Has your kitten or cat been declawed?

Question

Please only reply if your kitten or cat has been declawed.Thank you! If your kitten or cat has been declawed, please tell me if he/she had any complications, what the complications were, if he/she had complications right after surgery or after being released, and how long he/she took to heal. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

I don't mutilate my animals.

Cats have claws, don't like taht don't get a cat. Or at least adopt one some other idiot muilated.

Declawing is a sign of a lazy owner. In this day and age there are so many alternatives.

Answer 2

One word - don't!

Claws are natural.  If you don't like your kitten sticking it's claws into your leg when you're giving it attention, buy a cushion to put on your lap.

Spray scratching posts with cat nip to encourage it to use those instead of furniture.  All cats should have a scratching post.

Don't get leather sofas - far to tempting and too easy to ruin!  (cats seem to love the feel of their claws sinking in leather.....)

Cats are trainable.  They will learn right from wrong if you're consistent.  Yes, it takes more time that a trip to the vets for an operation that leaves kitty in pain but it's worth it for a happy cat!

All the cats I've had have known they can only sharpen their claws on scratching posts or outside and that they can sit on my knee and knead away but only when the cushion is there.

Good luck in training your kitty!

Answer 3

DO NOT GET YOUR CAT DE-CLAWED!!!!  

Answer 4

My kitten is declawed, and we had only one small complication. She took like three weeks to heal. The complication was due to the vet we had, she was not very careful when she removed the bandages and re-opened one of her little wounds. So that took one week more to heal, other then that she was fine. She didn't have much pain and was back to her old self only after 2 days. She was chasing my older cat around the house with her cone head and boxing gloves and all...lol  

Answer 5

I know declawing sounds really awful, but we've had many cats over the years with or without their claws.

The ones without the claws left us some furniture without holes to sit on.  We also never got scratched.  We kept all our cats indoors.  

Why let them loose?  With or without claws they can be run over by a car.  

It seems cruel and terrible, but after a couple of months, the cat doesn't know the difference and you will have preserved your skin.

Answer 6

Imagine having your fingernails pulled off, and then being given paracetamol for the pain.

Not a nice image, is it?

Answer 7

That is terrible! I would never get my cat declawed no matter how much they scratch the furniture! It is very painful to them and it's just wrong! How would you like it if I took you to the vet and got all of your finger nails removed just because you were trying to file them down?!?!?!

Answer 8

Sorry I haven't mutilated my cat. Would you please read the following before you commit to it?

http://www.declawing.com/

WHO SAYS DECLAWING IS A BAD IDEA?

Declawing is illegal or considered inhumane in many countries around the world, including in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Israel, Yugoslavia, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil.

In the United States and throughout the world, many respected individuals and organizations are opposed to declawing.



The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (www.aspca.org):

"The ASPCA does not approve of the declawing of cats as a matter of supposed convenience to cat owners. It is form of mutilation and it does cause pain."

The Humane Society of the United States (www.hsus.org):

"It is the policy of The Humans Society of the United States (HSUS) to oppose… declawing of cats when done solely for the convenience of the owners and without benefit to the animal."

http://www.pawproject.com/html/faqs.asp

Is declawing a painful procedure?

Declawing is actually a very painful procedure. In DVM Best Practices, August 2002, veterinarian Kip Lemke illustrates typical levels of post-surgical pain using common surgical procedures. Declawing is associated with "severe pain," compared to spaying ("moderate pain") and neutering ("mild pain"). Pollari states in JAVMA (June 1, 1996), "Because these procedures are so routine, they are often trivialized by clients as well as veterinarians." "Declawing is very painful – there's no question about that…" says Dr. Katherine Houpt, professor and director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

Caneartist - "sounds awful"?? No. IS awful. But hey, what would the Humane Society know.....

Answer 9

My last cat was declawed in front only.  I got her when she was 4 so I have no idea if she had any complications after the surgery or even when it was performed.

She never had any problems although she did display the expected makeup defenses.  Namely, she managed to do more damage with her remaining claws and especially her teeth than she would have with a full set.

I didn't know then that biting was a side-effect of being declawed but she sure fit the textbook definition of that!  

I have not declawed my current two nor will I ever.  They much more well-behaved than Martha was so it's never even been an issue.

The ONLY time I was glad that Martha had been declawed was when I dropped the cedar chest lid on her paw.  Had she still had them I'm sure bones would have broken.  As it was it only gave her a very hard pinch.

I'm going to link you to some questions from people who have had problems with their declawed kitties: