Is a 2 year old cat too old to declaw?

Answer 1

Listen to What a Cat Has to Say About DeclawingA lot of humans who care about us cats know that declawing is wrong. They will tell you about how cruel and painful the operation is, and all the problems that declawing can cause. But being mere humans, they only know the half of it. Let a cat - me - give you the real scoop on why our claws are so important to us!

It's true that the declaw operation is about more than just cutting off our claws. Anti-declaw people are fond of comparing it to cutting off the first knuckles of a human hand. It's actually more complicated than that, because we use our paws quite differently than humans do their hands. Unlike you guys, we don't have opposable thumbs, so we have to use our claws to grasp things. For example, when I'm playing, I like to grab a toy with a claw or two and toss it in the air. I couldn't do this if I were declawed.

Plus, we use our claws to exercise and stretch out our shoulders and back. We dig into any handy surface - a scratching post, cat tree or your couch - and give our shoulders a combination of workout and stretch. It feels really good and keeps us flexible and toned. And that digging in is good for our paws too. My human writes about fitness and she says humans need to exercise and stretch more, and that they should take a lesson from us cats about this. It's too bad you guys don't have claws - it would make your job of staying fit easier, and a lot more fun.

If you humans have an issue with us clawing your furniture or carpet, you might want to look at that. If your cat is doing that, it probably means you aren't supplying a satisfactory scratching surface. A good scratching post is sturdy enough so that your cat can't knock it over if he throws his weight against it. It should offer both vertical and horizontal scratching surfaces. And instead of plain, old carpet, you might want to try a scratching surface of sisal or maybe even corrougated cardboard - many cats prefer these to carpet. If your cat still scratches the furniture, be patient - it often takes time to retrain us to do behave differently after we've gotten used to doing something a certain way. You might also want to try Soft Paws. They're covers you put on your cat's claws, and a humane alternative to declawing. I'm not that big a fan of them, but it's better than chopping off bits of our paws. Five Reasons Why Kitties Need Their Claws

1. For protection. Honestly, we prefer to run away and not fight at all (unless someone is trespassing on our turf). But there are times when we just can't escape. Claws are our first line of defense, if the hissing and fluffed-out tail doesn't scare away our opponent. Plus, if we get outdoors (it can happen even to indoor cats) and we need to get away from a dog or another predator, we need our claws to climb trees skillfully. Clawless kitties have been attacked and killed because they couldn't make it up a tree fast enough.
2. To mark our territory. Personally, I think this visual way of showing off our turf is a much nicer way of designating our territory than spraying. Plus, our paw pads leave a scent undetectable to you humans, but which any cat can recognize. That's why you sometimes see declawed cats "scratching" your furniture - they're still leaving their mark, only not as obviously since it's only scent and not visual. If you don't want us marking your furniture with our claws, you should get us a cat tree, or a scratching post with cat-approved surface. Our turf is important to us!
3. For fitness. I keep on saying it over and over again, but I can't emphasize it enough: our claws are essential for our paw, front leg, shoulder and back health. We need to be able to dig into a surface and grab onto it so we can stretch our front legs and bodies. This helps us keep our long, lean look (I hear you humans do something called Pilates for the same reason). It also keeps us flexible far into old age. We need to stretch our toes too, and for that claws are necessary.
4. To catch prey. You think that just because you feed us every day that we should not feel the need to catch things. That kind of thinking is totally ridiculous, and really very typical of human shortsightedness. For one thing, we cats are far more instinctual than you humans, and we have to be since we lack the highly sophisticated reasoning ability you people are supposed to have (but seem to so rarely utilize). Plus we need to keep in practice - what would happen if, one day, if we got out and couldn't get back home, or you keeled over and died or something and we had to fend for ourselves? A declawed cat can still catch prey, but nowhere near as well as we want to or may need to! Our hunting skills need to stay finely tuned. So even if our prey is only small bugs or just the cheap toy mice you get from the pet store, having our claws will help us keep in practice. And snatching something in midair with the hook of just one claw is so gratifying!
5. So we can express ourselves. Most of the time you can tell what we're thinking by looking at how we've positioned our ears, and how we are moving our tails. But sometimes we really need to hammer a point home - say, with an unruly new kitten or an overly-friendly dog. Most of the time a good slap, with our claws in, will do the trick, but occasionally we need to flash just a touch of claw. Not enough to do any damage, mind you, but as a warning that there are lines that must not be crossed with us. We can handle our claws with the skill of an expert swordsman. Think Zorro with whiskers and pointy ears. If we knew the alphabet, I bet that most of us kitties could carve the most delicate, nearly invisible "C" on the back of your couch. Unless we are very frightened, cats know exactly how much claw to reveal. Declawed cats must resort to biting when they feel threatened, which is no fun for anyone.

Five Bad Things That Can Happen When a Cat Is Declawed

1. We could have surgical or post-surgical complications.Since it is actually amputation, declawing is major surgery for a cat and there is a whole list of things that could possibly go wrong. Being under general anesthesia (the only way a cat is able to go through a declaw) always carries a risk of death. There is also the possibility of hemmorage. After surgery, our paws are wrapped in bandages, and it's not uncommon for us to rip them off, which hampers healing and could invite infection. Sometimes part of a claw grows back, and the cat has to have a second operation. Sometimes the surgery goes wrong and more of the paw has to be amputated. Don't think this is all that rare, or that it only happens at bad veterinary clinics. My human knows someone who works at a very high-end clinic that caters to movie stars' pets. The declawing of one Maine Coon went wrong, gangrene set in, and nearly half its foot had to be cut off. This cat is crippled and deformed for life.
2. Your cat may stop using his litterbox. It's impossible to predict how painful a cat's paws are going to be after declawing. Of course, they will extremely painful while he is healing, and very, very sensitive to the sharp points of clay litter. That's why a veteranarian who declaws will tell the cat's human to use a paper-based litter such as Yesterday's News during the healing process. But sometimes a cat's paws are tender even after they heal, and he may never use the litterbox again. Humans who were upset that their cat was scratching their belongings will be even less thrilled when he begins peeing on them.
3. A cat may undergo unpleasant personality changes. How would you feel if some big creatures knocked you out and when you woke up, you were in great pain and parts of your fingers were gone? So if you declaw your cat and afterwards she isn't the same cuddly creature she was before the operation, can you blame her? Sure some cats recover from the surgery and they act as if nothing (or almost nothing) happened. But there's no guarantee. A cat could also become fearful, defensive, unfriendly or angry. Maybe she'll become withdrawn and spend most of her time hiding. Your cat may never trust you again.
4. Declawing causes longterm physical complications. The same way you need all your toes for walking, cats need those clawed joints to move naturally. In fact, cats need that part of their feet even more because they are far more physical creatures than humans are. Cats don't sit at a desk all day and just climb a few stairs now and again. They get around by leaping, jumping and reaching for whatever flat surface that they want to lie on. Declawing hampers a cat's ability to move in ways that aren't immediately obvious to human eyes, but over months and years it can cause them to develop Arthritis and crippling structural changes. In addition, the joints of the declawed paws may become painfully contracted - permanently. A cat's inability to stretch properly will cause stiffness over the years, causing him to age prematurely. Declawing is very bad for a cat's longterm health.
5. Declawed cats must never be allowed out of doors, and are in great danger if they do get out. A cat without claws cannot defend itself against predators such as dogs and coyotes, and has trouble climbing trees to escape them. And there are not just animal predators around, either. Members of dog fighting rings love to find declawed cats to use as bait - they're far less messy to capture and use than clawed cats. Bunchers (evil humans who acquire animals for labs) also love them since they're easier to handle than clawed cats. A lot of humans say they have no intention of letting their cats get outside, but accidents and disasters happen and you never know when you'll find an open door or hole in a window screen and your cat missing. A cat should have all she needs to defend herself - or escape - in case of such an emergency.

The One Truly Humane AlternativeIf you are a human who is really claw-shy, here is my suggestion: go to your local shelter - pick a kill shelter if there's one local to you - and adopt an already declawed cat. Trust me, you will find lots of them there.

Often, people who have their cats declawed don't understand us at all, and expect that after the declaw that we will stop acting like cats, period. But of course, that is impossible - with or without our claws, we are cats and we do cat things. Another thing I've noticed about humans who subject their cats to declawing - the moment the cat becomes inconvenient to them in some way (they're moving and the new place doesn't allow pets, they are dating someone who is allergic or doesn't like cats, etc.), out the cat goes. People like this shouldn't have cats in the first place. They drop the cat off at the pound, and because she is no longer a cute kitten, her chances of getting adopted are slim. More than likely, she will wind up being euthanized.

When you adopt a declawed cat from a kill shelter, you are saving a life. Yes, some cats may have issues and can take a bit of patience from you, but it's just as possible that the cat is fine - it's her former caretakers who were the problem. This cat, thrown away like a piece of trash, is waiting for someone to give her some love, care and attention. The result will be worth it, in kitty karma points alone!

So go to your local shelter and find a kitty on death row. Apologize to her profusely for the cruelty she suffered - first being declawed, then unceremoniously dumped when she was no longer convenient - and then give her the life she deserved to have in the first place.

Answer 2

Don't get your kitten declawed. They need their claws to grab and play with things, to protect themselves, climb, scratch themselves, to tone and strengthen their upper bodies, and to relieve tension in their legs and shoulders.

To declaw a cat is tantamount to having your fingers cut off. It involves cutting or laser-burning through bone, tendon, and ligament. The cat will be in excruciating pain for months, years, or possibly the rest of its life. Moreover, declawing causes serious health problems and even death.

And a declawed cat is a miserable cat. Imagine how depressed you would be, if someone cut off all your fingers. Declawed cats often turn mean. They also often refuse to use the litter box, because digging around in it with those ten bloody stumps hurts so much. The behavior problems that declawed cats display are much worse than scratched furniture.

Cats need to scratch. It's both a grooming behavior and an upper body workout. So if the cat is scratching on the furniture etc. you need to make them a scratching pole covered with carpet (you can find sites that will show you how to make one), or a store-bought scratching post.

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Answer 3

Yes, a vet can do it however it is not recommended as this may increase the amount of play bites and the strength of the bites that the cat will give. It could also cause some problems with the cat using a litter box. Weekly claw trims are a better option.

Answer 4

Declawing is a very controversial operation, as it effectively cuts the cat's fingers off -- quite apart from the fact that it actually involves removing one of their finger joints, cats use their claws much the way you and I use our fingers. Personal experience would suggest that often, a declawed cat will become psychotic, biting because it no longer can manipulate things with its claws. A declawed cat is also at a significant disadvantage dealing with other cats and the outside world. Many humane societies now include a clause that forbids declawing a cat as part of their adoption contract.

While your vet will, if he is any good, attempt to discourage you from declawing any cat, three years old is not worse than any other time to do it.

Answer 5

Any age. Declawing is cruel and inhumane. In fact, it is illegal in many European countries, because it is so incredibly cruel and painful for the cat. Several U.S. states are attempting to pass laws illegalizing declawing as well.

Declawing is an amputation; it is the equivalent of chopping off the tips of your fingers. It requires the veterinarian to cut (or burn through with a laser) bone, tendon, ligament, and muscle. It is so excruciatingly painful, that veterinarians actually test new veterinary painkillers on cats that have been declawed.

Once declawed, the cat is left with ten bloody stumps where its claws were. It will be in horrible pain for months, years, or potentially the rest of its life.

Without claws, the cat will also suffer many other related health problems, such as infections, abcess, nerve and tissue damage, cystitis, altered gait (leading to arthritis), lameness, loss of balance, loss of upper body strength (as cats strengthen their upper body muscles by scratching and climbing), and many other serious problems.

A declawed cat will not only be in agonizing pain for a long time (and possibly forever) but it will also be miserable. Besides the physical pain, the psychological pain of losing such an important body part is tremendous. A cat's claws are his most prized possession. Imagine how depressed you would be, if someone cut off all your fingers. Even if the wounds healed properly and there were no long-term physical consequences, you would be miserable.

A declawed cat is a depressed and unhappy cat, and it will show its unhappiness. It will become unfriendly and angry, hissing and biting you. It may refuse to use the litter box and pee and poop all over the house, because digging in the litter box with those bloody stumps hurts so much. The behavior problems that declawed cats display are much worse than scratched-up furniture.

It is truly a horrific thing to do to an animal. It's like something out of a Horror movie. One day you are taken by force to a hospital and involuntarily put under general anesthesia, and when you wake up, you find that you have been horribly and irrevocably mutilated.

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Answer 6

Your cat should be at least 3-4 months old. You might want to read more about it, in the article below..

Answer 7

No