My Brother's Cat is getting declawed.

Kat0121 said:

Well done my young friend!!  Your cat is lucky to have you in her corner!!

Many people use a baby onesie to put on a cat to keep it from licking a spay site. They can be modified easily so the cat can still use the litter box! An E collar is something else commonly used. Dd the vet give you something that looked like a small lampshade? If so, that's what this is.

Since Cujo is a kitten, she will need to learn that scratching and biting are NOT acceptable forms of play. Do you know how old she was when she was separated from her mama? If it was too young, mama may not have had a chance to do this but you and your family can do this. Kittens have LOTS of energy as I'm sure you know. Wand toys and laser pointers will really be your friends while you teach her this. Tell your parents that these things can be found in the cat toy section at Wal Mart and on Amazon. You can also use positive reinforcement. When she behaves the way you want, give her lots of praise and a yummy treat.

How old is your little brother? If he is very young, he may need to spend time with Cujo only with supervision. If he's older he can also use the hand free toys.

Ask us ANYTHING you like. We are more than happy to help in any way we can. This is an international site so you can find help pretty much any time day or night.

I'm really proud of you for sticking up for Cujo. You have the makings of a cat person already!  

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I think she was a month old when we got her, and we do not have a cone, but thanks everyone for showing me the harmful facts of declawing. I will trim her nails. So thanks everyone!

My brother is also 9, so he might need to know how to handle a cat.

And if anyone is wondering about the name Cujo, my parents like the movie Cujo (the dog) and it just stuck, though the original name was Camo, Cujo was the nickname, I wanted to name her Chili, because of her color
And this is a picture from when we first got her.

Congrats on your decision not to declaw.  Cujo is a cutie... and being a calico, I am sure she has quite the personality!  I have had many cats go through the spay and healing  process, and while their can be dangers, she may do just fine without much intervention.  Cats are pretty good at knowing what they need to do to heal so just keep an eye on her like others have said and then come back with questions if anything seems amiss.  I have never used the soft paws so cant comment on those, but we have to trim out cats nails too.  At first they thought we were killing them and it as a struggle, but they have gotten quite used to being groomed.  At first I would do just one paw at a time, now I can get through all 4.  Best of  luck with Cujo (and I don't think she will care if her name is Cujo and you call her Chili cat for a nickname.  All my cats have at least a couple names.

Yeah we call her a couple of different names, and hoe many times do you trim her nails?

we have 4 cats and they all get trimmed at different intervals.  If she has scratching posts and utilizes them, they may not need trimmed as often.  Tati likes to go for walk on her leash and she climbs trees and stuff and when she plays she uses paws not claws, and she only gets trimmed a couple times a year.  Theo is claws out all the time and his nails grow fast... he gets trimmed more frequently, though not as often as he needs it.  it will really depend no Cujo and your family.  As others have said, socialization is an  important part of kittenhood and if Cujo was removed from mom and siblings before he learned how to play nice, you may have to work on socializing. If your cat doesn't naturally use the scratching post,  you can sprinkle it with a little kitty nip, or draw her attention to it using a laser pointer or a wand toy.  Once they sink their claws into it a couple times, they usually catch on.  

ARandomNerd said:

Yeah we call her a couple of different names, and hoe many times do you trim her nails?

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Every two weeks up to once a month is a good starting guideline. Over time you will figure out what her specific claws need. Are you confident in trimming nails? Would you like some pointers and resources?

I'll admit, this news made me very happy this morning.

If she just got spayed, keeping her in a quiet place to recover is key.  Try not to handle her too much, she'll let you know when it's time to pick her up and what not.

Since she is young you have a terrific opportunity to bond with this sweet girl.  After she recovers, start brushing her regularly and if you feel comfortable, get into the habit of trimming her nails.

With my boy, I used to wait until he was napping and I'd take his paw and gently press down  on his pads (equal to our palm of our hands) that way it naturally spreads his toes and his nails would spring out and I'd trim the white times only.  Never trim far down where the pink is, that will make them bleed and could get infected.  

There are many threads here on The Cat Site in the Behavior Section that could give you tips and guide you in training your sweet new addition.

Cujo is very sweet.  I hope you'll post more current pictures of her.

Best of luck to you.

And great decision on your family's part.  

With kittens, I take the sharp points off the front every week, and the back every 2 weeks.  They grow very fast.  As the cats get older, you may go two weeks between trims.  Its good to get them used to it as kittens.  Until you have lots of experience, don't take much, just the needle points.  Better to clip very little more often than to clip more less often, especially when they are very young.

Maddies Momma said:

Every two weeks up to once a month is a good starting guideline. Over time you will figure out what her specific claws need. Are you confident in trimming nails? Would you like some pointers and resources?

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Yes, some pointers would be great. And thanks for the tips for she is getting better and seems to be doing fine.

She seems fine and has more energy.
This is her currently

Cujo is so sweet.  What an angel.  

I know it was written that you are young, do your parents know you are on this site, and that The Cat Site is full of information.

I wish you nothing but the best with this little one.

Does she have a place of her own to go.  I always use a clean smallish cardboard box and use that as a kitty fort.  It's important that you establish an area of her own, and start training her now.  

You really have a wonderful opportunity to establish a everlasting bond with this sweetie pie.

Thank you for coming here for guidance and advice.  That alone shows how concerned you are about her well being.

I have no doubt you are going to be a terrific companion for Cujo as well.

Happy New Year to you and your family.

Warmest regards - Hope

2Cats4everLoved said:

Cujo is so sweet.  What an angel.  

I know it was written that you are young, do your parents know you are on this site, and that The Cat Site is full of information.

I wish you nothing but the best with this little one.

Does she have a place of her own to go.  I always use a clean smallish cardboard box and use that as a kitty fort.  It's important that you establish an area of her own, and start training her now.  

You really have a wonderful opportunity to establish a everlasting bond with this sweetie pie.

Thank you for coming here for guidance and advice.  That alone shows how concerned you are about her well being.

I have no doubt you are going to be a terrific companion for Cujo as well.

Happy New Year to you and your family.

Warmest regards - Hope

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Thanks, and yes she has a place of her own, we have a small closet in our house that does not have a door. We keep her litter box and her bed in there, as well as a box that she likes to be in. She is also best friends with our dog, and sometimes they will sleep together, or the dog will allow Cujo to sleep on top of her(our dog). As me being 15 my parents know I have this site to care for and get advice for Cujo. I don't know where the myth that cats and dogs hate each other came from, but these two love each other.

When cats are loved and cared for, they are just as loyal as dogs.  I'm so glad you see that is becoming your experience as well.

I suggest checking out the Behavior Section, and you can get tips on playing and socializing your cat, even more, also tips on how to ''train" your younger brother to play also, to avoid future scratching.

Best to you both.

Since she is young it's a great time to train her to be okay with nail trims. I would start slow and make sure she is comfortable with everything. Start with getting her used to being handled. whenever she is cuddling with you or is resting nearby just gently hold her feet and play with her toes. This will teach her that its okay if someone handles her feet. When you are ready to actually trim them just do a couple nails at a time until shes more comfortable with it. eventually you will be able to do one paw at a time and then all feet at one time. but go as slow as she needs you too. Remember that if she acts out its because she is scared, Not because she wants to hurt you. Its best to work on nail trimming when she is content and sleepy. I trim my boys nails when he is asleep and he barely notices.

For trimming right now all you need to do is trim the very tips off, so they are not sharp and painful. Stay away from the pink part of the nail. You could trim just the tips every week or every other week. depending on how fast they get sharp again. When she is older you will be able to trim off bigger pieces about once a month.

When she is a kitten human nail trimmers will work but i really recommend proper cat trimmers. When she has adult claws you will need cat trimmers for sure. The best ones are the small scissor style ones.

Here are some links that will go over everything in detail. The video is excellent and it shows a great visual for where to trim:

 http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/cat-nail-clipping-care


Let me know how it goes with the trimming!

Good Luck!

Glad shes not getting declawed. I think main thing here is your little brother. Perhaps he can play with the cat using toys instead of picking up the kitty? Every cat has their own boundaries and we just have to learn to adjust to them.

Training your little brother is going to be harder than training the cat, make sure he's being very gentle with her and that play fighting will get himself scratched and bitten as that is what kittens do with their family. As was said on the other page wand toys, lasers and balls will all be better. Don't use fingers and toes to play, it's adorable when they're little but a problem when they get bigger.

I got bitten by my aunt's dog when I was a child, it wasn't anything to do with the dog's behaviour it was me being too rough with her and not respecting her boundaries . I learnt pretty quickly after that.

She's a lovely calico, they're supposed to be lucky.

This is one of the nicest places on the internet. Welcome and make good use of it.

ARandomNerd said:

I think she was a month old when we got her, and we do not have a cone, but thanks everyone for showing me the harmful facts of declawing. I will trim her nails. So thanks everyone!

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I'm so proud of you for standing up for Cujo, and of your parents, for deciding not to declaw her.  Well done!  

A month was really far too young for her to be placed in a new home, as a kitten's first school of etiquette is mama and littermates, but that's water under the bridge.  Just be aware that she may need a little more gentle guidance and training than a kitty who lived with other cats long enough to learn that rough play can hurt, and well...really, just how to be a cat.

Please have someone with experience show you how to trim the nails properly.  If you cut them too short, you will cut the quick.  That hurts, and it bleeds.  You want to take off the sharp tip only, and keep some styptic powder on hand if you do get them too short.  Start now handling Cujo's paws so she is used to it and doesn't struggle when you go to clip them. (Actually, you should start now getting her accustomed to having all parts of her body touched, so you can groom her easily, including her teeth, and give her any medication she may need in the future without a fight.)  You also want to make sure you have the right clippers.  Pet stores sell clippers for birds that would be about the right size for a small kitten.  

Now, on to your brother.  I believe you said he is nine?  That is old enough to learn how to handle a kitten.  One of the most important things is to remember that hands should never be used as toys.  Save them for petting and stroking.  It's a lot of fun to watch a litter of kittens pouncing and roughhousing, but we humans, with our naked skin, are a lot more vulnerable to sharp little teeth and claws than another cat.  Make sure Cujo has toys to stalk and "kill," and never waggle your fingers at her for her to pounce on them.  It might not hurt now, but it will later, and it will teach her to play too roughly.  Toys don't need to cost a lot.  A few good free ones are plastic soda bottle tops, those little plastic rings that seal milk bottles, pieces of crumpled up paper, paper grocery bags (never the plastic ones, they can suffocate a kitty, but they're great for disposing of litter box scoopings), and boxes, boxes, boxes.  Interactive toys are fun, too.  Look for a stick with little streamers or a mouse on a string for her to chase.  One of the best (and cheapest) interactive cat toys is called the Cat Dancer.  Never let Cujo play with a ball of yarn or string.  A cat can start swallowing them, getting more and more down, until they have ingested so much they have to go to a vet to have it removed.

If she does get too rough in play, the best thing to do is to just stop playing.  Never, ever smack her if she bites or scratches - she doesn't know any better yet.  She will learn from you, as she would from her mother and littermates, that if she crosses the line she loses a playmate for a while.  

Whether you use a cone or not, it's important to use the right litter.  Get something pelleted, either wood based or recycled newspaper, nothing grainy that could stick to the incision.  

Once again, thanks for standing up for Cujo!  I hope you and your family will enjoy many happy years with this gorgeous little one.  

ARandomNerd said:

She seems fine and has more energy.
This is her currently

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Oh, my!  She could be a twin to my little calico, Lucy.  Please give her a cuddle for me if she feels up to it today.  <3

Just a thought @ARandomNerd  - but since this issue has been settled, you should write about this sweet girl in the New Cats On The Block section and start a thread there so people can follow.

She's too cute not to introduce to the other members.  

We're thinking about sweet Cujo and hope you post more pictures and give us an update.

Be well.

PS - How is your brother doing with the kitty?