Can an Adult cat be declawed?

Question

is it safe to declaw a cat at an older age

Answer 1

why declaw a cat...i mean its a cat, they suppose to have claws....if you want a pet without claws get a goldfish

Answer 2

That depends on what you consider to be "safe". It's never safe to put a cat through a sugical procedure requiring anesthesia. And "onychectomy" requires anesthesia. The procedure is also not without a painful recovery period. To me, putting a cat through pain for an unnecessary elective surgery is not keeping your cat safe. But the kicker is that declawed cats are never safe because their primary defense has been needlessly removed. Cats need their claws for defense, hunting, grooming, stretching, climbing, and walking. An onychectomy is not a pedicure. It involves removing part of the toe from the last knuckle down. Cats walk on their toes. Declawing is a crapshoot. Some cats come out fine. For others it's a complete disaster. They develop chronic pain, are always fearful and on edge, moodiness and aggression result, and they begin biting or develop other behavioral problems. I try to tell people to try and spend a day, just a day, doing everything they normally do without their thumbs. Wrap your hands so that your thumbs are against the rest of your hand so you cannot use them. Try and type. Try and brush your teeth. Try and drink your morning coffee. It's hard. It feels weird. You'll get frustrated. You may even get angry. You'll really appreciate your thumbs after the day is over. You'll wonder how you could ever get by without them. That's how cats are will their claws. Please read this all the way through. Educate, don't amputate. A tall cat tree is the best way to go. I've had cats all my life and never had any furniture ruined. We always had a tall sisal rope cat tree for our babies.

http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm

Answer 3

I am speaking from experience! My "EX" had my older cat declawed while I was away on vacation. It was terrible. Bloody...the cat was in extreme pain and yes, really...could not walk well or jump down off of anything. There is this product called soft paws. You should look into them. They go over the nails and your cat does not have to be declawed! De clawing can totally change the personality of a cat too! They've no claws to protect themselves...so that leaves them with only biting! It would be like removing human fingers at the first knuckle! OUCH! I now have a new sweetie And a new vet...by the way!

Answer 4

The two most common problems that occur with declawing an older cat are:
(1) they become biters
(2) they develop issues around using their boxes and will start peeing everywhere

Are you sure you want to deal with these possiblities? Many declawed cats are surrendered to shelters for these reasons.
It would be better to figure out a way to protect your furniture (Sticky Paws work great), provide a really super scratching post and training the cat to use that, etc. Put the money you would spend on the surgery into a great cat tree with sisal rope at the base.

Answer 5

Yes it's safe but declawing any cat ,unless it's the last resort ,is a cruel operation. I will never do it again if I can help it.
I had a couple done years ago as the female was especially hard on the furniture. Now I know better. I have posts and clip the nails.
The operation can be likened to cutting off your fingers at the first knuckle. I really regret having done mine. It isn't a question of defense it's a question of the cats dignity

Answer 6

yes... and no......

its not safe to declaw ANY cat.. there are always risks and common side effects

many would say that declawing kittens is worse since you are delcawing them at a time when they use their claws most rather than waiting for them to outgrow it.. or people who are worried about clawing should get an older cat anyhow or one thats already been declawed - rather than torturing a kitten for normal kitten behavior...

when people declaw kittens their personality is effected but people dont notice it because they are kittens and personalities are not apparent in cats untill 8 months old

when people declaw adult cats they notice the personality changes usually within a few weeks - the most common is the cat becomes more nervous, more agressive, often more prone to bite or run (heightened flight or fight response)
refusal to use the litter box is another common problem
declawed cats are more likely to be killed by dogs or coyotes simply because they are more likely to stay and fight -(one reason is they cannot climb trees) because they do not want to apprear defenseless they often attack first...silly them....

there are alternatives - get a product called SOFT PAWS - these are things you glue onto the cats nails and prevent damage you get enough for 4 paws.. but they only need them on their front paws...
provide more toys and rotate them weekly (cats prefer toys they havent seen for a while)
move your scratching post or lay it on its side for a while to encouage use (again its "new" so they will be interested)

Answer 7

Yes most cats can be declawed, but think long and hard before doing so. If your cat spends any amount of time outside leave his claws be and buy him a scratching post. Cats have claws for a reason, defense, climbing, and for play. If hes not being destructive let him keep his claws. Hes better off with them.

Answer 8

I think it is very inhumane to declaw a cat.........no human would like having their fingernails yanked out of the nailbed. There is a thing called soft paws that a vet can put on the cats claws........they are temporary and aren't that costly-----my cats were under $15.

Answer 9

Please don't do it when there are so many alternatives! Declawing a cat is the easy (I consider it lazy) way out. You can train your cat to not claw on things it's not supposed to, and they need their claws for a number of things. When they claw, they're even toning their muscles! Get some scratching posts, cardboard scratchers, etc. My cats love the cardboard scratchers and have never destroyed anything I own.

Answer 10

i had an adult cat that i found took it in and decided to get it declawed i had talked to the vet and he said it will not hurt it as it turned out it was a very happy cat and lived with us for 12 years before it passed ..... its harder on an older cat is all and if its a house cat only ... my cats never go out side since they are declawed and they are happy Kitty's

Answer 11

You can, but be careful because I had a cat who was declawed, which was an outdoor cat, and it was eaten because she didn't really have a way to defend herself.