Declawing a cat- Please read :/?

I totally understand your predicament and concern. I am probably one of the very few on here that is actually in favor of declawing. I have had cats that have been declawed and, like you, have not had a cat that has had a problem with it. If you decide to do this I suggest you look in your area for a vet that does the laser declaw procedure and not the old type. The newer way of declaw is easier on the cat, less blood loss, less pain involved and a quicker recovery. I have actually assisted in the old method and the newer laser procedure and can tell you - the older method was inhumane and cruel.

Because your cat is older and a little heavier than a kitten it will take a longer recovery. The vet usually keeps the cat overnight to give the best start for recovery and gives a pain killer also. The actual bone, as some indicate, is not taken off and because of the laser procedure there is often no stitches (usually a surgical glue) and a lot less blood loss. Normal after care is advised (no clay litter, restricted activity as much as you can get, etc.).

Find a vet that does the newer laser declaw and get all the information you can and discuss with the vet on the pros and cons of the surgery itself. You are the one that rescued this cat and are trying to do the best for her - you saved her life! Pease do not let all the negative information deter you as you decide. The only thing you need to be aware of is that she cannot be an outside cat. I wish you, and her, the best for the future.

Before you declaw her, here are a few things you can try to prevent scratching.

-Double Sided Tape. Put it on the spots where she scratches the most. There are even some types made specially for cats.

-Sprays. There are some sprays that you spray on your furniture that is very unappealing to your cat.

-Put a scratching post next to the spot where she scratches.

-Claw at the scratching posts. While this may sound strange, your cat may choose to mimic you. You could also try feeding her or hiding treats in the scratching post so it becomes more appealing then your sofa or chair.

Please try some of these things before you think about declawing. Declawing can cause permanent damage and just because your old cat wasn't affected doesnt mean your new cat won't be affected.

I agree with JC. Why don't you start trimming her claws? Don't just grab her out of the blue one day and suddenly trim her claws. Hold a treat in your hand and call your cat softly. Start with just gently handling her paws. Do that a couple of times. Once she is used to having her paws handled, take the clippers and cut off the very tips of her claws, one by one. Avoid cutting into the quick, the pink part that you can see inside the translucent nail. It will hurt and will bleed which could make her reluctant to let you clip her claws again. Trim her claws every two weeks then follow with a treat.

Please do not consider declawing as an everyday option; it is THE last resort.

Give your cat multiple scratching options in different locations. Place a scratcher near her favorite sleeping spot because cats like to stretch and scratch right after waking. Reward her every time you catch her using the scratchers. Reward her with treats, pets, and praises. If that doesn't work, try adding a bit of catnip on the scratching options or toys with/without catnip in them.

If ALL of them doesn't work, try placing Sticky Paws, a nontoxic double-sided tape, on areas of your furniture your kitty likes to scratch.

As for your last cat, declawing cats COULD lead to inappropriate elimination and aggression issues. It depends on each cat. Just because your last cat didn't change after being declawed doesn't mean your present cat won't change too.

Declawing is the mutation of the cat. I ran a rescue and forbid it. The vet actually cuts the first digit of the cats paw off after slicing through the tendons that bring the claws out and retract back in. Those tendons are important to the working of the foot and stretching of the leg muscles. It is necessary equipment. I noticed you never said that you have tried trimming the cats toe nails? You've put Soft Paws on because you're too lazy to trim nails! So now you want the public to agree with you giving an elderly cat an operation that WILL EFFECT AND BE VERY DRAMATIC for her. You said she was severely abused. Then, why would you do something so cruel as to mutilate her? I trained every cat that came into my shelter to come when called, stay off of the kitchen stove and table, never to claw at furniture or attack each other. I did it with a water sprayer set on jet stream. I trimmed cat nails while watching T.V. and none have injured themselves. 48 cats 0 injuries to them.

I'm glad you care so much about her and her well being, I think the best option is to take her to your vet and discuss this issue with them as they will know what's best and can answer all your questions. And yes, a lot of people will say removing her claws is mean, but if she is an indoor cat and it's purely for her own safety and well being, it's definitely the right choice. Good luck to you and your cat and a happy new year :)

Just to add, it may be easier just to get them trimmed. Go for the trimming first before you consider de clawing :)

Trim her claws. Declawing a cat that age is practically a guarantee that you will have issues with her. Get her a sturdy piece of cat furniture, scratching posts are generally too flimsy for a cat to use. At least 30% of cats who are declawed have serious issues post-mutilation. The fact that you got away with it on your first cat means nothing. 30% is a pretty high number. Do you want a cat that suddenly decides they are going to bite? Refuse to use the litter box - ever again? Those are the two most common behavioral issues seen in declawed cats, adults especially. Others include aggression, lethargy, and hiding. She trusts you - and you want to betray that trust by having the last joint of her toes chopped off. Trim the claws, get her something sturdy to scratch. Otherwise you're possibly going to end up with a cat that bites you and pees on the furniture - and then what? It's a question you need to ask yourself.

Have you tried just keeping them clipped?

I don't think that she would do very well with a declaw. She sounds like she has gone through alot, and that she could revert back to being unsocial even with you if you remind her of what she went through. Declawing could be that reminder that turns her into an unsocial cat.

You can always put up laminated posters and double sided tape on the things that she likes to claw on. As for the towels and clothes put them away where they are supposed to go and she shouldn't have access to them.

HOW often are you clipping the nails? We do our cats weekly and they may claw other things, but no damage is done.

The cat has already had enough issues in the past, and declawing her will make things 10x worse - she is likely to bite in fear or hide in fear and you will do a lot more damage to her mentally.

Besides causing your precious cat lots of long term pain, you will be trading problems. She would no longer scratch your things, but cats frequently have long term litter box avoidance after declawing. It hurts them to scratch in the litter box so they go outside the box. Also, cats frequently have emotional problems after declawing. They can hide from you and not be so loving. It hurts.

Just a thought before she has surgery...I went down to the river and found a fairly large piece of driftwood that was just heavy enough that my cat couldnt move it. He loved scratching on that piece of wood and he stopped clawing other stuff.