A Word on DeClawing

I have attached pictures of my best friend and companion, Kona Blue. He is 12 ½ yrs. young. My late husband insisted on getting him declawed (front paws), which I was not certain should be done. I now have a biter. He has gotten better because he knows I don’t like biting. He has bitten visitors, and me. People want to pet him, but he does not always want to be touched. He hates his tail or feet touched. He can be loving, and has learned to endure all my kisses and hugs. I have deck trained him so that he can enjoy some outdoor time, yet stay contained on my decks. I’m very proactive with his health care – except his weight. He loves to eat and I indulge him more than I should. Can you tell if he is happy, bored, has any health issues that I might have missed, would welcome another cat (when he was two, he made it very clear to a pet psychic who came to our home, that there was no room for another animal).

Darlene N
San Diego, CA
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Kona Blue is beautiful, but may also be in intense pain. The procedure of de-clawing is very painful surgery and can lead to the animal to experience lifelong pain. So, from a physical standpoint, you need to take that into consideration with your approach. It is also important to note that once a cat is de-clawed they have no real defense mechanism. It is very likely that Kona Blue is not able to tell you “no, please stop,” especially if his paws are still painful.

Just like a human, animals have different sensitivity to touch. The tail holds a cluster of nerves and as Kona Blue moves through the day, he uses his tail to communicate. That will make him ore sensitive to touch.

I know you love your pet, so “indulging” is never a good idea because it robs your pet of a quality life. I say quality, not quantity. We are not talking about years on earth, but the quality of those years. So many pets suffer physical ailments because of indulgence. It is something to think about.

I would suggest you feed him vegetables like lightly steamed broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, or zucchini. He may also enjoy some fresh fruits such as apples, pears, and watermelon. Always start with a very tiny portion to see how he will react to the new foods.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: Never feed you cat (or dog) onions of any type, tomatoes, raw potato, chocolate, grapes or raisins. Always consult with your vet before changing their diet.