when is a good time to declaw a cat?

Question

when can we get a cat declawed or how long do we have to wait.

Answer 1

declawing a cat is the same thing as chopping off a person's fingers, think about it.

Answer 2

It is NEVER a good time to declaw a cat. Declawing is equivalent of a human having there fingers amputated at the first joint. Would you want someone to do that to you. Some people think it is painless but the cat has phantom pains from it for years after the procedure. Why do it when it is extremely easy to teach the cat how to use a scratching post and to trim the nails once per week. In 15 yrs of breeding and showing persians I have not had a single cat that would not use a scratching post and I have never had one that tore up a single thing with there claws.

Answer 3

NEVER. If the cat has problems scratching, soft claws is better to use than declawing. It's not just the claw that the vet removes, it's part of the paw, too. A fact that doesn't get talked about much is that declawed cats bite more, a lot more and a lot faster. It's their only defense. I know people will say that a cat doesn't know, but they do. My sister's cat doesn't even try to bat anything away, it bites. Please re-think declawing.

Answer 4

Well everyone has their opinions..... Vets don't like to do declawing....but when it comes down to whether a cat has a home or not.... pretty much anyone will do it....

...cats do not use their front claws for defense....a cats defensive position is lying down and kicking and raking with back paws.....so a front declawed cat CAN defend itself if it gets outside.... just watch how kittens play..they grab around the necks and kick. Kittens should never be taught that our hands are toys.....this helps us as they grow up, they will not scratch or bite us.

..this being said...the younger the cat the better....they are lighter on their feet and the ligaments are not as strong. They tend to heal faster and have less problems. If you have an older cat declawed........get pain medication for them. Plus use shredded newspaper or special litter until they are healed.

I work in the vet field and personally do not like declawing...none of mine are....but I would rather see a declawed cat, then strays, or euthanized cats. Cats are best kept inside or only let outside on leashes.....an indoor cats life span will easily go over 10 years old if properly cared for..... an outdoor cats life usually is cut short around 4 years...due to fighting....sickness/disease...and hit by cars.

Answer 5

Youu should make an appointment when its about four months old, and time it so the kitten will be about 5-6 months old at the time of declawing. We have one declawed because he was tearing up everything, and one that is not, he doesn't touch the leather, so he's ok for now. They both have a floor to ceiling cat tree to scratch on. Don't let the anti declawers sway your opinion. They are selfish, and it is a very personal decision. Technology has caught up with need and if you want laser declaw then you can do it. If you want scapel and pliers, then you can do it. But I personally would go for a laser, since it is less invasive and heals with little problems.
Remember that it all depends on your lifestyle and your cats behavior. Never feel guilty, they don't miss them and still go thru with the scratching motions afterwards.

Answer 6

There is quite a debate over the ethics of declawing. I myself have mixed feelings, as I have one declawed cat and 2 fully-clawed cats... Personal opinions aside, if you DO decide you want to do it, many vets recommend that it is done at the same time as de-sexing. Your pet will need to be put under for both the de-sexing (spaying or neutering) and declawing since both usually require overnight surgery. Wouldn't it only seem logical to have it all done at once and get it over with? Cats will be stressed after surgery. They are in a strange environment at the vet's office with many strange sights and sounds. They will miss you, and once they wake up they will often become depressed for a couple of days post-op. Cats know something is different, and they see it as something being wrong. They will become frightened, stressed, and sad.
Make it easy on your cat and help lighten the burdon by not having to make a second visit. Also, by doing it all in one shot at the time of de-sexing, your pet may have an easier recovery since it is still young, strong, and healthy. Older cats may have a harder time after the surgery, and recovery will be awkward. They will also have a harder time adjusting and will be confused since they have become very dependant on the claws they have had all their life!

Answer 7

Never ! many vets recommend alternatives such as soft paws, small plastic caps that fit over each claw to prevent damaging scratching, sticky tape to put over areas to detract cats from scratching. A sturdy cat tree or scratching post help to. De clawing is as barbaric as tail and ear docking. It is not simply removing the claw. IT IS AMPUTATING THE FIRST DIGET OF THE PAW. How would you like that done to you hand. Many declawed cats end up in shelters or worse dead due to their stupid owners. nerves are cut, pain is tremendous, using the litter box almost impossible. Most people do not want cat **** on their floor. Maybe you should get a dog and leave the cat to a responsible owner who understands that cats need to be loved for what they are not what damage they could potently do.

Answer 8

When is the best time to declaw a cat?
See these articles about declawing, written by vets:
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=002
http://www.declawing.com

The best time to declaw a cat is - Never.
Trim the sharp tips off of their claws if they're breaking your skin or scratching the sofa. A vet or groomer can do it for you & show you how. See http://www.catscratching.com for details. Put 'sticky paws' (double-sided sticky tape) on the areas of the furniture the cat might be tempted to scratch, and/or use a deterrent device such as a Ssscat! (from Petsmart or various online sources) to discourage the cat from scratching the furniture. Provide good alternate scratching sources - scratching posts need to be at least 24" tall, very sturdy (cats won't use a wobbly post), and covered in a rough-textured material such as sisal or carpet backing (soft carpeted posts rarely appeal to cats). Provide alternate horizontal scratching surfaces too - a heavy sisal mat, a cardboard scratcher from the pet store, or a small log with the bark still on. http://www.purrfectpost.com/ has nice attractive vertical & horizontal posts. Put them near where your cat naps & spends most of his time. Get (or make) a cat tree for your cat to climb on too, and your cat should readily learn to prefer his posts, and you'll be able to take off the sticky tape. If your cat is a determined scratcher, try soft paws: http://www.softpaws.com - a vet or groomer can apply them for you & show you how. If the cat pulls them off initially, just replace the caps that have come off, and put a bit of bitter apple taste deterrent (from the pet store) on the caps to discourage chewing.

Answer 9

I got my cat declawed when she was 4 months old

Answer 10

It is never ever good to declaw a cat . De Clawing a cat is like haveing someone removing your fingers to the end of your hand . It is crual and unusal tratment . There must be another way to stop your cat from destroying your funture. Check with local animal rescues they will have a lot of ideas .