I just adopted a kitten about 9 weeks. She was just neutered last week. I have all new furniture in my new house so i need to declaw her. how long should i wait before it is safe? i would never put her through 2 surgeries without enough time to heal. Thanks for your help!
2007-07-09 07:45:07 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Don't waste the money (and don't put your cat through the surgery)! There are countless alternatives to declawing that save your furniture, your cat's toes, and your money.
First, make sure that her nails are trimmed down. Untrimmed kitten nails are like little pins and needles and can really do a number on your furniture as well as your skin. The first link in my source list has instructions for trimming cat nails as well as some pictures. For your first time, however, you may want to have a groomer or veterinarian show you how.
The second step is to provide the kitten with an appropriate place to scratch. Not having a scratching post in a house with a kitten is like getting a puppy and not having any chew toys. Find a scratching post that's at least 30 inches tall (it seems excessive now but you want it tall enough so that she can stretch out while using it as an adult cat) and that's made of sisal rope, sisal material, or looped carpeting like berber. Avoid plush carpeting as this doesn't offer the cat any resistance so the cat can't really dig its nails in and get a good scratch. Make sure that the scratching post is sturdy - the last thing you want is the scratching post to fall over when she's trying to use it and have it become a scary experience. Put the scratching post in a well-trafficked area of the house to begin with and not in the corner of the spare bedroom. Encourage her to use it by putting treats at the base and by scratching at it with your fingernails (cats usually don't appreciate someone actually picking up their feet and 'making' them scratch so it's best to avoid that). When she begins using the scratching post consistently, you can move it to a more out of the way area. Also check out pet stores for cardboard scratches that lay on the floor. They're made out of corrugated cardboard and only run about $7-15. When the kitten wears out one side you can just flip the cardboard over so she can scratch some more.
If you're still really worried about your furniture, cap those claws. Several companies make vinyl nail caps that you glue over the top of the existing nail (the last two webpages in the source section are links to 2 of these company's webpages). They blunt the claw so much that the cat can't inflict damage. They need to be replaced every 4-6 weeks or so because that's how often the outer sheath of a cat's nail falls off. Again, if you aren't comfortable applying these you can ask a groomer or veterinarian who is familiar with the caps to show you how.
Feel free to contact Cats International. Cats International is a non-profit feline behavior group that guarantees success with scratching problems without declawing. They have many articles on their website (www.catsinernational.org) and you can also contact them directly via their hotline number that's listed on their main webpage.
Congrats on your new kitten!
2007-07-09 08:10:44 · answer #1 · answered by KM 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Kittens have a HARD time controlling their claws until they get approximately 6 months of age so that is totally natural. Use a fingernail clippers and clip the very guidelines of the entrance claws, however DON'T reduce into the purple or it is going to bleed and harm the cat. Taking off the guidelines can aid shop your arms. Soft Paws or Soft Claws are little plastic portions that glue to the cat's claws, get the scale small for a kitten. You can discover the ones on-line or at puppy provide retail outlets. You do not have got to do all 4 paws, simply the entrance. It's anticipated with kittens even though, each new one I bought had me getting in to paintings with scratched hands, until they matured adequate to get a few manage over using them. The extra you socialize and manage the kitten the calmer it is going to be. If you declaw, that might set you up for a biting difficulty (they realize they have got no defenses so the inn to that greater than you would consider) and skills lifetime muddle field disorders (their ft are lacking part their toe period, the muddle field can also be painful for them to move in). Be mindful that declawing takes the ends of the feet off, bone is being eliminated. Look at your possess arms and suppose them with one or 2 nuckles reduce off--that is what they do to the cat. Some have suffering of their paws manner beyond the time it takes the external to heal. It's getting extra ordinary for vets to remember this as mutilation and lots of may not do declawing anymore.
2016-09-05 21:06:28 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You sound like a compassionate pet owner, so I will beg of you not to declaw your cat. I know you have new furniture, but you should have thought of that before bringing a cat into your life. When a cat is declawed they cut off their toes to the first joint, it is painful and disfiguring. I mean, would you like to have the tips of your fingers chopped off? Declawing leaves your cat with no means of defense or escape, as a declawed cat can't climb.
Knowing that, if you insist on having your cat disfigured in this way, please,please keep her inside for the rest of her life. She can never go out if she has no claws.
2007-07-09 08:29:36 · answer #3 · answered by gilliegrrrl 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
So you've decided to declaw your kitten... A harmless way to keep the furniture scratchless right? Wrong.
De-clawing is a cruel procedure that involes amputating the knuckles on the cat. It is very painful for cats and can lead to future walking problems as well as constant pain walking for a long time after surguery.
Some veterinarians refuse to do the procedure.
I have 2 cats that are both unforchantly de-clawed (not my desicision). Our youngest, a 2 years old tabby, was in soo much pain she wouldn't walk and would sit with her paws in her water dish to ease the swelling...
Your best bet is to teach the kitten to use a scrathing post. Place in another room. Be prepared with a spray bottle (you may have issues if the cat enjoys water like ours did before she was de-clawed).
I know i sound cruel but its not the way to go. Please make the right choice...but remember to have your cat fixed!
2007-07-09 08:03:28 · answer #4 · answered by kittykibble 2 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Personally, I'm not for declawing a cat....it's inhumane. Many vets won't even perform this surgery anymore. I am happy, tho, that you got the kitten spayed. Your vet can advise you best on when to have her declawed...I believe the younger the better as it's fairly painful and an older cat would not tolerate it as well.
2007-07-09 07:56:22 · answer #5 · answered by OddDuck 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
First of all.......Do NOT declaw your cat!!
The claws are not just toenails, they are attached to the bones. Hence declawing is basically the same thing as cutting the tips of a human's fingers/toes. Moreover, cats walk on the second bone their toes so declawing can cause the cat to have trouble walking in addition to the fact that it removes their basic way of defending themselves.
If you are worried about your furniture then consider an alternative to declawing. There are many alternatives.
2007-07-09 09:02:30 · answer #6 · answered by Elec 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Our Gracie was done when she was "fixed", about 7 months. 9 weeks is kinda young for surgery. Gracie had more trouble healing from the declaw than the female surgery. Please check into different methods of declaw. I understand there is a lazier procedure available that causes less pain. It's a pitiful sight to see for the first week or so. Be sure to use the proper litter after her declaw. Ask your vet to give you all the details. I had no idea what they go through with a declaw. I didn't do my homework on it before having it done, because it was always thrown around as something easy. It's not!
2007-07-09 08:00:25 · answer #7 · answered by janice 6 · 1⤊ 5⤋
NEVER!!
what your NOT told is the actual procedure is an AMPUTATION!!!
would you cut your last knuckle off to avoid cutting your nails?
Most cats don't like to get wet, if you see a cat scratch your furniture you get a spray bottle with water & spray it!!
EVERY time!!
same with other unwanted behavior like counter surfing etc.....get a scratching post for your kitty.
declawing a cat is terribe!!! if by chance it escapes it has no way to defend it self against a dog or other animal!!
(I have seen stray cats that are declawed working at a shelter)
To most this is an extreme case of abuse!!
LAZY people declaw their cat(s) because they don't want to take the time & train their cat!!!
if thats the case & you have "no time"
GIVE YOUR CAT A LIFE IT DESERVES WITH SOME ONE WHO CAN!!!
I don't care how many of you out there have "expensive" furniture that is NO EXCUSE!!!
don't get a cat then!!!!
get a pet rock, or stuffed animal!!!
2007-07-09 08:45:24 · answer #8 · answered by Jessica b 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Please don't declaw that poor kitty. It's not a reasonable thing to do. Declawing is multiple amputations. Motor and sensory nerves are cut, damaged, destroyed. Recovery from the surgery is typically slow and always painful (how could it NOT be painful??). He could be bleeding to death and that's why vets usually recommend the cat to remain overnight in their facility. Declawing can traumatize your cat and change his temperament FOREVER - he may become untrusting, fearful, a biter or a hider. He can no longer defend himself as he was intended to be able to do. If the surgery isn't done correctly, your cat may literally be crippled for the rest of his life, or you may have to pay a second fee to have the problems corrected.
So please don't.
2007-07-09 07:57:37 · answer #9 · answered by Twiggy 3 · 6⤊ 2⤋
There is no good time to declaw a cat, EVER. If you don't want her clawing your furniture, then make sure she's got an appropriate surface to claw- a good scratching post or something like that, and train her to use that rather than the sofa (like you'd train her to use the litter pan). And they make little soft plastic/latex/silicone (I'm not sure what they're made of ) covers to put on cats' claws. "Soft claws" or something like that. Ask your vet about them, or what the best kind of scratching post is. Please, please don't declaw, though!
2007-07-09 07:57:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋