The kitty I'm going to meet Sunday and hopefully bring home has been declawed. Not what I would do to a cat but the deed has been done already and is healed. With it being healed I'm sure the worst of it is over but is there any special needs afterwards that declawed cats require?? Aside from he can never go outside which is fine by me since even with claws he would be indoor only.
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Declawed Cat Care?
- Thread starter chwx
- Start Date
Here's an article by Dr. Jean Hofve on declawed cat care that may be helpful. http://www.littlebigcat.com/declawing/relief-for-declawed-cats/ I think the main thing to watch for is pain and arthritis development.
I have read that declawed cats sometimes benefit from, believe it or not, a scratching post.
Even though they obviously can't scratch, it does encourage them to use and stretch their muscles, which can help keep them strong and stave off the arthritis that often follows declawing, and keep the ligaments as well-aligned as they can be. It feels good to cats, if not in their paws, then in their back, so supposedly it isn't too hard to get them using a scratcher.
You may also want to rub his paws, again, just to help loosen up the tendons down there which may be tensing in unnatural positions.
Keeping him a healthy weight is absolutely essential. His gait will already be a bit impaired and his feet flattened from having lost part of his toes, and it will flatten further if he's bearing too much weight, which can speed up arthritis onset and put pressure on already stressed tendons. I've seen big declawed cats whose toes look practically frozen, they're so stiff.
vball's link gives you some good stuff to watch out for, like shifting weight and lifting or flicking one of the declawed paws. Things like that can indicate a bone fragment or a disfigured nail that's beginning to grow internally, and should be addressed by a vet.
I hope the meet goes well, and he's lucky to be going to a better home!
Even though they obviously can't scratch, it does encourage them to use and stretch their muscles, which can help keep them strong and stave off the arthritis that often follows declawing, and keep the ligaments as well-aligned as they can be. It feels good to cats, if not in their paws, then in their back, so supposedly it isn't too hard to get them using a scratcher.
You may also want to rub his paws, again, just to help loosen up the tendons down there which may be tensing in unnatural positions.
Keeping him a healthy weight is absolutely essential. His gait will already be a bit impaired and his feet flattened from having lost part of his toes, and it will flatten further if he's bearing too much weight, which can speed up arthritis onset and put pressure on already stressed tendons. I've seen big declawed cats whose toes look practically frozen, they're so stiff.
vball's link gives you some good stuff to watch out for, like shifting weight and lifting or flicking one of the declawed paws. Things like that can indicate a bone fragment or a disfigured nail that's beginning to grow internally, and should be addressed by a vet.
I hope the meet goes well, and he's lucky to be going to a better home!
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I lived with friends for a little while that had two declawed cats (not much I could do at that point, they did get a third kitten and it isn't declawed because I had 'concerns' with that, to put it nicely!). The declawed cats definitely still used scratching posts and 'sharpened their claws' often. It is as much about spreading their scent and marking territory as it is about scratching, so declawed cats will definitely still use a scratching post. The difference is, if you don't provide a proper one or don't teach the cat to use it / put it in a good place, then your furniture doesn't get destroyed by a declawed cat.
Thanks for taking in a declawed cat and looking into their needs!
Getting your new cat a scratching post - or making one - is a good idea. My two rescues, Sam and Lizzie, came to us already front declawed. And both of them simply canNOT get enough of 'scratching' on the post. Especially Lizzie. We also have strategically placed carpet remnants on some of the wall corners, so that there is no disputes with their little sister Bazinga.
I hope everything goes well on Sunday and you come home with a new friend!
Edit: I tried to post a link, but it was the wrong one! If I find it, I will try again...
Ack! I cannot find the link, but here is the gist of what was covered in it :
Often, pellet or larger sized litter can be uncomfortable or even painful for a declawed cat to stand on in the litterbox. Using a fine grained litter or litter made from a soft material can help. Some fine grained litters are WheatsScoop, World's Best and Feline Pine Scoop-able (in the box, not the bag). Yesterday's News is made from recycled newspaper, so it is very soft. The natural litters, as opposed to clay litters, seem to be the better choice for a declawed cat (according to that mythical thread!)
Some declawed cats have no issues with the type of litter, it is just something to watch for and a good thing to know
Edit: I tried to post a link, but it was the wrong one! If I find it, I will try again...
Ack! I cannot find the link, but here is the gist of what was covered in it :
Often, pellet or larger sized litter can be uncomfortable or even painful for a declawed cat to stand on in the litterbox. Using a fine grained litter or litter made from a soft material can help. Some fine grained litters are WheatsScoop, World's Best and Feline Pine Scoop-able (in the box, not the bag). Yesterday's News is made from recycled newspaper, so it is very soft. The natural litters, as opposed to clay litters, seem to be the better choice for a declawed cat (according to that mythical thread!)
Some declawed cats have no issues with the type of litter, it is just something to watch for and a good thing to know
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A scratching post isnt a bad Idea. My little Monkey is declawed and she still "scratches" everything she can. My bed, the carpet, the couches, my leg sometimes.... Its just in their nature for them to scratch and spread their scent.
I do not have a scratching post, but the little cat house I have is held up but two round post that she likes to "scratch".
I do not have a scratching post, but the little cat house I have is held up but two round post that she likes to "scratch".
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Thank you all for the advice! I did plan on getting him one of those cat trees made of carpet. I'll also be sure to treat him to some toe massages. 
I actually suffer from gout in both feet so I know kitties pain! I can see us all now laying in bed as a family, my fiance rubbing my toes and me rubbing the cats toes. Lol!! I have only seen one picture of him and he was laying on the bed. He doesn't look morbidly obese or anything but he does look a bit chunky so weight loss was going to be a goal anyways! I'll see what litter she is using with him currently and if it isn't one of the softer litters mentioned then I'll pick some up to try.
I actually suffer from gout in both feet so I know kitties pain! I can see us all now laying in bed as a family, my fiance rubbing my toes and me rubbing the cats toes. Lol!! I have only seen one picture of him and he was laying on the bed. He doesn't look morbidly obese or anything but he does look a bit chunky so weight loss was going to be a goal anyways! I'll see what litter she is using with him currently and if it isn't one of the softer litters mentioned then I'll pick some up to try. 
