Neutering and Declawing

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Neutering and Declawing
38
Wed, 09-07-2005 - 10:56am
Our Baxter was neutered and front claws declawed last last Tuesday, 8 days ago. He came through it fine, acted normal the first day home, excited to be back home. We've been using shredded newspaper for litter and he had pain meds for the first 4 days and just finished his antibiotic, no signs of bleeding or discharge, seems to have healed quickly, as the vet said she expected him to. My question is, from his second day home until now, he has been just not as playful as he used to be. He still likes to climb up to the refrigerater and walk on the kitchen cabinets, has a great appetite, and purrs a lot. But he isn't chasing his toys and acting quite as playful as he did before the surgery. Is he still recovering and tired after 8 days? The vet says he is 6 to 8 months old. He's acting perfectly normal in every other way, just not going nuts and jumping around over his toys, and naps a lot. Am I just worried about nothing, and should we just wait a few more days for him to get excited about his toys again, or should I call the vet? I feel like such a worry wart, but he's our baby!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
Wed, 09-07-2005 - 11:14am
I would watch him,he may be sore,as long as eating ete. I lost my sweet Ellie a week after so please watch(see my site for info on her)


^Dusty^,^Tiger^,^Ellie^and Scooby,Elvis and Maggie’s Mom,
Rachael and Jordan‘s Mom
Visit Our Website!
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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-07-2003
Wed, 09-07-2005 - 11:35am

His paws might still be a little sore.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Wed, 09-07-2005 - 12:02pm
Wow I can't believe people still do this to their cats! Can't believe there are vets who still perform this surgery, either. Why didn't you just buy a clipper and clip his claws on a regular basis? It's much more humane. There is no need to traumatize cats by having their claws removed. Iri
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 09-07-2005 - 2:19pm

Yes there are still vets who perform this - we only do it if it's a matter of the cat winding up in a shelter.

Cat =^..^=
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-07-2003
Wed, 09-07-2005 - 2:20pm

Many people have their own opinions about declawing and that's perfectly O.K.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 09-07-2005 - 2:21pm
I agree, he may be somewhat sensitive on his toes.
Cat =^..^=
Avatar for earnhardt_jr_fan
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 09-07-2005 - 2:39pm

Yes, people do still declaw their cats. Most people do NOT do it because they enjoy putting their cat through the pain of this particular procedure.

I declawed my first cat because I had small children and she still managed to cut them even with her nails trimmed every week. She would pretend to love my girls and when they would try and pet her, she'd swipe at them. After the second or third time, I was done. She was declawed. She still tries to swipe at people (she's a grouchy, grouchy cat!), but at least she's not hurting anyone anymore.

I did not declaw my second cat and I am regretting it terribly. When he was younger, he was VERY good about his claws. As he's gotten older, he's getting really bad about them. He's ruined my furniture, he's clawed me, he clawed my kids and now he's using them to swat our dog's rear end when the dog walks by him. I clip his toenails a couple times a week because they grow so fast. I've bought him towers, toys and everything else people have recommended to stop the destruction. He will not stop. I am regretting not having him declawed. He's still a pretty young cat (only a year old) and I am seriously considering having him declawed because he's out of control.

So, before we bash someone for their choices, we should know the entire story behind the choice they made. As I said, most people do NOT declaw because they enjoy putting their cats through pain. Most do it because they had no other choice. Oh, and I assure you -- most people DO have clippers and DO clip their nails. Yet, some are still destructive - I see it firsthand.

Brandee ~ furmom to Daisy (calico), Earnhardt (bengal mix) and Sam (beagle)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2002
Wed, 09-07-2005 - 2:51pm

Hi Joanie!

I am ready to throw my laptop out the window.....I just wrote you a long message with lots of (hopefully) helpful info and when I went to post it just disappeared and all the post was erased! AAAGGHHHH!!!! I'm at work and don't have time anymore on my lunch to write it over again but if you email me through my profile I'd be happy to write you later with more info. I basically wanted to say we all may not like declawing but I know you love your Baxter and just want to help him.

Here is a site with info on behavior problems that can occur after declaw:

http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm

I have experience with declawed and non-declawed cats and want to share but I'm out of time.....darn this computer!

I am sure Baxter is still healing and it will take time for him to feel up to playing much. Declawed cats walk differently than other cats since their front digit of their toes are amputated. I'm sure he's just hurting still and needs time to recoop. I want to tell you more but can't right now. Please write me or I'll post more later when I'm home.

Good luck!

Hugs,




Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 09-07-2005 - 3:17pm

I used to be totally against declawing cats and still am just because an owner wants it done, but I have learned through this board that there are times when some cats need to be declawed.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Wed, 09-07-2005 - 4:24pm
I can understand some people not believing in declawing, and believe me, my mom and I thought long and hard about this decision. It was not an easy one! Baxter was a stray, he walked into my office one day skinny and sick. None of the no-kill shelters in my area could take him, so I felt bad for him and took him home. Long story short, my mom and I quickly fell in love with him. I am rarely home and my MIL and daughter are allergic, so my 76-year-old mother agreed to "share" Baxter with me, and he would live with her. I live very close by. We took him to a wonderful vet, and it turned out he had "hemobart" which is a very serious disease, and he almost died. We had to leave him there for 5 days, and even the vet didn't think he would make it. He did! We brought him home, he got stronger every day, and as he got stronger, he fought with us when we tried to give him his medicine, even made my mom bleed on several occasions, not his fault, but nonetheless hard for her. He also scratches on her new furniture, and she can't always be right behind him, but didn't want to coop him up in one room a lot of the time. At first we weren't going to have him declawed, we researched it, then talked to a lot of our friends, and the vet who we trust. We basically saved him from what would have been a certain death, and now he is a wonderful pet, my mom adores him, my whole family loves him, he loves company, shows off for everybody, he's spoiled rotten, the vet is thrilled with his recovery from the hemobart, so we feel that getting him declawed was the best option in this case. He has no bleeding whatsoever, and has been up on the refrigerator napping several times with no problems! He has a follow-up visit with the vet in 3 more weeks, but if he doesn't seem 100% and chasing his toys in a few days, I'll call the vet. Thanks everybody for your advice, and I'll check out that website that someone posted.

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