I Mutilated My Kitty Cat Today

[Audrey Levins]

Okay.

So I grew up with cats. Talked my dad into letting me get the first one when I was eight years old. Somehow that morphed into six cats by the time I was fifteen. ("But, Dad, this kitten needs a home!" "But Dad, this breed is SO PRETTY!" "But Dad, THIS CAT HAS NOWHERE ELSE TO GO!" etc.)

I'm 28 years old now and haven't had a cat in probably eight years. My parents kept the remaining cats when I went away to college (by "remaining" I mean the ones that didn't run away/get hit by cars/disappear, etc.) and the last one--oddly enough, that very first one I got when I was nine--died about two years ago. (Yes, Pepper was a tough nut. She lived forever and my Dad didn't talk about her death for a week. Dad thought he was tough but he was no match for Pepper. Never let him lie to you. He ended up loving that cat more than my mother. If you ask her, anyway.)

So anyway, my boss at work HATES cats--it's almost pathological--and she was bitching about these two kittens her friend/neighbor had "left over" from a litter that were "getting in her way and driving her nuts." She hates cats so much she was swearing she was going to take them to the pound. Not the Humane Society, mind you. The POUND. That way she'd "know for sure!" they were dead. (Like I said, she hates cats. A lot.) I didn't doubt her for a second. She was quite serious.

I went to her house a couple of months ago and this fluffy little black-and-white tuxedo kitty came up to me and started purring. Past the age of "baby kitten cute" but still a pre-pubescent kitty cat. Wouldn't leave me alone. I didn't want him, because I know how much trouble cats are and I'm never home and I'm not a patient person or even a pet-person anymore and...and...and.....

I took him home. It was me or death. And my defense to everyone who said "YOU DON'T NEED A PET! YOU NEVER HAVE PETS!" was, "I'D RATHER TAKE HIM HOME AND HATE HIM THAN HAVE HIM KILLED!"

So Parker and I knew from the get go that we were an odd couple. He's as needy as any other baby kitty, and I was as resentful and irritated as any other reluctant parent.

But I also have very strong views about the way animals should be treated, so I made up my mind he wouldn't be one of those "indoor/outdoor" cats that get smushed by cars or beaten by neighbors or attacked by wild animals or roaming dogs. Or whatever. I've had all of that happen. (For instance, when I was growing up our elderly neighbor blinded one of my cats with a golf club, because the cat was "scratching the finish" on his truck. By which I mean he could see paw-prints on said truck sometimes.)

So anyway...I decided Parker would be a strictly, permanently indoor cat. For his sake and the sake of my neighbors.

But then he began attacking me. And my furniture. I'm covered in scratches and scrapes and cuts. He thinks I'm a tree. He climbs me. I have deep puncture-wounds from this six-pound kitty. He WOUNDS me. He hurts me. I've never, in all my life, had a cat this eager to use his claws. I began to hate the sight of him because I knew I would end up bleeding.

And so, in spite of my life-long decree never to declaw a cat, I had him declawed today. (Also neutered, and he got his booster shots also.)

And I kinda feel like crap about it. He came home with his little paws all bound up with bandages. He was also high on drugs, so he's been quite happy the whole time, but still. I've never even considered it before, but I told him on the way to the vet today that he'd be dead if it weren't for me, so he could trade his claws for his life.

I don't really think that's a proper justification for a rather barbaric procedure, but I had nothing else to tell him on the day I scheduled him to lose his balls and his claws. I just couldn't live with him otherwise. I was literally cringing when he came near me. I bartend, and I was squeezing lime juice into deep ugly claw marks that were only an hour old. I know he didn't know what he was doing, but it was killing me. I hated him for it. I have never even gotten a full night's sleep since I got him, because he attacks my feet if they're visible, and crawls under the covers and finds them if they're not. I started bundling myself under the covers like an infant, regardless of the temperature, in the hopes of preventing said attack. Waking up sweaty and pissed off and screaming at him because somehow he'd still find a way to draw blood on some exposed part of me.

I kinda hate myself now, though. Like I have no moral stamina. I never believed in declawing cats but I did it to Parker today anyway.

I know that if it weren't for me, he'd have been dead for several months by now, but I still feel like crap. He has a bottle of liquid pain meds for the next five days, and I discussed all this with the vet, and she assured me that if they're young enough, and light enough (under ten pounds) it isn't that dramatic a procedure....and certainly he's running around my house right now like a maniac in spite of his bound paws (and trying to attack me with them, of course!)....but I still can't help feeling like I've failed him.

Like I should have been bigger than a six pound cat.

Nothing I can do now though. :(

[Mehitabel]

I know it must be tough, but I think you did the right thing. Your longtime experience with cats would have told you if the constant attacks were a phase that would pass or an ongoing problem that Parker would never outgrow, and it seems like a decision you thought long and hard about. Parker is an animal and you have the right to put your safety and that of your visitors above his instinctive impulses.

I also can tell that you'll be a good mommy to him now with plenty of extra scritches and cuddling, now that you can get close!

[Zsofia]

I think you did the right thing, given a difficult choice, and don't let anybody tell you different.

[Audrey Levins]

Thanks so much for the words of support.

I just gave him his first dose of the liquid meds, which he hated--having to crack open his mouth and shove liquids down his throat isn't fun--and then I had to remove the bandages. WHY DON'T THEY SHAVE OFF THAT FUR? Poor baby. Those bandages are quite sticky and took some fur with them. Like ripping a really sticky Band-Aid off your head. He wasn't happy with me at all.

And now he's licking his paws like a maniac.

I feel like a horrible human being.

[Monstera deliciosa]

Declawing is a controversial topic, and someone might come along to lambaste you to hell and back. However, it is not going to me.

My former fiance had a declawed Siamese. He happy, healthy indoor cat for his entire sixteen years. He acted like he didn't know he was declawed (that is, he continued to paw at the furniture and at your legs if he wanted attention). He was graceful, and had perfect balance. His climbing abilities were the equal of any other cat I've ever come across.

In other words, after he healed, all was well.

I don't recommend declawing, but I don't think people who have it done are horrible human beings. It is done, and you and kitty will move on.

[Wallet]

Audrey, you are a kind and compassionate person. You did what needed to be done, and *no one* could fault you for that.

We found our little Tigger in the park when he was only 4 weeks old. He never took to being indoors, and would bite and scratch us constantly. My 4 year old had gouges on his legs, arms, and face from our wee beastie, and none of us were safe from his attacks. He drew blood every day. Came the point when my dh called from work to say that he wasn't coming home that night - it was either him, or the cat. Threw Tigger in the car and rushed to the vet when he was almost 6 months old, and had him neutered and declawed at the same time.

Hopefully now your Parker will calm down. He may never be a lap cat, but at least you won't be covered in scars anymore.
Please give Parker a scritch from all of us! :-)

-Wallet-

[shamrock227]

First of all I would like to berate you for the lack of pictures. Cat threads require pictures. It's in the rules.

I am normally completely against declawing. However, I really don't see what else you could have done if you intended to keep him. Scratching up the furniture is one thing. My Minx killed my sofa and two matching wing chairs and I couldn't even replace them until she passed away because she would just destroy the new stuff, too (luckily, my Samantha likes her scratching posts). But, scratching you all up all the time, not cool. You can't live in fear of your pet.

It's obvious you didn't just get a scratch and think "screw it, I'll declaw him". You seem to have really thought about it and seem really upset about it.

So, if anyone tries to give you shit about it tell them that some militant "how would you like your fingernails ripped out, hhmm?" anti-declawing chick told you to not beat yourself up about it. ;)
Besides, think how much better your relationship will be now that you don't have to worry about feeling like you had a run in with a Ginsu every time he wants to be pet. :)

[jsgoddess]

I don't recommend declawing, but I don't think people who have it done are horrible human beings. It is done, and you and kitty will move on.

Bingo.

[Thudlow Boink]

My opinion (and if you didn't want it, you should have posted in MPSIMS, not IMHO) is that you absolutely are not a horrible human being and should not feel bad (except maybe for the lack of pictures thing). In your situation I would have done the same thing. While I didn't have my own cats declawed (and have no plans to), I've been around enough happily clawless cats to believe declawing is nowhere near as evil as its most extreme detractors insist, and that there are circumstances, including yours, in which it's the right thing to do.

[Lissa]

My mom faced this choice.

She works in an animal supply store. About two months ago, she was taking the garbage out to the dumpster and found a wet, bone-thin kitten inside. (There's no way the kitten could have climbed in there by himself. Someone tossed the kitten into the dumpster.) She retrieved the poor thing and brought him inside to be the "store cat."

The bosses, thankfully, were willing to pay all the vet bills and allow the cat to live inside, considering the cat a living advertisement for the pet products they sell. However, they told her that the insurance would only cover the cat if it was declawed.

Mom decided to have it done. It was either that, or take the cat to the pound, since no one was willing or able to take it home. I agreed with her decision. Though the cat will go through some temporary discomfort, in exchange it will be given a long, happy, healthy life with dozens of toys and many willing hands to scratch behind its ears.

[kung fu lola]

I don't understand why declawing is so reviled - I can't see how it would affect the life of the cat once they recovered from the surgery.
If it is the surgery itself that people get all angry about, are they equally up in arms over procedures like neutering and spaying?

I am the foster parent of a kitty who was declawed when I got her, and she's a vision of health and happiness. She does everything a clawed cat does, with the exception of ruining the drapes and posing a threat to me when I pick her up for cuddles. So what's the big deal?

Don't feel guilty, Audrey. I wouldn't, not even for one second.

[StGermain]

I saw an episode of Emergency Vets once. The cute vet with the glasses, whose name I've forgotten, once said, "I'm not in favor of declawing cats. But when it's between declawing and putting the cat to sleep, declawing is the best thing."

I've never declawed a cat, but I've adopted declawed cats. Of my four cats now, one is declawed in the front, the rest are intact. Sabrina seems to get along okay. She will venture outside to the front porch, but goes no further.

StG

[Oakminster]

The cat has lost his balls and his claws. He's gained a lifetime home with someone that obviously cares enough to take care of him. I'd say Kitty got a better deal than many cats do.

Karana smiles on those who care for his creatures.

[Lissa]

I don't understand why declawing is so reviled - I can't see how it would affect the life of the cat once they recovered from the surgery.
If it is the surgery itself that people get all angry about, are they equally up in arms over procedures like neutering and spaying?

As I understand, the arguments against declawing are this:

1) That the surgery itself is much more complicated than a neuter or a spay and involves actually removing bone from the cat's foot.

2) That the cat could find itself defenseless and unable to hunt to feed itself if it somehow got out of the house.

[TheBoneyKingofNowhere]

My cat was like that -- we got him another kitty though, and after just a couple of weeks he went from strictly a psychotic attack cat to the biggest wussy ever. He only attacks the other cat now, but we can tell she likes it :)

Completely removed the thought of declawing though, which had gotten to be a daily discussion before the 2nd kitty came along.

[Liberal]

I, too, support your decision. A person can only do so much. And like I said in one of the other cat threads, if somebody wants to live your life, they should pay your mortgage.

[Mk VII]

I doubt you find any veterinary surgeon here who would agree to declaw a cat

[SnakesCatLady]

I'm normally not in favor of declawing - but I don't like the idea of putting down healthy animals, either, and the shelters stay full. You did what you had to do - don't beat yourself up about it and don't accept guilt from anyone else, either. Two of mine were declawed when I got them - and one of those constantly tries to sharpen his toes. They have shown no ill effects from the procedure.

Please give Parker (where's the PICS??) scritches from me - and my herd sends purrs to you for saving his life.

[TheBoneyKingofNowhere]

(where's the PICS??)
YeAH!?

[Renee]

I doubt you find any veterinary surgeon here who would agree to declaw a cat
What? Vets de-claw cats all the time. I was a vet tec for a year and saw several declaw surgerys. Most of the cats seemed perfectly fine afterwords, and all of the young ones did. Who do you think does it?

I have a problem some times on this board with people who basically say that if you are not the perfect candidate to be a pet owner you should not get a pet, no matter what. The thing is, I would rather have a dog or cat adopted from the pound to live in an imperfect situation (where they are alone for 8 hours a day* or are an indoor/outdoor pet, or need to be declawed) than put to sleep. Most people can't give their pets as much as they would like to, but better than dead, right?** I don't get this mindset.


*And before you jump all over me, I currently work from home and my dogs are rarely alone for more than 3 hours at a time. That's great, but not always possible.

**Not to say that there aren't people who are "worse than dead" owners. I've seen them. But most people who keep their pets healthy and loved do pretty well, even if they can't spend every minute with the animal and give it a perfect environment.

[Mk VII]

Vets de-claw cats all the time.

Not here they don't. Not actually illegal (yet) but Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons does not permit it, unless for therapeutic reasons, and will probably discipline any member who does it

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

The only worry I have, Audrey, is that the cat might transfer his previous claw-based aggression to a biting aggression, which is going to be much, much worse. I don't know how often this happens, but it's one of the issues raised by the strongly anti-declawing forces. If this happens, and if you can't train him out of it, I'd see no alternative to having him euthanized: cat bites that draw blood are pretty dangerous.

Daniel

[Eve]

Not here they don't. Not actually illegal (yet) but Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons does not permit it, unless for therapeutic reasons, and will probably discipline any member who does itAren't "indoor pets" pretty much unheard of in England, though? That would explain the scarcity of declawing, but actually not permitting it makes me feel a little better about the US vs. the UK in the "nutty government telling you how to live your life" department.

Oh, and yes, Audrey, of course you did the right thing. When you actually do something awful, believe me, we'll let you know.

[percypercy]

I have two cats with claws, two that are declawed in the front. You shouldn't feel bad, or guilty, or anything like that. My kitties who are declawed are just as content as the two that aren't. I don't things would be livable if Elroy, my massive boy kitty still had his claws. He already has the capacity to smash the breath out of me as he is.
-Lil

[Cat Whisperer]

As I understand, the arguments against declawing are this:

1) That the surgery itself is much more complicated than a neuter or a spay and involves actually removing bone from the cat's foot.<snip>
Yup - laser or scalpel, the surgery is the equivalent of snipping off the last joint of a human's fingers.

I am also militantly anti-de-clawing, and I will not judge you for your decision, audrey. You did what you thought was best for you and Parker. We all have our own lines; I had a cat who peed and crapped all over the house all the time, and he had to go live with someone else, because I will not have an animal peeing and crapping all over my house.

By the way, if I were you, I would train him to not sleep in your bedroom while he's still nice and young. I don't know how anyone can stand having their pets bugging them all night. My husband's cat sounds a lot like Parker - she was apparently a massive pest when she was a kitten, but she's grown into a wonderful, affectionate cat. You just learn to recognize her warning signs and get your hands away before the biting and clawing starts. :D

[Marconi & Schmeese]

You did the right thing. {HUGS}

[Alan Smithee]

I agree with everyone else, that if either the claws go or the whole cat does, it's the claws. And there's no point in beating yourself up over making a difficult choice, whether or not we agree with it.



BUT . . . Did you try anything else? Keeping his claws trimmed wouldn't have kept him from scratching you, but it might have prevented most of the puncture wounds. Plastic caps on his claws might have worked as well. Neither is a perfect solution, but I would have tried both before declawing.

[Audrey Levins]

Thanks for the reassurance, Dopers.

I'm feeling better today because it's obvious Parker is; the vet said to keep him "quiet" for a few days til his paws heal, but I don't see how it's possible. If I didn't know better I'd say nothing happened to him; he's back to his usual maniacal antics, running around, jumping on and off everything, playing "sneak attack" on my feet when I walk by, etc. (Which no longer hurts!)

I give him his pain meds every twelve hours; the only thing I've noticed is that when the twelfth hour approaches he begins licking his paws more than usual. Like they're bothering him. This ceases within a few minutes after giving him the meds.

As for your question, Alan Smithee, about why I didn't try other methods first....when I spoke to the vet about having him declawed, she said that the younger they are, the better, because the heavier they are, the harder the healing is. (Five or six pounds is a lot easier on the paws than ten or twelve. And keeping a cat from jumping on and off stuff is virtually impossible without restraining them to a cage.)

So while I did think about the plastic cap method, I was afraid that if it didn't work, it would be too late to get him declawed without hurting him a lot more. He was five months old when I got him, and he's six and a half months old now; I didn't have much time to decide, considering he weighs a little over seven pounds already....which I found out after the surgery. Had no idea he'd already grown that much. How come you can never tell how fast your pet is growing? He's going to be a big fat ol' lap cat. I love it.

Sorry about the lack of pics! The only ones I have are on my cell phone, and I don't know how to upload them for you guys.

Trust me, however, when I say he's a beautifully soft and fluffy black kitty who's formally dressed for all occasions with a white dickey and snappy white spats on all four paws. And elegant white whiskers to match his tiny white mustache. The one that makes him look like he's smirking, just a bit, even when he's asleep.

He's purring for you all as we speak. :)

[whiterabbit]

I would probably have done the same thing in that situation. I don't like declawing, but I'd do it if I felt I had no other realistic choice. I wouldn't do it without good reason, but it sounds like that's what you had! So don't beat yourself up.

[Quiddity Glomfuster]

I don't know how anyone can stand having their pets bugging them all night.

'Bugging'? :eek: Not 'bugging'. Cuddling. Snuggling. Purring. It's lovely to have your fuzzball(s) tucked into the crooks of your knees or up against your tum all warm and purry. Nothing finer than having the fur family to keep you warm at night.

[Zsofia]

'Bugging'? :eek: Not 'bugging'. Cuddling. Snuggling. Purring. It's lovely to have your fuzzball(s) tucked into the crooks of your knees or up against your tum all warm and purry. Nothing finer than having the fur family to keep you warm at night.
Yeah, well, that would be fine if I'd ever seen a cat that actually sleeps at night.

[KlondikeGeoff]

Yeah, well, that would be fine if I'd ever seen a cat that actually sleeps at night.

To my amazement, one of our cats jumps on the bed when we go to sleep and usually sleeps there all night. Then he gets several hours more of ZZZZs during the day between frantic fits of freaking out.

[ScareyFaerie]

Yeah, well, that would be fine if I'd ever seen a cat that actually sleeps at night.
Ophie sleeps with us at night, I usually go to bed first and she'll come up with me. She starts at the bottom of the bed for a while and gradually works her way up, and eventually in, so at some point in the night she'll be under the duvet and curled up behind my knees.

When I get up in the morning, she'll transfer her affections to 'im indoors, get under the duvet with him and stay there until whatever hour he choses to haul himself out of the pit.

She has a brief break in between because when I'm up she'll follow me downstairs for food and a wander outside. By the time I'm ready to leave the house, she's usually back upstairs under the duvet.

[DrDeth]

Declawing is a last resort treatment, but a valid one once you get to that last resort. Seems like you were either there or damn close. So, don't sweat it.

Declawing is bad when it is done routinely and mostly to prevent mild damage to ones furniture. It's also dangerous to have it done to outdoor cats but you have made the right choice to have the cat indoors only.

[si_blakely]

Aren't "indoor pets" pretty much unheard of in England, though? That would explain the scarcity of declawing, but actually not permitting it makes me feel a little better about the US vs. the UK in the "nutty government telling you how to live your life" department.Most cats in the UK are not "indoor" cats - I have a problem with the concept. My cat has the sharpest claws in the world - a set of hypodermic needles on each front paw, but he has never damaged the furniture (leather, too) and knows not to even try to sit on it, and doesn't really damage us either (he is a kneader, though, so with the love there is some pain). I could never blunt his claws, though. He fights alot (he has been snipped), and every week when I get home I have to look him over for more damage. Fortunately, it is generally minor.

As to the rules on declawing - this is the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the professional body that licences vets. The vets themselves have made (or at least endorsed) this decision collectively, and enforce it internally - I guess the govt could act to enshrine it in law, but it probably is not necessary.

I certainly don't feel that the govt tells me how to live my life - the nanny state impression seems to be primarily whipped up by the Tabloid press to beat up the govt - then they turn around and demand more legislation to keep the immigrants/ex-cons/nonces etc under control and observation - so there is no middle ground for the govt.

Si

[Lissa]

He fights alot (he has been snipped), and every week when I get home I have to look him over for more damage. Fortunately, it is generally minor.


What about the cat he fought?

[Eve]

Most cats in the UK are not "indoor" cats - I have a problem with the concept. Ah. See, a great many cats (and some dogs) in the U.S. are strictly "indoors." I don't see why you have a problem with that--different countries, different customs. I imagine big city-dwellers as in London have apartment-only kitties. Anyway, it explains why more cats here are declawed than in the UK.

[si_blakely]

What about the cat he fought?I wish I knew ;)

In fact, my son heard (from a school friend) about a black and white cat in our neighborhood that terrorised the other cats and stole their food...

My cat IS black and white, so your guess is as good as mine.

He gets into a local wood a few streets away - gets filthy, and gets ticks (yuck), and quite happily stays out all night and all day too.

I LOVE my cat - a real Felis catus (semi)-domesticus (I know, deprecated name. pedants)

Si

[psychobunny]

Your kitty is loved and has a good home. I declawed mine for the same reasons. Personally, I think you made the right choices. Having it done with the neuter means he only had to be anesthetized once. The only other thing I made sure of was to have it done by laser and I'm glad I did. There was no apparent pain, no bandages, and no bleeding. My kitties don't bite. (Yes, they do eat pennies but I seriously doubt that the declawing caused that).

[Eve]

(Yes, they do eat pennies but I seriously doubt that the declawing caused that).You call the vet if there's any change, right?

[Bridget Burke]

It sounds as though declawing was the best choice in your situation. I inherited two declawed cats & they had full lives as indoor cats. (One just died at 20 years plus; the other is doing well.)

I won't declaw any future cats unless necessary. Frayed upholstery is OK but my own bloodstains all over the upholstery won't do.

However, I'd definitely keep those hypothetical cats indoors. They live longer & healthier lives & don't pine for the outdoors--although they enjoy looking out the window.

[Hanna]

I'm generally anti-declawing, but...you did the right thing. Getting rid of the cat vs. getting rid of the claws - goodbye claws. This is obviously a choice you did not make lightly, so don't beat yourself up.

Give him a couple scritches from me.

[DrDeth]

(Yes, they do eat pennies .

That can be dangeous. Call your vet.

[Ludy]

As I understand, the arguments against declawing are this:

1) That the surgery itself is much more complicated than a neuter or a spay and involves actually removing bone from the cat's foot.

2) That the cat could find itself defenseless and unable to hunt to feed itself if it somehow got out of the house.


I know a cat that is declawed, wears a bell and still routinely leaves it's owner little birdie "gifts" on her bed. No claws doesn’t necessarily make them unable to hunt it just makes them hunt better :)