H ow do I get my cat to stop biting his paws bloody?

brand leesnider

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I got my 1 year cat declawed because he is part wild cat and feral cat. The act of clipping he nails was too stressful on him. So now he is biting at his to declawed front feet to the point of bloody open sores. The declawing was done two weeks ago. How do I stop him from biting his front paws from a bloody mess?     

  Added noted: He is a very anxious boy because is the runt of the litter and I was the four and last stop of owners for him. He is also gets bored very with toys the can afford to buy and make myself.  So he tends to sleep lot and groom himself all day.The vet's office did not get him a cone for his head.                                                                               
 

dahlia

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He is probably in extreme pain.  Is he on any pain pills at all?  Call the vet that declawed him and see if there is anything that can help ease the pain and maybe prevent him from biting at it (something that tastes bad to put on the paws etc.).  I have no experience with declawing but do know it causes pain.  Maybe someone here that has more knowledge with declawing will have some more ideas.
 
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brand leesnider

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He is not on pain pills, and he only seem to be limping on the paw when it's bloody. After it heals he does not limp on it. It takes two days to heal.

I have to constantly chase him around during the day to get him to let it heal. Demon (he) pick at it a night and it i go out. Also if i don't watch when I am home demon will pick at it.  This is so stressing me. 

When Demon grooms himself, he sticks out claw and bits around the claw and licks the pad. The problem is Demon has no claws on the front paws and that is the problem.
 
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brand leesnider

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Demon might be trying to claw at everything in site, like he did before the declaw too. The name is Brandy
 

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You need to take him back to the vet and see about getting him a collar (the lampshade kind) and/or pain meds. 
 
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brand leesnider

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I have no money to pay the vet till aug 1.
 

All i think i need is a really good interactive toy that he a play with  that i don't need to control.

The vet office say he is dangerous animal and thwy should have report him when he was their but did not.

he is very calm at home, so he stays here.
 

vball91

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You shouldn't have to take him to the vet again. This is a follow up to the declaw surgery. He needs pain meds and an e-collar or cone. If you call the vet's office and explain what's happening they should be willing to help your cat without having to bring him in. I don't see how a toy will help.
 
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brand leesnider

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He is starting to pick at the back feet today up with was not subject to declawing. How do you explain that? The vet place I took him to did the frontdeclaw and neuter without a previsit and does not post visits after and wants the money front.  My husband and I are both disabled and are living on a fixed income. If we did not take the cat into are home at 4 weeks old, he would be dead.
 

dahlia

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I think you should read a few articles on declawing so you know a little bit more about what your cat is going through right now.  It might give you some ideas on what may help him. 
 

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He knows his claws are missing and he's trying to get them to come back :(. He is probably in extreme pain and confused and feeling helpless. Cutting a wild cat's claws out is the worst thing you can do (worse than cutting a tame cat's claws out even) because he doesn't understand human ways and thinks he needs to defend himself, so without the claws he feels like everything (including you) is trying to kill him and he is defenseless. This can cause some serious behavioral problems later on, so keep an eye out and be understanding, since he didn't choose this for himself. But it's too late to fix what's already been done.

Because paw-chewing in general is usually caused by stress, perhaps some stress-relieving products would help, although he will always feel defenseless so that stress won't go away. And definitely pain meds and a cone. It can take nearly a year for the cut-off bones to heal fully, so it might be necessary to keep the cone on him for a while. Since you chose to do this to him, you need to do whatever you can to make it better. Borrow money if possible. Ask the vet if they'll take payments. Call around to cat rescue places to see if any have a vet care assistance program. He definitely needs help, this is not going to get better on its own.
 

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Cat Care Policies, Guidelines and Stances

4. This website is anti-declawing. Understand that if you are pro-declaw in your posts, you will encounter opposition.

Some important TCS declawing articles:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/declawing-and-alternatives
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/declawing-more-than-just-a-manicure
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/why-cats-should-not-be-declawed

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please get Demon on pain medication asap. He is in pain, I can assure you. It was your decision to get him declawed and now you must be responsible to make sure he is pain-free during what will be a very long healing process. Someone mentioned the cone collar above and that is what he also needs so his mutilated toes don't get infected by his constant licking. If they are bleeding, he needs medical attention, asap. For the e-collar and the pain meds though, the vet should dispense them without seeing Demon although I would not hesitate to bring him in at this point if he is bleeding. I cannot believe the vet did not send Demon home with pain medication in the first place.

:vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes: for Demon.
 
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brand leesnider

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Willowy I can try your suggestions.  Do you have a list of such animal groups for Ohio. Also I been trying to fine a replacement litter for Demon all day. The litter has to be granulated recycled newspaper , pine sawdust and shavings , and hardwood and cedar chips. I currently use tidy cat mult- cat clay litter. Demon is very diffuclt cat can wont paper that i shred myself with scissor ans by hand. So I been wiping his paws off with a rag after every use and hide the box at night. Dont worry I  get up once a night to let him use. I just do not know the best soft litter to switch to.

Feralvr ihe is not a feral cat. His mom was and his dad may be feral cat or wild cat. Or do everyone here think I should have let my nebahoors throw a month old runt out in the cold 14 months ago.
 
 
 

my-boy-jasper

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Or do everyone here think I should have let my nebahoors throw a month old runt out in the cold 14 months ago.
 
 
Nope. But neither do people here agree that the solution to a "difficult" cat is declawing. All  cats have been wild or feral at some point so that really isn't a valid reason to declaw. Actually, there is no valid reason. Declawing is illegal here in Australia because it is cruel.

What is done is done. Now you owe it to your cat to ensure he can adjust. That means understanding his pain, both physical and emotional, and doing whatever you can to help minimise it. He is picking at his back feet because he is stressed and upset. You might need to let go of some preconceived ideas about how cats think and behave. So a toy isn't going to help because it's not distraction he needs right now.

Please don't take what I said as berating you personally. I realise everyone makes decisions based on the information they have at the time. Many people declaw their cats without realising what it actually involves. I think the vets are especially guilty because they of all people have no excuse for ignorance. I believe you have your cat's best interests at heart. But sometimes our best intentions go astray because we don't know all the facts. There is a lot of information about caring for cats who have been declawed so please read up on it. And be critical of anything that is more about solving a 'human problem' and less about the cats wellbeing.
 
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brand leesnider

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Well since I been making sure he is not licking his paws and liimited use of the litter box that has clay litter; his paws look better. I made other post about changing my litter now. Maybe my sister will still let me borrow money for a new litter.
 

dahlia

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I am glad to hear you are making some progress with him.  It is clear that you care about him so just hang in there and keep reading up on declawing and how to deal with the aftermath.  I am sure there will be some helpful suggestions.
 

ritz

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I believe I have seen e-collars/cones at big box stores,like PetCo/Pet Smart.  Might be worth a telephone call.
 
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brand leesnider

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At the first of the month if I can stop at a petmart i will buy one. Thank you for the post.
 
 

feralvr

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Feralvr ihe is not a feral cat. His mom was and his dad may be feral cat or wild cat. Or do everyone here think I should have let my nebahoors throw a month old runt out in the cold 14 months ago.
Your description of this cat in your post was that he is "part wild and part feral" so I assumed feral because that is what you called him. Why would anyone on this site want any 4 week old kitten tossed on in the cold. That just doesn't make sense. We are all happy that you rescued him. The issue is with the declaw and that is what your thread is about. Good to know he is not a feral cat and that there is no chance that he would be released back outside because he would never survive without his claws. Sending more vibes for Demon :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes: I hope he recovers well. :cross: :vibes:
 
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ldg

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The vet knows and understands how traumatic this procedure is, and complications are quite common. I'm glad that your cleaning his paws is helping, but given his stress, I would consider calling the vet to ask for a prozac prescription for a month or two while he heals and adjusts. I would discuss with the vet that you're on a fixed income, and will make payment after the first. But he needs buprenorphine for pain (a liquid you squirt in his cheek, not a pill), potentially a cone, and prozac may help reduce his stress and anxiety while he adjusts to life with no claws.

If the vet will not permit this, can you apply for Care Credit? Perhaps you have something you can sell to raise the money rather than wait, or is there a friend or family member that can lend you the money? Please find out the cost of these items from the vet, and try to find a way to manage it. I know the fixed income is limiting, but it shouldn't be much, and he shouldn't need another vet visit for them to prescribe and provide these items given his discomfort and stress. :heart2: :bawling:

But please read the links provided so that if you ever have another cat with issues, you turn to a place like TCS for alternative solutions. For your love of kitties, please learn why declawing is considered animal cruelty and mutilation, and thus illegal in many countries around the world. :heart2:
 
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