More pics of Beans

[rg_girlca]

Wow that was a great update on precious Beans, Melissa. I'm sure this will put Lizzie's mind at ease.

He is so darn adorable.

[mumpkees]

Thanks for the update on little Beans, Melissa. Sounds like all in all he is doing great! He seems to have already figured out ways to do most everything and once he is comfortable in his surroundings, I'm guessing he is going to be fine. I personally don't think I would declaw him. I know that he had to be lightly gassed to do his nails this time, but that is probably due to the fact that this probably was his first clipping. The fact that you state he uses them for things and he doesn't express pain, makes me think that there probably will be a way to manipulate his paws/arms enough to clip them. I'd worry about him being declawed and then his little arms folded up tight again not allowing his paws to heal - not to mention the intense pain he would suffer from having his toe joints lobbed off. We've not been blessed yet to care for a little one like Beans, but I imagine Jan will soon have some input in regards to this.

Thank you Melissa for taking him to see his vet and for taking such good care of him. I can well imagine how you'll miss him when he goes to his forever home. He's just too cute for words! /mari

[Anikaca77]

Beans is so special. Melissa thank you for taking care of him for now till Lizzy can get him.

He's so precious.

Melissa

[Lizzie]

Thank you for your input, Mari. I must admit that I was horrified when I read Melissa's vet's recommendation and thought to myself that I'd take him to half a dozen vets for advice plus ask Best Friends before I would be persuaded it would be in his best interests to declaw him. Do you think his arms are folded in tightly because he's protecting them, or because the muscles and tendons couldn't be exercised much and so kind of locked in place?

I am relieved that he is comfortable and enjoying his new surroundings, Melissa, and I'm sure he just loves all the cuddles you give him. Apparently he used to get up on the sofa with his first guardians. Does he get up on any furniture? I keep thinking about how I'm going to be able to get him up and down from my bed. Perhaps I'll have to have a carpeted ramp built for the side of my bed.

[orangemm]

Beans is such a brave little guy! My heart just melts looking at him and I am happy he has a wonderful foster home and a wonderful new furrever home waiting for him!

Kudos to both of you!

[doolittleky]

I didn't intend by posting the vet's advice to get into a delcawing debate because that really isn't the issue. Therre is a legitmate medical reason I asked the vet able this and why the vet recommended what she did. The reason the vet said it is in his best interests to declaw ONLY the front is because if you don't he WILL be in pain from his nails growing into his pads and the only way that you can clip his nails is be gassing him lightly to do it. If you try to do it any other way it hurts him to move his paws in the position you would have to move them to clip the nails. believe me we tried and you couldn't maneuver them so you could clip them without hurting him. He doesn't have any dew claws and i think the vet siad he only had three toes( I can't remember) Depending on how fast his nails grow you might have to gas him pretty often and to me that isn't good for him. Lizzie his arms are folding in because that is the way they grew. He can't unfold them, kinda like a person with cerebral palsy that can't straighten out their limbs due to the cerebral palsy. Lizzie did the first people that had him say he got up on furniture by himself? He hasn't tried anything like that and he is very confortable here. he does stand up and his hind legs when he wants me to pick him up.

[catmandu]

Bless you for taking in Beans.
He will be fine, Cats are so very adaptable, and we know that he will flourish in your home.
He will be such a Happy Cat once he has settled in.

[Lizzie]

I didn't intend to get into the declaw debate either, but I can't help my immediate reaction of distress. I knew from what you posted that you were both thinking of what was best for him, and I'm trying to do that also - long distance. I would still want several opinions before I did anything this drastic. I wonder how they have clipped his claws in the past since he's an adult and it must have been done before.

Yes, his first guardians said he used to get up on the sofa to be with them. Whether he jumped or somehow used his arms, I don't know. I'm assuming he's being a little more cautious of his movements until he feels totally at home.

[kt_luvs_kitties]

I want to add that every cat is different, even though they might have the same problems/diseases/disablements. I think that if he could exercise his arms, then you could munipulate them to clip his paws. But you cant, or it hurts him.
And I would much rather declaw him and him hurt for a week, then to have to gas him so frequently(even under slight anesthesia or gassing, things can go wrong). And I am normally anti-declaw, UNLESS there is a medical issue.
Beans will do just fine, he is a normal sweet, loving kitty, and things will work out, just give them time. Katie

[AbbyMom]

He hasn't tried anything like that and he is very confortable here. he does stand up and his hind legs when he wants me to pick him up.

Isn't that adorable?