Help! Adopting a declawed cat

[moosmom]

You tell 'em Katie!! I have a combination also. My oldest cat, Mollie Rose, 16, is declawed and she is the most loveable, sweet cat I've ever had (aside from MooShoo that is).

I'd say give this poor kitty a test drive. Ask the vet to take her home and love the heck out of her. Gradually introduce your cats to her (or him) like you're supposed to. You might be pleasantly surprized. The reason why she's hissing at people is becasue of what your jerk of a vet did. He should be ashamed of himself. It was not his decision to make. It should've been the new owner's that decide. Then if they did have her declawed, shame on them.

MrsCat,

Declawing is not just plucking out the claw, it's chopping off the the nail at the first digit. That vet should burn in hell for what he did.

[mrscat]

i do know what declawing involves, i was just making the point that just pulling out someones fingernails is/was considered a form of torture with humans so imagine how much worse what is done to the cat. that doesnt explain why the practice still goes on in the usa, or does it? eva

[emily_the_spoiled]

I have eight cats and only one is declawed (I got him that way). He is a big guy and very laid back, but he does just fine in a houseful of clawed cats. The only thing is that he can not "climb" but he jumps just fine

The only thing you may have to experiment with is the type of litter. Because their paws are very sensitive, declawed cats can have problems with the feel of certain types of litter.

Please take this cat and find yourself another vet (if possible)

[Medusa]

I have no experience w/declawed cats so I have nothing to add here except encouragement to give the cat a test drive, as Donna suggested. Any vet that would disfigure a cat in such a way in a rage, as you say, should be reported. There is a vet here that doesn't like cats and I wouldn't let him near mine and I tell everyone I know to stay away from him. I guess this is rather off subject but when I read stories like this, I break into a sweat. Because I haven't had experience w/declawed cats, as I mentioned, I can't in good conscience tell you to give this one a home but others here do have the experience, as you can see, and I would trust what they say. This little one deserves a good life, especially since he had such a miserable start.

[Anikaca77]

I agree that the vet should be reported!

What an ass.

I would take the cat in. If it doesn't work out I'm sure someone on here would take the cat. I almost thought I could take the cat but I'm probably in the middle of a divorce right now so that wouldn't be too smart.

But please try to take her in and love her and love your other guys and introduce them slowly.

I think the vet should be reported though.

Melissa

I have no experience w/declawed cats so I have nothing to add here except encouragement to give the cat a test drive, as Donna suggested. Any vet that would disfigure a cat in such a way in a rage, as you say, should be reported. There is a vet here that doesn't like cats and I wouldn't let him near mine and I tell everyone I know to stay away from him. I guess this is rather off subject but when I read stories like this, I break into a sweat. Because I haven't had experience w/declawed cats, as I mentioned, I can't in good conscience tell you to give this one a home but others here do have the experience, as you can see, and I would trust what they say. This little one deserves a good life, especially since he had such a miserable start.

[Randi]

That poor cat! It's outrageous that a vet can behave like that, his licence to practise should be taken, and he should have all his fingernails pulled out!

It seems that many here have declawed cats, along with non declawed, and I think you should try to take this kitty in and see how it goes. If you're patient, it will probably work out. This kitty needs lots of love, after a bad start in life!

[columbine]

She's probably just hissing and refusing to eat because she's in so much pain and scared of the dogs. Once she's out of Kitmo, she might very well adapt nicely to a loving home. As Emily said, permanently sore feet might mean you need to try different kinds of litter, but as long as she's safe indoors she ought to be all right. I've met quad declawed cats who were perfectly calm and otherwise healthy. Ramps, ladders, or stairs can help a quad kitty get onto beds and even windowsills.

Love, Columbine (feeling sad for the little kitty)

[cassiesmom]

My cat, Cassie, had already been front paw declawed when I adopted her. I signed an agreement with the shelter that I would not have her back paws declawed. I do trim them periodically. She is 13 years old. It used to be that she would run cat sprints and I would find bits of claw in the carpet. That doesn't happen as often now, so I try to play with her more so she can shed them on her own. If that doesn't happen she puts up with me trimming them. I don't plan to have her back paws declawed.

My nephew's cat Milo has all his claws. He's allowed on the screened-in porch and outdoors wearing a leash, so he will not be able to be declawed. He had some issues with the sofa when he first came home, but he has now learned to use his scratching tree. He also likes an old straw mat that is on the back porch. It was very inexpensive and he uses it a lot to dig in his claws and pull. They have another pretty doormat that gets put out when company visits but Milo uses the straw mat regularly. Hate to take it away.

I have a friend who had all four of her cat's paws declawed. Now her cat BITES!

[Catty1]

Um - in case anyone missed it - it is NOT her vet that declawed this cat; it is ANOTHER vet who referred the cat to the present vet.

However, that OTHER vet should definitely be reported! Greedy and an idiot - just wanted to breed her!

Her vet said that this kitty is available for adoption after her treatments are over - so I would guess he is doing it out of his own pocket.

If you do adopt her, she might have to be in her own room for a long time...learning to trust again (if she ever did). Set up her space with food, water and a litter box, and a soft bed, and leave her alone for a while.

What is she being treated for - or is the surgery so recent that she is recovering from it?

[jennielynn1970]

Actually, Catty, it doesn't state specifically which vet did the declawing.

She stated the vet she went to offered the cat to her for free after "treatments", whatever she is being treated for.

Whichever vet did the declawing, just to be vindictive, is no vet in my book. I hope that they will be reported.

I have one 4 paw declawed cat, NOT done by me, who is a foster. She will swat at me or the other catss. When she decides she's had enough petting from me, she will nip. Not sure if this is because she's declawed, or if this is just the she always was from before the time I started fostering her. She is a good girl, just needs patience because she is skittish and a bit defensive about being handled or being around other cats. Again, this could have been her personality from kittenhood, I don't know that for certain.

[KitCat]

My cat is front declawed (got him that way). He acts the same as a clawed cat. He's an indoor cat because I want him to be safe, but it's extra important because he lacks the front claws.

[Laura's Babies]

You have enough answers on the declawed kitty mixed in with clawed ones.

My thoughts on that vet is that if he was any kind of vet at ALL, he would have known the cat was extreemly nervous at it's new situation and not even put it anywhere near the dogs. To me, it is HIS fault the cat scratched the dog to begin with and HE is the one who should have had his nail ripped out! He sure would never get another dime of my money!

Please get the kitty before that vet does more harm to it!

[Freedom]

Mrs. Cat, unfortunately there are no laws against declawing in this country. many people are against it, but the laws haven't been put in place to prevent it.

Annkim83, if in the US, I think that vet should be reported, this is a horrible thing for a vet to do "in a rage!"

Please open your home and your heart do this poor cat, who needs love and an indoor only home. get her away from that torturer!

I have one cat who was front declawed (she arrived here that way, as I don't believe in it). She had no problem interacting with the other cats here.

[momcat]

That vet should burn in hell for what he did.

Amen, Donna, Amen!!!!!
I am outraged, sickened and appalled at what I have just read This sadistic idiot must be stopped from practicing and I do mean yesterday! How cruel can this (insert your own expletive) be? I refuse to refer to this butcher as a vet out of respect and admiration for the countless vets who treat every pet as if it were their own with love, gentleness and excellent care.

Report this butcher to the veterinary board and put him out of business. Tell EVERYONE what this creep did. Also notify the Humane Society, ASPCA, rescues, shelters, every animal welfare group you can find. Name names and be specific. Innocent pets are in danger!

Bless you for caring enough to rescue this poor kitty from an intolerable situation. Give kitty plenty of love and attention. It may take some time for kitty to feel secure and trust again. Please be patient with the poor cat, (s)he has been through so much... too much.

If this seems harsh and offensive, I apologize to all of you. We're brought together here because of our mutual love not just for our beloved pets but for all animals. Intentional abuse to an animal by someone who should know better is clearly a criminal act!

Please, let's all pray for this poor kitty?