declawing

so my cat was attacked by a raccoon when she was only 4 months old
i was surprised that she lived. Her back foot got extremely infected aw: she had bloody stools and was very anti social
but she recoved and almost a year later she is happy as a clam
but her foot has a few claws that wont go back in because of the scar tissue
so should i get only those claws removed or all on that foot or even any at all or if i get one foot dont should she get the other 3 ?:slant:

Are the claws causing a problem? That may help you come to a decision.

they catch on things and when shes on peoples laps they hurt, she gets the stuck in the carpet sometimes but they dont seem to hurt her she is getting better about not getting them stuck on things but she still does occasionally

If she has no medical problems from those claws, then my opinion is no. You can always clip them or put soft paws on that foot.

Well, if trimming them isn't helping, then I'd ask the vet(s) what they think about declawing those toes or that paw only.

This is definitely an issue you want to address with her vet, keeping in mind that they may advocate for declawing her simply to make money. The real question needs to be about what is in her best interest and health. Things I would want to know are (and this list is by no means exhaustive): are her un-retractable claws causing her pain? Would declawing only one of the back feet make it awkward or uncomfortable for her to walk? Will she be off balance if she is declawed in the back and not in the front? Is it possible that one of her damaged claws could snag and damage the foot? 

To be clear, I do not think any cat should be declawed unless it is a medical necessity for the health and well being of your furry friend. You may be in the medically necessary category but you need to do a lot more research first. Asking on TCS is a good start but you really need to get a vet's expert opinion. And, I wouldn't ask just one vet- I would for sure get a second opinion. 

Remember that declawing can lead to behavioral problems so it's not something you want to dive into and, if you do find it to be medically necessary, you would want to declaw as few of the feet as possible. Declawed cats are more prone to litterbox aversion (because litter hurts their feet), biting (because they have no other way to defend themselves), and general discomfort (because they can't do the thing that comes naturally to them: scratch). Scratching serves way more of a purpose than just sheathing the nails. It's the primary way cats scent mark their territory. Take that away from her and it opens the door to a whole host of other problems. 

That said, I think declawing the back feet is not nearly as detrimental as declawing the front. It will impede her ability to climb and may affect her litterbox usage but she would still be able to defend herself and mark her territory. Keep all this in mind when making your decision. 

So long as you do your research on the possible consequences and approach the issue by what is truly in her best interest then you will make the right choice. That may be to declaw and it may not be- only you can determine that but load up your arsenal with information from a variety of sources first. Good luck!