We recently adopted a senior cat from a local shelter. He is a great cat but we have problems with his scratching and we really want to get him declawed. Trimming the claws is not enough.
2006-06-17 16:44:38 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
He is an indoor cat ONLY. So needing the claws for defense is not necessary. I only want to get his front paws done also...not the back. I honestly don't believe declawing a cat is inhumane. Many of you are condemning me for posting this question. Declawing is as common as spaying and neutering an animal. Don't you think chopping off a male dog/cat's testicles or a female dog/cat's uterus is more wrong than taking away claws? If you're going to harass me over this question don't bother typing. I'm just looking for a simple yes or no if it can be done. Don't give me your opinions.
2006-06-17 17:22:38 · update #1
yes you can...but i seriously dont recommend it, being that your cat is going into his prime. cats start developing most of their problems (like the most they've had in all their life) around the ages of 8-10. they start losing their vision, hearing, and start developing internal problems. if you know your cats' lines, check up on its dam and sire...see what kind of bone and joint problems it has. otherwise, if its a mixed breed typical cat, it might develop bone issues, which declawing would interfere with. usually its the hips. if you're just declawing the front, most of the time it wont really mess anything up anyway...but there also is the little downside of an older cats immune system. getting older, it might have a problem with healing. i'd call your vet. it is your choice though!
-megan
2006-06-17 18:11:43 · answer #1 · answered by Megan S 2 · 1⤊ 4⤋
NO you should NOT DECLAW... it is cruel but has LOADS of side effects, such as refusal to use litter box, cats often become more nervous, or more aggressive, often biting is more common... and so on...
you can get special products called "SOFT PAWS" which you glue onto their nails and can get them in many colors, they work great, only use them on the front paws as these are the ones they use for scratching.
Provide a scatching post and move it around every 2 weeks to make it more interesting to the cat (cats dont like to play wiht things or use things that they dont think are "new" - simply moving things will get the cat more interested, even lay a tall post on its side for a few days to get kitties attention)
Honeysuckle toys are good also
congrats for adopting a kitty that is a senior!
2006-06-17 16:50:23 · answer #2 · answered by CF_ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Although declawing sometimes can produce unwanted side effects (although at 9 yrs old if hes treated kindly the biting and nervousness and all that shouldnt be a problem because his temperament is already pretty much set) and sometimes it will make a cat stop using the litter box, but most of the time thats not permanent.
Id say if your choices are getting him declawed or getting rid of him Id have him declawed.
2006-06-17 17:01:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but there are two issues with that. Most doctors i have worked for strong advise that owners not have their cats declawed because one, if they ever get outside they can not defend them selves if it is required for them to do so and a cats claws are part of it's being, it could cause stress after the procedure. Also your cat may not be a candidate for surgery due to its health, the doctor needs to run a full blood panel and physical before you even schedule a surgery.
In addition if you wish to use classical conditioning to get the cat to stop scratching you should spray the cat every time you catch it scratching (it is best to do it while it is actually scratching, or else it may not make the connection). The conditioning works as follows: scratching (N) + getting wet (UCS) ---> Fear/Anxiety (UCR) and the cat then associates: scratching (CS) ---> fear/anxiety (CR) The prior in theory would halt your cats behavior. Though it could stress out your cat as well. YOU SHOULD SPEAK WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING ANYTHING.
2006-06-17 16:56:12 · answer #4 · answered by ecceromani! 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That is sooooo inhumane!!!! Especilly for a 9yr old cat who will be in so much pain recovering from that type of procedure. I don't think any ver would advise this. Get a cat tower made out of carpet that she can scrtatch on. My cat does it and I don't have any problems.
BTW you should try using a water bottle every time she does claw so she gets used to it. You know you can train a cat to not scratch but it takes patience and time. If you want the easy way out and torture this animal..well that's up to you.
2006-06-17 16:48:58 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think you can get the cat declawed but it is going to be more painful for the cat. I would call a local vet and see what they would say.
It's better to have the cat declawed at a younger age but I think it can still be done at 9 years.
2006-06-17 17:43:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
De-clawing a cat is inhumane. It is like a person having part of their fingers amputated, like at the first knuckle. It is painful for them, and it robs them of their ability to defend themselves, as well as to prevent falls. There are many scratching products available for cats. I would try several different ones before giving up! The expense of a few extra cat scratch items will be less than the surgery.
2006-06-17 16:51:52 · answer #7 · answered by love2utam 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'd ask the vet! If he is going to be an indoor pet only, maybe. If he is allowed to go outside,
never, as he will not be able to defend himelf against other cats or animals that might jump your fence. I have heard that it is very painful
to de-claw an older cat. Again, best answer,
ask the vet. I trim my cats' nails about every 10
days. I would never subject my cats to all of the
pain! Good luck!
2006-06-17 16:53:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can declaw at any age, but I urge you to consider the alternatives, such as SoftPaws. Declawing is actually almost like cutting off the tip of a human's fingers or toes. It's painful and sometimes there are complications.
2006-06-17 17:07:24 · answer #9 · answered by bellelvsbeast 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't. It would be very tramatic to him, and with his age he may have trouble with the surgery. Yes the do have to put the animal under when they do it, and that could be a problem your cats age. Also, he would take a lot longer to heal and it would be extreamely painful to him. There is something called soft paws the vet can put on him, and it will prevent him from ruining anything. Please ask the vet about it first. Good luck and congrats
2006-06-17 18:16:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋