To rescue or not OR When is killing an animal the right thing to do.

[lizbud]

I am so sorry you are going through this & I feel sorry that Ollie has to go through life in pain from this horrid surgery. He might be better off as a only
pet (cat or dog) in a relatively quiet household. Even then he probably should have daily does of pain killers. Not a ideal life but his future was decided for him
by his former family's decision. I would reject the idea of making him live outside. He has no defense except his teeth & that's no match against other bigger
animals.

[mon]

Give Ollie up to the humane society or the SPCA or whoever will take him. Be strong, you are done, you are a good person. The cat is not for you, and ... that's alright honey. Life is short, seems a hella longer if you're miserable and so is Ollie.

[mon]

p.s. I had 5 cats in my younger yrs. They were all declawed. they did not seem to be in any pain at all and lived long and healthy lives.

[Karen]

p.s. I had 5 cats in my younger yrs. They were all declawed. they did not seem to be in any pain at all and lived long and healthy lives.

Sadly, that is not true of all declaws cats, some veterinarians do a better job than others, and like with any surgery, there are risks. That may or may not have anything to do with how Ollie is, it is just something to consider!

mrspunkysmom and mon, to give you a chuckle in this otherwise sad thread,

My dear friend has two kittens that were declawed when she got them, and they were perfectly fine and lived long, happy lives - and seemed to have no idea they were not equipped for the role of mighty hunters! I will never forget my friend describing coming into her kitchen one day with both dainty princess kitty in full attack mode hissing and focussed on what was just below the bay window they were in/ Bonnie looked out and there were too deer grazing below the window and both her cats were telling her, "C'mon, mom - let us at 'em! We can take ';em down, c'mon mom!" Needless to say, when she recovered from her laughter, the kitties' hopes were crushed and she did not open the door or window to let them out.

[mrspunkysmom]

p.s. I had 5 cats in my younger yrs. They were all declawed. they did not seem to be in any pain at all and lived long and healthy lives.

Even if not in physical pain, the declawing changes the cats walking posture, causing arthritis later in life. And just like people, some cats handle adversity better than others. Your typical cat is psychologically fragile and can carry a grudge or torment a long time. I think they are all drama queens.