Im Looking For Vets That Declaw Cats What Questions Should I Be Asking
Be sure to ask whats included in the procedure. Always confirm that:
- Nerve block will be used in each of your cats paws that will be declawed.
- Pain medication will be prescribed for 7 days after the declaw surgery.
These are must haves regardless of where you go for the procedure.
If you come to Cherished Companions, well make your cat as comfortable as possible.
Looking for vets that declaw cats?
If you want to discuss cat declawing and you live around Castle Rock or Denver, call our cat vets at 303-688-3757 or:
Every Surgery Carries A Risk
When the kitty is under surgery, theyre put under anesthesia. Even if it hardly happens , some cats never wake up after being put to sleep for the surgery. Anesthesia should only be used when its necessary for the cats health. Declawing kitties is an unnecessary procedure that brings a risk of not only a bad reaction to the anesthetic agent but also other health issues Ill bring up.
You May Like: What Does Catnip Do To Cats
What Can I Do Instead Of Declawing My Cat
Nail caps or claw covers, such as Soft Paws, can be a great and immediate way to protect your surfaces while youre working with your cat to redirect any undesirable scratching behavior. The nail caps can be applied by you, your veterinarian, or a cat groomer, just place adhesive inside the nail cap and slide it on.
You May Like: How Often Should You Feed An 8 Week Old Kitten
Understanding The Procedure For Declawing Cats
As veterinary care providers we are here to help provide you with accurate and unbiased information about declawing cats in order for you to make an informed, educated decision on behalf of your furry feline friend.
- Blade Declawing: An instrument with a sliding blade cuts a straight line through the joint between the entire claw growth and the rest of the cats paw. This is the most common method of declawing kittens or adult cats, and is the most invasive.
What Age Can You Declaw A Kitten
A kitten can be declawed at the age of 5 months. Your vet might recommend doing a month or so earlier or later depending on the growth of your kitten. You dont want to declaw a kitten too early because they will still be growing and it might hurt the development of their feet. Additionally, you dont want to do it too late because the procedure can be a traumatic experience that your kitten will remember for the rest of its life.
You May Like: How Do You Make Cat In Little Alchemy
You Can Cover Your Cats Claws With Caps
Using a product called Soft Paws, which are plastic coverings that can be glued onto a cats nails to prevent them from causing damage when scratching, is another option to consider.
If all of these measures have been tried without success and the only alternative is giving up or euthanizing the cat, then declawing can be considered.
Benefits Of Spaying Or Neutering Your Cat
According to Dr. Jennifer Coates, veterinary advisor with petMD, spaying a female cat before her first heat cycle virtually eliminates the risk of mammary cancer. She says that this condition is especially serious in cats since feline mammary cancers tend to be very aggressive in comparison to other species.
Spayed female cats also cannot develop ovarian and uterine cancers or a potentially fatal uterine infection called a pyometra, Coates adds. Other health-related issues related to spaying include negating the possibility of the complications that can occur with pregnancy and birthing.
For male cats, Coates says that the benefits of neutering are primarily behavioral, although the procedure does eliminate the possibility that a cat will develop testicular cancer as he ages.
Anyone who as ever tried living with an intact male cat will tell you that the vocalizations, escape attempts, roaming, fighting and urine spraying associated with normal tom cat behavior can get old really quick, she says.
Feline AIDS and leukemia can both be spread between cats through bites, often spurred on by sexual competition, says Coates. So, reducing the urge to mate also reduces the likelihood that your cat will contract one of these oftentimes fatal infections.
Recommended Reading: Rick And Morty Talking Cat Theory
Cutting Through The Controversy
Despite the backlash that surrounds declawing, many pet owners choose to go forward with the procedure. Animal cruelty may be a consideration, but some cats are excessively violent when it comes to using their claws. In such cases, declawing may be a last resort before a pet is taken to a shelter. Cats with diseases that cause immune-suppression may not heal easily. Should they continuously scratch themselves, infections can set in. These are just some of the instances in which a pet owner is justified in choosing to have the procedure carried out on his cat.
Is Declawing My Kitten Cruel At What Age Should This Be Done
Home»FAQs» Is declawing my kitten cruel? At what age should this be done?
No, declawing your kitten is not cruel as long as the surgery is done in a humane way. The process of declawing is amputating the last bone in the toes. Declawing is not a comfortable process but with the right pain medications both during and after the surgery, the pain can be managed quite well. All Paws requests that you attempt to train your cat first to use a scratching post or other object, and clip the nails short to prevent excessive scratching before electing to declaw. If those techniques do not work, the declaw procedure can be performed on a kitten as young as 12 weeks of age. The doctors at All Paws will also perform the declaw process on the rear feet, but not at the same time as the front declaw.
Dont Miss: How Do Cats Age Compared To Humans
Read Also: What Is The Name Of The Cat In The Smurfs
What Worked For Me
I will tell you what worked for me and then PLEASE, if you have found things that have worked for you, share them here with our community!
First, keep your cats nails trimmed. You may end up with shredded skin to match your curtains so ask someone for help in holding the animal. If you do not have that brave friend, wrap a beach towel around your cat similar to a baby letting one paw out at a time. Carefully trim the nail to a blunt end being careful not to trim too deep towards the quick. Try to take your time, give kitty lots of praise and many calming words as you do it and then do it often. If you make it part of your routine, your cat will not be so freaked.
Secondly, it is STILL in your fur balls nature to want to groom themselves so they will probably keep trying to sharpen their claws. What has worked tremendously for me and several others are sisal posts! It has the PERFECT texture that cats seem to love to use. I have one hanging on the door where my cats like to watch birds and then one couch high post that I can move around the room. I watched to see where the kitties liked to scratch and then moved the post right in front of the place.
Oh, sure, they will still drag themselves on the carpet from time to time especially when they want a belly rub but the sisal post has been a lifesaver !
Laser Surgery May Be Safer Than Other Methods
The newest practice of laser declawing may prove safer than surgically removing the bone with a Rescoe clipper or scalpel, and this makes it the preferred method for declawing in many cases. Laser declawing can seal up small blood vessels during the surgery and lessen blood loss during and after the procedure. Recovery time may be faster and less painful for the cat. However, you will want to make sure that your veterinarian is experienced with the laser method. Extensive training is required in order to perform this laser procedure. The cost for laser declawing can be as much as $500.00 on average.
Recommended Reading: Cat Uneven Pupils
Are There Side Effects From Declawing Cats
Sometimes.
Be sure to discuss all the potential side effects with a veterinarian upfront!
Some cats that are big clawers can turn into biters.
Theres a risk of neuropathy numbness in your cats paws. You may notice your cat limping.
And in older cats which we dont recommend declawing there is greater chance of infection and the need for ongoing pain medications.
Talk to our vets about cat declawing
If you live in or around Castle Rock, Colorado, we welcome your call. Please call us at 303-688-3757 or:
Cherished Companions Animal Clinic is a veterinary clinic in Castle Rock, Colorado. Specializing in the care of cats and dogs, our goal is to help you and your pet feel more comfortable, keeping your stress to a minimum.
This article is intended to provide general guidance about declawing a cat. If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact your local veterinarian.
Why Do The Uk And Us Have Such Different Cat Cultures
“A big difference is that many more cats in the US are kept exclusively indoors,” says Dr Sarah Ellis, an expert in feline behaviour at International Cat Care.
Experts believe Americans are more likely to keep cats indoors because many live in high-rise buildings in the city. Meanwhile, in rural places in the US, there are more likely to be predators such as coyotes and wolves.
Outdoor cats may find more suitable scratching material outside – like trees. It is also unsafe to declaw cats that go outside, as they may need their claws to protect themselves.
However, there is also a cultural difference, says Mr Birdsall.
“For Americans, it’s a matter of freedom and convenience – the right to the freedom to make decisions in terms of how you raise your cat, and convenience, because once you remove the claws, you don’t ever have to worry about you or the furniture getting scratched.”
“By contrast, in the UK, any concerns for freedom and convenience are vastly dwarfed by concern to the welfare of the cat – it’s unthinkable to declaw cats in Europe.”
Don’t Miss: Horse Pellets As Cat Litter
More Invasive Than A Manicure
While our nail matrix and nail bed are attached to the soft tissues of fingers, cats claws are attached to the last bone in their toes. Declawing is the surgical amputation of all or part of a cats toe bones, called phalanges, in addition to the attached claws. If the base of the claw, or ungual crest, isnt removed, the claw may regrow usually in an abnormal way that causes pain and discomfort.
Typically, only the front feet are declawed, although you may occasionally find a cat with all four paws declawed. When you consider that a cat has five toes on each front paw , declawing is similar to performing 10 separate amputations. Thats major surgery.
What Age Is Best To Declaw A Cat
If you consider declawing a cat, its best to have the procedure done when they are young because it will hurt less, and they will heal faster and often better than adult cats.
Some vets can perform a declawing surgery at the same time as a spay/neuter, while others prefer to wait until the animal is at least three months old before declawing them.
If you do decide to declaw a cat, you should be prepared for behavior changes and a relatively long recovery time after their surgery.
Read Also: How To Draw Pete The Cat
Also Check: How To Keep Stray Cats Off Patio Furniture
How To Tell If A Cat Is Declawed A Helpful Guide
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
If youve gotten a new cat or are deciding whether to adopt a cat, you might wonder if the cat is declawed. Getting cats declawed might be declining in popularity recently, but thousands of cats are still declawed every year. Knowing whether your new cat has been declawed can make a big difference in how you take care of them. So, have you ever wondered how to tell if a cat is declawed?
On most cats, its relatively simple to tell if they have been declawed. You should be able to see the very tip of a cats claws even if they are velveted. If you cant see their claws, hold their paw, and put gentle pressure on each toes pad. If they still have claws, that pressure will extend the claw and make it more visible.
Its a good idea to get your cat used to you handling their paws this way if they have claws because it will make it much easier for you to trim their claws in the future.
Interested in checking out the best litter boxes for cats? You can find them by clicking here#ad
Whats Wrong With Declawing
Contrary to what many believe, declawing a cat isnt simply shortening their nails it actually involves a surgical procedure that removes the bones at the tips of their toes. Without these bones, cats have to walk on the cartilage that used to be a part of their joints. Walking on this soft and sensitive part of their feet can not only be uncomfortable for your cat, but it can also cause them to chew on their paws and experience chronic pain.
If you care about felines enough to have one as a pet, you surely dont want to do anything that will harm them. A cat in frequent discomfort or pain is more likely to develop additional behavioral issues like urinating outside of the litter box, increased anxiety, flinching, and excessive chewing. Instead of putting your furry friend at risk of these painful symptoms, consider safe and humane alternatives to declawing.
You May Like: H.p. Lovecraft’s Cat Name
Should An Indoor Cat Be Declawed
Some people choose to declaw cats because it reduces the risk of scratches, especially with young children in the home. Others will declaw a cat because furniture and carpet scratching can damage their home.
Both of those problems can also be addressed with training and other temperament techniques, as well as teaching your kids and any guests how to interact with a cat politely.
You can declaw a cat if you would like, but it isnt necessary. If you do declaw a cat or adopt an already declawed cat, that cat should not be allowed outside. They cannot defend themselves and are at much greater risk if you let them outside after declawing.
How Old Should A Cat Be To Be Declawed
Never declaw a cat. The cat knows that it’s been declawed and it’s defenseless. That causes psychological damage.
A cat shouldn’t be declawed at all. It is a horrible painful surgery for them, especially the recovery period, which can last months. The vet has to remove the nail, the nail bed, and part of the bone, on each of ten toes. I recently read a study that estimated that one-third of all cats who are declawed then go on to have personality problems. That is why shelters are full of declawed cats – the their owners can’t deal with their new personalities any longer, so they give them up. I don’t know how old they have to be and don’t want to know – that’s why I didn’t answer the question.
If you are concerned about what damage a cat might do to your furniture with its claws, there are several things you can do to minimize or eliminate the problem:
Don’t Miss: Cats Age In Human Years Chart
Whats The Recovery From A Cat Declaw Surgery
Typically, well keep your cat for 2 days.
We want to make sure the bandages stay on, and your cat has a confined and quiet space to begin healing.
When your cat comes home, give your kitty time to rest and heal.
We suggest you use paper litter for a least one week.
Regular kitty litter can get into the area thats healing and cause infections.
Cats are very good at hiding discomfort. Be sure to give your cat the pain medication, even if he or she is acting normal.
Are Indoor Or Outdoor Cats Better Off
- Indoor cats tend to have longer lifespans, because they are less likely to get hit by cars or encounter feline viruses.
- However, indoor cats need good environmental enrichment – otherwise they are much more likely to develop psychological problems
- Indoor cats in multiple-cat households are more likely to experience stress-related disorders if they don’t get on, because cats are naturally solitary animals
- Outdoor cats can express their inherent behaviour more readily, such as hunting and playing with bugs
- Vets say outdoor cats can appear braver, and more psychologically balanced, as they are challenged multiple times a day
- However in rural parts of the US outdoor cats are much more likely to encounter predators
You May Like: What Is The Name Of Gargamel’s Cat