Worried About Surgery & Recovery

Tomorrow my one year old cat is going in for surgery to have at least two claws/underdeveloped toes and possibly two additional toes removed surgically.

This thread has the background story on it:  [thread="315109"]Selective Declaw On Polydactyl Cat​[/thread]  

Basically the two underdeveloped toes are causing her a lot of pain and have to be removed. Depending on the formation of her extra toes (which look like thumbs) and how they're connected to the underdeveloped ones, these may be removed in order to minimize complications later.

I am so worried about her going in for surgery, even though I know it is necessary. She doesn't like strangers and the idea of her spending all day with strangers caring for her as she recovers from surgery is killing me. I will be dropping her off and meeting with the vet at 8:15 tomorrow and hopefully picking her up on my way home from work at 5 or 6.

They want her to be separated from our other cat and to wear a cone. The cone will likely be necessary for her, since she already yanks at those claws with her teeth now, so that would be bad for surgical adhesive or stitches. We have a large dog crate set up with a litter box filled with yesterday's news and a cat bed so that we will be able to keep her from jumping or moving around too much for at least the first day or so.

The vet thinks she should be separated from the other cat for two weeks, but this seems like a really long time to me. I don't think he'd try to lick her paws (since he never has before), but they do like to rough house, so I can sort of understand the problem.

Any ideas on how long before a cat feels like itself after a partial declaw/toe amputation? Should I keep my cats separate for two weeks? Do I need to keep using the different litter that long? I tried showing it to her yesterday and she decided to try eating it.

Any help or even words of comfort would be appreciated!

I would make sure that she is going to get adequate pain medication and that the vet performs nerve blocks on the areas where the toes will be amputated. (One of the top vets in my area applies a pain patch the afternoon before a declaw and they keep the cat in hospital for 3 days post op to manage the pain.)

As for keeping her separated, yes, I would follow the vet's guidelines. It takes two weeks for the area to heal and you want to make sure everything heals appropriately.

I have been told (by vets) that some cats can experience pain for up to two weeks post declaw, so just keep that in mind when trying to manage her pain.

I know your situation is a unique one and hopefully this will help her situation!

I know the feeling all to well... The anxiety of doing something that helps our kitty but knowing they will be stressed.

I'm feeling the same way about my kitty Zoe, and she's only going for an ultrasound (sedated) and X-ray tomorrow. I have to drop her off much earlier than I had planned and I hate the thought of stressing an already ill kitty.

That said, you've done your research and I know (followed your thread previously discussing her issue) that you will make sure your kitty is well taken care of.
You may find you are able to remove the cone when she's supervised and only isolate her from her feline siblings while you are unable to supervise. You are a great cat guardian and will make sure she gets the best after care post op, I know you will! [emoji]128149[/emoji]

CatPack said:

I would make sure that she is going to get adequate pain medication and that the vet performs nerve blocks on the areas where the toes will be amputated. (One of the top vets in my area applies a pain patch the afternoon before a declaw and they keep the cat in hospital for 3 days post op to manage the pain.)

As for keeping her separated, yes, I would follow the vet's guidelines. It takes two weeks for the area to heal and you want to make sure everything heals appropriately.

I have been told (by vets) that some cats can experience pain for up to two weeks post declaw, so just keep that in mind when trying to manage her pain.

I know your situation is a unique one and hopefully this will help her situation!

Click to expand...

She will be getting three types of pain medication and the vet will do nerve blocks on both feet that are affected. They were debating keeping her overnight (and it still is partially up in the air) since they usually keep any cat that is having a declaw surgery overnight, but since this isn't a full declaw their hope is there will be less bleeding and pain so she'll be able to go home sooner. I will be bringing them cat food just in case she has to stay.

Two weeks is a long time to be in pain. I am hoping that won't be the case for her. This is why I am so against declawing (if its just for the owners benefit)!

LotsofFur said:

I know the feeling all to well... The anxiety of doing something that helps our kitty but knowing they will be stressed.

I'm feeling the same way about my kitty Zoe, and she's only going for an ultrasound (sedated) and X-ray tomorrow. I have to drop her off much earlier than I had planned and I hate the thought of stressing an already ill kitty.

That said, you've done your research and I know (followed your thread previously discussing her issue) that you will make sure your kitty is well taken care of.
You may find you are able to remove the cone when she's supervised and only isolate her from her feline siblings while you are unable to supervise. You are a great cat guardian and will make sure she gets the best after care post op, I know you will! [emoji]128149[/emoji]

Click to expand...

Thank you for your support! I hope your Zoe does well with her procedure tomorrow. I will probably keep them separate (though I probably will have to give Angua a bit more space than a dog crate after a few days).

I think it makes sense that if I supervise she can be without her cone and spending some time at least with Carrot. She's very cuddly when she doesn't feel well so hopefully they'll be able to cuddle some at least.

That is good! I know you would not be doing this if you didn't think she might benefit from it.

Yes, two weeks does seem like a long time, but, it'll go by quicker than you think!

I really hope that tomorrow goes quickly, for her as well as me. 

Tomorrow will probably be worse for you than for her. If they give her general anesthesia, she will be groggy from that for most of the day and not feeling any pain. The pain will start after you bring her home, so I hope the vets give you lots of meds that she can take.

I'm sure it is the best thing for her, and that everything works out well.

@DreamerRose  Good point on her being groggy. Hopefully, that'll help her cope rather than making it more scary for her.

I have spent the evening cuddling with her and taking some pictures with the extra toes just in case they have to come off tomorrow. I know I'll miss them if they do.

She's putting me through the ringer this morning. Very upset about no breakfast so shes trying to steal my cereal.

:cross: that everything goes smoothly today! No breakfast seems to be the worst part for some cats. Following his castration, our last cat developed an irresistible urge to eat after all vet visits. I don't think he ever forgot having to go hungry from midnight on.

I really hope she can come home tonight. She was breaking my heart at the vet. When the vet tech took her away, she crawled up the ladies shoulder trying to get back to me.

She was really pissed at me this morning after I put her in the crate and fed Carrot without feeding her as well.

That's so sweet. You're a comfort to her. I hope she comes home tonight, too.

I am impatiently waiting for them to call with an update. Its difficult not knowing what's going on.

The vet called me to let me know that Angua is waking up.

They're going to call back this afternoon to let me know how she's recovering and whether they've decided that its necessary for her to stay overnight or not. The vet doesn't like to send animals home until after they've stopped bleeding, just in case.

Hope Angua gets better fast! I would be nervous as heck too.  Sending you  

She's back home and doesn't seem nearly as out of it as I expected. The vet said she was sleeping all day, but since she got home she has been fighting the cone and walking around. She hates her cone, but every time I take it off, she just sits there licking her paws. She is already eating and drinking, no litter box yet, but I think that's understandable since she didn't eat earlier.

This entire experience has convinced me that declawing is definitely cruel if done for something as silly as saving furniture. She only had two claws removed and it is still obvious how much pain she is in. She has a hard time walking around and shakes her paws constantly. 


I took this picture of her surgery sites since I can use them as comparison later on.

So glad she's back home and had no more than two claws removed. I see she still has her thumbs. Hope you have pain meds to give her.

Vet prescribed Buprenorphine for the pain. I already gave her the first dose since the vet said to give it when we got home. It seems to be taking effect. She's getting sleepy like the vet said she would. I definitely don't want her to be in pain.

Did your vet send you with any Onsior? It's an NSAID that was actually made to treat post-op pain associated with declawing. (I personally use it off-label with one of my young cats that has chronic orthopedic issues.)

Glad she was able to come home! I know you will make sure she gets the best care possible.