Help! Adopting a declawed cat

**Moesha** · 08-19-2008, 09:54 PM

It was not too long at all! I'm so glad you were able to take the kitty. Just go slowly and let her heal and introduce her to new kitties and situations slowly and I'm sure all will turn out well. Thank you so much for rescuing this dear one. Especially since the culture there isn't as cat friendly as others may be.

**catfamily** · 08-19-2008, 10:00 PM

i am very happy you adopted this cat...it may take even a year for the trust to show.please keep her...she's in a good home...probably the best.

how sad the story you had about the vets where you are in korea declawing like nothing.

And cats in labs freak me right.

I sure hope that they get found by animal activist groups...someday.

**catfamily** · 08-19-2008, 10:02 PM

i know that my cat lucy loves being called "Pretty Girl" instead.
And seems all the girls want that name in this house.
So "Pretty Girl" is a cat Favorite.Not mine...but cats love that name sooooo much.

**Moesha** · 08-19-2008, 10:14 PM

I know several declawed cats, and none of them seem to have any problems as a result. I'm not advocating declawing by any means, I'm just saying that kitties can have happy and satisfying lives without adverse effects. So your kitty may just recover and have a full life inspite of this terrible situation she endured.

**GILL** · 08-20-2008, 08:44 AM

As I've said we have three of the 12 that are front declaw. In one way it is good, as Bailey hates Chessie. He will growl and swat Chessie; Ches' will do the same but will no nails no harm. It actually looks like a small boxing match. Lenny could care less and just wants to be the Fridge alarm and a mid-night lover. The personalities are not affected by the lack of nails.
Years ago we had one Missy that got out. She ended up in a tree. I still can’t figure out how she could climb with out nails.
On a side note Chessie is my wife’s boy and a drooler. His favorite thing is sitting on my wife’s chest and making bread. He will do this for 15-30 minutes before we go to sleep, leaving a very large wet spot just under her chin.

**Anikaca77** · 08-20-2008, 10:02 AM

I'm so glad you got her!

I didn't know that people still believed in cats as being seen as evil.

Well I'd hope that maybe you might be able to find a different vet because a vet that does this to an animal is just plain mean and should be reported although I'd doubt it would get very far.

I hope she is able to live her life without pain. I know I fostered a cat that had her front claws removed and it was a bad job and she walked lightly on her paws but she was still able to jump.

Good luck and I hope we can see some pictures soon of this baby.

Melissa

**sirrahbed** · 08-20-2008, 11:26 AM

I am so glad that you have adopted this kitty!! I had posted about my boy Dylan earlier in this post - we adopted him 3 years ago and he was already an adult, 4 declawed kitty. I wish I knew more about his history but am always glad he is now mine. Because his paws seemed to be tender, I brought him to my vet who xray the paws - one front paw in particular shows shards of bone that are from a bad job and my vet says that he can go in and try to trim or remove these small fragments and possibly help Dylan feel better so that may be an option. ( I *think* he said this would be done with a laser but not sure) But Dylan seems to be perfectly happy and well adjusted, the peaceful leader of his family now. He does NOT like to have his paws touched though, and will swat at anyone who tries. I see him playing with the other cats and also loves to chase the laser and play with toys like any normal cat. Of course he will never go outside, but none of my cats do anyway.
Sometimes he holds that one paw up when he is standing, but I also see him use both to make happy feet

He is clumsy when he jumps but is still able to get anywhere he tries to go. If any other cat were to cause him defense problems, Dylan was here first! I don't personally know of any long term declaw complications such as arthritis but it sounds reasonable. My last generation of cats were declaws and as far as I knew at the time - healthy cats. One cat, RB Bert was a biter though - and this may have been his defense. Not a certainty though as my two fully clawed kitties are now my biters - love bites I like to think

I wish you and your new kitty girl the best and hopefully no problems that can't be improved. I expect my Dylan to have a long and healthy life. He is wonderful

Does this new girl have a name yet? Pictures maybe?

My Dylan is the large orangie in my signature below.