I can't afford a vet for my kitty

Question

I don't have enough money to take my new kitten leo to a vet I priced the nearest vets and i can't afford them but she really need her claws taken out what should I do now she has clawed up the whole house

Answer 1

unless you want to pull them out yourself, the vet is your only option.  or you can trim them.

you can also buy this thing where you glue caps onto the claws, but often they fall off.....but it's worth a shot.  any pet store has it for like 10 bucks i think.

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hey, read my question too!!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?...

Answer 2

Get some nail clippers and trim her claws weekly. I have to do that with one of mine because he hurts himself as well. Trimming their claws is a lot kinder than declawing (removing claws). Declawing causes not only behavioral issues but also health problems.  

Answer 3

you can just try clipping them and trust me u do not want to take out a cats nails, i did that to one of mine and she got a little depressed it might sound funny but its true xD

Answer 4

Find a vet that will work with you on a payment plan.  Or better yet, teach your cat what he is and is not allowed to scratch.  Get him a scratching post and everytime he uses it, praise him and give him a treat.  When he scratches something he's not supposed to, squirt him with water.

Answer 5

WTF you want her claws taken out! What is wrong with you, cats have claws! You shouldn't have got it.  

Answer 6

You just posted this question: "My kitten is under fed and is very very skinny"

and now your biggest issue is declawing?

Take the kitten to a shelter and hope someone who can take care of her adopts her.  Your priorities are way off.

Your kitten is probably very upset at her lousy treatment.  She should have kitten food and vet care (vaccines, dewormer, blood test, check-up) and since you're providing neither you should not have a kitten.  

Answer 7

I really can't believe that the practice of declawing is still legal in some countries, most have banned it already.  It is an extremely painful operation for your cat to go through and it is mutilation.  A lot of people say their cats personality changed after having it done.

Cats are given claws for lots of reasons, they use them to climb and to defend themselves from other animals.  To take them away would be like chopping your fingers off.  

Cats have to scratch to keep their claws in shape.  A much cheaper and more humane way to stop your kitty scratching your furniture is to buy them a scratching post.  They will happily use it and young cats are easily trained.

Alternativly, if you don't want scratches then don't buy a cat.  It is not fair to buy an animal and then mutilate it because you don't like their natural instincts.  That's called animal cruelty.

Answer 8

you have to train her not to claw up. personally i dont like cats being declawed but whatev. your opinion your cat:]

start by going to the pet store and and ask them how they would train a cat not to scratch up things, my mom baught a scratching post for out cat and theres this stuff called boundry for cats and doggs if you spray it on things not to be scratched the cat should stay away. it was no smell to it at all and no color or anything hope this helps<3

Answer 9

Make Leo a nice little home on your front stoop.  

Answer 10

Oh poor kitty... Do you ask your friends if they have  a friend who have a friend ..well a friend who know or they are vet?If not open lemonade stand for the kitty.:) :(

Answer 11

Hi there again Autumn... consider trimming Leo's nails as this is easiest to do when kittens are young.  Kittens/cats who have their nails trim will not able to destroy the home carpeting, furnishings, draperies...etc. because it their claws are dull.

Here is an instructional video on how to safely nip the tip of the cat's nails: http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/pet/fh...

Oftentimes cats who are declawed will develop litter box avoidance behaviours--inappropriately urinating outside the box around the home.  The reason they do this is that they experience pain whenever they use the litter box so they start to believe it is the litter that's hurting their feet instead of the fact their toes are hurting so they urinate everywhere, but the litter box.  Many shelters can confirm this fact if you'd like to call any of them.  

Consider watching the video, it is very easy and so helpful to stop Leo from clawing the home.

You mentioned that you are only 14 so have your parents watch the video too so the whole family can learn how to do this safely without injuring Leo's nails.

Answer 12

Just file down/ trim her nails for now and maybe train her not to do so?

Answer 13

First off ... no cat NEEDS their claws taken out. It is a cruel and barbaric procedure. Read up on what is actually done to cats in a declaw procedure. They don't remove just the claws, they remove the entire knuckle and bone, cutting nerves and tendons along the way.

You have freely here admitted that you do not have the money to properly care for this cat. So by your own admission you are being cruel to keep an animal in a manner that is unacceptable. If you cannot afford to properly keep an animal, YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS ANIMAL!

You want her "healthy" yet you are willing to have her toes mutilated? How does this keep her healthy?

If she is harming herself and was abandoned, perhaps you need to keep her confined to one room or area of your house. If she was abandoned it most likely is scary and new for her to be in a house now.

Instead of putting your efforts into mutilating your kitten, you need to put your efforts into proper education for yourself and training for your kitten.  

Answer 14

Please don't declaw the cat. Cats should have there defending features in case anything happens. Check out the website below and in the bottom it has soft paws that you should check out also.

Answer 15

you should have considered the cost before you make the decision of getting an animal, why should you punish the animal by removing the claws when they are doing something natural to them. get the cat a scratch pad, it will help because they need a place to scratch their nails.

Answer 16

having her claws removed is not recommended as it causes personality changes and pain...you should buy some books on the proper way of training her to use a scratching post and that will solve the problem...you are simply trying to help a stray animal so ignore the people who are demanding you get rid of the cat...proper training is the best solution...and as a previous person stated some of the bone and ligaments are removed during a declawing operation...i mean after training methods have ultimately failed having a declawing operation can be used if you absolutey cant have her messing up your furniture...otherwise i strongly advise against it...and a lot of the time the cat is perfectly fine after a declaw with no adverse effect except being limited in their climbing and things of that nature and an indoor cat is perfectly fine without claws as long as it doesn't have any complications from the surgery or personality changes...