Taking in Declawed Cat

cessena · Oct 18, 2005

My roommate has a "friend" whose cat is having problems using the litter box. He has managed to convince her that the solution to this problem is not in fact to have the cat put to sleep. (grrrrrrrrr evil people) And so, it is likely we will soon be taking him in. I have recomended that the cat go to the vet to verify that he has no health problems that would cause him to not use the litterbox.

But I just found out last night that he is declawed, and I know that sometimes declawed cats have these types of problems. If it turns out that the reason for his lack of litter box use is the declaw, is there a way to get him to use the litterbox again? We rent, so this would be a HUGE and expensive issue for us. Not to mention smelly.

Also, I currently have 2 females that have their claws. (they are both spayed, and around a year old, our new addition is about 5 or 6) are there any special precautions I should take when making introductions?

Any advice would be appreciated.

cyberkitten · Oct 18, 2005

Very many declawed cats avoid the litter box post their declaw surgery because they associate the box with pain. Sounds like they may not have taken some thing into consideration, sighhhhhhhhhh!! (I hate it when ppl declaw cats!!)

It's hard to know if this is the issue but you might ask them if she bacame anti the litter box post her surgery. You might reintroduce the concept of the litter box to this kitty and use Yesterday's News litter. (I use it - tho my kitties have all their claws and sometimes it feels like more, lol) Any soft feeling litter should help. Just scratch her paws in the box and be patient with her as she learns that it is OK to go there.

Good luck!!!

hissy · Oct 18, 2005

First of all, if the cat is declawed properly, they don't have elimination problems. But some vets do not do a proper declaw and problems can set in (infections, soreness). I would take the cat to a different vet and have him check the declaw site first. Is this a four paw declaw or a two?

Then I would use rabbit pellets for litter for awhile, it is easier on their feet and it smells strong enough to overpower the waste smell.

I am not, nor will I ever be for declawing any animal, but it is not true that all cats have behavior problems when they get declawed. It depends on the procedure, the vet and most of all what the cat can handle.

laureen227 · Oct 18, 2005

Originally Posted by Cessena

My roommate has a "friend" whose cat is having problems using the litter box. He has managed to convince her that the solution to this problem is not in fact to have the cat put to sleep. (grrrrrrrrr evil people) And so, it is likely we will soon be taking him in. I have recomended that the cat go to the vet to verify that he has no health problems that would cause him to not use the litterbox.

But I just found out last night that he is declawed, and I know that sometimes declawed cats have these types of problems. If it turns out that the reason for his lack of litter box use is the declaw, is there a way to get him to use the litterbox again? We rent, so this would be a HUGE and expensive issue for us. Not to mention smelly.

Also, I currently have 2 females that have their claws. (they are both spayed, and around a year old, our new addition is about 5 or 6) are there any special precautions I should take when making introductions?

Any advice would be appreciated.

how recently was he declawed, & did the problems start from then, or quite a time afterward? up until Cable & Java, all of my cats have been declawed. only one had litterbox issues, & it started several years after the declaw, & was not related. she had some kind of intestinal infection, which led to pooping outside of her box. she still peed in the box. does he refuse to use it altogether? how clean is his box being kept in the home that feels PTS is the answer? all of these this are important to decide whether you can take him & re-train him.
as far as introductions, just do the normal stuff. Cable & Java have claws, Pixel doesn't, Mouse didn't - didn't seem to make any difference. probably depends on whether he's an alpha & will have to battle your current alpha.
i hope you'll be able to take him - it sounds like his current situation is not good.

cessena · Oct 19, 2005

I don't know a lot, I have been trying to find out more information, but all communication is via my roomate thus far, so everything gets kindof filtered out. And she is his friend so he's probably not asking probing questions like I plan on doing when I meet her. He said the problem has come and gone, and it sounds like she has been moving around a lot and is a victim of SRGS (Spoiled Rich Girl Syndrome- which leads to the inability to take responsibility for ones own actions and to do things, like housework). So who knows how clean his box is, or if the moving caused it some disruption. But it might also be health related, because apparently the idea of a vet visit was revolutionary.

It sounds like it is not related to the declaw though, because I think he was declawed as a baby and is now 5-6 years old. And I think this is a new issue. - So chances are it is either a sanitary or littbox aversion issue, both of which I think we can deal with. Any recommendations on carpet cleaners?

I think we are planning on taking him at this stage even if the problem can be cleared up with medical treatment, it sounds like the current owner is under pressure from her parents to get rid of him. Although my roommate was saying eventually she would want him back. And I think that may have to be a serious discussion, because if this is how she deals with issues, I may not be willing to give him back, especially if he and my two girls can get along.

goldenkitty45 · Oct 19, 2005

That's one of the reasons I explain to people who declaw - you MAY wind up with litter box problems that you caused - especially if the cat was fine with the litter box BEFORE you went and declawed him/her.

But what is done is done. Yes its possible to retrain him but it will take time. Most time the softer scoopable litter is more acceptable then clay litter. Or shredded newspaper pellets.

I'd confine the cat to a small area with his own litter pan to help him adjust. Sometimes if the cat associates something with pain, he will avoid it (like if he had pain after the surgery and the litter aggrevated it).

As far as your other cats, he should be fine with them. Cats usually don't use their front claws when fighting with each other - they use the back ones or their teeth more. Is this cat 2 or 4 feet declawed?

laureen227 · Oct 19, 2005

Originally Posted by Cessena

So who knows how clean his box is, or if the moving caused it some disruption. But it might also be health related, because apparently the idea of a vet visit was revolutionary.

It sounds like it is not related to the declaw though, because I think he was declawed as a baby and is now 5-6 years old. And I think this is a new issue. - So chances are it is either a sanitary or littbox aversion issue, both of which I think we can deal with. Any recommendations on carpet cleaners?

I think we are planning on taking him at this stage even if the problem can be cleared up with medical treatment, it sounds like the current owner is under pressure from her parents to get rid of him. Although my roommate was saying eventually she would want him back. And I think that may have to be a serious discussion, because if this is how she deals with issues, I may not be willing to give him back, especially if he and my two girls can get along.

it's probably something other than the declaw, then, like Smoke's was. can't help with carpet cleaners - after the Smoke problem, i decided i preferred non-carpeted floors, which is what i have now that i own my living space. much easier to clean accidents, barf, you name it.
on another note - if she does want him back later, make sure she knows why there was a box problem [i'm certain you'll discover & fix it!] so that it won't happen again. if keeping the box clean is too much for her, she might decided to leave him with you. good luck

jamasmom · Oct 19, 2005

both of my girls came to me decalwed and never had a problem using the litter box.

Taking in Declawed Cat

cessena

TCS Member

Thread starter

cyberkitten

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hissy

TCS Member

laureen227

Darksome Duo!

cessena

TCS Member

Thread starter

goldenkitty45

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laureen227

Darksome Duo!

jamasmom

TCS Member

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