Cat Owners - Please help me! **UPDATE PAGE 2**

[KatelynnsAuntie]

Normally I am totally against declawing. Given your circumstances, though, I can understand the need. Especially if she's beating up the other cat so much who IS declawed. My three beat up on each other sometimes, but they all have their claws to defend themselves.

I know you're trying to do what's best. I would much rather see you declaw the kitty than eventually get rid of it.

Good luck.

 

[grinningghost]

I'm sure some cats might have problems with being declawed, but we had our kitten declawed when he was very young and he never had any trouble. In fact, the second he came home, he was jumping around like nothing even happened, despite having some sort of liquid bandages on his paws.

We only got the front ones done and that's been perfect. He can still claw you if he wants to, with his back claws.

He's also a strictly indoor cat.

 

[MHopkins2]

I'm with the crowd here on getting her declawed, for the sake of both the other kitty and the humans.

As for the more immediate problem - and this may make some people mad too, but here goes - have you tried calling a kennel? I've never had to kennel my Siameezer, and I don't know for sure if they'd take one in heat, but it's worth the call to check. They're not terribly expensive and would save your sanity for the (relatively) few days until you can get her fixed.

 

[coliebird]

Both of my cats were declawed as kittens as were my two that are no longer with me. Of course the youngest is 11 so this was in the days before declawing became a big controversy. I know that there are vets that will no longer do it, but they have not had any effects from the declawing, they are both completely happy and playful and it makes me feel better to know that they cannot scratch my daughters face when she plays with them. You need to do what you feel is right. Talk to your vet about it also, maybe he/she can help.

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, I guess being declawed would be better than being given away!!! So, in this case I'll have to change to the declawing group. You just can't have a cat that is so into that whole ambushing thing. I have one that does it too, but he doesn't use his claws. He's just a little psycho!! So, if it means the poor furbaby can still live with you guys, then I say get it done. And yes, I know, no one said anything about him going to live someplace else. It's just that that is what happens a lot in these cases.

 

[Lisa F]

I have gone through this agonizing decision TWICE now and twice have decided to declaw. I adopted my first cat as an adult and she was already declawed. She is really sweet but very timid and it took forever to get her to not bolt when someone looked at her funny. She is still very skittish but my sweet little girl and I am very protective of her.

When we got a second cat, I got a boy kitten so that hopefully there would be no "female dominance" issues and also so that she would be the "queen" of our little family. I discussed declawing him at length with my vet (who was wonderful) and she basically is the kind of vet who will declaw but only if it's a reason that she agrees with. She did say that it would be easier on the new kitten if we got him declawed when he was younger rather than older, but since Daniel had been neutered by the SPCA before we adopted him, there was no "pressing need" to make the decision (since he wasn't due for surgery anytime soon, I agree with doing it all at once if necessary). By the time he got to be almost as big as my first cat Gracie, it was clear that he was beating up on her (and still does occasionally... of course they also sleep together and groom each other so I think it's part of normal cat play). After treating enough scratches on Gracie, I brought the kitten (now a year old) back to the vet to be declawed.

When our third cat showed up on our doorstep he hadn't been spayed yet and although I faltered a bit in the decision, we knew it was the right thing to do to get him declawed since our other two were. The first vet we went to would not even hear of declawing him for any reason, so we switched vets. I was wishy washy on whether to do it while dropping him off to be neutered and the vet basically said it would be MUCH easier on him as a kitten than as an older cat, but of course it was my decision if I wanted to wait and see. Well since I had tried the wait and see and it didn't work, we ended up just getting him declawed at the same time as he was neutered.

BTW, our vet used laser surgery and I couldn't believe how clean the surgery was. I remember it being much worse with Daniel and also him having a longer recovery time afterward. Bagheera (new kitty) slept for about a day after the surgery (from the anesthesia wearing off) and was as good as new the next day. I couldn't believe it. No change in personality that the first vet had said was SURE to happen, as playful, frisky, loving and cuddly as ever and now when he tackles one of the others, I don't worry about it.

I know this is a touchy subject for many people who just believe it's downright wrong, but you gotta do what you gotta do. There are lots of things that I do that I'm sure SOMEONE believes is very wrong and going to send me to you know where. On the scale of wrongness, I believe that declawing a cat who is then going to spend the rest of its life in the lap of luxury and being spoiled completely by a loving family is REALLY REALLY far down on the wrong list (about equal with spaying and neutering, although some would disagree). Yes, I do feel a little guilty about it when someone tells me that I am a cruel and awful person but for the most part I'm glad that we decided to have it done everytime I see my kitties wrestling or everytime a cat swipes me in the face to get my attention.

 

[CheshireVal]

Wow, I'm actually surprised at how many people here are pro-declawing. I thought it would be much more of a controversey!

My cats have always been biters more than anything, and de-teething is, unfortunately, not an option. Then again, I don't have the nicest furniture ever and knew when I got a cat where my priorities were. I have friends who have declawed their cats so their furniture wouldn't be scratched, but I just think an inanimate object isn't worth the sacrifice of a kitty's claws. But if it's an issue of her hurting (seriously) another cat, I guess that's different.

Ultimately it's your decision, really. If you feel like declawing is really going to help then do it. We all have to make tough decisions with our pets sometimes.

 

[Pete's Mom]

Pete and I took Luigi to vet today to get her updated on her shots. Pete was so sweet, he talked to her the entire trip, cooing and singing to her, telling her she would be okay. He even put some of his Power Rangers in her pet taxi so that she would have something to play with. He was so nervous.

After the vet came in I told him the problems we were having and asked for his advice. He did a full examination and said to me in a very grim voice, "we will need to remove these two tumors".

I said, "TUMORS"? WHERE!!!!


He just looked at me.










How mortified was I? When we first found her I took her to PetSmart to get something to kill the fleas that were crawling all over her. The vet on staff had examined her and said that Luigi was a girl. Of course, I haven't noticed anything, I mean, it's not like I look. Sooooo, needless to say, Pete did right by picking a boy name.

Shots went well and the soonest I can get her, eh, HIM fixed in next Friday (12th). The vet said that I might want to consider getting him front declawed since I had tried pretty much every thing I could and Luigi was hurting all of us. He said that if I decide that I want to have it done, they can do it during the operation. I still have not made up my mind.

As a side note, Shadow is sleeping on top of the kitchen table so as to have an advantage over Luigi if HE tries to attack. So sad, he has been sitting up there for 4 hours now and won't come down.

Thanks to all for the wonderful advice. I am still mulling it over in my mind and would appreciate any suggestions or any experiences you can pass along.

 

[katerkat]

Well, I guess Pete knew something you didn't! The good thing is he isn't in heat. The bad thing is he's being a very bad kitty if you thought that he was a female in heat!

Good luck with your decision... I've been thinking a little about my Tycho and his cousin Bribs - Bribs had the advantage of being the bigger cat and even though Tycho is a complete bully, he still got scratched all of his face when they fought. So for Shadow to be a timid cat with NO defenses...

 

[MelessaG]

Pete's Mom-
I found this thread tonight and have been following with interest because I have the same dilemma, though Sasha is definitely a girl. She is pretty wild too and I thought I was going to lose it while she was in heat. Fortunately, her first round of vaccinations seemed to put an abrupt halt to the heat. (It may have been timing, we don't know-but we were grateful) She just had her boosters Sat. morning and is scheduled to be spayed on the 25th. I still haven't decided about declawing. She was very wild and I was SURE I would do it a couple of months ago. Then, we bought her a scratching toy from Wal-Mart (It's round with a ball you can chase around the outside and corrugated cardboard to scratch in the middle). We didn't expect it to work-but it DID! Today is the first time in quite awhile that I caught her scratching her favorite chair. However, she is not as rough with my kids as Luigi seems to be with Peter. (I had to chuckle at him giving her 'time-out,' my 6 year-old does that with Sasha too.) Also, there is no other declawed cat here for her to torture. Even though she is strictly an inside cat, I am leaning towards not declawing her; but for what it's worth, I'm thinking Luigi does need to be declawed. I was so mad to read about him scratching poor Pete in his sleep, not to mention all that poor Shadow has to endure. One of my friends who grew up with cats (unlike me) said with two cats in the house they should 'match.' If one is declawed, do the other one; if the older cat isn't-leave them both alone. (Of course, take that with a grain of salt-neither of her cats are declawed) So, all rambling aside, my advice is to buy one of those Wal-Mart scratch toys in case it works at your house too, and try it until the date of Luigi's neutering. You should know by then if that toy will help or not. If it hasn't helped, I would declaw him. I do have to admit, reading about all the trouble with Luigi has meds me realize Sasha isn't that bad and I won't be declawing her.

 

[Rajah]

Have you tried a slow re-introduction of the two of them?

 

[Pete's Mom]

Originally posted by Rajah
Have you tried a slow re-introduction of the two of them?

Oh yes, several times. When we first got Shadow back in October, Luigi was just a kitten. I was worried that Shadow would attack Luigi. I did the whole deal with leaving Shadow in the Pet Taxi with his cage door ajar in the bathroom with the door closed, litter box and food. That cat was so traumatized from it's prior home that he stayed in the taxi for about a week and would not come out. Gradually I started opening the bathroom door for a few hours and cooing to him. He would not come out. Of course, Luigi was curious and Shadow would growl at him and then cower. So, I would only open the bathroom door when I could be right there to intervene if needed. Well, this went on for about two more weeks and Shadow just stayed in the Pet Taxi. So I removed the Pet Taxi. He cowered behind the toliet for another week. Finally, one day, he was gone from the bathroom. Another month went by with him living under the bed. We very rarely saw him. We would try to get him to come out but he wouldn't, so we would drag him out and then hold him and pet him, he would only freak and then run back under the bed. In the meanwhile, Luigi learned that Shadow was afraid of him and it was all down hill from there. Shadow gradually became more independant and would come out and walk around, even come up and sit with us, but Luigi would run in and attack him and then back under the bed for Shadow. In has only been in the last month or so that Shadow has started to try to fight back. Sometimes Luigi gives up, but more times than not, Shadow takes a beating.

They never lay or play together like other cats. No grooming one another, nothing. Occasionally they will both be in the bed, but after a few minutes Luigi attacks Shadow and then bye bye. We have tried locking Luigi out of the bedroom to have more one on one time with Shadow, but this just makes Luigi madder. Not sure what to do, but I am beginning to think that having Luigi declawed will make it a more even playing field for the two of them.

 

[peg2001]

Don't be too embarassed about the gender mix-up. I think it happens all the time with cats and vets are used to it. I, too, would have looked blank if the vet referred to "tumors." Glad to hear that you picked up on his meaning.

Although I have 3 cats that are not declawed, if I were in your situation, I would go ahead and do it.

Peggy

 

[goofy4tink]

Hey Lisa...your Daniel is the spitting image of my Bootsie, the psycho cat!!! As far as gender confusion, we had a similar experience when I was a kid. We took our 'female' cat in to be spayed. Nope. The vet, upon starting the surgery said, I think this will be a neutering, not a spaying!!! You just never know!!!

 

[Rajah]

Have you tried one-on-one play sessions with *both* cats at the same time, two people working together, one playing with Shadow and the other playing with Luigi in different rooms?

I just think there's something more y'all haven't tried (though I am running out of ideas that you haven't tried) besides declawing.

 

[Pete's Mom]

Originally posted by Rajah
Have you tried one-on-one play sessions with *both* cats at the same time, two people working together, one playing with Shadow and the other playing with Luigi in different rooms?

I just think there's something more y'all haven't tried (though I am running out of ideas that you haven't tried) besides declawing.

Yes, that is the only way we can really play with Shadow is if one of us distracts Luigi in another room. Sometimes at night Pete and I will be sitting in the living room and here comes Shadow sneaking up quietly. Pete get so excited and says in a sweet whispery voice "Well, helllllooooo Shadow. Mama it's SHADOW!!!!" and we try to give him a bunch of love and attention and he just rubs up against us and purrs, but it never fails that Luigi comes in and "busts us" and starts to go after Shadow. We tried yelling at Luigi and also try to steer her away from Shadow so we can at least give him some love and attention, but Shadow is so senstive that he takes off anyhow. It is very very sad and I get very angry at Luigi, but what can I do? I had hoped they would have a few big spats and then they would come to some kind of agreement but so far, nothing. It breaks my heart to see Shadow slowly revert back to his old life of hiding all the time. Luigi is so mean that he seeks out Shadow sometimes then I hear a big fight under the bed and here comes Shadow flying by, trying to find another place to hide and Luigi right behind him. Squirting Luigi with water or yelling at him does no good. Pete has even tried time out for Luigi (7 minutes in the bathroom, I guess one minute for every "cat" year). He stops for a few minutes and then is back on the attack. Ugh!!!

 

[Rajah]

Only other thing I can suggest, then, is to go to www.ivillage.com and visit the Think Like A Cat board and ask this same question there. They'll have more ideas to try before declawing, but I'm out of my ideas.

Good luck

 

[Lanshark]

Luigi may become less aggressive once the um... tumors are removed. Some cats to calm down a good bit.

 

[Aurora63]

Originally posted by Lanshark
Luigi may become less aggressive once the um... tumors are removed. Some cats to calm down a good bit.

I agree. Neutering a male cat can really cut down on their aggresion. I bet after the neutering things will calm down. Hopefully to the point where you don't have to declaw him. But if not, I'd definetly do it, for poor Shadow's sake.

SOunds to me like little Luigi is a little jealous, now that mom and dad have another "baby."

 

[scarlett873]

Originally posted by Pete's Mom
Pete and I took Luigi to vet today to get her updated on her shots. Pete was so sweet, he talked to her the entire trip, cooing and singing to her, telling her she would be okay. He even put some of his Power Rangers in her pet taxi so that she would have something to play with. He was so nervous.

After the vet came in I told him the problems we were having and asked for his advice. He did a full examination and said to me in a very grim voice, "we will need to remove these two tumors".

I said, "TUMORS"? WHERE!!!!


He just looked at me.










How mortified was I? When we first found her I took her to PetSmart to get something to kill the fleas that were crawling all over her. The vet on staff had examined her and said that Luigi was a girl. Of course, I haven't noticed anything, I mean, it's not like I look. Sooooo, needless to say, Pete did right by picking a boy name.

Shots went well and the soonest I can get her, eh, HIM fixed in next Friday (12th). The vet said that I might want to consider getting him front declawed since I had tried pretty much every thing I could and Luigi was hurting all of us. He said that if I decide that I want to have it done, they can do it during the operation. I still have not made up my mind.

As a side note, Shadow is sleeping on top of the kitchen table so as to have an advantage over Luigi if HE tries to attack. So sad, he has been sitting up there for 4 hours now and won't come down.

Thanks to all for the wonderful advice. I am still mulling it over in my mind and would appreciate any suggestions or any experiences you can pass along.

we had a similar experience with our cat! i got her from a pet store way back in 1993. had her for a few months before we realized she was a girl! both the pet store AND the vet had told us it was a boy! hence her nickname...girlyman...