What is the proceedure of declawing a cat?

Question

I have an 8 year old cat that I am considering having declawed but was told that if I thought of how the proceedure was done, I'd reconsider. I was told to think of myself as a cat, look at my hands at the first knuckle up from my fingernail and try to vision this part of my hand gone. This is how cats are declawed. In other words, the claws aren't cut off, the entire first joint of the cats claw are cut off. This sounds very painful. Any comments from anyone? Veterinarians welcome to respond. Thanks!

Answer 1

I think it's cruel.,,,please read this article.
http://www.defiant.net/declaw.html

Answer 2

It's actually LESS painful to remove the last bone, than it is to remove only the claw, because the tissues of the claw bed develop directly out of that last bone. When the bone is cut through to remove only the claw, there is a lot of pain and a longer recovery time, plus a pretty high likelihood that a deformed claw might regrow under the healed skin at any point in the cat's later life. Which is prone to infection and very painful. So removal at the joint is the proper way to perform the surgery.

The person who said that to you is simply saying that when a cat is declawed, it is an amputee, and of course most lose some of the function of its feet. This is a fact, although how much it affects the cat is a question of who is observing which animal. The older the cat is, the more it will be disabled by declawing, because it is accustomed to getting around with whole toes. When declawed in later adulthood, a cat may be permanently clumsy. A young kitten usually adapts very well, though, as long as it does not have a survival need to climb (is kept indoors, or otherwise safe from predation and well fed).

By the way - consider having Soft Paws applied by a groomer or vet, or just learning to trim your cat's nails. Keeping them trimmed short will help a lot - take it to the vet the first couple times to see how it's done, if necessary. If you must declaw or surrender the cat, it's better to declaw - just discuss the surgical technique and pain management with your vet to make sure they are doing the most modern thing.

Answer 3

That's basically it. The claw is removed up to the joint but it's not entirely painful. It's a surgical proceedure, some vets will even do it while neutering/spaying is done. The cat is under anesthesia and doesnt need pain killers or anything. Best thing to do though is make sure the cat is fairly young (6 mo-1.5 yrs is good) They heal quicker. Once it's done, a young cat will need a few days to recover so even though you can take it home right after the proceedure, it is recommended they do not go outside and that their litterbox is lined with shredded paper and plastic liner.
Most cat litter, particularly the clumping kind, can get caught in the paw and irritate the cat.

In fact, declawing is really only recommended if you have a 100 percent indoor cat and if the cat is causing problems with furniture and whatnot. Try a bit of training to keep them from scratching things up (water pistols help). If you are set on declawing then follow the above.

Answer 4

Here's an easy way to look at de-clawing for all those who are so "in to de-clawing" a cat. Take off all your fingers and both thumbs. Now - try to do anything.

Cat de-clawing is man's lazy way to stop a cat from doing what it's learned through nature. It's cruel - it's inhumane - and any pet owner that does it just doesn't deserve their animal. It's amputation - plain and simple.

There are SO MANY alternative methods and ways to prevent a cat from using its claws in a destructive method - but most people are too "busy" or "lazy" to try. I've had cats for over 20 years and never a single one has been declawed because I work with them from the moment they become mine to claw and scratch in the right places - their own furniture and scratching boards.

If you have a cat that can't be trained to claw items like that - the most humane thing you can do is to clip their claws weekly (get your vet to show you how) and then if that fails - cat claw caps! They are a plastic/vinyl that can be glued onto the existing nail and last for about a month and are not in any way harmful to the cat - the plastic/vinyl keeps the claws 'sharp edges' from being effective while still letting them use their claws to pull themselves up with some extra effort.

Answer 5

A great alternative to declawing is a product called Soft Paws or Soft Claws. They are basically fake nails for your kitty. After trimming your cat’s claws, place a dab of glue into the curved caps and slip it over the claw. Ta-da! No pain and no ruined sofas. Although with polydactyl cats I don’t bother with the tiny sixth claw myself.

You may have noticed [how could you not] the outrage most cat owners express on the subject of declawing. I would like to point out that I have met cats who are totally or partially declawed and have no problems. With any medical procedure, a careful choice in veterinarians will make all the difference.

Answer 6

Yes this is exaclty how declawing is done. You should not do it on an 8 year old cat at all...he is way too used to having his and you will most likely get some behavior issues as a result.

Declawing often results in more problems than simply leaving the cat with it’s claws. First, the animal will often stop using the littlerbox. Because of the pain associated with scratching in the days after surgery, the cat quickly associates the litterbox with pain and will stop using the box. Secondly, because he now has no defense mechanism, he may turn to biting instead of simply showing his claws. Thirdly, it affects their balance, which will result in a less active and possibly overweight cat. Being overweight can initate problems of it’s own. Finally, if the animal should happen to get out, he has now way to defend itself against against potential predators by either clawing at it or climbing a tree.

Declawing is basically the equivalent of mutilating. It’s actually illegal in a lot of countries because of this.

Answer 7

I adopted a 3 year old who had been declawed..this was the first cat I ever had with that procedure done. Her balance seems to be off, and she doesn't seem as steady as other cats. because she doesn't have front claws, she also has not learned to pull in the back ones, and sticks in the carpet when she walks. I would never declaw a cat, they can almost always be taught to use a scratching post or teepee instead of the furniture.

Answer 8

Its very painful and frightening. An older cat may not do well if put through such a trauma. You can clip her nails or ask your vet about nail caps like "Soft claws" If you were going to pay for de-claw somethng like that would be way cheaper. Its just a soft plastic sheath that covers the nail and keeps her from scratching.
They eventually come off, so it would be something you'd have to do often, but it beats mutilating your cat.

Imagine waking up with some of your fingers or toes missing... you can no longer do the things you used to and no one can explain to you how or why it happened. You can't defend yourself and it hurts for a very long time afterward. You are also very small compared to everyone else in the environment and you can't talk. *shudder*

Answer 9

Oh please don't do this to your pet it's the equivalent of cutting off your own fingers to the first nuckle. I didn't know that and I once declawed a cat years ago (it was partly feral) . I was sick to my stomach when I found out what is really done to declaw a cat. Try anything else but that it's gruesome and alot of vets hate to do it as well. I'm wondering why after eight years you need to declaw the cat. If she's scratching at something she shouldn't then it's time to retrain her. Get her some scratching posts try a few kinds, some cats like carpet nail a piece to the wall and show her what to do. Some like wood and some like the cardboard try anything other than declawing her. Please.

Answer 10

I'm a former vet tech who has assisted in many declaws. Never would I ever do this to a pet I loved. Aside from the obvious physical trauma, it's not uncommon for the declawed cat to begin scratching with its rear claws or biting. Also, I've seen a cat who was badly injured when it fell from a balcony at the owner's summer home when it attempted to hop the railing to the next unit as he had done dozens of times, only to fall three stories when he couldn't grasp the railing's top as he had been able to. That was a $2000 surgery to reconstruct three of his four legs.

They only declaw I thought was justified was that of a cat who loved to knead the owners legs with its paws but the owner had diabetes and was fearful of losing het legs of she got gangrene.

Answer 11

Its true - declawing is a very cruel procedure. Instead talk to your vet about doing a procedure where instead of amputating, he just cuts the tendons which prevents the cat from sticking the claws in and out. It requires only a tiny incision which causes little pain and the healing time is very fast. The cat will still have its claws but will not be able to use them to claw furniture - however she will also not be able to use them for defence so must be kept indoors. Also, the claws will continue to grow so you will still need to trim them regularly.