cat declawing info

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Cricket

Guest
My daughter brought home a cute little kitty about 10 weeks old. I love cats, but I absolutely hate their claws for many reasons. I may sound uncaring, but I don't want a cat that claws furniture, kneads my leather couches and scratches people. We have had quite a few cats and everyone has done so...and I considered them good cats...it is just their nature to do so. I am too set in my ways to trim their claws or get "soft paws" or hope that they use a scratching post. Most all of my furniture is new including curtains and I do not want to have them ruined by a cat. Now , saying that, my daughter would love to keep this kitten but I said only if it gets declawed. I wish there is another answer but it isn't. Anyone have a declawed cat, and how are they doing? I have read where they don't use the litter box after they have been declawed and ruin furniture and rugs. Of course this info is from a site that is against declawing. so I have to weigh their info and see if maybe it is somewhat exaggerated.The insinuation is that most declawed cats urinate everywhere except in their litter box.
 
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nieciez

Guest
Kathy, we rescued Bella last year at age 1 1/2 and we had her declawed immediately though unfortunately not before she scratched the arm of my leather sofa...luckily a little brown shoe polish maskes the mark. The surgery went well, she had a quick recovery and has used the litter box just fine from day 1. The first two weeks we used a special littler but after that back to the regular scoopable. The vet used laser and that made the healing/trama easier. I don't see what all the hoopla is about and if you can have the cat "fixed" at the same time that saves on putting the cat through two surgeries. The important thing is that the cat shouldn't be left outside once declawed, though I will admit Ms Bella has snuck outside a couple times when the grandkids aren't careful. BTW we only had the front paws declawed.
 
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Bruce

Guest
Re: cat de-clawing info

De-clawed cats CANNOT use cat litter for several weeks, because of the danger of infection. After the time with torn up newspaper instead of litter they will use the box.

As a life long cat person, I am afraid I have to take the side of not de-clawing, it is very painful to the cat, however, if that is the only option other than to turn the cat out, I suppose you do what you have to do.
 
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Whimsy

Guest
We had a cat a long time ago and we had it declawed. Like Denise, only the front claws removed. No problems at all.
 
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nieciez

Guest
They do make special "litter" now that can be used as soon as the cat comes home from the surgery....it is made out of compressed paper into pellets ;)
 
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Lisa63

Guest
Just because they're declawed doesn't mean they won't damage furniture. Our last two cats (before our current one) joined our family together as adults, and both had been declawed years earlier. It didn't stop one of them from harming the furniture, however -- he chewed the corners of a desk and both nightstands. Our current cat, who has all his claws, took well to the scratching post and also selected a wicker hamper, but has not damaged anything of value. A lot depends on the cat.
 
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conniecat

Guest
My Maxie is very good and uses his scratching post. However, Scooter absolutely ruined a couch I had. Upholstery, padding and even torn chunks of the wood framing out.

I had always been the biggest opposer of declawing you have ever seen. But, when I moved and bought a new couch and within a couple days he had pulls all over it, I gave in. It was get rid of him, or the claws, so I had him declawed.

He was 4 years old, older than they like to do it. He came through fine, altho he did develope a slight infection in one foot, but it all worked out fine. I can take his paws and rub them, and he doesn't even flinch, so I know they do not bother him.

After 2 days with Simon, it was obvious he was the destructive sort. between the damage he did to my furniture, he also clawed up my legs and I had problems from that because of my diabetes and edema. So when I had him neutered the vet recommended the declawing. He said at the kitten age they never even notice it, and he was right. The only time I saw any sign of pain was when he went to swat at something and hit the chair instead, kind of hard. He limped for about 10 minutes, then was off like a shot-no problems. His paws too show no sign of pain at all. In fact they are so soft.

The vets recommend you use either Feline Pine, or Yesterday's News litter, for two weeks after surgery. I used the latter litter (lol) and it was great, lasted forever. (It does track worse, tho, I have to keep cleaning up in front of the box.). However Scooter hated it and used my laundry instead, so we are back to scoopable.

All in all I feel pretty foolish for being so anti declawing, it hasn't hurt them and I still have a nice couch, and my legs are healing.
 
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Cricket

Guest
thank you all for your help. I don't think anyone just jumps at the chance to declaw cats...it is a hard thing for me to do, but this kitten already is digging at my furniture material and she jumps up on us holding onto our clothing etc. She is beautiful and the friendliest kitty I have ever known. We want to do the right thing and save her from a bad situation she was in. I called the vet today and ask approximate cost of up -to-date shots, feline aids testing, neutering and declawing and it will cost well over $300! That doesn't count deworming or pain meds for after the operation. I have taken a big step in accepting this kitty, but with the understanding that she is my daughter's kitty and she will take her with her when she gets married! I swore off any more pets except for our Cricket and I mean that, so I am happy to help my daughter out until she gets married, but when my daughter goes, the cat will go! LOL Just watch.... I probably will be balling my eyes out when the time comes for both of them to leave!!
 
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r8derfan

Guest
Please Do not de-claw this kitty. It is a painful procedure for the cat. And cruel. Get a scratching post. Take the kitty's paws and put them on the scratching post in a way a cat sharpens their claws. They pick it right up and will only use the scratching the post. All our cats in my 40+ years have never used our couches.
 
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