Upset over Declawing

[kitten645]

I would fathom a guess that if an owner went thru expense and trouble of gettin a kitty declawed, and it is at a shelter, there are issues that developed as a result of the mutilation. Growing up (in the 70's), my best friend got a kitten and had it declawed (actually,obviously her parents did). That kitty went from a sweet loving thing to a vicious little thing. It would agressively attack and bite with no provocation. I remember how it broke my heart right after the surgury, his wee paws still bandaged and he jumped down off a chair. You could see him wince in pain as he sat up on his hind legs, front paws held up.

[maerlyn]

Thank you all for the continuing support. I am so depressed, I just can't find the energy to do anything more than take care of the 5 cats and 2 ponies. If it were just my son, I have to believe that I could influence him, but his wife is in charge, and I've explained about *her* mother - there's just no hope for little Nya. (I believe they're bringing her home today - Thursday.)

Lisa is probably right: I'm more upset than Nya will be - I hope! But more and more, I think my sadness is the fact that my son - *my* son - condones and defends this. I just can't get my mind around that, for it's certainly not the way I brought him up - or so I thought. It also saddens me that my grandson will now grow up with that same "I don't give a damn about the animal's pain" attitude; they're teaching him that furniture is more important than a living, sentient being. It's so, so wrong; sorry - preaching to the choir here.

I feel as if I'm adrift with no land, no anchorage in sight; it's only all of you who are keeping me from totally losing it. Thank you ever so much.

[Randi]

I can fee l how upset you are about this, and I am, too. At least they could get an already declawed cat!

Even though it's your son, I think I would quit contact.

[maerlyn]

Trust me, Randi, that thought has crossed my mind, but he's my only child, and I'm a widow. I really don't want to fall out over this. I was thinking just a while ago that, if we were not bound by our children, I wouldn't be friends with my d.i.l.'s parents, not after what her mother told me on Monday. She and her husband have been very good to me, but I don't think I'll ever look at them the same way again. I'm not sure I can look at my own son the same way. For now, I'm keeping quiet, not initiating any contact. Usually, the parents invite me for Christmas Eve and Day; I hope by that time I can come to grips with my feelings.

[moosmom]

Maerlyn,

It is what it is and I don't blame you for not wanting to cause a rift. All you can do is pray for the best and hope this kitty doesn't develop any of the issues that come with being declawed.

[Karen]

I would have them check around, and make sure the vet is experienced in the surgery before they go through with it, as some of the horror stories we hear are from botched jobs!

[maerlyn]

I think, moosmom, that you're right: at this point, all I can do is pray and trust that the Creator will send an angel to look after this little one.

Knowing my d.i.l., she's made the calls - at the very, very least, she called to find someone who uses lasers because she was told that it's less painful. Right now, I don't want to talk to any of them; I'd say some things that it wouldn't be good to say.

[mrspunkysmom]

I would fathom a guess that if an owner went thru expense and trouble of gettin a kitty declawed, and it is at a shelter, there are issues that developed as a result of the mutilation. Growing up (in the 70's), my best friend got a kitten and had it declawed (actually,obviously her parents did). That kitty went from a sweet loving thing to a vicious little thing. It would agressively attack and bite with no provocation. I remember how it broke my heart right after the surgury, his wee paws still bandaged and he jumped down off a chair. You could see him wince in pain as he sat up on his hind legs, front paws held up.

If you are referring to Bertie, she was grumpy because she wanted to be an only kitty. She was suffering stress from abandonment and was dealing with 5 other kitties. I'm sure there are numerous posts in General or Cat General about her (Oct 2011 - Dec 2011). She ran and played despite her weight and wasn't in pain. she was happy with people. My friends and I do not think she was abandoned because of behavior issues.

But in general you are correct. That much physical trauma can make an animal act out. Pain is not an easy thing to live with. This is sad.