Should I get my cat declawed?

Mountaindewed · May 20, 2018 at 03:04 PM

My rescue cat needs his nails cut. We couldn’t get him in the carrier and we called the owner of the rescue and asked if she knew of anyone who could come to the house. She offered to come herself.

When she tried to get the cat he started hissing and screeching at her. She decided she couldn’t do it. I don’t blame her. That cat is mean. She said she’ll have to come back and sedate him in order to do it. She said to give her a call in a few days.

So I’m guessing I might have to declaw him. I don’t think it’s healthy for him to be sedated every time he gets his nails cut. And it doesn't seem very practical either.

I don’t want to declaw him, but I kind of feel like it would be the best thing.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

lizardlady · May 20, 2018 at 05:01 PM

How about consulting someone who trains cats to train him to allow his claws to be trimmed.

I an VERY strongly opposed to declawing. It's not just removing the claws. It's amputating the first joint of the cats paw. Just my opinion, but I find the practice cruel.

Nammu · May 20, 2018 at 05:05 PM

Second Liz. Very cruel to declaw.

Mountaindewed · May 20, 2018 at 05:08 PM

Thanks. I don’t like declawing either. I’ve trained all my cats to use their cat posts instead of the furniture. I just don’t know how much sedation is good. Sedation scares me. The rescue lady talked about bringing something in case he doesn’t wake up right away. That’s really scary to me.

I’ll have to ask her what my options are.

lizardlady · May 20, 2018 at 05:13 PM

How about calling your vet's office and see what they suggest?

Mountaindewed · May 20, 2018 at 05:16 PM

My vet actually is part of the rescue. The owner will be talking to the vet about what to do about it. My cat was so friendly today. I really hope there is another solution.

Mountaindewed · May 20, 2018 at 05:25 PM

I’ve been told that declawing changes their personalities as well.

Deejay14 · May 20, 2018 at 05:37 PM

Hi,
Right now I have four cats. One is 19 and a rescue who was declawed when we got him. Always has been a sweet boy. We have three young cats and none have them have been declawed. We bought a rope cat post and they all n a naturally gravitated to it. They use the cat post to keep the length of their claws down. They each use it everyday. Well worth the $$ but not terribly expensive to begin with. Also none of our cats are allowed outside. They are strictly indoor cats.

Nammu · May 20, 2018 at 05:40 PM

Physical mutations are never the solution and yes declawing a cat can cause a great many behavior problems including not using a litter box and aggressive biting. Far better to train a cat to tolerate nail cutting. My cat is a rescue and hated me clipping his nails. We worked on it and he now tolerates it but still it's not his favorite activity. He knows he'll get his favorite treat when it's all over.

Mountaindewed · May 21, 2018 at 02:47 PM

Yeah I’m not going to declaw him. I just came back from my aunts and her cat is declawed and was trying to bite us. My cat has all of a sudden gotten very friendly these past two days.

I’ll try other options.

88Butterfly88 · May 21, 2018 at 08:13 PM

Happy to hear you decided not to declaw. I hope you find something that works.

Mountaindewed · Jun 07, 2018 at 07:07 PM

I finally got his nails cut. we had to have someone come over and sedate him. But it worked out. She said he only needs them cut every 6 months. She says she can come back in 6 months. He also has started sitting on our laps these past couple weeks. It’s a totally new thing. The vet suggested we try cutting his nails when he’s sitting on our laps. She says even getting them cut one at a time at different times would work.

Luckily everything has worked out.

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lizardlady Legendary Member Since Nov 2002 Location: Mid World Posts: 17,483 (SuperPoster!) 21 7,513 hugs given	May 20, 2018 at 05:01 PM #2 How about consulting someone who trains cats to train him to allow his claws to be trimmed. I an VERY strongly opposed to declawing. It's not just removing the claws. It's amputating the first joint of the cats paw. Just my opinion, but I find the practice cruel.
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Nammu Crone Member Since May 2010 Location: Some where between my inner mind and the solar system. Posts: 71,285 (SuperPoster!) 13 53.6k hugs given	May 20, 2018 at 05:05 PM #3 Second Liz. Very cruel to declaw. __________________ *Nammu* …Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …... Desiderata Max Ehrmann
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Mountaindewed Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jun 2016 Location: Where the sidewalk ends Posts: 36,123 (SuperPoster!) 7 8,737 hugs given	May 20, 2018 at 05:08 PM #4 Thanks. I don’t like declawing either. I’ve trained all my cats to use their cat posts instead of the furniture. I just don’t know how much sedation is good. Sedation scares me. The rescue lady talked about bringing something in case he doesn’t wake up right away. That’s really scary to me. I’ll have to ask her what my options are.
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lizardlady Legendary Member Since Nov 2002 Location: Mid World Posts: 17,483 (SuperPoster!) 21 7,513 hugs given	May 20, 2018 at 05:13 PM #5 How about calling your vet's office and see what they suggest?
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Mountaindewed Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jun 2016 Location: Where the sidewalk ends Posts: 36,123 (SuperPoster!) 7 8,737 hugs given	May 20, 2018 at 05:16 PM #6 My vet actually is part of the rescue. The owner will be talking to the vet about what to do about it. My cat was so friendly today. I really hope there is another solution.
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Mountaindewed Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jun 2016 Location: Where the sidewalk ends Posts: 36,123 (SuperPoster!) 7 8,737 hugs given	May 20, 2018 at 05:25 PM #7 I’ve been told that declawing changes their personalities as well.
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Mountaindewed Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jun 2016 Location: Where the sidewalk ends Posts: 36,123 (SuperPoster!) 7 8,737 hugs given	May 21, 2018 at 02:47 PM #10 Yeah I’m not going to declaw him. I just came back from my aunts and her cat is declawed and was trying to bite us. My cat has all of a sudden gotten very friendly these past two days. I’ll try other options.
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88Butterfly88 Moderator Community Support Team Member Since Dec 2015 Location: New Jersey Posts: 54,190 (SuperPoster!) 8 10.5k hugs given	May 21, 2018 at 08:13 PM #11 Happy to hear you decided not to declaw. I hope you find something that works.
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