laser declaw?

Question

im almost out of options, my cat wont keep softpaws on, and only uses the scratching post when he's near it even tho we have one in everyroom...i read about lazer declawing, which is safer and almost painless compared to the old way...think its too expensive?

he's not going outside...and im very subseptiable to infection, so if i get scratched i could get very ill

lazer declawing is "new" so old vet tech probably wouldnt know much...and "soft claws" are the covers some vets put on

Answer 1

I don't see how declawing can be painless, no matter how they remove it. I think it's a scam. I would need to hear more about it. All a declaw is, is while kitty is asleep they clip the nails with a sterile set of clippers well below the quick. By cutting them so low, it prevents them from growing back. The pain comes from the healing process. Ever torn your nail off. Ouch. It is a non-invasive procedure as is. I don't see where removing them by laser would help that. Scam, scam, scam.

I went back and did research on it, so I didn't look so "old", sheesh. ANYWAYS, it's less blood and they do cut some nerve endings (so it is less recovery time my bad, my bad), but the problem with that is it is BRAND NEW equipment and it is LASERS and in my research I did some pictures of kitties with surgeries that had gone brutally wrong at the hands of inexperienced veterinarians (brutal burns on kitty's paw). And the problem is, they are all inexperienced veterinarians with this equipment. None of these guys went to school with a laser machine since it is so new. I would be careful just for that aspect, ask how long they have had the equipment and see if you can visit some kitties in recovery after the procedure before you entrust your precious baby.

Honey, seriously. If you need to get your cat declawed, do it. The vet will give her good pain medication and she will be good to go after a couple of days. An answerer before me said the laser surgery was successful and the kittens were bouncing the next day. Here's a newsflash: kittens recover so much faster! I got my fullgrown cat (1 1/2 yrs) declawed for the same reason you did. I tried pheromones, cat nip, soft claws, moving him to the cat tree every time he scratched (often in the middle of the night!) and nothing worked. When my fiance got promoted, they moved us out of town and gave us an apartment and we couldn't have kitty tearing up this place, so we had to do it. It took 2 days for him to recover, but he's fine now. You do what you have to do. I'm sure you've exhausted all of your options, all cats are different. IT'S YOUR CAT!!! Just don't take their back claws, that's just harsh :) Best of luck to you sweetie!

Answer 2

I've done a lot of research on cat declawing. If you are going to do it (and it is a perfectly legal procedure) try to find a specialist in the surgery if you can. Declawing is, like any serious orthopedic surgery, complicated and painful.

The newer laser procedure has many advantages, but check out your vet. A skilled hand with a scalpel is better than a rookie with a laser any day. Check to see how many procedures the vet has done with the laser and if there are any stats on complications.

If you are going to declaw ALWAYS check to see what your vet does for post op pain control. Many use a fental patch or other strong pain relief for the first 72 hours. This is is painful surgery and aggressive pain control is needed. A good vet will talk to you about the surgery and appreciate your concerns. Only you can make the best decisions for your cat and your home.

Good Luck

Answer 3

PLEASE DON'T DECLAW! If you have a scratching post in every room and your cat is scratching elsewhere, then you don't have the right kind of scratching post. Those short little posts are not tall enough for most cats to get a good stretch. Bear in mind that cats use their claws not only for self-defense, but for balance, grooming, climbing, and stretching out their long flexible spines. The best scratching posts are the tall "cat trees". They may not be the greatest thing for your home decor but they are the best thing for your cat. They are also A LOT cheaper than an irreversible declaw surgery. These tall cat trees often have multi-level perches that allow the cat to climb up high. Cats LOVE to climb up and nap on these perches. The good ones also have sisal rope posts that really do a fantastic job of keeping a cats claws in shape. You should also learn from your veterinarian how to trim your cats claws regularly. This goes a very long way in preventing damage to either you or your furniture if your cat should scratch. Declawing is truly cruel and it is illegal throughout Europe. Some cats do fine with the surgery, but most do not. Many develop chronic pain in their legs and paws that makes them constantly irritable and aggressive. Some develop "phantom pain" where their claws used to be and feel uncomfortable, off-balance, and out-of-sorts. Many feel so completely helpless that they become fearful, overly defensive and resort to biting. Others become depressed and lethargic. The resultant behavioral problems after a declaw surgery are well documented. Is it really worth the risk? If you love your cat you will accept him the way God created him. Paws come with claws. Learn to trim them and give your feline friend a cat tree and I can guarantee you a happy cat that scratches where he's supposed to. Good luck.

Answer 4

Declawing your cat is amputating the toes to the first knuckle.
Cats walk on their toes. Cats wake up from any type of declawing in agney or in shock.

3 out of 5 declawed cats, develop medical or behaviorial problems after being declawed. Many refuse to use their litter pans because the litter now hurts their paws. They develop arthrisis from having to walk differently than they were meant too.

Most cats that do develop problem are given up to shelters and most are put down by those shelters.So what happens if your cat stops using the litter pan after you've had his toes amputated? Then what will you do?

Has no one ever mentioned keeping the cats claws trimmed? It's fairly simple for you to do or a vet tech to do once every 3 weeks.

Not to mention that declawing has been banned as inhumane in over 20 other countries.

Anyone who says that lazer declawing in painless, is a bold faced liar who's only looking to make a buck.

Answer 5

Have you tried pheromone sprays that you get at pet stores? They are designed to let you cat know where it can and cannot go. So if he can't sit on the couch nicely without scratching, then he won't be allowed on it, and he'll learn. Especially if the couch is where the people are. You can spray it on anything you don't want your cat to get into. Softpaws were a neat idea, but horrible in practice. I can't believe your cat actually let you put them on! Keeping his nails trimmed is easier than applying those things! Please don't declaw, it's really not nice.

Answer 6

I hate to say, but declawing is not even in my vocabulary. What if he gets in a situation where he needs to fight, say, if attacked by another animal? He needs his defences.
I personally have 7 cats. 6 (all rescues) all have Their claws. The 7th I got from my father, and she is declawed (came that way from them). She is scared to death of the other cats because they aren't on an even playing field. She spends 23 hours a day up on the kitchen counter away from the other cats and is so afraid of them that she has NEVER (wait, twice) come over to the couch to see me. I feel awful for her.
And declawing is, in my opinion, a vanity thing for the human, and a torture for the animal. It's just a convenience thing for us, and hurts them.
I know you don't want to do that and I know that tearing things up is frustrating. I kind of think they really enjoy their claws, and I can always replace furniture.
JMO. Good Luck,

Answer 7

Have you ever tried the little claw covers that the vets have? They just fit over the claws with a little glue and they grow off as the claws grow. They even come in different colors so your little friend can have "painted claws". The old way is very painful. They have to go in and break the claws off of the bone. OUCH!!!

Answer 8

Declawing is painful, period. How would you like someone to rip out your fingernails??? There is NO good reason to ever declaw a cat. Cats need claws not only for protection, but also for equilibruim and healthy muscle tone.

If you don't want your furniture to get scratched from time to time, don't own a cat!

Answer 9

I hope you know that no surgery is painless and cats really need their claws. Declawing is cruel and should be outlawed. If your cat got outside he wouldn't have much to defend himself if he didn't have claws.

Answer 10

I had my kittens laser declawed and they were jumping around the next day!