My interest is about the two weeks to heal. I would like to know what you and your cat have been through during those two weeks (how did they walk, use litterbox, did they seem comfortable/uncomfortable,etc.))........I've I've read all the negatives, and moral arguments, but no answers explained what the healing process was like. I'm not asking whether to do it or not, or if is humane or not. I'm not asking for opinions. I looking for descriptions of the two weeks after for someone who has gone through it with their cat. Thank you in advance.
2007-12-20 10:47:20 · 8 answers · asked by Mike M. 5 in Pets ➔ Cats
Thank you nintendo! Our local SPCA has many of both and I couldn't decide if I should adopt a cat that has already been declawed or have it done myself....I'll get one that's already done, I don't think I could deal with what you describe. It's hard to get much more than opinions on here and I thank you for your time.
2007-12-20 11:40:07 · update #1
Yep, sick, nasty, evil, horrible, miserable, etc,. but in spite of you, and thanks to nintendo, more educated
2007-12-20 11:53:15 · update #2
If you do decide to declaw your cat, remember it is a major surgery requiring anestia. The first day home your cat will act very groggy, almost like its drunk and it will seek a warm place to sleep. Make sure its clean and dry too, a towel over a heating pad on the lowest setting should work. My kitten after her spay spent the day on my lap! Keep the cat isolated from other animals, kids, ect in one room with its own food dishes and litter box. Keep the cat from getting overly active for a week, if you can to prevent opening up the wounds.
Getting more specific, the recovery itself will be an ordeal for your cat. Declawing involves removing the first bone of each cats front fingers, plus the normal recovery of the skin and muscle layers being opened and closed. The cat will be in significant pain for the first few days and your vet will probably perscibe pain medication/anti-inflamitories to help. The cat will walk funny for a few days adjusting to the removed bone placing more weight on its back paws, but some cats may not completely go back to the way the walked before the surgery. Your cat will most definatly will not want you to go near her front paws because of the pain, so you made need a helper to check the paws. In terms of what the recovery feels like, imagine going in for sugery to remove the first knuckle of each of your fingers. Its a long road of pain and adjustment as the cat heals. Youll probably see the vet 2-4 weeks after the surgery to remove sutures. Remeber that there is no long term (more than a few days) pain medication approved for use in cats, so after those few days, it will feel everything and it will be unsafe for the cats kidneys and liver to give it more meds. Good luck, itl be a long and painful recovery, in about 6 months the cat will be fully recovered and using it paws normally again.
Your welcome! Im here to educate, not judge.
2007-12-20 11:06:34 · answer #1 · answered by nintendokitty83 2 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I would never declaw a cat. Its cruel. They basicly remove the claw and the first knuckle. sometimes when you declaw a cat they wont use the litterbox because it hurts them to much to use it. Just get a few scratching post and place them around the house my cats have a few and a pretty big cat tree they love to claw up if you disipline them enough they will only use what is theres to claw up. Mine dont touch my furniture. Declawing a cat is actually illigal in some countrys!
2007-12-20 21:11:46 · answer #2 · answered by Tanner and Leahs MaMa 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I never bothered to have my cats declawed because they never scratch the furniture at all so i figured there was no point (plus i dont tihnk my vet does it...some do refuse). But my sister took her cat to a vet that does laser declawing (and had her spauyed at the same time) and her paws were wrapped in bandages for like a day and then she was walking around fine and normal the next day. She had her previous cat declawed the old fashioned way and he was in more pain and she was finding blood droplets on the floor for a few days afterwards. But in both cases they recovered quickly.
2007-12-20 20:23:29 · answer #3 · answered by katskradle 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
adopting an already declawed cat is the most humane route.
but most unaltered cats do not 'wreak havoc' of furniture or people. cats, just like dogs can be trained to do or not do something.
2007-12-21 00:53:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't care if you are not after opinions - its is barbaric and wrong to mutilate your cat. If you think it is necessary to cut off an essential part of a it's anatomy, for whatever reason, you should not own a cat in the first place. Get a fish or something.
2007-12-20 19:33:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Your cat's claws > chopping all of his first knuckles off to save your furniture
2007-12-20 19:07:07 · answer #6 · answered by Edward 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You're sick...if you can't manage a cat with claws, you shouldn't have one. How would you like it if someone mutilated you? But to answer your question, your cat will hate you in two weeks. You're welcome.
2007-12-20 18:53:54 · answer #7 · answered by psyche 3 · 3⤊ 4⤋
sorry can't answer as i can't agree with mutilating it just to save on furnishings........
2007-12-20 19:05:15 · answer #8 · answered by jayne beal 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋