My cat is 5 years old. Is it too late to get her declawed?

Question

I couldn't afford to get her declawed when I first got her, and now I'm afraid to get new furniture because she scratches it.

I've had this cat 5 years. I've used scratching posts, the spray on furniture to keep her from scratching, water bottle to scold her. She still scratches the furniture. Trust me, I feel guilty about considering this, but I don't know what else to do.

Answer 1

Yes - it is definitely too late. If you must declaw, it should be done before the cat turns one year old, when they are young enough to heal properly and adjust to the procedure.

Please, don't declaw your cat now! Five years is much too old! True, it used to be common practice to declaw, but recent research has proven that it can be an extremely painful procedure and many cats have complications and long-term behavioral problems afterward. The surgery is actually a complete amputation - very invasive! I work at the Humane Society and the majority of our older declawed cats have issues with biting and being aggressive.

I recommend using Soft Paws! They are inexpensive caps that can be applied over the cat's nails. You can buy them at PetSmart and put them on yourself or have your vet do it. They do need to be replaced periodically - but your cat will thank you!

Answer 2

Don't get her declawed, it is very hard on the cat at any age, but especially after your cat has had claws for 5 yrs. If she gets outside, she can't defend herself if attacked by another cat or a dog or human. She will no longer be able to climb trees or jump on the fence, or any other things she once was able to do.
Start training her now to not scratch the old furniture and once she stops, then get new.
Get her kitty furniture of her own, they have stuff to keep cats from scratching were you don't want them to. I gave my cat his very own rug to scratch on and it's right in front of the sofa he use to scratch on. Only let your cat out around the furniture when you are there to supervise, until she is trained. My cat is 16 yrs old and it took 2 days for him to learn that the throw rug is the ONLY acceptable place he can scratch. He actually loves his rug. Doesn't even want to scratch anywhere else now. Try that first, and the spray, to put on the furniture you don't want her to scratch on. If you see her start to go for the furniture to scratch, tell her NO real loud and give her a little spray with a water bottle. Do not let her around the furniture when you are not able to watch her, confine her to one room where she can't do any harm if you are not home until she learns.
Ask for help at your local pet store what they reccomend for that, I forgot what it is called. I never had to buy it. The rug worked like a charm.
The funny part is, I didn't actually give him the rug, until I noticed him scratching on it, and thought better the rug than the furniture and it became his!

Answer 3

It is not too old to get you cat declawed.
I just want to ask you why you would do such a thing though?
Picture someone taking a pair of scissors and cutting your fingers off at the first knuckle. That is really what you are doing to your poor cat. You can buy things to deter your cat from clawing your furniture, (cat scratching post).
I feel sorry for your cat if you do decide to get it declawed.
By the way, it is extremely painful for the cat to have it's claws removed. I know that it takes at least a good week before they can even use regular kitty litter again, which could in turn cause other problems/issues with your cat.
Please reconsider doing this, ask your vet if there is anything that you can use to deter your cat from clawing your furniture.
I am actually quite surprised that your vet will even do this type of surgery. A lot of vets around here won't even talk to you about it. They find it cruel and demeaning to the cat.
This of course is just my opinion, and you can take it or leave it however you wish.
I will be praying for you cat.

Answer 4

I'm not exactly an animal person but I've been told that declawing a cat is like removing your finger nails. It's very painfull and unnecessary. There are other things you can do. You can buy her things to scratch. And I think there's stuff you can get to treat furniture to get her to leave it alone. I can understand wanting new furniture and not wanting it destroyed. If you don't have a couple scratching posts I'd start there and see if you can train her to use them. Good luck!

Answer 5

Use softclaws...They work so well. 2 of my 3 cats use them and we have no problem with them hurting the furniture or the floors. They really are wonderful products. Go to www.safepetproducts.com they have the best prices that I have found online. They are a lot cheaper, especially shiping, than most other places and you will have then within 3-4 days with the cheapest shipping. For my cats they last anywhere from 2 weeks (older cat who likes to bite them off) to 7+ weeks(younger cat still has them on from when we adopted him 7 weeks ago)... I would also reccomend getting colored ones, that way you can tell when your cat has lost one and you dont have any accidents....If you have any questions about them, don't hesitat to email me...
But yes, your vet would still declaw her at that age, but why put her threw it if you dont have too.

Answer 6

I suggest not to declaw your cat.

If you are afraid they are going to ruin your furniture, why don't you get her scratching posts. Or if you're still unsure, why don't you go put her in a cage (larger that she can move and play around comfortable) if you won't be looking out for her.

I am sorry I've got no more ideas to share to you, just don't do anything to declaw your cat.

Answer 7

Veterinarians will happily declaw your cat (though according to the recommendations from the National Association of Felince Practitioners) they are supposed to "counsel" you before they do it.

What a lot of vets won't tell you is the possible CONSEQUENCES of doing it, expecially when the cat is older. A high proportion of cats surrendered to shelters annually are declawed cats who have become biters or do not use their litterboxes. Those problems are much more difficult to deal with than training your cat to a scratching post or using "sticky paws", plastic end covers or even caps on your kitty's nails.

Do not put your older cat through the trauma of this drastic surgery which is irrevocable and cruel.

Answer 8

yes. I have a male cat you that cannot get declawed, for the risk that he may not wake up afterwards. The best suggestion for you is down at Petco, they have these thing that the cats can scratch and you put them on the corner of your furniture. They blend in too..they're clear. Also, they make these claw nails you (or your vet) stick on the claws and they can't scratch anything..I haven't tried them yet though.

Answer 9

Please don't do it! Furniture is NEVER worth what agony a cat has to suffer by being declawed! Don't even go there! If you are thinking more about your furniture than a living, breathing, feeling, pet friend, then maybe you should sacrifice your supposedly beloved pet to a loving home so you can keep your furniture 'looking new'!

Read these articles on declawing THEN decide if you still want to do it
http://cats.about.com/cs/declawing/a/declawing.htm
http://www.hdw-inc.com/declaw.htm
http://www.declawing.com/

And here are some articles to read on cats clawing and scratching furniture, and alternative preventions:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1310&articleid=166
http://www.fabcats.org/scratching_article.html

Answer 10

Unless the cat lives entirely indoors, removing its claws is not a good idea. If she were to be chased by a dog or another cat, she would be unable to defend herself or climb something to get away.
If her scratching is really that problematic, consider buying her a scratching post. It's cheaper than removing her claws and a lot kinder to the cat.