My cat just started ripping at the screens with his nails, leaving holes. How pissed is he going to be if I rip his nails out. (as you can tell Iam against the whole idea).
2006-07-31 09:04:03 · 23 answers · asked by metallica_rocks0122 6 in Pets ➔ Cats
Oh yeah I forgot, he's 5 years old.
2006-07-31 09:07:58 · update #1
Nails can be trimmed, just the tiny tip of them. you can also ask a vet how to do it, also keep an emery board handy and once inawhile run them accross the bottom of the nails. here is another thing you can do, put a box or a chair by the door or by near the screen so kitty can sit and look out without standing up and trying to hold onto the screen. Good Luck.
2006-07-31 09:30:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes, he will be pissed - especially if he is five...see these articles (how to make a post, why cats need their claws). My roommate has two cats...as long as they have a scratching post and you clip their nails short...I don't think there is any reason to declaw. There are also pet protector plastic screen guards for sliding doors - look on the internet/pet supply magazine.
It is an amputation of the first joint - not just the claws. Age is a factor - the heavier the cat is and the older the cat is - the more difficult the recovery. I mean really, he has had his claws for five years...I think it inhumane to take them away now.
There is no scientific evidence - but I have worked at a few vet clinics and a humane society. A lot of cats start having litter box problems after they are declawed as adults...not all cats - but you never know how your cat will react. I am currently a veterinary student - once I am a doctor, I will never do a "declaw" surgery.
2006-07-31 16:07:30 · answer #2 · answered by dvm2b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To answer your question: a cat is never too old to be declawed.
That said, I would look at a lot of other options before I'd do that. Start by trimming his claws. There are plastic claw covers that you can get; you can even get them in colors so it looks like your cat has painted nails! (Do a search on SoftPaws) You could also try spraying the screens with orange oil; cats don't like the smell of citrus. Try some behavior modification: if you catch him doing it, squirt him with a squirt bottle.
And if all else fails: close the windows!
2006-07-31 16:11:54 · answer #3 · answered by aldera22 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had my cat declawed last September. I was expecting and didn't want him clawing baby. He was five years old at the time. He came through just fine. He had to spend 2 days at the vet instead of one so they could watch for infection since he was a bit older. In a matter of 2-3 days he was jumping on my furniture again! Oh he didn't hate me either. The day I brought him home he sat on my lap and drooled all over me.
2006-07-31 16:14:17 · answer #4 · answered by Kerry S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many vets will not do declaw operations after the cat is an adult.
They feel it is an invasive procedure that has very little real value to it.
Unlike spaying that has a good reason declawing is more of a conveince for the owner.
2006-07-31 16:15:31 · answer #5 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No he is definetly not too old. My cat lived to be 19. Think of this what if your cat was caught in a situation where he needs to defend himself. What is he to use? Try this, instead of declawing him and spending money on that, try a spray water bottle. Spray him when he is going to scratch the screens. Do that everytime he scratches them. He will learn to stop. Hope that helps.
2006-07-31 16:12:20 · answer #6 · answered by your face=] 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I two cats 1 not declawed 1 is the 1 the is was left at my apartment complex outside I took her in . she doesn't like you to touch her feet will try to bite you and because she has no claws no way to protect herself is her teeth she uses that. she remembers what happened to her if you are going to declaw instead of finding other alternatives soft paws scratch post do some research and know what you are doing i took my cat in and would never do it am against it and yeah for the veterinary student who will never dewclaw in her practice
2006-07-31 16:45:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please don't declaw your cat... You can take some time to train your cat to stay away from the screens. You can buy some repellant at the pet store and spray it on your screens. You can also fill a spray bottle with plain water and spray it at the cat when the cat goes to the screen
2006-07-31 16:12:46 · answer #8 · answered by mailordermoviehouse 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look up my postings - I have placed lots of info about declawing and preventing screen damage. Buy a sheet of plexiglass at a home supply store and that will protect the original screen.
Just click on my name to see them and go to the section titled ANSWERS.
Don't declaw at that age
http://www.declawing.com/htmls/declawing.htm
Please check that out first.
2006-07-31 16:12:39 · answer #9 · answered by Lake Lover 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a cat should never be declawed. research it and see what you want to do the the cat that is in your care. TRAIN the cat, they are trainable if only people would take the damn time and learn how to do it. I have four cats, all claws intact and so is my furniture and screens.
2006-07-31 16:31:23 · answer #10 · answered by Stick to Pet Rocks 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋