Soft Paws and Cat Jaws

I've been having issues with one of our cats scratching on our couches, scratching on our mattress and well, scratching us! So finally, after hearing all the rave reviews, I ordered Soft Paws, as an alternative to declawing, as I'm not a fan of that at all. I was so excited to receive the package this week. I got hot orange caps for Ceiba and red for Shush. I thought the colors complimented both of their coloring. I put off putting their claws until this afternoon.

I should of known things wouldn't go so smooth after our most docile cat, Ceiba, put up a fight. First you have to clip their claws and then you can apply the caps with special (aka super) glue. That was a challenge, but we muscled through it and finally she had a beautiful set of orange nails (oooooh la la). Of course, she's tried to chew them off already, but so far they are holding up well.

Then, it was time to find Shushu. She had no clue we were coming for her. I felt so bad. Anytime we mess with her (i.e. give medicine, treat a wound, etc.) we have to wrap her in a towel. She does NOT like being held. I repeat SHE DOES NOT LIKE BEING HELD. As soon as Jeff picked her up, she started screaming bloody murder. It's a good thing the neighbors couldn't hear us (as far as I know) otherwise they'd of called the authorities. So Jeff wrangled (with caution) her in a towel with my help and I started to clip her nails. She was pretty stiff through the first paw, I had to pry her arm out of there and then she just looked at me with that "I hate you" expression on her face. I took a quick breather to count out the other 5 soft paws for her next paw, and that's when she made her move.

She started to struggle and managed to wriggle her back paws out of the towel. She used them to kick and scratch Jeff's arm (the arm that was holding the towel around her) and managed to free another front paw in the process. I was bobbling with the stupid plastic claws, trying not to lose one in the couch cushions and not drop the super glue. Shush then flipped over and was able to make it to the couch arm while Jeff was desparately (note, not painfully) holding on to her. That's when it happened.

SHE BIT HIM! BIT HIM! My precious (if not a bit fat) Shushu, whom I saved from the horrors of being adopted by some silly little kid that would torture her, whom I raised from a baby kitten, whom I give treats to every day (perhaps a few times a day) BIT my husband! and HARD! We let her go. She was obviously very traumatized, and Jeff was bleeding, so I had to see to him. We were laughing pretty hard, until we saw the wound! FIVE puncture wounds, FIVE! yikes!

We've agreed that Shush is only going to get one paw of soft paws. Once those fall off, she's done. To be honest, she doesn't scratch a lot of things up, just the designated cardboard scratchers so I don't think that it will be a problem.

After a few hours though, Ceiba has adjusted nicely. Secretly, I think she thinks they are pretty! You be the judge!

So just a forewarning to future Soft Paw users. Beware of CAT! They DO know how to bite the hand that feeds them!