Declaw vs retrain a 14-year old cat

parsleysage · Nov 23, 2011

bastetservant said:
I don't know why you are taking this personally. No one is saying anything negative about you. You brought up a topic, asking for opinions. This is a topic that many of us here have strong feelings about. The Cat Site is against declawing. If the view was different than that, I wouldn't be here.
You have to do what you think is right. I've stated what I think is right and what I would do. I'm not slinging mud. I'm just stating what I would be compelled to do if I we're in this situation.
Robin

I guess I am taking it a little personally. There has been a lot of very strong opinion on this thread - which I value and appreciate, the thread has helped me a lot in organizing my thoughts and talking to my friend. I don't slight anyone for their understandably strong reactions. But if my friend does decide to declaw, I don't see myself as complicit, which I guess I feel is the implication of me remaining friends with her, according to the view you stated.

She's had Shadow 15 years almost. She loves him. She may not have had very much information about declawing before I and her other friends spoke to her. She is no longer planning to have Shadow declawed, at least at this time. That's a lot better than the "I made an appointment with the vet for an exam/declaw" that she announced last week. If she were to declaw Shadow and something horrible happened, she would end up learning her lesson the hard way, and she would have lost a beloved cat, and a friend to boot. I don't see how me refusing to associate with her accomplishes anything.

Again, I don't want to seem ungrateful to everyone who's posted their opinions - I am, very much so. I just don't agree that I need to give my friend an ultimatum.

parsleysage · Nov 23, 2011

Oops, Tricia, I didn't see your mod post. Feel free to delete my post if you need to.

jcat · Nov 23, 2011

parsleysage said:
Oops, Tricia, I didn't see your mod post. Feel free to delete my post if you need to. :nod:

Our posts "crossed".

I'm glad to hear that she's decided against declawing and hope that she's permanently changed her mind and finds a way to keep him indoors as well as reasonably content there.

feralvr · Nov 23, 2011

[quote name="Ducman69"]

Uhm, yes there is, about any controversial issue. In the real world, people don't always agree with you. Nor is answering the question posed very directly off-topic. If you don't want a debate, then don't debate, and allow people to voice their opinion on the specifically directed question of "What do you think? Should I encourage her to abandon her plans for declaw?" and leave it at that. In fact, considering that my opinion is very much against declawing a 14 year old cat, I have to wonder why you're so motivated to try and censor me.
[/quote]

I actually am not motivated to censor you :lol3:. You make and have some strong opinion's that I wanted to address and why shouldn't I be allowed to do that :dk: I thought my "teacher" post was pretty funny :flail:

Oh well.... :popworm:

feralvr · Nov 23, 2011

parsleysage said:
I guess I am taking it a little personally. There has been a lot of very strong opinion on this thread - which I value and appreciate, the thread has helped me a lot in organizing my thoughts and talking to my friend. I don't slight anyone for their understandably strong reactions. But if my friend does decide to declaw, I don't see myself as complicit, which I guess I feel is the implication of me remaining friends with her, according to the view you stated.

She's had Shadow 15 years almost. She loves him. She may not have had very much information about declawing before I and her other friends spoke to her. She is no longer planning to have Shadow declawed, at least at this time. That's a lot better than the "I made an appointment with the vet for an exam/declaw" that she announced last week. If she were to declaw Shadow and something horrible happened, she would end up learning her lesson the hard way, and she would have lost a beloved cat, and a friend to boot. I don't see how me refusing to associate with her accomplishes anything.

Again, I don't want to seem ungrateful to everyone who's posted their opinions - I am, very much so. I just don't agree that I need to give my friend an ultimatum.

and

this thread got a bit heated over the declawing issue. You are being a very good friend and cat lover by trying to help your friend understand the consequences for declawing her cat. And you are right, disassociating yourself from her would not help this cat :heart3:.. I commend you for your efforts and want you to know I think you are great

in doing so :nod:. Declawing always brings out the :crazy:

:spin: in me and I did not want to make YOU feel bad in anyway. I am so glad your friend is rethinking declawing and wish her and her cat nothing but the best. :cross: :vibes:

jcat · Nov 23, 2011

Please note post #43 It would be a shame to have to continue to delete posts or for you to have to see this .

ldg · Nov 23, 2011

parsleysage said:
Laurie, I think the concern with the SoftPaws at the vet is that Shadow would have to be sedated, according to my friend anyway, due to biting and scratching. Plus the cost, I'm sure

Gotcha. Has she taken him to a vet recently? I ask, because there DEFINITELY are cats that are a real problem at the vet, no question. :nod: But it's wrong to assume what will happen. We've worked with some pretty aggressive cats, and one of our pets we simply cannot clip his claws, period. But at the vet, they're so scared, they can be handled. We take Tuxie to the vet (at this point) to get his claws clipped, because he's just an angel for them. But we need stitches and antibiotics if we try to do it here. :dk: It costs $6 every 6 weeks for the clip. I think they charge $15 to apply the soft paws. So by itself, the cost is likely not prohibitive.

Of course, if he would need to be sedated, then it makes no sense. But if she hasn't tried even a claw clip at the vet, I'm not sure it's a good assumption that sedation would be required. Just a thought.

konstargirl · Nov 25, 2011

Please don't let her do this at all. >< My Misa is declawed and sometimes she misses the litter box. She is a sweetie though and still thinks she has claws and try s to scratch on he scratching post. It makes me sad to see her try to scratch on the scratching post. When I got her, she was already declawed...

parsleysage · Dec 6, 2011

I wanted to provide an update about this situation. Shadow was OK in the house for awhile but became restless, wandering around crying and constantly eating according to my friend. She bought Feliway and tried to calm him down, but after talking with the vet has decided to let him go back outside. She's putting a tag with their phone number on it (why they didn't have that before I will never know) so hopefully if he gets lost again someone will call and she won't have to go the Craigslist-rescue route.

I'm not sure how to feel, but at least it looks like declaw is off the table for good.

arlyn · Dec 6, 2011

See if you can convince her to at least get him microchipped.

ducman69 · Dec 6, 2011

Yeah, that figures, I wouldn't want anyone messing with my routine in my golden years either, heh. Chipping is only around $35 IIRC, and was the RF tag also out of the question budget wise? The collar can always be resold and there are no monthly fees, so total cost of ownership shouldn't be high.

parsleysage · Dec 6, 2011

Arlyn said:
See if you can convince her to at least get him microchipped.

He is microchipped - he was after his first adventure a few months ago. But it doesn't help unless someone traps him & takes him in.

Ducman69 said:
Yeah, that figures, I wouldn't want anyone messing with my routine in my golden years either, heh. Chipping is only around $35 IIRC, and was the RF tag also out of the question budget wise? The collar can always be resold and there are no monthly fees, so total cost of ownership shouldn't be high.

I did a Google search for the RFID and GPS collar thing, and didn't turn up much, shopping-wise. Maybe I'm searching incorrectly? Do you have a link to a shopping result for this type of collar? I'll mention it to her. Most likely she won't spring for it, but maybe she will!

katiesmummy · Dec 6, 2011

This practice is simply barbaric. Simple as that. Thank heavens it's illegal in Europe. Anybody who condones thie practice has no love or respect for animals.

meuzettesmom · Dec 7, 2011

Wow! Lots of opinions here.

One more please.

I had a friend who worked a vets office. She said NEVER EVER get your cat declawed. The cat wakes up from the operation in pain and not sure what they did to deserve this. The troma is too great to put your cat through that.

You have to make the choice. Your cat or your stuff. Who is more important?

feralvr · Dec 7, 2011

Just sending more vibes along for this cat to stay safe living outdoors. I am glad, though, that the declaw is no longer an issue. You have been a good friend trying to help her with this situation. :hugs:

My heart goes out to this cat..... :vibes:

parsleysage · Dec 7, 2011

Thanks everyone for your help. I too am happy that Shadow gets to keep his claws (and play outside like he wants to) and hope he stays safe for his sake and my friend's!!! He is an awesome cat and full of personality. Here are some pictures my friend took of him.

Begging for turkey on Thanksgiving:

Sleeping:

Being cute (she got a great shot!):

ducman69 · Dec 8, 2011

http://www.loc8tor.com/

http://www.discountpetsuppliesstore.com/servlet/the-1610/Loc8tor-Lite-Small-Items/Detail

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Loc8tor-P..._src=14110944&sourceid=1500000000000003260550

BTW, one interesting use for the device I've heard of is as a form of "clicker training". Whenever activated, not only does it point to the direction of the cat, but it makes the device on the cat itself emit a beep. If you reward the cat with a treat for returning home when it beeps, they figure out to come when "called" so to speak.

Range is poor though, they say up to 400 ft, so expect less, but if your cat stays in the neighborhood that should greatly reduce search and rescue operations, heh. And at only 5 grams, I don't think it represents a weight burden.

MeuzettesMom said:
The cat wakes up from the operation in pain and not sure what they did to deserve this.

Are you sure she wasn't talking about a routine spay procedure, which is considered major abdominal surgery and can take up to 14 days to fully heal in mature cats? FYI technology advancements such as the instantly cauterizing (blood vessels and nerve fiber) laser and surgical glue can reduce recovery time to as little as 24hours bandage free, and has made a huge impact in human hospitals.

peekasoph · Dec 8, 2011

My two year old is a cranky cat who hisses and growls and writhes the whole time, but I successfully hold her down while my boyfriend uses Soft Paws on her. Your friend can take this time and effort for her cat. Its clear she just doesn't want to.

rad65 · Dec 8, 2011

peekasoph said:
My two year old is a cranky cat who hisses and growls and writhes the whole time, but I successfully hold her down while my boyfriend uses Soft Paws on her. Your friend can take this time and effort for her cat. Its clear she just doesn't want to.

We should avoid making snap judgements about situations to which we are not familiar. Your cranky, hissy cat may be a sweet angel compared to Shadow when touching his paws. I am not condoning declawing or anything, I just wanted to bring up how absolute your post sounded given how little real information about the cat's temperment you have to work off of.

peekasoph · Dec 8, 2011

rad65 said:
We should avoid making snap judgements about situations to which we are not familiar. Your cranky, hissy cat may be a sweet angel compared to Shadow when touching his paws. I am not condoning declawing or anything, I just wanted to bring up how absolute your post sounded given how little real information about the cat's temperment you have to work off of.

I was just going by her friends unwillingness to try things for her cat. I was only using my situation as an example that determination and love goes a long way in protecting a cat regardless of the methods used to help the cat.

But you are absolutely right. I spoke out of turn without knowing the true temperament of Shadow.

Declaw vs retrain a 14-year old cat

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