Declawing

Scratching with the front claws is normal, instinctive behavior for cats. The purpose of this activity is to remove old, worn fragments of nails. Though scratching is normal for cats, this behavior can be destructive and costly in the home. For many cat owners, declawing is the only solution.

A declawed cat should be confined indoors, since the claws are its primary means of defense. A house cat has little need for defense and is a more suitable pet because it can no longer ruin furnishings or scratch people.

Declawing is a surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia. It consists of the surgical removal of the nail bed. The feet are left bandaged overnight to prevent bleeding. After the bandages are removed, your cat will be able to walk normally, although tenderness may be evident for a few days. We do offer pain management to help relieve post surgical pain.  

Home care after surgery

•  Try to prevent your cat from jumping as much as possible for the first 7 days.
• Occasionally a cat will break open one of the small scabs where the nail was removed. A few drops of blood following this is normal. Call the doctor if bleeding persists.
• Replace your cat's normal litter with shredded newspaper, paper towels or a brand of litter called "Yesterday's News" for 14 days following surgery. This is very important to prevent postoperative complications. 

Notify the doctor if any of the following occur:

• Your cat's feet appear swollen or bleed frequently
• Your cat is reluctant to walk
• There is a change in your cat's general health or behavior

If there are any problems please contact us at 559.442.1127.

No recheck is necessary unless there are complications.

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