz is replaced by his real coat. Since he was born outdoors, we are trying to handle him often, to get him used to people and hopefully create a sweet disposition in him. It seems to be working. The dog is a little jealous but they're getting used to each other. Each day there's progress.