How do I keep my cat in?

[KBMaster]

I have the baddest cat ever. Now that the weather is cooler, we have opened the windows(with screens in them, of course), but the stupid cat keep knocking them out or tearing a hole in the screens. We've tried tape, we've tried putting clips on the windows, but nothing seems to work. I live in florida, so most of the windows being closed makes the house a little hot. My mom doesn't like the cat tearing the screens and dad doesn't like the hot house. I hate having to keep both cats in my bedroom at night so they don't escape. They wake me up all night with the plucking at the screen with their claws and meowing. Someone please give me a solution to this problem that doesn't involve getting rid of my cats. Mom and dad are thinking of declawing them, but don't now how much it would cost, so...
Any help would be appreciated.

[Nate]

First of all, do NOT declaw them. Seriously, don't. Anyone who has their cat declawed is very cruel and inhumane. In fact, declawing cats is illegal in Europe for the fact of how much pain and misery it causes the cat.

Many pet stores offer things called "soft claws." They are small plastic sheaths you put over your cat's claws so they can't tear anything up with them. That way, their claws are mostly harmless, and you don't have to make them suffer through declawing.

[KBMaster]

But is it something they would be able to get off? They're very good at that. We had to stop putting their collars on them because they just got it off everytime. And they HELPED each other get it off. O_O

And I know declawing hurts, but we live in a neighborhood full of dogs, other cats, and big trucks. I would think that would hurt more.

[Nate]

It would hurt more, but...well, let me show you a bit of what declawing entails:

"This process involves amputating the entire end digit, or bone, on the animal's toes, under anaesthesia."

You're taking off the ENTIRE END of your cat's paw. Would you feel good if someone took off the end of your toes?

"The procedure does not only have a very painful recovery, but is also quite messy as the animal will bleed quite a bit (this also carries the risk of blood loss)."

So your cat will be subject to constant pain and carry the risk of dying to blood loss. I'm not trying to scare you, but you have to know what you'd be putting your cat through, and I can't see how anyone who loves their cat would even consider this.

More info on the caps for you:

"One popular, relatively inexpensive alternative to declawing is the application of vinyl nail caps (marketed in the US under brand names such as Soft Paws and Soft Claws) that are affixed to the claws with nontoxic glue, requiring periodic replacement when the cat sheds its claw sheaths (usually every four to six weeks)."

They're glued to your cat's toenails, and you only have to replace them once a month or so. I would think that a few minutes of applying a nail cap once a month would be a far greater solution than subjecting your cat to a lifetime of pain.

[KBMaster]

Well, I just got back from chasing him inside the house. Wow, that does sound painful. I didn't know they would cut off my baby's toes. ;_; It's just, he's a REALLY stupid cat who likes to explore. Bad combo. And I get really worried about him. ;_; And now he's more audacious than ever.

Thanks so much for the suggestion. That has to be cheaper and more effective than buying new screen. I'll see if I can get my mom to go to the pet store tonight. Thanks again! Now maybe I can sleep through the night.

[mitsuki lover]

I agree totally with kaemmerite,declawing is not only bad for the cat but it is also
an unnatural process.Cats have to have their claws for self defense purposes as well as for killing their prey.Yes when they sharpen their claws it can be a pain on the furniture but that's something you need to live with.What you need to do is to get a scratching post of some type that would take care of the clawing on the furniture problem.It would be a lot less expensive and the cats would love you for it.
As far as the cats being restless at night.Remember that cats are by their very nature nocturnal creatures and so will find being cooped up anywhere in the house against their nature.

[Yumie]

Can't you get your cats nails clipped or filed periodically? I know you can do that with dogs, because we've done it with ours, but our cat never tears up furniture, so I've never had to deal with it before. Or, if your ca hates water as much as mine does, you could try leaving a spray bottle on the window sill, and when your cat starts scratching it, give him a spray or two. It sounds a little mean, but it doesn't hurt them, and they start to want to stay away from the spray bottle. It's been pretty effective for our cat.

[KBMaster]

I agree totally with kaemmerite,declawing is not only bad for the cat but it is also
an unnatural process.Cats have to have their claws for self defense purposes as well as for killing their prey.Yes when they sharpen their claws it can be a pain on the furniture but that's something you need to live with.What you need to do is to get a scratching post of some type that would take care of the clawing on the furniture problem.It would be a lot less expensive and the cats would love you for it.
As far as the cats being restless at night.Remember that cats are by their very nature nocturnal creatures and so will find being cooped up anywhere in the house against their nature.

It's not the clawing up the furniture we worry about, it's the screens. He's had scratching posts, but never used them. He sharpens them on the carpet and just wants to get out when tearing at the screen.

Well, he'll have to put up with the being cooped up until we can do something about him.

Can't you get your cats nails clipped or filed periodically? I know you can do that with dogs, because we've done it with ours, but our cat never tears up furniture, so I've never had to deal with it before. Or, if your ca hates water as much as mine does, you could try leaving a spray bottle on the window sill, and when your cat starts scratching it, give him a spray or two. It sounds a little mean, but it doesn't hurt them, and they start to want to stay away from the spray bottle. It's been pretty effective for our cat.

Hmm, clipping his nails would result in a very bloody mess and he would most likely walk away with his nails still sharp. O_O

Spraying doesn't sound mean. We've tried spraying them whenever we see them in the windows, but we can't watch them all day. I have schoolwork in the day and I make dinner and/or do dishes at night. Putting the spray bottle in every window might work for the more timid cat, but the one who gets out will stand in his water dish with his two front paws and start splashing. I wonder if it ever grosses the other three animals out?

Haha, actually, I had to spray him to get him out of a tree today. Who needs a fireman?

EDIT: I just thought I should say this now, I don't plan on letting my parents take him to get declawed. I had no idea of the process beforehand and now I know that's the worst awful thing ever. It would make me cry for my baby.

[Mi-Ru-Me]

Okay I guss I am the oddball with cats but we always declaw our cats as long as they are inside cats then they dont need claws and they have these procedures for a reason. you could clip there nails but I found this tougher because not only do you have to remember to do it but if your cats move or you arnt right on you can end up really herting your cats (always spade nuter and declaw inside cats)