When should I have my cat spayed & de-clawed?

Question

I have recently bought a cat (September 22nd). She’s a female Domestic Shorthair with Dilute Calico coating. She was about 7 months old as of September 7th, so she isn’t really that older now. Anyway. I was wondering when would be the right time to get her spayed and possibly/most likely de-clawed (as my mom keeps reminding me we have leather couches and others such things that can be destroyed in the house).

I have recently bought a cat (September 22nd). She’s a female Domestic Shorthair with Dilute Calico coating. She was about 7 months old as of September 7th, so she isn’t really that older now. Anyway. I was wondering when would be the right time to get her spayed and possibly/most likely de-clawed (as my mom keeps reminding me we have leather couches and others such things that can be destroyed in the house).

Oh and please stop it already with the "it's cruel" and "In this country..." comments. I know all of that already about declawing. I want a straight forward answer, not opinions (sorry if this comes across as very rude; it isn't my intention.) I DIDN'T say I would de-claw her. I said there was a possibility that it would happen and I only want to know at what age she should be spayed (and declawed IF I go for that. And remember: NOT in control here. I swear my parents will chuck her out of the house if she scratches the couch or any of the decoration or curtains).

Answer 1

She should be spayed now. As for declawing..this is something that really should be reconsidered.. it is equal to amputating all of your fingers at the first joint after your finger nail. It is a painful surgery and it can lead to behavior problems such as litterbox avoidance, hiding,and biting. It can also cause your cat to be unbalanced in walking, walk on the back of it's feet instead of correctly on the paw pads, etc.
A kitten can be easily trained to use scratching posts.Offer various types of posts such as plain wood,cardboard, sisal rope & carpet, offer verticle ones as well as horizontal ones, make sure they are good a steady so they don't tip over and that they will allow a cat to stretch full length on them. Offer plenty of toys for the cat to play with. Keep the nails clipped.There are also claw covers (soft paws) that can be used to help prevent clawing if scratching posts don't work.

Answer 2

In England I believe most people would be utterly horrified at the idea of such mutilation as taking away a cats front claws. How is she able to defend herself, grip onto a tree she may try and climb catch the odd mouse .It must feel like the loss of your finger tips and is utterly cruel. Imagine leaping across reaching out to prepare to land and have no grip at all which is what will happen.I had a cat for nearly 21 years and she was spayed which is beneficial for a cats health and stops many unwanted litters so can justify that, but to mutilate a cat for the sake of a sofa seems wrong. This is not in the cats best interest . If you have a cat, get a scratch post, they love it and spend hours stropping their claws at it. Get a kitten used to doing this early in its life and you will save your furniture. A scratching post ensures that a cats paws are kept healthy and also that the outside sheath is shed when due to detach. Using a scratch post also leaves scent which is why a cat goes back to re use it. To keep cats off furniture try citrus smells which they do not like. De clawing I know is an American thing as is cutting dogs ears off, un necessary and for human use only . I simply do not understand it and can not con done it. I felt strongly enough to answer this as never pay much attention to these q and a sites. If my cat were alive still she would be objecting too. Hope you make the right decision. I f you are that worried about the furniture , try another animal . Claws are natural , useless pads are not.

Answer 3

As some one else has implored you - please do not declaw your cat...

It is a barbaric American practise and should be outlawed. It is especially cruel if your cat is allowed out - how can it defend itself with no claws?

You'd be better off dissuading it from clawing furniture by (a) providing it with a suitable scratch post/pad, and (b) using repellent spray on the furniture where the cat might scratch. (NB You can get proprietary brands which do not harm the furniture's finish.)

Alternatively, you could decide not to have a cat.

Sorry to sound so harsh, but I've just been looking at my beautiful Maine Coone and simply can't imagine imposing such cruelty on her. She doesn't scratch the furniture either, by the way. She has a scratch post in the house, and a favourite fence post outside. Problem solved!

Answer 4

Get your kitty spayed immediately.

Cats are able to breed as early as five months.

Do NOT declaw! It is cruel. It mutilates the cat, and makes them insecure and mean. The cat will most likely start biting.

Get a spray bottle, and spray the kitty if it claws the furniture, or does other things you disapprove of! Works like a charm!

If you want to keep cats, you MUST accept the way that cats are!

IF you MUST get the cat declawed, do it at the same time you have her spayed. A single anesthesia, a single surgery, a single trauma. Do both at once.

Answer 5

I'm still wondering why you got a cat if there was the possibility of her being thrown out for acting like a cat.
And seriously, www.softclaws.com will prevent her from damaging furniture just as much as declawing her will.

She should have already been spayed by now. Get her spayed as soon as you can. Cats can reach their sexual maturity at six months old, and once they go into heat for the first time they may still imitate the cycle even after being spayed.

Answer 6

In my past experience, if you are going to declaw, you MUST do it when they are very young (like 8 weeks or so), because if you wait, it is VERY hard on them. I waited with my cat because I wasn't sure if I even wanted to do it or not. I waited too long and she was miserable for a few days. I had to lock her in a room with towels all over the floor because her feet would not stop bleeding. I felt horrible. She's 14 years old and fine now, but I do think it is cruel, and for your cat, too late. Just purchase or make a big playhouse or tower or something with carpet on it, so they will use it to scratch on. I think they have to be at least 6 months old before you can have them spayed, so you should be fine to do that now.

Answer 7

call your vet about how old she must be to be spayed. different vets do it at different ages. but if she is older than 7 months she should be fine. DO NOT declaw her. if possble keep her out of the room with leather couches. declawing cats is extremely cruel, as even if it is an indoor cat you're taking away her natural defenses. and in some cases, declawing a cat can completely change their personality.

i had a cat once and once he was declawed he hated EVERYONE. i cannot express enough. i HIGHLY recommend finding a way around declawing. all 3 of my cats have their claws and none of them scratch my furniture. get her a scratching post and buy some bitter apple spray for the couches.

Answer 8

Spayed...definately. De-clawed...never. When you de-claw your cat the vet amputates each digit on usually the front paws only at the first knuckle. Imagine having each of your fingers cut off that way and then being forced to walk on them. If your cat has alternatives to scratching things other than your leather furniture, you won't have too much to worry about. Also watch your cat when its around those things, so you can discipline it if it decides to put paw to your couch. Your cat has to scatch on something to keep its claws groomed. There is another procedure called a tendonectomy that you can have your vet do. I don't recommend that either. The vet goes in and cuts the tendon that enables your cat to put its claws out. This procedure makes it impossible for your cat to groom its nails on its own, so you're left to trim them and keep them clean...plus it is also a painful procedure. Anyways, get her spayed as soon as you can. 7 months is plenty old. If you don't get it done soon, she'll go into her first heat and be impossible to live with.

Answer 9

do no longer difficulty What Others R asserting. My mom Had Our Cat Black Jack Spayed & Declawed virtually 5 Yrs. in the past & She's Doing large. She's Very candy & Has NO Aggression subjects. i'm undecided with reference to the Lump On Her Incision B/c Our concern grew to become into distinctive. The Day while we introduced Her abode Her Stitches got here loose & She began 2 Bleed. Black Jack's abdomen regarded poor & We Rushed Her decrease back 2 The Vet ASAP. They Stitched Her Up back 4 The 2nd Time & My mom quickly Switched Vets B/c She grew to become into bored stiff W/ Them. How long Has The Lump Been There? it would desire to pass away After a week Or 2. i think It Took some week 4 Black Jack 2 pass decrease back 2 Her common Clay muddle.

Answer 10

Please don't declaw your cat. It's cruel and painful. Check out www.softpaws.com
They were invented by a veterinarian. They are soft rubber caps that you glue onto your cat's trimmed claws. It will protect your leather couch and carpet, but will not hurt the cat. WE have been keeping softpaws on both of our cats since they were little. They always get treats after and they will sit for it. Declawing is like cutting your own fingers off at the first knuckle.
As for spaying, do it as soon as possible. The older cats get, the worse it is for them to be under anesthesia.