Diane, I wish you and your daughter the best of luck. No one should criticize your decision or look down on you for doing what you feel is best for everyone involved. I don't recommend declawing for the average situation, but I'm also not sure it's the monster some make it out to be. I've seen many cats coming out of surgury and none were showing signs of being in unbelievable pain (in fact, I'll never forget one older cat who was playing with toys and batting things around in his cage right after surgury. He must not have been in too much pain!) nor do I know of any cats who developed problems related to the surgury. Two of my cats are declawed: Sassy was done 11+ years ago before we knew what it entailed and Buddy was done by his previous owner. Neither have suffered any ill effects.
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Dilemma regarding declawing. Desperately need advice
- Thread starter diane marie
- Start Date
My vet tried to get me to declaw my cat. They do laser surgery so they charge a lot of $$$$. The laser declaw does sound much better and it appears that my vet has a lot of experience with it, but I decided not to do it because my cat also bites. I am sure he will be one of those who will develop biting problems if he is declawed cause he already got it with all his claws intact. He is a biter and a scratcher-I got all my legs covered in scratches-and he is just playing, he doesn't know any better.
Laser declawing is a neat method. But the equipment is expensive, and thus the surgery.
It's unique that it cauterized as it cuts, basically it's a scapel made of light.
It also requires a much more accurate hand, and much more experience. It's actually a little easier to mess up laser surgery, without knowing it, because the incision basically seals itself. If anything was missed, it wouldn't be easy to tell during surgery.
It still ultimately comes back to a competent surgeon, and proficiency with the tools at hand.
Spotz
What a sad decision to have to make. You are doing the best you can for everyone involved, so don't feel guilty. I do have one note of caution. I have read from several different sources that cat scratch fever is not just transmitted by cat scratches. It can also be spread by cat bites. This is something you should be aware of.
I wish you the best of luck with this. It sounds like your kitty will have a very loving home with you and your daughter.
I wish you the best of luck with this. It sounds like your kitty will have a very loving home with you and your daughter.
I questioned my vet once about Tendonectomy and she also said there has been complications. This is true, the claw remains and continues to grow but the cat has no control over it.
There are always other sides to a coin. In extreme health situations, when all f the other alternatives seem to not beavailable to you, you have to decide. If given the choice of a loving home and no claws, or possbly not, and claws ,I thin the former is a bit better, yeah? Please look into the soft claws. They completely remove the likelihood of scratches, without lessening the preformance of the cat. In fact, I've got a picture of Paige wearing them here somewhere. She wears them on all four paws, and has only managed to get one off, which is easily replaced.
Also, note that they come in bright colors (which, I think your daughter would find it fun to accessorize your cat monthly) and last anywhere from a month to 2 months. The bright colors help you see when 1 is missing. if you count 17 red toenails, then you just pick her up and tack another one on.
But of course it is *your* decision, and if you have definately decided the risk is to great, I know I understand your concerns, and probably would do the same thing, because it's not deciding your own health, it's deciding your own childs health.
Much respect and hopes for a good surgery, should that be the road you must take. I see that the decision was a hard one for you.
Also, note that they come in bright colors (which, I think your daughter would find it fun to accessorize your cat monthly) and last anywhere from a month to 2 months. The bright colors help you see when 1 is missing. if you count 17 red toenails, then you just pick her up and tack another one on.
But of course it is *your* decision, and if you have definately decided the risk is to great, I know I understand your concerns, and probably would do the same thing, because it's not deciding your own health, it's deciding your own childs health.
Much respect and hopes for a good surgery, should that be the road you must take. I see that the decision was a hard one for you.
------------------Originally Posted by Diane Marie
Alittle background first. I have a daughter, Olivia that just turned 3 this past May. She was born at 30 weeks and 2 months after she was born she developed NEC. I don't know how to spell the full name but it is basically when the small bowel dies. She was left with about 50 cm, I believe after the operation. A year after she was born she had a liver transplant due to TPN toxicity. TPN is a double edge sword. It is fed through a central line in Olivia's chest. It helped keep her alive but long exposure to it can hurt the liver. Her permature liver couldn't handle it. She is doing very well now we have some feeding issues but for the most part she is doing well.
Now for the dilemma. I asked her transplant doctor is it was ok if we brought a cat into our family. He said yes. There would be no problem. Might I say he NEVER mentioned anything about declawing. We have had our kitty now for almost a month. When we saw our Dr. for Olivia's check up, she mentioned she has a kitty and how much she loves him. Then he asked me when I was going to declaw him. I was taken back a moment. Confused and said to him that he never mentioned that he would have to be declawed. He said yes he did and I have to have his front claws removed due to 'Cat Scratch Fever'. (To think I thought that was only a song)
I just found out today...or rather earlier today and I am soooo bummed. I don't want to get him declawed. I think that is so cruel. But I am so attached to him. I love him so much. He's my precious little boy and I can't imagine giving him up. But if his claws are a danger to my little girl, I have to address that. Apparently Soft Paws if not an option because I already asked. Can anyone please, please help me figure out how to save his front claws without giving him up. I have to say that I am being selfish in that I do not want to lose him. I just love him so much. He is so affectionate and loving and just a pleasure to have around. He follows all over the house and likes to groom me as wellHe is more than just a pet. He is apart of my family. I do clip is claws when they need them. But again, that's not enough either. I am stuck between a hard place and a rock. If I had only known I would never had gotten a kitten. Please, help me.
Thank you,
Diane
Don't panic yet.
First you need to return to that Doctor and ask them to explain fully what it is, how it could affect the child and how serious it would be.
Believe it or not many Doctors come up with such statements yet they do not fully understand it, they just open their mouths and have broken many a heart as a result of it.
You need to know before you ask the Doctor so that you know if the Doctor really does know.
Cat scratch disease firstly can come from the cats claws or teeth especially in a kitten. It is caused by bacteria known as Bartonella. Not all cats and kittens have it and they cannot transfer it as you can a cold.
If a cat or a kitten has it and bites a human or scratches a human it can cause a swelling of the lymph nodes and sometimes pus that has to be drained that's at the worst scenario. The condition generally lasts for approx a month and a half.
If the Doctor believes that the child in it's present state of health is at risk and it will be even more serious than for someone in full health I wonder why did the Doctor not also say extract the teeth.
The Doctor ought to be aware of the fact that declawing is ILLEGAL in many many countries and has been so for years. There is also one area in the USA where it was made illegal in the past year.
The way round it is to regularly clip the kittens claws, say on the weekly basis and provide a good solid scratching post so that it can keep the claws in good condition as well.
I have always clipped my cats claws and in particular one male who was very rough with females at mating I kept his as short as a dogs to stop the females from being damaged.
You have to get the kitten used to you touching, stroking and holding the paws gently, some are nervous of this, some are ticklish and some don't care, but touchng and stroking for a few seconds a day many times serves to desensitize the paw.
Then when it is at it's sleepiest you armed with nail clippers gently press the toe down as this will fully extend the claw. Look behind the claw you will see a dark line running down the centre. You do not cut this as it will be bleed and cause pain.
Now you clip to just below that line. Do this on every claw back and front on the weekly basis and you will notice that the black line also recedes allowing you to get them shorter.
It goes without saying that the kitten must be a one hundred percent indoors one and not an in and out one.
Yours may not even have Bartonella but if clawed or bitten by one who has it it can suffer from the Bartonella.
As I stated, I have absolutely no experience with declawing or tendonectomies (never had either done while living in the U.S., and both procedures are illegal in Germany. I'm against both in anything but a case like this). Most of the literature I've read has stressed the need to regularly cut the claws after the latter. Since Diane Marie is experienced in caring for her daughter, she'd most probably be vigilant regarding her cat's claws. I wondered if she was aware of the procedure.
Loverly7 is perfectly correct when she says that "cat scratch fever" can also be the result of a bite. Our last cat (a former feral) gave me a nasty bite on the leg while I was trying to get him to a vet after he came home with a broken tail. Although I immediately disinfected the wound, I ended up in the ER the next day, and endured about 6 months of having the wound drained and taking antibiotics. It's not something to take lightly.
No qualms Tricia. I support proper declawing, and IMO there is only one proper way to declaw.
The procedure you brought up, still requires the claws to be trimmed on a regular basis. Because claw trimming is typically a very successful alternative to any form of declawing, then in my book a method of "declawing" that requires claw trimming is absolutely pointless, and counterproductive.
Tendectomy adds a bigger handicap to the cat than standard declawing alone would. So I am fully against it, and truely think that it sould be dis-approved as a method of declawing.
I have no problem with you mentioning it, it is after all a permitted procedure, and thus an option to consider, but I also figured that I would offer a different perspective on the procedure.
Spotz
My vet here is pretty expensive. I went there because it's the closest but I will be looking around because I will switch vets to cheaper one after I neuter him. They also do laser declaw which is a lot better then regular declaw or so they say.
They charge $$$$ for neuter and declaw and I was going to switch but they sold me on all the tests they do so I decided to neuter him there and then switch to a cheaper one.
LOL.
They charge $$$$ for neuter and declaw and I was going to switch but they sold me on all the tests they do so I decided to neuter him there and then switch to a cheaper one.
LOL.
I don't know if we "lost" Diane Marie since I see she hasn't posted to this thread since the declawing.
Just wanted to add my 2 cents in saying that Comere is declawed, was declawed already when I adopted him, and is a very affectionate, loving mushpot. I can't imagine him anymore affectionate and mush than he is, so I highly doubt it changed his personality or behavior.
He is also and indoor-outdoor cat. Yes, I can hear the perverbial "gasp" as I said that... I had no choice in the matter when my father took over care of kitty for a short time while I was in the process of a major life change... and his condition on taking the cat was only if the cat would go outside (my father would have no part of litter box care).
Comere has never had a problem outside. He has been able to defend himself and I've seen him climb trees. Now I'm not making an argument to let declawed kitties outside at all -- in theory, I sort of agree they should stay indoors -- but I guess I don't agree with the generalization that a declawed cat should NEVER go outdoors under any circumstances. Comere is 17 and has been going outside nearly the last 12. He doesn't go far, and doesn't go out for hours on end, but he does go out.
Diane... I hope everything went well with Prince and your daughter... I wish you all the best. I know making the decision wasn't easy, but you did what was right for you and your family.
Just wanted to add my 2 cents in saying that Comere is declawed, was declawed already when I adopted him, and is a very affectionate, loving mushpot. I can't imagine him anymore affectionate and mush than he is, so I highly doubt it changed his personality or behavior.
He is also and indoor-outdoor cat. Yes, I can hear the perverbial "gasp" as I said that... I had no choice in the matter when my father took over care of kitty for a short time while I was in the process of a major life change... and his condition on taking the cat was only if the cat would go outside (my father would have no part of litter box care).
Comere has never had a problem outside. He has been able to defend himself and I've seen him climb trees. Now I'm not making an argument to let declawed kitties outside at all -- in theory, I sort of agree they should stay indoors -- but I guess I don't agree with the generalization that a declawed cat should NEVER go outdoors under any circumstances. Comere is 17 and has been going outside nearly the last 12. He doesn't go far, and doesn't go out for hours on end, but he does go out.
Diane... I hope everything went well with Prince and your daughter... I wish you all the best. I know making the decision wasn't easy, but you did what was right for you and your family.
