NWR: Getting cats declawed? (Kinda long)

kellyjellybelly

Did you make any attempts to treat the sensitive skin?  Change in food?  Ointments?  So by removing your cats claws, you fixed her sensitive, itchy skin?

chirpchirp

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-getting-cats-declawed-kinda-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3824e49f-4348-4f60-b1a0-6af32b74db23Post:5cdfbc5d-05e0-4d6d-97c7-ad5ee25b5bfe">Re: NWR: Getting cats declawed? (Kinda long)</a>:
[QUOTE]Did you make any attempts to treat the sensitive skin?  Change in food?  Ointments?  So by removing your cats claws, you fixed her sensitive, itchy skin?
Posted by kellyjellybelly[/QUOTE]

No, I'm sorry.  I should have expanded on that a bit more.  Along with the vet, we tried a lot of different things to treat the sensitive skin.  She wouldn't even leave the wound on her neck alone long enough to begin to heal.  She still has sensitive skin and is pretty neurotic about cleaning herself and still sratches a lot but now she doesn't scratch so much that she takes chunks of skin off. 

Does that make more sense?  I feel like I didn't explain it very well.

ETA: I just want to reiterate that I still don't feel like declawing is an appropriate solution for the large majority of situations, like the cat clawing up furniture.  I grew up with cats that had never been declawed and have never seen a need for it up until the problem a few years ago.

Goldlie11

I haven't read all of the threads.  Pardon me if this has been said.  I definitely do not believe in declawing, especially cats that old.  One thing that I did with my cat was spray the scratching post with cat nip.  This attracted her to it and got her using the post.    She never scratches the furniture, only the post and the laundry hamper.  

Simply Fated

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-getting-cats-declawed-kinda-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:3824e49f-4348-4f60-b1a0-6af32b74db23Post:5fd2861a-4b4d-4bc4-84af-cbf28a2c4d81">NWR: Getting cats declawed? (Kinda long)</a>:
[QUOTE]So FI and I have two cats. One is over a year old and the other one is 9 months old. They both have their claws but they tear up our furniture and our carpets. We have bought them a scratching post, tried spraying them with water when they scratched, and bought  this(click) , where you stick it on the furniture and the cats are supposed to leave it alone. Well, my cats peel it back with their teeth so they can scratch. We've also tried cutting their nails and we're running out of options. What do you guys think about getting them declawed? I've read some pretty awful things about it but FI says it'll be okay. All of the cats I had when I was younger were declawed, same with FI, but now that I'm older and have researched it, it sounds awful. What do you guys think?
Posted by aleighk1[/QUOTE]<div>Based on their ages, I think it would be a bad idea to declaw them this late in the game. Whether or not it's humane or inhumane to declaw, they're too old for my taste. Just my opinions because I'm not a vet, just a cat lover! :) 

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shortee426

J and I were just having a similar discussion.  We are getting a new couch and don't want our kitty to scratch it up like he did with our current one.  For the first time ever, we cut his nails on our own (rather than having the vet do it).  Our cat is super feisty, but we all survived it OK.  Like PPs said, we wrapped him up in a towel.  We were also resigned to the fact that we might only get one paw in, if that much.  We were ready to do just one nail a day if need-be!  Somehow Hank let us clip all the nails on both his front paws.

We are still looking into options for the couch...double sided tape, soft paws, additional catnip laced scratching posts.  But, there is one option I will not let J do and that is declaw him.

Angrytomato

I have been told by my vet tech friend that rubbing orange peels on the corners of the couches and chairs is a good way to get them to leave it alone. I have not tried it myself though.

nickandmerritt

This thread made me want to go hug my poor kitty who was declawed before we adopted her.  But I won't because she hates being hugged, probably in part because she doesn't trust people since they've done things to her like rip her claws out.  So I patted her on the head instead.

jenniferbelanger4

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-getting-cats-declawed-kinda-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3824e49f-4348-4f60-b1a0-6af32b74db23Post:5d03a76d-2c88-4580-8d7c-70cc61a4488a">Re: NWR: Getting cats declawed? (Kinda long)</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: NWR: Getting cats declawed? (Kinda long) : Are you a veterinarian? If so, you've been through enough college to know that it is advice, not advise.  I don't mean to be a biitch, but seeing how I asked for opinions, not advice, I find it perfectly fine that I came to the Knot to ask. Also, none of these ladies would have given me their opinion if the Knot wasn't the place to ask.  Edit: Just in case someone says asking for an opinion and asking for advice is the same thing, I feel like I should make what I mean clear. I asked for opinions on what I should do to stop the scratching and whether or not it is inhumane, not advice on whether or not to get them declawed, because FI wants to, but I refuse. :]
Posted by aleighk1[/QUOTE]

<font size="2"><p>I am not a Veterinarian, but I have worked in veterinary clinics for almost 9 years. and I have seen a thousand declaw surgeries preformed on many levels of veterinary care. </p><p>Seeing as this was a question addressed to people on the Knot I assumed it was addressed to everyone, so I gave my opinion. I'm sorry if I offended you with my spelling error or lack of understanding your original question.</p></font>

Rosie109

I just worry that if I declawed my cats they would get lose and not be able to defend themselves. I love my furniture but I love my cats more. 

Rosie109

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nwr-getting-cats-declawed-kinda-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:3824e49f-4348-4f60-b1a0-6af32b74db23Post:69d2f153-2f18-4d53-8413-8fab97df5c0e">Re: NWR: Getting cats declawed? (Kinda long)</a>:
[QUOTE]I am a huge animal lover and I saw getting cats declawed is ok. My moms cats are declawe, all 4 paws) and the 3 cats we have are only front paw declawed (if I could get all 4-I would!) The older cat got declawed around 3 years of age (and thats b/c he got crabby and ripped by MIL to shreads) The kittens we have (2 y/o now) we're declawed when they were old enough (which I forget the age) but everything turned out just fine. I am also happy they can no longer rip the furninute or family members to shreads. To adoid infections from using the box we needed to use specail litter - which was given to us by the vet. The one kitten bled a little, but he was ok. They were also fixed at the same time and given some pain medication which I imagine was a big help. But to answer your question, <strong>I am ok with declawing - as long as kitty is kept inside FOREVER .</strong>
Posted by pizzanfries4me[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>but what if they get out? I mean they could very well be fucked then, but at least they left the couch alone. 

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aleighk1

I've heard that most cats defend with their back claws and teeth anyway but I'm still not letting FI rip my poor kitty's claws out.