Member

Posts: 36
From:Knob Noster, Mo
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-08-2004 01:03 PM         

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My kitten I got on Sat between 6-8 weeks old is sopose to be getting spayed tomorrow. Shes a girl. I paid for this already at the animal shelter. However, Ive seen posts where it says not to have this done this little. Who is right, the vet or these posts?? She is also scheduled for her front declaw as well. Im concerned she might not make it thru because she still isnt eating well. Thanks

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Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 01-08-2004 01:22 PM         

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I would not get a cat spayed that young. Most vets will do the surgery once a cat is over 3 lbs or so. 6-8 weeks seems awfully young for a spay, although it might be okay for neutering. Personally I would wait until she is 12-15 weeks. That way she is a little bigger and her body can handle the trauma better.

Also, I would not get her declawed. It is a horrible procedure equivalent to amputing a humans finger below the first knuckle. I will never have another cat declawed.

I especially would not do any surgery if she is not eating well and isn't strong and healthy. Sounds like you should call the vet and re-schedule for a month or month and a half from now.

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Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 01-08-2004 02:11 PM         

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I have not had a kitten fixed that young but as long as special precautions are taken with the use of the anesthesia everything should be fine.
I recommend against having her declawed but thats just my personal opinion.

Here is a link to early spay/neuter studies done on kittens as young as 7wks of age: http://www.winnfelinehealth.org//reports/early-neuter.html

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Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 01-08-2004 02:13 PM         

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If you're really uncomfortable with her being so young and not eating well yet...maybe you can discuss these concerns with the animal shelter. They may agree to wait another month or two. Good luck.

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Member

Posts: 36
From:Knob Noster, Mo
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-08-2004 02:28 PM         

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They are asleep when they are declawed right?? So they dont feel a thing.. or am i wrong? Thanks

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Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 01-08-2004 02:41 PM         

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quote:

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They are asleep when they are declawed right??

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Yes, you are correct.

Here is a site about declawing as well as alternatives: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/9352/declaw.html

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Member

Posts: 701
From:CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-08-2004 06:07 PM         

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Please do not get your kitten de-clawed! That is just the most aweful thing to do to a cat. I think it should be illegal. A lot of vets are saying that they will not do this cruel procedure to cats anymore. If you want a happy healthy cat, don't de-claw her. Cats are never the same after this for the rest of their lives. It's not normal to have your bones cut off and no longer have claws.

You think you have problems now with your kitty? You're going to have a lot more emotional problems with her after you do this to her.

PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO HER!!!!!!!!! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!.

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Posts: 701
From:CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-08-2004 06:14 PM         

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Here is a web-site all about de-clawing cats and why you should not do it. Please read it.
http://www.petstation.com/declaw.html

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Member

Posts: 120
From:West Chester, PA.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-08-2004 06:22 PM         

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Most vets will not spay/neuter until kittens are at least 3 lbs...age really doesnt matter, just the weight. BUT, she also has to be in GOOD health. My Arnie was sick (fever, not eating/drinking, throwing up) and his neuter was schedule for the next week, but my vet said I had to wait at least 3 weeks AFTER he was better to have the surgey. Your kitten DEFINTLEY needs to be healthly to have any surgery. Also, I HIGHLY recommend that you get pre-surgey bloodwork done before the spay. It costs around $45 a kitten, and it basically checks their liver levels to see how the kitten will handle the anthesia. Mosts vets office do the blood work right there and it only take a few minutes for the results.

As for the de-claw...everyone has their opinon about de-clawing. I was actually going to get the procedure done becasue I thought they would ruin my rugs and furniture, plus I live in an apt. complex that states if I have cats, they must be de-clawed. Well, I never got my two kittens declawed, and everything is fine. They dont ruin any rugs or furniture, and for my apt. complex stating they have to be de-clawed, they can go kiss my fat butt They have no idea and probally never will. I can tell you that after I read all about de-clawing, I was VERY happy that I didnt have it done

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Member

Posts: 701
From:CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-08-2004 06:24 PM         

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NERN: That was a really good web-site you posted on de-clawing! Thanks. I hope Needabrk2 reads everything there and changes their mind about de-clawing their kitty. Anyway, thanks for posting it.

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Member

Posts: 145
From:Toronto, Canada
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-08-2004 07:34 PM         

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I know what you are going through.

I rent a a semi-furnished bachelor apartment meaining that most of the furniture is not mine.

I was very concerned that Blanche would scratch everything to bits. I clip her claws every few weeks and allow her to scratch the loose carpet pieces in my kitchen since she wont use a scratching post.

She has never scratched any of the furniture.

She hates to have her claws cliped and use to bit hard when I did (I sometimes bled)she also struggles. But I tought her bitting was not acceptable and she no longer does this but still struggles.

If you start clipping her claws now she should have very few problems with it since she is so young, I've shown plenty of people how to do this but you must buy appropriate nail clippers for cats.

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Member

Posts: 36
From:Knob Noster, Mo
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-08-2004 08:33 PM         

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Ok you all definantly have me thinking hard about this declawing thing now. Poor little kitty did better today. I started letting her climb up by my face even though I dont really like it and she just sits their on my shoulder like she is cuddling. My mom says declawing is illegal in North Carolina. Here is Mo. they front and rear declaw. Which I would never rear declaw. Im considering changing my mind... but my husband wont be happy. I think she has gotten fatter since she has been here. When she peed on the floor today, I took her straight to the litter box and I left her in their for a while. She was not happy! She isnt covering her poop though and she tarcks it out with her. Is their anyway to make a kitten smell better w out a bath? She isnt doing a very good job cleaning herself? Thanks for all the replys. Ill let you know what I decide.

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Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 01-09-2004 12:18 AM         

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They have pet wipes that you can get at Walmart or Petsmart. Or you could just use a wash cloth and warm water.

Yes they are asleep when they are declawed but it is very painful when they wake up. Imagine having each of your fingers amputated just below the knuckle below your fingernail. You would be asleep when they did it, but it would hurt when you woke up. Most vets don't give painkillers to cats afterwards either. A human doc would have you on morphin or vicodin for something like that. A lot of cats develop behavior problems after being declawed, including not using the litterbox and aggression towards their owners. Declawing really is a horrible procedure. It is illegal in a lot of developed countries in the world. The U.S. is one of the few where it is legal. Some localities are starting to ban it though.

Try keeping her claws clipped really short. If you provide appropriate things for them to scratch on and train them while they are young you usually don't have a problem. If you are still having problems though you could try softpaws, http://www.softpaws.com/. They go on the nail and keep them from being able to scratch. Why don't you ask your husband to let you try other things first, I bet you can find a solution that makes you, him, and the cat happy.

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Member

Posts: 240
From:Campton, NH USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-09-2004 07:13 AM         

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one of the reasons for not getting your kitten spayed at this young of an age is they never fully mature (gain their full size). Also when you add a declawing into this they have to be under anesthesia much longer than they should be...a declaw takes a long time for the vet to perform (on top of the cruelty aspects involved).

Please don't declaw your kitten...I have a cat previously declawed by her former owner and it's so sad to watch her. She falls off furniture, she can't grasp toys like my other 2 cats. There are new studies showing that declawed cats may eventually develop spinal problems as they have to learn to walk differently than they are supposed to.

Then there is also the possibility of them developing biting (my declawed meezer bites), some won't use the litterbox...and the list goes on. You can find alternatives to keep the cat from clawing your furniture.

I too would wait on the spaying until your kitten is larger.

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Member

Posts: 80
From:Vancouver,WA. USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-09-2004 07:51 AM         

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Please don't declaw your kitty. I know everyone has already given great reasons why not to, I just had to get my 2 cents. You can clip her nails or use those rubber claw covers that you glue on. Declawing is so horrible!! it makes them bite, they are defenseless, they get depressed, arthritis, and all sorts of other nasty stuff.
Jenny

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