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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

1909.0. "Double-pawed & getting declawed" by CSSE::MORRELL () Mon Oct 24 1988 15:27

    One of the kittens that I got a few weeks ago is double pawed. 
    On his left front paw, (which is d.ped) he has a claw but no place
    to pull it in.  Do you know what I mean.  
    
    Well anyways, my husband said that they have to be declawed when
    they are 7 months old, and what I wanted to know is that, Will there
    be a problem with that one claw.  I tried talking him out of getting
    them declawed, but he is insistent.
    
    Can anyone help me with this?
    
    Thanks
    
    Kathy
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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1909.131 clawsDNEAST::FIRTH_CATHYMon Oct 24 1988 15:569
    Smokey has/had 31 claws.  Some were doubled once they left the single
    root giving 2 more than the 31.  Clipping him was impossible and
    he  would get caught walking in the shag rug - he even tore 2 so
    that it was hard to walk comfortable.  I got him declawed because
    of this and because I had heard of other double pawed cats getting
    ingrown claws.  He is doing fine now.  I would, however, check with
    your vet about the one claw that cannot retract.
    
    Cathy
1909.2NRADM::CONGERMon Oct 24 1988 15:597
    
    	You can have the vet remove only the claw(s) that causes a 
    	problem, probably at the same time you have him nuetered. My
    	vet thinks that the younger you have it done, the easier they
    	recover (neither of mine are declawed, so I don't know, but
    	it makes sense...)
    
1909.3When can I do it?CSSE::MORRELLMon Oct 24 1988 16:045
    What is the average or best age to get them declawed?  Do you have
    to wait until they are a certain age?
    
    Kathy
    
1909.4When neutered - 6 to 8 months...HILLST::MASONExplaining is not understandingMon Oct 24 1988 16:271
    
1909.5Not to disagree, but ...PNEUMA::BUREKSome shine and some keep you guessin'Mon Oct 24 1988 16:295
    
    The vet stated 3 to 4 months when we last visited.
    
    Rick
    
1909.6HILLST::MASONExplaining is not understandingMon Oct 24 1988 16:324
    No problem.  The idea with doing it all at once is a single anesthesia
    session.  Did he recommend neuter/spay at 3-4 months???
    
    Gary
1909.7MYVAX::LUBYDTN 287-3204Mon Oct 24 1988 16:4012
    
    	Re: .0
    
    	I recommend doing the declawing and neutering in one session.
    	Less stress on you, and the cat, going to the vet only once.
    
    	My Bandit had an extra claw but no toe for the claw.
    	Unfortunately, the vet missed it when he was declawed so we
    	had to go back.  These extra claws should be removed, even
    	if you manage to talk your husband out of the full declawing.
    
    	Karen
1909.8MILVAX::HUDSONMon Oct 24 1988 16:5010
    One of my cats is double pawed.  I don't beleive in declawing a
    cat but thats me.  I do have to check that extra claw every now
    and then and clip the nail.  One day when we had to take her to
    the vets for her allergy shot (no idea what she allergic to) I noticed
    an infection on the top of her paw and thought her bumps where really
    spredding.  When the vet turned her paw over her found her nail
    going right through her foot.  We never noticed cause she never
    complained and had no trouble walking.  I really couldn't believe
    this but the vet stated that cats are real tough animals and after
    that I definitly beleive it.
1909.9Neutering done a little laterPNEUMA::BUREKSome shine and some keep you guessin'Mon Oct 24 1988 18:313
    
    .6  No, it was for declawing only.
    
1909.10> Another case study... <CGHUB::LYNCHEve 264-2978Tue Oct 25 1988 21:0321
    I recently had my cat neutered and removal of SOME claws.  Sneezy
    had 7 on one front paw and 6 on the other.   One claw was NOT
    retractable, it was removed along with others that were located
    between the thumb/index claw.  The technician said, "Why bother,
    my cat is just like this and we just trim them."  Unfortunately,
    the ones between the thumb/index were difficult to trim.  
    
    The vet suggested that the cat cannot groom these and therefore 
    they have a tendency to continue growing until they puncture the 
    pad and cause infection (as mentioned previously).  This infection
    stuff didn't thrill me, so I opted for removal.  Not to mention, 
    Sneezy was not fond of the clipping ritual and neither was I.  When
    she came home from the vet she had stitches that had to be removed, (about
    3-4 weeks later) I did it myself when she was real sleepy.  The
    stitches had long threads and she kept chewing on them, but never
    would have been able to get them out herself.   We had to be emphatic
    about removing only the 3 claws she didn't need.   The vet was the
    one who suggested removal at the time of neutering.  Thus saving
    some $'s....one visit instead of two.
    
    
1909.11Thanks for everything!CSSE::MORRELLThu Oct 27 1988 11:0916
    Thanks for all the help and advice on this.  I am going to get them
    neutered and declawed at the same time (6 months).  Until he is
    that age I am going to clip the claw once a week.
    
    Now for the funny part, last night I was filing my fingernails and
    he was watching me, so I asked him if he would like a manicure.
    He sat on my lap and held up his paw so I filed his nails.  He loved
    it.  He started purring like crazy and fell asleep in the middle
    of it.
    
    It was great, so now if I don't want to clip I can file.
    
    Aren't cats the greatest!!
    
    Kathy