Price range for declawing a cat?? Pros and cons???

Question

My fiance wants to get our cat declawed, when I first heard that, it sounded very painful. I do somewhat agree with him that we should get her declawed. I know it is for her best, she will scratch almost anything. I have been doing some research, but I don't want to emotionally hurt her at all.
She will scratch any skin she sees. She has scratched my face, legs, arms, and hands. We also got a nice bed set, that she is scratching it to death.

I think the surgery is best for her, but I do not want to hurt her in anyway. I know that surgeries are painful, but I don't want her to have any long term effects.


Thanks in advance.



P.S. Is there a way to get a cat to stop chewing on wires???

Answer 1

Declawing a cat is like removing a ALL TEN of your fingers. Please teach your cat to use a scatching post. It's not hard. Your cat will be miserable FOR LIFE. I don't know about you but I wouldn't be happy and frilly after having all my finger removed. Would you remove a dogs jaw if it tore your furniture.NO simple, you give it a toy!!same with cats!

And some cats don't like the feeling of cat litter on their declawed paws,which is why amny declawed felines refuse to use their litter trays. and what if your cat is accindentally locked outside and is confronted with a large dog? she will try to scamper up a wall and end up falling because she has no claws to grip with. Either clip your cats nails,train him to use a scatrch post or use soft paws.

http://www.softpaws.com/

Answer 2

How would you like to go through life without your fingernails ?How often do you use your nails everyday,simple things like having an itch to scratch,pulling out a splinter etc.The only pros that I can see are for you without any thought to the cat and if it can be taught not to scratch.{Imagine at a later date that your cat didnot scratch anymore,how would you feel having inflicted this painful and unnatural act apon the animal It is an irreversable act and the claws can not be put back on at a later date.] The cons are that you have to put up with the scratches until you can break it of the habit.The animal obviously does it for a reason as it is not a natural behaviour in cats.Usually they only claw in fighting or defence,not out of spite.I do not think I have really answered your question but I can say that I am firmly against declawing any animal,even the human ones.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Price range for declawing a cat?? Pros and cons???
My fiance wants to get our cat declawed, when I first heard that, it sounded very painful. I do somewhat agree with him that we should get her declawed. I know it is for her best, she will scratch almost anything. I have been doing some research, but I don't want to emotionally hurt her at...

Answer 4

The post-surgery is, of course, the most painful effect of this procedure. The paws are bound in bandages to protect from infection, as well as protect from tenderness of open wound.

Afterward (if healed properly) there is no long term physical effect from the surgery. There is, however, some limitation to the animals natural tendencies (which is the purpose of the surgery in the first place).

It sounds to me like you have acquired a kitten. Kittens are babies and behaviors will change, in time, just as in baby human beings. The scratching especially. Kittens use scratching just as little children use toys... to learn. An adult cat NEVER or RARELY scratches unless provoked or frightened.

The wire chewing, however, could go on a little longer. The explanation for this I can only guess would be something like teething or thumb sucking in a child... but as I say, it would only be a guess. I just know that I have had cats as old as one or two years still exhibit this behaviour. The best course of action would be to protect the wires with a cover which can be purchased at any office supply store. (You can't remove the cat's teeth)

Love your cat, but remember, she is an animal and cannot communicate her feelings, frustrations or confusions to you as well as you can to her. Be patient and kind to her and she will learn how to behave to your liking.

Namaste,

Priscilla

Answer 5

You should, under no circumstances, try to declaw your cat. It is not at all good for the cat, it will harm it because it is not natural. You should explain this to your fiance, and I hope he would understand. If he insists, then he is not a pet-lover and does not care about the cat. There are other ways, like someone said, to prevent the cat from scratching. A good idea would be to buy a cat tree, where the cat can scratch safely... It is necessary for a cat to scratch, it is a natural way to "cut" their claws. If necessary, you can speak to your local vet and advise him/her of your problem, they should be able to give good solutions.

Best of luck :)

Answer 6

Try the cat claw covers
http://www.safepetproducts.com/images/color_choice.jpg
They slide over the cats claws and last about a month or so if I remember correctly. Google "cat claw covers" and see what kinds they have. Because like everyone already said, it's inhumane.
Plus your cat can develop phantom pains, and basically have to live with random pains shooting through their paws. Some cats can't walk after being declawed. You can take your cat to a vet to have her claws cut, or learn to do it yourself, but I suggest the cat claw covers because my cat won't let me cut his claws, he hates it, but I do it anyways and end up with scratches, but I can tolerate it, but if you can't, have a vet do it, or just get the covers. I think that's the best alternative for you.
Cats scratch furniture and objects to mark them as their territory, you can buy products to prevent them from scratching, like sprays and stuff, or you can buy her a scratch post.
I really suggest you don't get her declawed, there is no way to prevent the emotional trauma she's going to go through, or the possible physically scarring she'll develop.

I hope you decide against it. Some cats just like to scratch, is she a kitten or about 2 years old? Maybe she just likes to play. Some times you have to run around with her. Or get her a playmate, but that might not go over well. Either way, good luck.

Answer 7

Declawing a cat could lead to worse behavioral problems than you're experiencing with her now. The procedure to declaw a cat essentially removes the first knuckle of EVER finger to get rid of the claw. Cats sometimes find it difficult to walk or walk differently to compensate which leads eventually to arthritis. While some cats have no bad side effects (I adopted one kitty with claws and one that had been declawed), is it worth the risk for you to find out at a cost of $100-200?

I think the best thing to do when you see your kitty clawing something she's not supposed to would be to redirect her to her scratching post. For furniture you don't want her clawing, you could put two-sided tape up (cats don't like the feeling of the sticky tape on their fur and paws) until she learns not to do it anymore. There are also a few products that you could spray on the furniture that are non-toxic to kitties that are supposed to repell them.

Also, have you heard of softpaws? If you google that, it will show you some information about that method of "declawing." You're essentially putting a little plastic cap over the kitty's claws (they come in all types of fun color combinations), and once the glue unsticks, they just fall off (takes a few months) or the cat might swallow them, but they too are non-toxic. Seems like a good investment to save your furniture and skin!

For wires, I usually keep mine out of reach of the kitten (although I do have this interesting boxed fortress going on around my TV set so she can't be behind it and chew the wires). You could also gather them up and secure them with a rubber band. I've heard wrapping them in tinfoil is a good deterrant because it makes a lot of noise when the cat tries to chew them and it scares them.

Good luck!

Answer 8

DO NOT DECLAW HER. Talk to your vets about getting claw caps on your cats nails. They last for a long time, much less expensive, and not as harming to your cat. A cat can have a lot of problems from getting declawed. It's like the tip of a humans finger getting cut off. So, I hope you reconsider.

Answer 9

Declawing is inhumane..what if the cat gets outside? How is she going to defend herself? Or catch/kill food, like mice?

Try clipping her claws a bit, with a nail clipper. That way she will still have them if needed, and they won't hurt you as bad if she claws you.

Answer 10

NEVER declaw a cat. EVER. get her a 20 dollar scratching post and she will leave your things alone. its cheaper to buy her toys than get her toenails ripped out anyway.