Has anyone used the Soft Claws for cats?

[1GirlTwinBoys]

I've read some really good reviews on these.  I REALLY don't want the little kitten tearing up the nice furniture we have downstairs.  I did purchase one of these scratching boards but I've already seen her try to get the furniture. :mellow:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Soft-Claws-Cats-System-Medium/dp/B00074W45I/ref=sr_1_5?

ie=UTF8&qid=1406633625&sr=8-5&keywords=soft+claws

[Pawz4me]

I've never used them, but I've known people who've had very good success with them. Some put them on themselves and others had a groomer do it.

 

IMO the most important thing is to keep the claws trimmed weekly.  And the sooner you get kitten used to that the better it will go.

 

And sometimes you need to provide multiple scratching surfaces, especially until you figure out what type of surface a particular cat prefers.

[Catherine]

I do not know about soft claws. But here is what we've done, pretty successfully to prevent kitty damage. We got a large scratching post and promoted its use a lot. Meaning, we constantly took them over to it, particularly when they were scratching or were preparing to. We put catnip on it a lot to attract their attention to it. We used a water spray bottle to discourage behaviors we wanted to extinguish. As with children, consistency is everything, but we've been fairly successful with these methods. Plus our cats go outdoors so our reinforcer of final resort is to put them out.

[Mandylubug]

yes. Our kitty chewed them off and the ones that didn't want to come off, she chewed and chewed and chewed until her paws bled. I won't use them with our new kitten. We trim frequently, we have several allowed scratching surfaces and she behaves nicely. 

[Matryoshka]

They seem like a lot of work and an annoyance to the cat.  Get something for kitty to scratch, and clip the claws.  Clipping the ends off the claws doesn't hurt the cat at all (no more than clipping your fingernails) and won't prevent scratching behavior, but will prevent shredding of your stuff.  You just have to make sure you don't go to far and clip the pink part (that would be like clipping into your nail bed).  Just the tips - you just want to dull them.

[EmilyGF]

My aunt used them. Her cat didn't like kids but all the cat could do was "hit" my kids, not claw them. I was impressed.

[Paige]

I used them for one of my cats. They worked well when he was a kitten but needed to be replaced much more often than advertised. It was also a pain because I kept super gluing my fingers to them when I was trying to apply them. When my kitten got older, he was less cooperative and bit them off quicker so we quit. He doesn't scratch the furniture much. I think trimming the claws regularly would be almost as good.

[DianeW88]

Not unless I want to be shredded to a bloody pulp while trying to apply them. :lol:  I can't even imagine.  Oh, and kiss your furniture good-bye.  You can try the double sided tape stuff that they sell in Petsmart or Petco...but really...cats scratch, and they love to scratch furniture.  If you scold them, they'll just do it when you're not looking.  Ask me how I know. :glare:

[Belacqua]

I used them for one of my cats. They worked well when he was a kitten but needed to be replaced much more often than advertised. It was also a pain because I kept super gluing my fingers to them when I was trying to apply them. When my kitten got older, he was less cooperative and bit them off quicker so we quit. He doesn't scratch the furniture much. I think trimming the claws regularly would be almost as good.

 

That was pretty much our experience, too. When the cat was young, she was losing a claw cap every day or two. And when she got older, she figured out that she didn't have to put up with this nonsense and I wound up superglued to an angry cat. 

 

She isn't any happier about nail trimming, but at least it doesn't involve semi-permanent adhesives.

 

They are awfully cute, though. I favored the purple ones for a gray cat.

[redsquirrel]

I can't even imagine doing that to a cat. But, if it works and keeps someone from abandoning a cat I guess it is worth it?

[Moxie]

So, these are like Lea Press Ons for kitty??

[Belacqua]

So, these are like Lea Press Ons for kitty??

 

In theory, yes. But imagine putting on your press-on nails while flailing wildly in your chair, scratching and biting yourself while at the same time trying to glue together a model airplane. And throw in some pitiful yowling for the full effect.

[jewellsmommy]

We have used them successfully. Mr. Meowgie is our grumpy kitty. He used them when he was younger without any problems. He no longer needs them as he is now older and much lazier. I've not used them on the other 2. I have one that is way too neurotic and would probably go nuts. He can't wear a collar without hurting himself to get it off. 

 

For us the soft paws stayed on almost too well. I had to mark on the calendar when to snip them and take them off (very easy procedure). Mr. Meowgie just didn't seem to shed them like he was supposed to. Dh always helped get them on and off. Yes there was growling and pitiful yowling, but with 2 people and the occasional chicken treat, no one got hurt. ;) Overall, I would recommend trying them.

[jewellsmommy]

I can't even imagine doing that to a cat. But, if it works and keeps someone from abandoning a cat I guess it is worth it?

 

I find it to be much more humane than de-clawing a cat.

[Matryoshka]

I find it to be much more humane than de-clawing a cat.

 

Yeah, but it's not the only alternative.  Clipping them is both much easier and cheaper...

 

[Mergath]

Do the claws still retract normally when the cat has these things on?  In every picture I've seen it looks like the cat is walking around with the claws extended all the time, and I'd think that would be really annoying.

[1GirlTwinBoys]

 

That reminded me that sometimes they would stay on too long. I think the last batch stayed on the longest. I finally took her to the vet to see if they could be removed or clipped. 

 

 

What's wrong with them staying on too long??  If you want them on there, why take them off and reapply?

 

She's staying inside or I wouldn't do it.  BTW, I did cut her front nails today.  I haven't bought the Soft Paws yet but the instructions said to trim the nails first and she was pretty good about it.  I got her when she was kind of sleepy and I gave her treats.

 

[rebbyribs]

We tried them when our first child was born because we were afraid the cats might freak out and scratch the baby.  One cat who would bite them off right away because he couldn't stand them.  He's the cat who tends to scratch the furniture.  :-/  They stayed on the other cat a long time, until we would hear them clicking around when she walked.  

 

What's wrong with them staying on too long??  If you want them on there, why take them off and reapply?

 

 

The nails keep growing from behind and the Soft Paws just stay on the tips.  The claws get too long and click on the floor when the cat walks.  I think cats normally shed outer layers from their claws, and the Soft Paws seemed to be interfering with that for one of our cats.

 

[mamajag]

I've read some really good reviews on these.  I REALLY don't want the little kitten tearing up the nice furniture we have downstairs.  I did purchase one of these scratching boards but I've already seen her try to get the furniture. :mellow:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Soft-Claws-Cats-System-Medium/dp/B00074W45I/ref=sr_1_5?

ie=UTF8&qid=1406633625&sr=8-5&keywords=soft+claws

 

I've had cats all my life and the following method has never failed to produce cats that behave with their claws. When you see your kitten putting her claws in something they don't belong in, pick up the kitten, say no, and clip just the tips off of their claws. Leave room for another clip. Do this every time their claws are misused. When I put them down, I put them down where they are allowed to use their claws. It takes maybe 3 or 4 times for the kitten to get the idea. When they get close to a year they decide to test me, usually. Same thing. That's typically the last gasp of claws being used in the wrong place.

 

I currently have 3 cats living in my house. They all have talons that would make feral cats jealous but my kids and my furniture haven't been scratched since they were weeks old kittens. They are all very proud of their talons and their right to keep them is assured as long as they behave.

[mom2samlibby]

Not unless I want to be shredded to a bloody pulp while trying to apply them. :lol: I can't even imagine. Oh, and kiss your furniture good-bye. You can try the double sided tape stuff that they sell in Petsmart or Petco...but really...cats scratch, and they love to scratch furniture. If you scold them, they'll just do it when you're not looking. Ask me how I know. :glare:

Our cats have never scratched the furniture. We've had four indoors over the past 19 years.

[Cindy in FL.]

I can't see Kitty Cat being amused by those. Of course he isn't amused by much.

[Sobeknofret]

We have one cat who *will not* use any of the multiple cat scratching posts we have scattered throughout the house, and is destroying the carpet, so we do use the soft paws for her. It's quick and easy, and she really doesn't mind them at all, once they're on. I prefer the colored ones, so I can see at a glance if she's missing any. We wrap her back paws and the paw we're not working on up burrito-style in a bath towel, and once you get the hang of it, it goes fast- maybe 5 minutes at the tops. I absolutely do no believe in declawing cats, so this is a great option for this particular cat instead.