Category: Animal House
Hi all. I know there's a litterbox topic already, but we want to get a cat. The places that offer the complete deal, as in, registration and spaying fees are included, as well as first shots, they don't seem to be convinced that too totally blind people can clean a litterbox. Is there any other advice you can give about where we should look? Is Creg's list okay? How much money should we expect to spend? Any advice for food? We're hoping to get a kitten, because they seem to be able to get used to people a little easier, at least in my experiences.
We've both had experiences with cats before. We've had plenty of them in our families, but we've never done it all on our own before.
Seriously, they don't think blind people can take care of a cat? That really hacks me off. I had cats for awhile. I had zero trouble cleaning the litter box non-visually. It's not rocket science. Sheesh. What are these people thinking?
There are plenty of cats needing homes. Unless you're trying to get some fancy pants purebreed, you should be able to find one somewhere for free or very cheap just by asking around. Is there a municiple animal shelter in your area? I'm not talking about the non-profit rescue organizations. I mean a city or county animal shelter. They might be less hung up on the blind thing. Often, they are more interested in getting animals out the door rather than the qualifications of the adopter as is the case with some rescue places. Call some vets. My vet has a bulletin board at the clinic with all sorts of postings for free puppies and kittens needing homes. Ask around in your neighborhood or at work, school church or where ever if anyone knows of kittens needing a home. Ask your relatives and friends. I get people hitting me up to take cats and dogs all the time just from random acquaintences. Try a local pet store like petsmart or petco. They often have bulletin boards with offers for kittens as well. Craig's list would probably work too. But just be careful. Don't pay a lot and be sure to get vet records and as much info as possible about the animal before you agree to take it. If it's possible, work it out so you can have your vet check it out before you commit to ownership. It would be a shame to get a kitten only to discover after it's too late that it has serious health issues that were hidden from you, either intentionally or unintentionally. I don't think you should have trouble finding one. Just be persistent. Good luck and let us know how it goes. .
There is also your local paper in the classifieds. You can usually find newspapers online, and believe me, if they want to get rid of kittens they don't care. You also could explain your situation and discover if owners would deliver your new bundle of joy. I've had cats almost the whole time I've been married, and they're great. Right now we have an outdoor cat because our landloards don't allow indoor ones. :) Good luck.
PetSmart was the place that didn't think we could take care of one. Thanks all for the advice so far.
Ah I see. Lucky for me the clinic where my mom and I found Max didn't seem to give a rat's arse about me being blind. They were just happy t place Max in a good, loving home. And he gets lots of lovin' from me.
funny, funny! I was just asked today if I wanted a cat. This guy here is Lincolnton NC wants to give one away.
Yes, I was thinking along the line of a shelter too. Great ideas about the paper and online. Personally, I think it's much better to adopt a pet needing a home than to buy one that's been pure bred etc. And what idiots! I mean, blind people take care of dogs, so why not cats?
Our first cat we got becuase the lady was getting married, and her husband was alergic to the cat. After meeting the husband, I think she made the wrong choice. She was a wonderful cat. We adopted our second cat from a vetrinary blood bank. He had a tough time getting used to people, but he still occasionally now rides around the house on my shoulder. Personally, I like the vet and friend idea. If you work through Pet Smart, you really won't know much about their cats. If the family or vet endorses the pet or know something about his/her history, I think you're better off.
Best of luck,
Lou
Mine's actually got a bit of a sad story behind him, but I supose it's not entirely sad since if it had worked out differently he'd be someone else's furry little child and not mine and now my girlfriend Maria's. But I adopted him on July 16th of 2008 when he was just a three month old kitten. But what I didn't know until a few days later was that he'd actually already been adopted out once, from the same clinic where I found him. Apparently they do get homeless animals and find homes for them. Then again I think they're located in the local Pet Smart here. But anyway, a woman had adopted Max, then named Motor, as a present for her son. I don't know if she had the chance to name him something other than Motor. But unfortunately she had to bring him back to the clinic the very next day because it turned out her son was severely allergic to his fur. It just so happened that my mom happened to be at the clinic the day the woman brought him back in, and they got to talking. Since I'd told my mom I suspected I needed the companionship a pet can provide, she'd apparently started looking at shelters and places like that. We'd both agreed that I should go for a kitten so that we could, for lack of a better term, grow up together. So my mom went to the vet where she takes her animals and discovered that they had some kittens who needed homes. She'd actually had her eye on another kitten, one who apparently looked a great deal like a cat from when I was quite small, but he apparently found a home after the day my mom first saw him.
But anyway my mom went into the clinic again for whatever reason and met the lady bringing in Motor. They got to talking about how unfortunate it was that Motor couldn't stay with her and her son since he was such a sweet-natured cat. Well my mom must have already made up her mind that I was going to have a cat before the end of that week. Or she made the decision that day. Whatever the situation, it just so happened that I had a dental appointment on July 16th, so my mom and I arranged that she would pick me up from my apartment and take me to the clinic before my appointment and we would talk to the vet about what it would entail to adopt from him. Well the morning of the appointment my mom called me and told me that something had come up and that I would have to take a cab to the dentist. We would go to the clinic afterward. Now I'm not always as observant as I could be, but in this situation it actually made for a pleasant surprise. I had my appointment and was going to go out to the waiting room and call my mom. Well instead I got out there and found my mom waiting for me. We drove to the clinic, my mom being uncharacteristically vague about the whole thing. So when we got there we stopped in front of this particular cage and my mom opened the door, reached in and put a kitten in my arms and said, "Here's your new roommate." Even then it didn't quite sink in. My mom actually had to tell me that we were bringing him home that very day. He didn't like the car ride back to my place very much and neither did he enjoy it last year when the time came to take him in to get his shots. The only difference, aside from the fact that he'd grown so much since then, was the fact that this time we had a cat carrier for him to ride in, otherwise I don't know if it would have worked out. Max is quite a big, hefty cat now, a fact that even I find amazing despite having been around him 24/7 as I have. SO he could easily get away from me if he really wanted to. And in fact we're coming up on his next shot trip in a little less than two months (July actually), so we'll have to go through the whole deal again LOL. But I wouldn't give it up for the world. Max, despite having a few idiosyncrasies that drive me absolutely crazy sometimes, has been an absolutely wonderful companion. True he is a shedder, but I'm going to look into getting a decent deshedding brush for him. And the fact that he's discovered that he can open my cupboard doors is a source of constant frustration. Of course that's not entirely Max's fault. The Housing Authority here is partly to blame for that since they installed cupoard doors that don't actually latch and have no handles or anything on them. I can understand the reasoning behind that since many people who live in Housing have physical or mental disabilities that could prevent them from opening more secure cupboards, but the fact that I'm not allowed to modify my particular cupboard doors to kitty proof them has been a thorn in my side for about six months now if not longer.
I'd also suggest not buying from a petshop. They often get their kittens from mills, and that's something I feel should never be supportive. If you don't want to pay a lot, I'd go with what others have said. However, if you want a pedigree cat for some reason, do a google search for breeders of your chosen bree din your area. Contact them directly and be up front with them about being blind. They will want to talk to you face-to-face anyway to see if you're suitable to have one of their cats, so this gives you a chance to show them that you're fully capable.
If you are looking at older cats, I enjoy my 17 year old BIG kitty because he talks to me... a lot. Mine also deals with dogs well so adopting an adult cat (I've had him 10 yrs) has its advantages.
I got my little demon through some classified ads on our community forum. I agree, unless you're looking for a specific kind, why not adopt a giveaway that might otherwise go to the pound/side of the road.? Belled collars IMO, are a great idea. I've heard, and I don't know if it's true, that solid white cats, and tabby cats, have bad tempers. I've had a white cat, and my current baby is tabby, and both of them haven't been very sociable and cuddly. they're not hard to take care of at all, except for maybe the litterbox training. both mine were mostly trained. but after that, it's pretty much smooth sailing. Just, try not to step on them...
We got Max a collar with a bell on it before we even left the vet clinic to bring him home for the first time. Then my mom had a tag made with his name and my cell number in case he ever gets out. Even so though I'd like to get him microchipped at some point, but finances have been pretty tight lately. And I also want to get him a set of those softpaws, since I really have a problem with declawing even indoor cats in case they ever got out. That and declawing isn't a permanent thing since they will grow back. The softpaws need to be replaced every so often certainly, but it's probably cheaper in the long run.
Yeah it is true that they don't like to get stepped on...
Also they don't appreciate being in a turned on dryer.
My kitty once got herself into the dryer
and not till it was turned on and that "thud-thud-thud" noise
could be heard did we realize...
Oh No!!! Did kitty get into the dryer???
On opening the dryer door she jumped out and took off
like anything!!
I don't agree about white or tabby cats. Our newest (about 7 wk, female and free) is very cuddly and talkative. About the stepping part...Usually they will learn to move when your heading their way though it's difficult in the beginning. When I'm first around one I slide my feet where possible or step slowly to discover if I'm on solid or kitty ground. :) They're wonderful though, and I don't know what I'd do without my animals here at the house...We've got at the moment 2 pure blood boxer; (white and perfectly healthy), a mutt pup; (that'll teach me to keep a closer eye on a bitch in heat) and our little kitten. They're our girls. :) Oh, and about the pup, she's half boxer as her Mom is one of our pure bloods. :)
Aww. My cat who lives with my nan and grandad got herself stuck in the wardrobe once and I didn't realize until a few minutes after I'd closed the door that she was st there miaowing at me, then when I opened it, she still sat there. I'd have thought she would have ran out of the cupboard like crazy,but obviously not!
as far as toys/scratching posts, I have one of those kitty emory boards on tv, but she only uses it about 10 percent of the time. she much prefers the walls. I also have this mouse on wheels that you pull back and let it go. it zooms across the floor and Farra seems to really like this toy.
Cats are way easier than dogs. The easiest way for the litterbox is to use clumping or scoopable litter. Also for ease of finding the cat put a collar on it that has a bell. In terms of food, people think the cheaper the better and that isn't true. Some of the cheapest foods out there are filled with additives and fat and make a pet poop more, but then some foods can be rather expensive. I like something in the middle like Purina indoor cat and in the US its around $11 to $13 for a 20 pound bag. Also when getting kittens you can leave the food down all the time, but be careful if either of you own a dog/guide dog as you will really go through the food and most of it will end up inside the dog, not the cat. I have dogs and put my cat food down at night when the dogs are not in that area and besides, many cats are fairly active at night. Leave water down all the time.
As for price, well, depends on if you want a pure breed or not. Yes, craigs list is okay, but ask questions and find out why they are getting rid of their cat. Personally, I would recommend visiting the local shelters/rescues/pounds in your area. Some of those places to offer all ready fixed animals and for the ones that don't, they usually offer a certificate for some money back then you get your animal fixed.
Also, do you want short hair or long hair or males or females. Long hair means brushing and more shedding. Short haired cats do shed, but easier to clean up after. Females can go into their first heat cycle at around 6 to 7 months and its best to let them go through one full cycle before fixing them. Belive me you will know when they are in heat, lots of growling meows, lying on the floor a lot with the tail to one side and if you pat them they kind of bounce and move the back. No, males will not spray as long as there are no females around, but I recommend fixing them as they do have really strong pee.
If you want your cat declawed, most vets will only do the front claws and that's fine. However, I wouldn't do it unless your kitty starts shredding your furniture. Get scratching poles and rub catnip on them to attract the cat, use the ones that have sizal rope on them as this type seems more stimulating then the wrinkled cardboard or plain carpet.
I do strongly recommend getting your cat micro chipped from your vet or get an ID tag for its collar just in case it escapes outside. Please don't let your cat roam outside as you will never know where it is and it could get lost, in a fight, picked up by someone else, killed by a predator like hawks or dogs, or pick a disease like feline leukemia.
Don't pick the first kitten you hold because you want to see how it reacts to you.
If you do go with craigs list, make sure to have someone sighted go with you for safety and to look at the cat to make sure it looks healthy.
Yu can find cats from free all the way into the hundreds of dollars. It depends on what the cat is, pure stray, mixed breed, or pure breed. Also if you do have any type of dogs, introduce your kitten slowly, like place its food and litterbox in one room with door closed for a couple days or so for it to get used to the new smells and noise. Actually, do this anyway even if you don't have a dog as then it can't run and hide somewhere.
Let me know if you need anymore help as I do work with a vet.
Oh, all the shots they always say you get, you actually don't need. Get all the kitten shots, distemper and the like and have the vet run a fe-luk panel if you go with a kitten off craigs list just to be safe. Most of the time the once a year booster shots will be enough and if you have specific cat diseases in your area go ahead and vaccinate for those, but mainly if it goes outside. Yes, you can train a cat to walk on a leash and get it to tolerate bathing.
Good luck.
there is a post about a litter box on here,
Ok here we go
I decided the shelter was the best way to go because
* the cats really need homes because if they're kept there for a cirtain time they are put to sleep.
* They had vets on site to keep care of the animals and give any instruction about any pet meds that needed to be included.
* the cats were not too expensive.
* the shots were already completed by them along with the spaying in our gir's case.
* our shelter has a list of the current available pets online so you could look through the notes, make a list of furry friends you wanted to see and then go in a side room and be introduced to them and spend some time with the animal and get an idea of the personality.
My parents got the dog off craig's list, but they promised to send the records on, but have not done so and it's been over a year, and without these records they can not get a dog permit.
With the litter box scooping is the easiest way to go that I've found and the most afordable. haha Also if you're squeemish about accidently touching the litter you can pick up a box of laytex gloves at the dollar store, and then when done toss the gloves in the litter bag and throe it all out. I know you were talking about getting a kitten which personality wise is kind of good, but you may want to look at the 6 months to 2 year phase because...
* they're more likely to be litter trained although depending on histery this is not a garentie.
* Kittens cause allot more havic. They are cute and cuddley, but it is like having a little todoler with claws. They know no better and will get in to well what ever they want to. Cats have strong personalities.
I've had cats for years and years, and never had anyone question a blind person taking care of a kittycat. Most people just ask why I don't have a guide dog instead. anyway good luck and I hope this might help you a bit.
Well I agree the shelter is the best place to get an animal. I just adopted a cat who was going to be put down the day I got him. I have one of the self cleanning litter boxes. He has a collar with a bell. For food I am feeding him a priscription one cause its better for his teeht.
Max was about three months old when I got him and he'd already been litter trained. I knew I was going to bring him home from the moment my mom put him in my arms. True she did offer to let me meet some of the others before making a decision but Max is such a sweet cat and he'd already had to be returned at least once (I don't know who his original owner could have been), and then there was the lady who adopted him as a present for her little boy only to have to bring him back the next day due to her son's allergies. But given how sweet Max is I didn't think it fair to put him through that a third time. Needless to say the 16th of July will mark the two-year anniversary of my bringing him home. And he needs to get his shots again next month.
I've got two cats at the moment, one who's nearly eleven and another who's just about to turn three months old. Having a kitten is a bit dicey if you're not used to cats or have never managed a kitten before, but it's not precisely difficult. A few tips, some of which have been touched on while some have not:
1. Don't leave food alone for too long if you can't see your cat well enough to track what it might be doing. It can be very easy to forget something on an end-table or whatnot only to realize some time later that your little friend's been having a good ol' munch! This can be all kinds of dangerous depending on the food, so it bears stressing.
2. Most cats, but especially kittens, are incurably curious creatures. Given half a chance, they will try to get into just about anything - to illustrate, my kitten decided yesterday that he wanted to try and explore my fully-stocked refrigerator the moment I opened the door! If you don't want something played with, explored, or maybe even shredded, don't leave it where cats can see it.
3. This is less a tip than an observation, but holds true enough anyway. After about three months or so, most kittens I've ever seen are entirely competent with a litter-box, so if it's training on that score which might dissuade you from getting hold of a kitten, try not to let it affect you. They learn this habit when they're young, from their mother or from other cats who've learned the trick previously.
4. Having one cat is easy. Getting a second at a later date is exponentially more difficult, depending on your cats; this is definitely true if you've got an older cat and want to introduce a kitten, as different types of food will be needed for both cats and they're very likely to get into one another's food, which can cause problems if it's not kept in check.
5. Kittens should be spayed or neutered fairly early if there's even a remote chance of them getting outside on you. If you've got a female whose sexual cycles don't bug you too much, it might be very easy to brush aside the supposed necessity for spaying, only to have her get away one day, come back pregnant and grace your home with kittens two months or so up the road. Males, though, are a different story; if left too long, male kittens may begin to spray, which is not a habit you want to see if your cat is going to stay indoors all its life. Anywhere between 4-7 months is fairly typical neutering/spaying age.
6. Regular run-of-the-mill cats of no particular breed or pattern can be found free in dozens of places if you know where to look. If inquiring about such an animal, try to obtain as much verifiable vet information as you can so as not to be stuck with a terminally ill kitten or one whose medical bills are going to be a prohibitive factor against keeping it. Many rescue shelters will sell cats to you after giving them theif rirst battery of shots and full vet check-up; mine, for instance, cost me fifty dollars at nine weeks of age, and that included his first shots and checking. If you want a cat of a particular breed, you'll be paying far far more for it - more than might be considered worthwhile to some people, I'm sure - but the plus side of that particular equation is that you're apt to get a fairly high-quality cat if you shell out fairly big bucks for it. Also, if you want to breed cats for yourself later on, to sell and make money on, pedigree cats are where it's at. It all depends on whether you want a cat companion or a hobby...or, if you go that far, a job in itself...cat-raising can be quite demanding.
One quick note before I go: some people believe that cats of specific breeds are often possessed of certain characteristics. I don't believe it works well with cats, even though it can sometimes work with dogs. There are generalizations that can sometimes be made, but they should be taken as nothing more than guide-posts. Getting a Russian Blue, for instance, is not guaranteed to get you a lap-cat or an affectionate companion; buying a Persian is likely to yield a docile, placid cat who is suitable for apartment life, but you just might get a fluffy ball of terror if your luck is bad. On the whole, it is my opinion that if you want a particular temperament of cat instead of a specific breed, colour or style, do a little looking and find a feline with whom you're happy. It doesn't matter if it's pure-bred or a former alley cat...if you get along, that ought to be good enough.
I hope this helps.
I'd suggest going the shelter route.
Also, personally, I've found that adopting a kitten is a better fit, because they have the opportunity to form there personality around how they are trained.
They will grow to know you as there "staffer," and will keep you trained as well. :)
In all seriousness though, there is something wonderful about adopting a pet that needs a home. As someone put it once, "when cats go from rags to riches, they truely appreciate it!"
Max certainly seems to. I don't know what his life was like before, apart fromt he lady who tried to adopt him but had to return him the next day because her son was too allergic to his fur. But he's always gotten lots of lovin' from my family and me since he came home two years ago. And I seem to recall the vet telling me he was fixed before I adopted him. He went froma tiny little three-month-old kitten to a huge ball of orange fluff waying close to fifteen pounds. People have joking told me that one of those pounds had to be pure fur but honestly I don't know if fur really contributes much to an animal's weight. But Max is also a naturally big cat. He can stand up on his hind feet and put his front paws on my dining room table if that's any indication. He's also discovered a way to take advantage of the lackluster cupboards in my apartment, at least the ones under the sink where I don't keep much except tupperwear. ANd I've taken to putting an amplifier in front of that particular cupboard so he can't get in. But he can slide his paw into the little lip on the bottom of the cupboard door and swing it open and go in there and sit. Like I said, fortunately I don't keep much in there but it still gets a bit annoying, particularly since legally I'm not really allowed to do anything about it.
both my cats came from the street. happy first, then another one my mother found years later. happy acted like the older brother, who finds the little one quite annoying but still loves him and takes care of him and took the responsibility to watch him when they were outside together, it was amazing. they were identical, so it was hard to distinguish them by only watching them, if not for the size and because happy had softer hair and a sweeter voice.
the streets here, especially during summer, are a good place to find a kitten. of course then you won't know its story, possible health issues or anything until you go get it all checked up, that's the only thing about it, but IF i am ever going to get another cat, it will only be because i found an abandoned one, or if someone's cat is pregnant and the kittens are either going to be given away or put to sleep. i do volunteering in some shelters when i can, to spend some time with cat or take dogs for walks and stuff, but here they aren't put to sleep after staying at a shelter for a certain period of time, and the ones i have seen until now, take care of them as well as they can. i know it's not like having a home and the love of a family, but at least they have a place to stay, while the street kittens have much less of a chance of making it.
training a cat is fairly easy, at least it was in my case, but i think it really depends on how much patience and the method the trainer uses, and the personality of the cat. happy was trained for some main things, he did not even need much litter box training, only a couple weeks or so, and he was a month old when i found him. also a little advice, if you don't want him to get on the table, bed or whatever, no need to scream hysterically like many people do, lol. in my opinion though i haven't studied these things or anything, that's only going to make the cat think they've ended up in a nuthouse and have to be careful to the two legged being with an unpredictable temper. what i did when happy jumped on the table the first days i had him, was just to calmly pick him up and put him back on the ground, not much talking, no yelling, i just was calm but sure of what i was doing, so that he knew that there was no arguing. lol. after 4 or 5 times of doing that, he wouldn't jump on the table anymore.
i probably could help more in some other way, but i can't think of anything right now, thinking of happy and all the memories is actually making me want to cry, even if in less than 2 weeks it will be one year since he's gone.
oh, and i used to have a persian when i was a kid, it was my sister's, and he developed the same personality as her, annoying and with a lot of superiority complex, lol. he would also do things like, pee in the house if he didn't get what he want. just as i said, the same personality as my sister, just like happy was very similar to me, so in my opinion, saying that a kind of breed of another always has a certain personality doesn't work very well.
That's one of the reasons you sometimes have to be careful about declawing a cat. My sister's a veterinary technician and she told me that declawing has sometimes been linked to behavior problems like peeing outside the litter box and whatnot. And from what I've heard it's not even a permanent fix since the claws eventually grow back. I've done some research and it's cheaper in the long run to buy these little phelt toe caps and use those. They have to be replaced every six weeks or so but they're fairly inexpensive from what I've heard and unless your cat is extremely high strung they're easy to apply yourself.
honestly i am against declawing. if cats have claws, there's a reason. to me it's not too different from cutting a dog's tail or ears shorter to make it look cuter or whatever. i know cats claws can do some not so nice damage where dogs tails and ears don't, but still, there are some solutions that are not painful like declawing. and it's not just about the possible pain, it's... well, they're born with claws, so that's what they should keep having
I agree with you on that. Not only that but even if your cat is an indoor cat there's always a possibility, however remote it may be, that they might get out when you open the door. If that should happen and the cat should run into a dangerous situation like a beligerent dog or even another cat spoiling for a fight, your cat would have no means of either defending itself or even escaping since they primarily fight with claws and they're also used for climbing. So on one level I think it's cruel to declaw a cat. I understand the reasons for it, I just wouldn't do it myself.
I use to feel very tuilty about declawing my cat, but let me tell you, he and I got along much better!!
Compared to the thousands spent in replacing furniture, and other household items, declawing a cat will cost much less in the long run.
Not from what I've been able to find out since it's not a permanent fix. The claws grow back eventually. If I can manage to find them at a local pet store I'm gonna try these Softpaws my sister's told me about. She uses them for her cats all the time apparently and they seem to work quite well.
Declawing a cat is not something which should be encouraged. Softpaws are definitely the better option. Failing that, just have the nails clipped regularly if you can manage it. If you have a particularly calm cat, you could even try rasping them a little with a nail file to blunt the ends and prevent damage from scratching.
FM
Oh we try to trim Max's nails once a month, twice if my mom can find the time. We use standard nail clippers but she also has one of those Petty Paws deals that used to be advertised on TV fairly often. It actually seems to work quite well since it seems to actually blunt the nails down quite a bit as it trims. About the only down side is the smell from the friction of the little blades or whatever they are against the claws. But from the one time we tried it on Max it didn't seem to bother him all that much, and as an added bonus as I said it blunted his nails quite a lot so when he got playful it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable if he happened to get a foot. Of course now that I think about it I wonder if the Petty Paws does file them down as part of its operation. I might look into getting one or just talk my mom into bringing hers over every time we need to trim him. It's not as though the smell hangs around for very long and the unit does seem to work very well.
The other thing to maybe invest in is a scratching-post. Get one of those, and a cat that's trained will try to use it instead of your furniture. You shell out twenty bucks here and there, and you're pretty much set. I have owned cats all my life and I've never had a reason even for those SoftPaws things...they're handy, though, if you can't get your animal to stop scratching or if you want to play rough without getting slashed.
Regarding discipline, I agree. When Ming, my kitten, gets up somewhere he shouldn't, I just pick him up - fairly quickly sometimes - and put him down. Sometimes he'll keep trying, sometimes he stops right away. It depends almost entirely upon the cat in question. Be firm and be steadfast.
Declawing a cat is medically unsound. I've heard this from vets all over the place. It is the equivalent of taking your fingers or toes off at the first knuckle, so your fingertips and nails are gone. You'd be surprised how difficult that will make it for a cat to walk around properly...it messes with their ankles and things, so it's not at all recommended. If it's really going to be a problem and no other solution works, give him to a home where scratching doesn't matter; better that than cripple him.
Well I've got a small scratching post, but now that I think about it that could be part of the problem since when he stands on his hind feet Max is quite tall. That would explain why he uses the corners of my couch most often for his scratching needs. If and when I move into a bigger place I'll mos likely look into a decent sized scratching post instead of the whimpy little cat tree my mom got him.