topic Re: declawed cat question in Pet Lovers

declawed cat question

happycat — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 15:02:49 GMT

I just got home, and a little momma cat came to me meowing as soon as I got out of my car. I was talking to her and she started rubbing all over my legs, I picked her up, and when she wanted down, I noticed she wasn't scatching. It looks like she has very short claws, but cannot scratch.

I put food out for her, but she left when I was bringing in groceries.

When cats are declawed (I have never had a cat declawed or had a declawed cat) are there still short claws on the feet?

Re: declawed cat question

QP Doll — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 15:15:28 GMT

No, they cut their toes off at the first nuckle when declawed. ...So Barbaric!!!!

Re: declawed cat question

deweydoo — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 15:17:27 GMT

First of all, the poor cat should not be outside if declawed. Absolutely no way to defend itself.

Second, declawing is amputation, no sugar coating that, and is extremely painful for cats to endure for life.

Third, if you are so worried about a cat damaging your furniture by scratching, don't get one.

Fourth, I have always cut my cats claws, with special scissors made just for that, I do it every 3 weeks and have never had any issues. They sit and let me do it, no pain at all, just have to watch out for the vein, that is clearly visible.

Re: declawed cat question

Venezia — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 15:21:09 GMT

No, it sounds like her owner just keeps her claws clipped, as s(he) should. When they're clipped, it removes the "hook" from the claw that catches on things.

There is absolutely no excuse for declawing a cat. Barbaric is the word for it, all right, and it should be banned, as it is in most European countries.

Re: declawed cat question

geezerette — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 15:28:10 GMT

Sometimes outside cats will wear their claws down very far, down to the quick. What's left of the claws are blunt and don't feel at all like a sharp, long, grown out cat claw.

Re: declawed cat question

valb — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 15:30:05 GMT

had 2 adopted cats that were declawed and no they had no claws at all. however, while it may have been painful when done, they never showed any sign of pain and i held and massaged their paws pretty much daily because they both liked to hold hands. they also lived to 17 years of age and never showed any sign of pain. i do not recommend the procedure, but think perhaps there are different levels of procedure and perhaps procedure is performed with different levels of expertise?

Re: declawed cat question

StylishLady — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 15:38:48 GMT

Year ago, DH picked up a stray kitten off the road, a really nice all black cat. She had the misfortune of clawing my curtains to chase flies. It was either "declaw" or SPCA. We chose the former. She lived a full life to age 21.

Re: declawed cat question

happycat — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 15:44:54 GMT

@Venezia wrote:
No, it sounds like her owner just keeps her claws clipped, as s(he) should. When they're clipped, it removes the "hook" from the claw that catches on things.

There is absolutely no excuse for declawing a cat. Barbaric is the word for it, all right, and it should be banned, as it is in most European countries.

I've had cats for years, and I didn't know clipping a cats claws was even a thing.

My dh found a kitten last Thanksgiving and I swear after we got him well, he would try to climb me like a tree. Thank God he has grown out of that. If he hadn't I'd be calling the vet on Monday to see about clipping those claws.

Re: declawed cat question

Venezia — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 15:46:19 GMT

The cats' rescue shelter I support will not allow any cat to be rehomed to anyone who would have the cat(s) declawed.

If you don't want a cat to "claw" anything and you're not willing to keep the claws clipped to avoid damage, don't have a cat. Get a different animal, if you want company.

Cats are not able to show you they are in pain, but declawing causes nerve damage, no matter how "well" it is done, and alters movement, the same way it would affect a person who had the first sections of his fingers amputated. The animal learns to live with it - what other choice does it have?

Barbaric mutilation to serve a human's needs.

Re: declawed cat question

Venezia — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 15:49:46 GMT

@happycat - It's easy to clip a cat's claws, but the sooner it's started, the better. Videos are available online and every vet would be able to show you how simple it is. Mine would do it free with every visit, too.

(My cats just sit in my lap and let me do it.)

Re: declawed cat question

lynne6was7 — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 15:59:29 GMT

Cats can have a defect where they can't extend their claws. If that's her case, she won't be able to defend herself outside. (Even a cat with short-clipped nails should be able to extend them, and you would feel them although not needle-like.)

I hope you can get her to a nice, safe home. But, if it appears she is nursing, you will have to find the kittens too. Maybe if you start setting out food, she'll bring the kittens to you. (That's what happened to me many years ago. I ended up taking in mama and four kittens. They were lovely pets even though originally "feral." They immediately adapted to housecat status.) Good luck - a plus that she let you hold her.

Re: declawed cat question

geezerette — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 16:33:56 GMT

@lynne6was7 wrote:
Cats can have a defect where they can't extend their claws. If that's her case, she won't be able to defend herself outside. (Even a cat with short-clipped nails should be able to extend them, and you would feel them although not needle-like.)

I hope you can get her to a nice, safe home. But, if it appears she is nursing, you will have to find the kittens too. Maybe if you start setting out food, she'll bring the kittens to you. (That's what happened to me many years ago. I ended up taking in mama and four kittens. They were lovely pets even though originally "feral." They immediately adapted to housecat status.) Good luck - a plus that she let you hold her.

Also, some cats just don't naturally extend their claws when they're on you. I have two cats and I keep their nails trimmed on both of them. But one always curls his toes and claws while kneading, playing, or just sitting on me. The other one doesn't do that at all. He can be playing with me and I'd never know he has claws because he doesn't extend them with me.

Re: declawed cat question

Sushismom — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 19:50:00 GMT

@StylishLady wrote:
Year ago, DH picked up a stray kitten off the road, a really nice all black cat. She had the misfortune of clawing my curtains to chase flies. It was either "declaw" or SPCA. We chose the former. She lived a full life to age 21.

I'd chose DIFFERENT or NO curtains. And if your curtains were more important to you than maiming your cat, well...

Re: declawed cat question

candys mine — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 21:47:48 GMT

I just have to remember that times have changed. Years ago, declawing was 'a thing to do" with a housecat. Dogs the were lucky to be let into the livingroom let alone on the BED! TImes change, people understand more about their pets and the proceedures they are having done to them. there's more than one way to declaw a cat. the guillitine clipper method, the disection method, the laser method. all remove the nail at the first knuckle. there's even a method that cuts the tendon so they have the claw bur CAN"T extend the nail. How rediculously inhumane is that? Rarely there is a medical reason where an injury may require declawing but c'mon people, if you take the cat, you get the claws too.

Re: declawed cat question

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 00:22:47 GMT

Several states have now prohibited the declawing of cats. Such a heartless thing to do to an animal!

Re: declawed cat question

happycat — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 01:37:17 GMT

Well, the cat never did come back. I left food out there for her, I'm guessing maybe she does have a home, it was canned cat food, my cats gobble it right down. If she comes back, I'll take her to the vet to check for a microchip.

I really don't think she was declawed, after reading your responses. She definitely had claws, I saw them, I guess she just didn't use them when she was wanting down.

Re: declawed cat question

Sushismom — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 02:12:33 GMT

@candys mine wrote:
I just have to remember that times have changed. Years ago, declawing was 'a thing to do" with a housecat. Dogs the were lucky to be let into the livingroom let alone on the BED!

I've had cats for 64 years. Never had ANY of them declawed. Nor did anyone I knew who had cats declaw them.

Re: declawed cat question

candys mine — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 05:20:40 GMT

@SushismomI am not pointing a finger. I am just saying that Declawing USED TO BE a more accepted (Note I do not say acceptable) thing. Otherwise Veterinarians would not have been taught how to do it.

Re: declawed cat question

NickNack — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 13:58:15 GMT

Many many years ago I declawed my cat. I thought it was just something that was done to indoor cats and had no idea what was actually done. There was no internet to look up these things. When I found out much later I was very sorry.

My cat, Henry, never scratches my furniture. Before I got him I bought a nice vertical scratching post and a horizontal one. He uses the vertical one all the time.

I get his claws trimmed every four weeks. I keep track of it on my phone. I have tried to trim them myself but he squirms too much. My friend used to help me, but she won't come over now because of coronavirus. I've been taking him to have them cut since March.

Re: declawed cat question

gizmogal — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 14:00:55 GMT

@Venezia wrote:
No, it sounds like her owner just keeps her claws clipped, as s(he) should. When they're clipped, it removes the "hook" from the claw that catches on things.

There is absolutely no excuse for declawing a cat. Barbaric is the word for it, all right, and it should be banned, as it is in most European countries.

It's illegal in New York and no vet will do it in NY.