Conference misery::feline_v1

    Does Tabitha have her own scratch post?  If not, I would suggest
    going right out and buying her one and start training her to use
    it.  Really, most cats can be trained to use the scratch post and
    it will surely save a lot of ware and tare on the furniture!
    
    If you have already tried this and failed, you may want to consider
    having her declawed when she is spayed.  There is much controversy
    on this subject and although I personally don't like the idea sometimes
    it is the only alternative.  Just remember, if you do have Tabitha
    declawed, she must remain an indoor cat only as she will no longer
    have the proper defense tools to survive outdoors.
    
    Good luck with your decision!
    
    Jeanne, Cali and Sam
    

    Don't count on spaying to slow her down.  I'm lucky my female slept
    at all the day she came home!  She's back to her old tricks, as if
    nothing had happened.  Try a scratching post, a squirt bottle (for
    attitude adjustment) and lots of praise when you find her using
    the scratching post.  We covered one of the support poles in the
    basement about 3/4 of the way up with carpet, secured it with sisal
    rope, and sat back to watch the fun.  You probably don't have the
    luxury of a basement, but if you want to be creative and build
    something perfectly tailored to your cats habits, it will probably
    be better than anything you could buy.  Be especially leery of
    commercial scratching posts.  I ran out and bought one when I got
    Niniane, and she won't use it because, a.) it's too short and she
    can't stretch out while clawing; and b.) it tips too easily and she
    doesn't feel secure using it.  Also, try removing the scent from
    the places she scratches with an odor remover.  Part of the reason
    they scratch the same places all the time is that they leave a scent
    there.    
    
    Hope this helps,
    
    Mary-Michael, Niniane, Charm (and soon Dream and Boogie)

    Our experience was just the opposite.  Emma was WILD before spaying
    (probably while in heat).  She calmed right down.  What's more,
    when we added Katy (are you listening, Granma Mary), she allowed
    the kitten to nurse!  She is now very laid back.
    
    Gary

             
    	RE: .0
    
    	If it comes down to either getting the cat declawed or
    	giving it up, GET THE CAT DECLAWED!
    
    	The following notes have information on declawing :
    
    	38, 74, 223, 778, 821, 1074, 1897, 1909.
    
    	I suggest you start with note 1074, then read the others.
    	I have two declawed cats and do not regret doing it but
    	it is alot of responsibility since they can NEVER go
    	outside!
    
    	Karen

    Both my kitties are declawed.  It's hard the first few days after
    doing so, seeing them "trying" to walk.  But it's well worth it in the
    end when you don't have to yell at them for ruining the furniture.
    Schnapps was declawed at 9 months, which is typically late.  
    Tequila was adopted that way.
    
    Both are also spayed and very mellow cats.

    Do try a scratching post first, however.  Besides the too little
    too lightweight ones, there are long, heavy, stable ones sold. 
    Put some catnip on the top and scratch th epost with your fingers
    when puss is nearby, to get the idea across.
    

    
    
    I had both of my furry girls declawed at the same time they were
    spayed.  They stayed for 3 days at the vet - that was the hardest
    part! But, to my surprise, when they came home they were no worse
    off than before I had taken them.  They walked, jumped, played,
    and rough-housed they day I got them home.  I don't think you could
    ever train a cat to not scratch - it's instinct, even though mine
    don't have any claws they still go through the motions on the
    furniture.  It's kinda funny.
    If you do decide to get them declawed, use shredded newspaper in
    the sandbox for the first few days until the paws are fully healed.
    
    Best of Luck
    No regrets,
    Joanne, Puffin & Buttons
    

    PLEASE be careful with home made scratching posts.  Someone answered
    my plea to adopt my kitten only after having a tragedy with a home
    made post.  The kitten loved to sit on the top of the post and it
    toppled over and crushed the kitten.  It lived a short while but
    alas....     The scratching post went with the next trash pick-up,
    and the breaved owner turned to this notesfile to find a new
    companion.   I'm sure the kitten she took will get the utmost care
    and attention.
    
    

    Yes, do try a good scratching post first.  I had one built for my
    Billie because she was really getting to be a pain with the furniture.
    The first couple of times after that that I caught her "picking"
    on the couch, I would carry her into where her post was and gently
    run her paws down the sides.  Now WHENEVER she wants to scratch,
    she ALWAYS runs to her special post (we call it her, a-hem;  "picky")
    and has a ball.
    
    Also neutering does usually calm them down.
    
    Best of luck and please keep us posted.
    
    Jane

    A friend of mine used paper from his friendly DEC-shredder for the
    litterbox after declawing his kitty.  

    Re .7:
    
    It is an instinct for cats to scratch.  They mark their territory
    that way.  I don't know of anyone who has trained their cat never
    to scratch.  You can train them where to scratch and where not to
    scratch tho.  It does take alot of time, effort and consistency
    tho.  Some cats are going to be ornery tho and not want to learn.
    
    My attitude on declawing is still evolving.  I used to really be
    against it, to the point of argueing with people who did it.  Now
    I feel differently.  If the choice is declaw or take the kitty to
    the pound, then by all means, declaw.  I am still not sure I would
    not argue with someone who wanted to declaw without trying the training
    first tho. (this is an observation of my feelings, not an invitation
    to start a declaw argument.  Boy, I've mellowed with age ;^})
    
    Jo