I am amazed at all the comments about cutting off parts of cats paws to declaw them. Many vets won't even perform this type of declawing anymore. Laser removal is a much more humane way.
I found a kitten last year and nursed it back from death's door. When it got healthy, it started attacking our other cat who had been declawed before we got him. He had no defense against it, so we had to declaw the kitty with laser surgery. He was up and running the very next day.
2006-12-14 12:49:37 · 20 answers · asked by groovywave 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Groovy, while laser surgery is most definitely superior to the older method, they still DID cut off parts of your cat's toes.
The only difference is somewhat shorter healing time (and no bleeding during the surgery)....but you shouldn't have been letting him up 'running around' for at least 7-10 days afterward. His tissues were STILL cut and glued, and still needed time to heal from his surgery.
2006-12-14 13:46:43 · answer #1 · answered by A Veterinarian 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
While I personally haven't declawed my cat, and I don't intend to in the future, I also don't see it as being as inhumane as some other options for certain cats. If the choice is between keeping a cat indoors, and maintaining its health and care after a declaw, or turning it out to be an outdoor cat and save its claws, I would chose a declaw. I'm not sure if I understood your post either. It read to me as though you thought the laser surgery was a different procedure all together. Laser declawing still removes the same portion of the toe (the last bone from the "knuckle"). The reason why it is a better procedure is due to the way in which the laser cuts. The laser cauterizes as it cuts so there is less bleeding, severs the nerve endings cleanly so there is less pain and leaves a cleaner edge for healing. Often when declaws are done with the laser, there is no need to tourniquet the cats leg so there is no risk of an injury or pain due to revascularization. All of these lead to a better outcome for the cat. The procedure is the exact same regardless of whether a scalpel or laser is used to make the incisions.
2006-12-14 13:09:51 · answer #2 · answered by skachicah35 4 · 4⤊ 3⤋
As kittiesinthehood said, the practise is illegal in Australia and as far as I am aware has never been practised wholesale.
From what I have read, owners declaw their cats in case they will claw the furniture. Over the years I have owned very many cats - none have clawed the furniture, the carpet maybe, but never the furniture. There are so many alternatives, mind you it does involve the owner training and interacting with their cat and making sure it has scratching posts and learns that it is not acceptable to claw furniture.
The kittens I foster are encouraged to use a scratching post or similar. Some have gone straight to the cardboard ski run and scratch. Others have discovered it as they played - they make great ambush places.
Just as a matter of interest if you had a three legged cat that had problems defending itself, would you have a leg amputated from the new cat? Or if you have a deaf cat, would you have the hearing of the others removed as well?
Maybe they are extreme scenarios, but they are along the same line.
2006-12-14 19:31:24 · answer #3 · answered by Feline Female 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
DO NOT DECLAW! Declawing is not like a manicure. It is serious surgery. Your cat's claw is not a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. So closely adhered that to remove the claw, the last bone of your the cat's claw has to be removed. 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. 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. The following website http://www.catscratching.com provides many solutions as well as and insight into the psychology of why cats scratch.
2006-12-14 14:07:49 · answer #4 · answered by Sandoes16 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Sorry, but no matter if laser or scalpel declawing is amputation. Part of the cats toe needs to be amputated to declaw. Declawing is complete removal of the nail bed not just the nail. If the nail bed is left even partially the nail will grow back in a very deformed manner making for a very sore cat and another surgery.
Declawing is equivilant to removing a humans finger at the first joint past the nail on all fingers.
2006-12-14 13:31:08 · answer #5 · answered by Great Dane Lover 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
This is the same declaw I used for my cats when we had them done and while I wouldn't do it again, I will say that neither of my cats had problems and were walking around the day they came home....and walking normally. The reason I wouldn't do it again isn't because of that but I had to have my newest cat declawed as well (problem with paws and claws kept getting infected - long story about a birth gone seriously wrong) and I was told they would do laser and they did NOT. He came home with gaped open wounds and bled everywhere, I was furious and threatened lawsuit, they refunded my money but it sure opened my eyes about how cruel scapel declaw is!
2006-12-14 13:04:56 · answer #6 · answered by MasLoozinIt76 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It should be banned everywhere. Declawing is not only inhumane but can cause other bad behaviors like not using the litterbox (they don't like the feel of it with no toes). I do not allow anyone to adopt a cat from me that will declaw instead I give them other options.
You can train them, use caps or keep them trimmed there is no need to mutilate your poor kitty. Life is more precious than material things for they can be replaced.
2006-12-14 15:15:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
When I had my cat declawed the vet gave me both options. The "old fashioned" way was less expensive. While the laser surgery was more expensive I was told that my kitty would heal faster and it would be less painful. It was worth the extra money to me as I already felt bad about having to get him declawed. :)
2016-05-24 06:48:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
declawing should be used only as a last resort to euthanisia.. no matter how it is done there are still side effects...
SOFT PAWS are a better solution or people who worry about their furniture shouldnt get cats to begin with (I am referring to the #1 reason for declawing which is "the kitten clawed my sofa")
2006-12-14 13:23:24 · answer #9 · answered by CF_ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is awesome...but i'd prefer to have my kittens claws capped that way they still have their claws and they can't get in more trouble than what they do now XD
My cats have a tendancy to try to sneak out..they're almost about a yr. old and my baby Kista is the runt...she's a tiny little thing...
2006-12-14 13:01:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋