Comments on: Runaway Claw: Regrowth Occurs After Declawing

By: everycat

everycat — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:37:49 +0000

Donna, you urgently need to go to another vet. Find one who does not do declawing as only a vet who refuses to mutilate cats can be trusted to find out what is really wrong with your poor cat. Vets who declaw don’t ever give an honest appraisal of the terrible problems this mutliation causes. I hope you can find a way to help your poor cat. Please find a non-declawing vet asap - today! Borrow the money from family or friendsor sell stuff to pay to help your cat.

By: Donna

Donna — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:22:07 +0000

Oh my gosh, go ahead and say it “It’s your own fault”. I know my cats claws are trying to come back in and the vet took xrays and said he couldn’t see anything wrong with them. She has has this ungodly drainage for over three months. No meds help nor the black drawing salve they gave me. Now it’s going up her leg , he skin is falling off and it’s in her lymph node under her front leg. I don’t have a job and can’t pay to get her help. I feel like someone should shoot me or the landlord I had and can’t handle telling the kids that someone will have to put her down. She is a russian blue, 18 lbs , bundle of love and just not herself. She eats, goes to the bathroom like normal but I know she is suffering so much that is hurts my heart. The vet also did the parasite, bacteria swabs and nothing is there so what else could it be. Her foot was HUGE at first and now is down to half the size of her other front foot. Can anyone help me ? Advice on free health care ? My life sucks and so does her’s. I haven’t had nor been able to find a job since November and I fear I will find her laying dead somewhere. God help me please !!!

By: Detrius

Detrius — Fri, 15 May 2009 14:40:59 +0000

Question: I have two cats, one is clawless and the other with claws. Is this safe? I’ve notice recently that the cats continue to fight and the clawless cat is always crying out for help. Should I just give the claw cat to another family member?

By: Cate

Cate — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 03:51:52 +0000

I have tall scratching posts in our den, living room and the cats room (converted guest bedroom). I also have the cardboard incline scratchers in those rooms as well as one that hangs on the door of the cats room.

As for debarking dogs, if you read about puppy mills you will find that most debark their dogs and they don’t do it as veterinary procedure - they use a pipe down the throat.

By: anon

anon — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:13:45 +0000

I regularly trim my cats’ (eight kitties) claws with a clipper designed just for that. Sometimes you’ll find that some trimmers aren’t as sharp as others, but since they’re very affordable keep looking/purchasing until you find one that snips claws cleanly and neatly. If you do this from a very young age they don’t mind at all. It’s also a great way to have some personal time with kitty to check/clean ears, teeth, coat and skin. It’s like a mini spa/health check for kitty. Stay calm, speak lovingly, and ensure you don’t cut the quick.

It’s also amazingly easy to design and construct your own scratching post. Go to your local, or big box, hardware store to purchase rope or sisal. Wrap tightly around a scrap board or sturdy cylinder. Anchor safely so kitty doesn’t tip it over. Rewrap as needed.

Sorry to relay horrible news to you, Linda’s Cats, but yes–there are those who still “debark” their dogs. It’s an atrocious practice. I also think the shock collars used to silence dogs are disgusting. Assertive, consistent, positive behavior training (and exercise) is the way to go if your pet has barking issues.

Thanks for the article, Candace Schilling. Get well soon, Vernie.

By: The Lioness

The Lioness — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:17:44 +0000

Linda’s Cats, I sure hope not!

I’m glad Vernie’s surgery went well.

Thank you for this informative article.

I, personally, would never DREAM of declawing, but I know that once in a while, a declawed cat comes into our lives. It’s good to know how to help them.

~The Lioness

By: Linda's Cats

Linda's Cats — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:37:19 +0000

By the way, i remember in teh 1980s, when i was a teen, that owners of dogs used to have noisy dogs “debarked”. is this *ever* still done? or was it a rare thing that quickly went into the “that’s just torture” bin?

By: Linda's Cats

Linda's Cats — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:35:18 +0000

I only know of one case where i felt declawing was a “viable” but as you say, very very last resort option.

An acquaintance of mine has “controlled” AIDS, in that he’s on meds but has not gone into full remission. Due to the bacteria under the nail, cat scratches caused the whole area of the scratch to become extremely painful, puss infected, and require emergency medicine. The infection put his life at risk if he was in a vulnerable stage any given time of the year. Unfortunately, this was in 1997, and they didn’t have “soft paws” back then. and i know he’d have done that rather than declawing.

Thank god for soft paws, by the way. They are such a good way to prevent small (the cat is scratching my furniture) and large (the cat scratched my cancer-sick child) problems with cats scratching.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:04:34 +0000

Thank you for the declawing story. Majority of veterinary associations only recommend declawing as last resorts. Data shows that only 40% of cat owners own a scratching post (of those 40%, who knows how many of them keep the scratching post at an inconvenient place for their cats). I have multiple scratching posts and pads around my house and I have no problems with my cat, Slinky. Slinky’s favorite scratching pad is a door-hanging-catnip-filled-carpet pad. I was able to get it for under $6 at one of the big box pet stores. Since he is a large cat (over 3 feet long and 14 pounds) he has learned to leverage his size and strength to open doors. We now are careful what doors the scratching pad is connected too :0).

By: angela

angela — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:50:53 +0000

Thank you for sharing your story! Many cat owners just aren’t aware of the potential problems declawing can and does cause for cats.

I hope Laverne is feeling better soon!