Should I have my 5 week old Kitty Declawed? My older cat was and it did not seem to bother him.?

Answer 1

No cat should be declawed.
Psychological & Behavioral Complications
Some cats are so shocked by declawing that their personalities change. Cats who were lively and friendly have become withdrawn and introverted after being declawed. Others, deprived of their primary means of defense, become nervous, fearful, and/or aggressive, often resorting to their only remaining means of defense, their teeth. In some cases, when declawed cats use the litterbox after surgery, their feet are so tender they associate their new pain with the box...permanently, resulting in a life-long adversion to using the litter box. Other declawed cats that can no longer mark with their claws, they mark with urine instead resulting in inappropriate elimination problems, which in many cases, results in relinquishment of the cats to shelters and ultimately euthanasia. Many of the cats surrendered to shelters are surrendered because of behavioral problems which developed after the cats were declawed.

Many declawed cats become so traumatized by this painful mutilation that they end up spending their maladjusted lives perched on top of doors and refrigerators, out of reach of real and imaginary predators against whom they no longer have any adequate defense.
A cat relies on its claws as its primary means of defense. Removing the claws makes a cat feel defenseless. The constant state of stress caused by a feeling of defenselessness may make some declawed cats more prone to disease. Stress leads to a myriad of physical and psychological disorders including supression of the immune system, cystitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)..

"The consequences of declawing are often pathetic. Changes in behavior can occur. A declawed cat frequently resorts to biting when confronted with even minor threats. Biting becomes an overcompensation for the insecurity of having no claws. Bungled surgery can result in the regrowth of deformed claws or in an infection leading to gangrene. Balance is affected by the inability to grasp with their claws. Chronic physical ailments such as cystitis or skin disorders can be manifestations of a declawed cat's frustration and stress" David E. Hammett, DVM

Understanding Declawing (Onychectomy)
The anatomy of the feline claw must be understood before one can appreciate the severity of declawing. The cat's claw is not a nail as is a human fingernail, it is part of the last bone (distal phalanx) in the cat's toe. The cat’s claw arises from the unguicular crest and unguicular process in the distal phalanx of the paw (see above diagram). Most of the germinal cells that produce the claw are situated in the dorsal aspect of the ungual crest. This region must be removed completely, or regrowth of a vestigial claw and abcessation results. The only way to be sure all of the germinal cells are removed is to amputate the entire distal phalanx at the joint.

Contrary to most people's understanding, declawing consists of amputating not just the claws, but the whole phalanx (up to the joint), including bones, ligaments, and tendons! To remove the claw, the bone, nerve, joint capsule, collateral ligaments, and the extensor and flexor tendons must all be amputated. Thus declawing is not a “simple”, single surgery but 10 separate, painful amputations of the third phalanx up to the last joint of each toe. A graphic comparison in human terms would be the cutting off of a person's finger at the last joint of each finger.

Answer 2

First off, he's WAY too young to be declawed. From what I've heard offices will accept cats to be declawed after 2 months. You'll need to call your vet just to make sure.

There are many people who will debate getting a cat declawed, but from personal experience I think it's the best option. If you know that he'll be an inside baby for life, go ahead and do it. You can get the front and back claws taken out but just do the front, he'll need some way to get a good lift-off for pounces :).

Don't wait too long though, some offices will say no to declawing once cats become so old. I'm going to have to fight to get my baby declawed because she's 1 year old, but is very 'playful' too much to be exact. She's torn me up before and given my Mom stiches. And she wasn't trying to be mean either, cats are just cats if they have claws. They don't understand that we've evolved away from needing claws or fangs to protect ourselves.

Plus, if you've still gotten the older cat, you'll need to get baby declawed eventually. Cats know when they have the upper-hand, and will take advantage of it.

Answer 3

5 weeks is way too young for such an operation. Avoid doing it at all, if possible...it's the equivalent of amputaing all your fingers at the first joint. Ouch.
I assume your older cat is an indoor pet. Declawing puts the animal at a disadvantage survival-wise if it should get outside, since it won't be able to defend itself, or to climb trees to escape predators.
If you HAVE to do it, ask your vet about the proper minimum age for the operation, and seriously consider only removing the front claws. This will save the furniture, and give the cat at least some climbing capability.
Alternative: I have what is know in our house as "the sacrificial chair" - -an old recliner that the cats are allowed to freely mangle. This has proven to be better than the ol' scratching post, because they think they're getting away with something :-)

Answer 4

one your kitten is too young...
my old cat is declawed also i just recently got a 5 week old kitten and at 12 weeks i got her declawed.
declawing is a horrible thing to do to cats. I did this to my kitten just because i didn't want her to be able to hurt my older cat. Which as my kitten has grown she is now 5 months old I am greatful i declawed her because she attacks and plays rough with the older cat.
read the link about declawing before you decide. and also think about how the kitten and cat are. Are they both mellow? or are they playful?

if you are thinking about your furniture there are other ways to protect your furniture then cutting out your cats fingers. Remember declawing proceedure actually takes off the tip of the cats finger so they don't grow back.. some places can miss parts of it causing a nail to grow and trying to break through the cats skin..

Answer 5

I have all my cats declawed when I get them spayed/neutered three of my cats spend a lot of time out side. They catch birds climb trees etc. My children do not get scratched up and neither does my furniture. I do recommend getting it done while they are young about 4-6 months. Warning if your cat is going to be spending time outside you are risking it not being able to defend itself as well in a fight. One of my cats was a stray when I took him in. I had him fixed and declawed. But since he was older he still sprays and he also has come home injured from fights. However my oldest male chases off all the neighbour cats and has never had a problem.

Answer 6

You should wait until you get your cat fixed. The vet has to put them under in order to spay or neuter her/him and its better if it is done all at the same time. It is better if you do it younger than older though because kitten heal quicker than older cats. My parents had a cat done at 2 and the paws were much more sensitive for about 1/2 a year afterwards. You should ONLY get the front claw removed as well. My reasoning for this is, if for some reason they get out or you let them out, they can climb a tree to get out of dangers way or kick the predator with the back paws.
In addition, each cat is different and this cat might not be able to walk after the surgery so de-claw with caution.

Answer 7

Your kitten is to young and declawing is very painful. Declawing removes the first knuckle of the toe containing the claw causing quite a bit of pain along with phsycological problems. Many cats that have their claws removed become biters because that is their only defence. There are claw gaurds that you can buy to put over the claws, it is cheaper and far more humane. Most pet stores carry them and if you can't put them on yourself, a groomer can help. Please think about this carefully because if the cat ever gets out, she will not be able to escape up a tree or defend herself.

Answer 8

No! Cats hate being declawed. While you might lose your furniture by not having your cat declawed, the cat might lose it's life by being declawed. It needs it claws to fight off rival cats (and dogs), climb trees to get away from preditors, and to scratch barbaric owners who would even consider declawing a 5 week old kitten.

Answer 9

I strongly recommend you not declaw your cat. It is a cruel, selfish practice, and is an actual amputation of the bone, not just a nail trim, which is why it's illegal nearly everywhere but the U.S.

There are many alternatives available, such as SoftPaws, trimming your cat's claws, various sprays to discourage clawing, as well as an endless amount of scratching posts to choose from. If your sofa is more important to you than your cat, you should not have cats.

Don't amputate your cat's toes just because you don't want to bother teaching your cat where the appropriate places to scratch are. It's not fair.

Answer 10

Many people feel that declawing cats is torture. Think of it as cutting off your fingers and toes at the last knuckle.

If your cats are indoor cats, do they really need to be de-clawed? Statistics show that indoor cats live much longer lives than outdoor cats. Please consider this option, and consider not de-clawing your cats.

I have two cats and I have not had a single piece of furniture clawed. I do have two scratching posts and took time to train them when they were little.

Answer 11

Wait until the spay/neuter. Don't listen to all the anti-declaw stuff. You can love your kitty and still care about your furniture and woodworking. Indoor kitties don't need front claws and still have teeth and back claws.