Do cats know they're declawed?

Question

This may seem like a dumb question, but I am curious...I have a cat who has his front two paws declawed. He was born in my house, and I gave a couple out of the litter away. Anyways, he ended up not be happy at his new home, so he came back to me. I brought him to get his nails clipped a couple of months later, and the guy said there was nothing there...I told him this was impossible, and he said he couldn't find anything. I was rather puzzled, so I emailed the owner who had given him back. He replied very nonchalantly, "oh, yeah, we had him declawed, I didn't think it was a big deal." Well, I did, and VERY irresponsible not to tell me. What if I had let him out? He knew we had his siblings here, what if they fought? So, I was really devastated, I felt as though his life would not be as fulfilling. He has a brother and a sister who live with him now. They wrestle a lot, I notice he's a biter, with them, and me. That doesn't bother me.

He still scratches on furniture, and mats as well. My question though, is do you think he knows he is declawed, or well, something is different about him...do the other cats know? I am so curious, as to whether he compensates by biting because he knows. One odd thing...he is an extremely passive cat, when we brought him to get the nails clipped, he lashed out so bad, it scared me, and everyone there. He acted like a rabid cat! I thought perhaps he correlated it with some sort of truama? I've never seen a cat so mad, hissing and biting! Once he left, he was fine, like nothing ever happened. Also, I've read briefly that it can cause health issues down the road...what kind? I want him to have a good life, I hope it's possible.

Yes, I know never to let him out...sad though, some people still do it with their cats anyways :(

Answer 1

Of course they do. That's terrible they declawed him and didn't tell you.

Declawed cats often compensate with their rear claws. They can still climb well, but their ability to defend themselves will be impaired. Declawed cats should not be allowed outside without supervision. Some declawed cats will become biters when they discover that their claws no longer work. Others may begin to growl.

Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat's "toes". When you envision that, it becomes clear why declawing is not a humane act. It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period. And remember that during the time of recuperation from the surgery your cat would still have to use its feet to walk, jump, and scratch in its litter box regardless of the pain it is experiencing. Wheelchairs and bedpans are not an option for a cat.

No cat lover would doubt that cats--whose senses are much keener than ours--suffer pain. They may, however, hide it better. Not only are they proud, they instinctively know that they are at risk when in a weakened position, and by nature will attempt to hide it. But make no mistake. This is not a surgery to be taken lightly.

Complications
Declawing is not without complication. The rate of complication is relatively high compared with other so-called routine procedures. Complications of this amputation can be excruciating pain, damage to the radial nerve, hemorrhage, bone chips that prevent healing, painful regrowth of deformed claw inside of the paw which is not visible to the eye, and chronic back and joint pain as shoulder, leg and back muscles weaken.

Other complications include postoperative hemorrhage, either immediate or following bandage removal is a fairly frequent occurrence, paw ischemia, lameness due to wound infection or footpad laceration, exposure necrosis of the second phalanx, and abscess associated with retention of portions of the third phalanx. Abscess due to regrowth must be treated by surgical removal of the remnant of the third phalanx and wound debridement. During amputation of the distal phalanx, the bone may shatter and cause what is called a sequestrum, which serves as a focus for infection, causing continuous drainage from the toe. This necessitates a second anesthesia and surgery. Abnormal growth of severed nerve ends can also occur, causing long-term, painful sensations in the toes. Infection will occasionally occur when all precautions have been taken.

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)..

Answer 2

I've had cats who have been declawed. They do still harp on furniture. It's not just to "sharpen claws", although that's what most people think. They also use it as a form of exercise (watch them stretch), as well as using it to mark with scent glands.

Declawed cats do tend to bite a bit more than cats with claws. I've known cats who were declawed in the front but not in the back, and cats who were declawed on all four feet. The ones with back claws will often grab with their forepaws and rake with their hind feet.

One of my cats (who was declawed on all four) used to escape quite frequently and could come home with adult birds, something that should've been difficult for any cat. She was a hunter by nature, and she found a new way to deal with issues.

I don't declaw my cats now. My furniture has suffered for it (I had to throw away my sofa), but I also have a beagle who loves the cats dearly--perhaps a little TOO much. When they've had enough, the cats will swat at the beagle and I don't want them to lose any defense against his affections, which at times have been a little rough.

Answer 3

cat declawing are IMO cruel. It is the amputation of what correlates to our fingertips. He probalby reacted aggressively to you trying to cut his nails because his paws hurt (or at least he remember how much they hurt just after surgery)
i agree that not tellng you was wastly irresponsible!
Yes he probably bite more because it is all he *can* do - and taken into consideration that cat bites are a lot more dangerous than cat scratches that sort of make the whole idea behind declawing silly.
He still tries to scratch on things because it is a very , very basic instinct, all cats simply *need* to scratch on things. A part of that behaviour is to leave traces of scent from glands on the paws, to let other cats know who has been there.

BTW: In my country declawing cats are against the law.

Answer 4

No they don't know if they are declawed I had a cat who was declawed and he would still try to climb tree's LOL or the bed side to get up ... they are put to sleep when they get up they don't know that the nails were taken out

Answer 5

declawing is very inhumane. i was glad to hear you hadnt had that done to the kitty. i doubt he "feels bad about himself" because of it. but he probably is very aware that his claws are gone. it is a painful procedure, he was probably VERY aware when it was done. as long as he is kept indoors though i dont really see it taking away from his quality of life. good luck.

Answer 6

never declaw your cat its cruel

Answer 7

no

Answer 8

thanks for the two points