Should you adopt a declawed cat?

A declaw is an irreversible elective surgical procedure. A cat’s toe has three bones. If declawing is assumed to cause behavior problems, declawed cats could be at higher risk for lack of adoption and subsequent euthanasia at shelters.

What to know about adopting a declawed cat?

Declawed cats may avoid their litter box as they begin to associate it with discomfort or even pain. Without claws they cannot get as clean and stepping on the litter can be particularly sensitive. If you are interested in adopting a cat that has been declawed, be aware of their extra challenges.

Why do shelters declaw cats?

They do this to mark their territory, exercise muscles normally used in hunting, relieve stress and remove worn sheaths from their nails. Declawing of cats, or onychectomy, is the amputation of the last digital bone, including the nail bed and claw, on each front toe.

Do cats personalities change after being declawed?

The consequences of declawing are larger than many people realize. The cat’s behaviors and personality can change dramatically. Declawed cats no longer have their primary defense mechanism and turn to biting as a default behavior.

Can you declaw all four paws cat?

Typically, only the front feet are declawed, although you may occasionally find a cat with all four paws declawed. When you consider that a cat has five toes on each front paw (at least normally), declawing is similar to performing 10 separate amputations. That’s major surgery.

How do you take care of a declawed cat?

Cats that are declawed should not go outdoors anyway. This is especially important for a week following declawing. No jumping, running, or rough play for 10-14 days to avoid bleeding from the paws. After 10-14 days, your cat can return to normal activity.

Can you have one cat with claws and one without?

Yes, you can bring clawed cats into a house with declawed cats. But read as much as you can before. When it comes down to it, cats without claws can still bite. Even if both cats are declawed they can still hurt each other.

Can a declawed cat be a barn cat?

Declawed cats should not be placed in a barn. The cat will also need to have some experience with hunting, climbing, and self-defense outside before they can be expected to do well, so you’ll need to know a bit about their background to know if they will work.

What are the negative effects of declawing a cat?

Some negative effects of declawing Medical drawbacks to declawing include pain in the paw, infection, tissue necrosis (tissue death), lameness, and back pain. Removing claws changes the way a cat’s foot meets the ground and can cause pain similar to wearing an uncomfortable pair of shoes.

Does declawing stop a cat from destroying the House?

People think that declawing their cat will stop them destroying the house, but we’ve found that declawing rarely solves behavioral problems. Other problems can crop up, such as chronic pain, biting and litter box issues. A.R.F. does not recommend declawing of any cat except for medical reasons.

Where can I find a declawed cat to adopt?

By searching primarily on Petfinder, Malusa compiled all of the declawed cats she could find and posted them in a central location on her Facebook page. By networking, she has helped spread the word about great adoptable cats like Bobbie, who is threatened by other cats due to being declawed.

What does “no results found” mean on a declawed cat listing?

If you see a “no results found” message, that means we don’t currently have any declawed cats available. Check back soon or see our full list of cats available for adoption in the Chicago area. Declawing is the amputation of all or part of the last joint in a cat’s toes to prevent their natural scratching behavior.

How painful is it to declaw a cat with arthritis?

The surgery typically involves amputating the last bone of each toe; imagine cutting off the tips of your fingers at the last knuckle. Declawing causes pain and discomfort to most of the cats who undergo the procedure, with arthritis extremely common.