Conference misery::feline_v1

    Being under anesthesia is always a risk.  If your female tolerated
    it well when she was spayed, then she would probably be fine.  Your
    male was not given the same kind of dose for his neuter, that he
    would get for a declaw, so there is no way of knowing how he will
    react.
    
    This months Dog Fancy has an excellent article on anesthesia, tells
    all the different types, how they are administered, etc.
             
    By the way you worded the statement " I have agreed to declaw my
    kitties", I tend to think that this is against your better judgement,
    or that someone else has asked you to do it.  If you don't feel
    comfortable with this, don't do it.
    
    Jo
    

    
    in regards to my statement, you are undoubtably right.  i think that
    everyone including humans as well as animals should never alter
    permanent fixtures on their bodies unless it is a life threatening
    situation.  
    
    however, the ethan allen recliner and the hitchcock sectional are not
    mine and i would feel terrible if my kitties ruined this and other
    expensive furniture in the house causing all of us strain and maybe
    worse.  so, being in love with all involved parties i have decided that
    my life-long indoor kitties can undergo this surgery.  specially after
    reading the positive outlooks in the feline file and knowing that is no
    other alternatives from experience.  thanks for your quick response!
    
    cj
                                       

    Is there any reason to think the kitties would damage this furniture?
    How about a short trial first?  My guys coexist with reasonably
    decent furniture without any problem;  of course, they have
    scratching posts at several places in the house.
    
    Actually, they love recliners as napping places.  Your big problem
    might be trying to get a chance to use the chair yourself.
    

All cats are different, of course.  I would trust my vet on this one.
If he/she says it will be okay, don't worry about it.

    "specially after
    reading the positive outlooks in the feline file and knowing that is no
    other alternatives from experience."
    
    I disagree!  Training certainly IS an alternative.  And providing
    cat furniture that they are allowed to scratch.  Have you tried
    training them?  My four are VERY good about scratching only what
    they're allowed to scratch.  Very occasionally I'll catch one of
    them putting feet up against the recliner but a quick "NO!  BAD
    CAT" is all that's necessary to chase them away.  
    
    Is there any chance of closing off the living room when you're not
    home?  Some old houses - like ours- have doors between all the rooms
    that would make this possible.
    
    My feeling on declawing - and this is my opinion only - is that
    it should only be done if the only other alternative is getting
    rid of the cats.  I hope you will be able to reconsider.
       Nancy DC
    

    You can also trim their nails to dull the points.
    

    trimming their nails last a week and it takes just about a week to get
    them into a position that won't hurt either one of us.
    
    the furniture has already gotten several pulls in it.  i feel so bad
    because the damage can be seen easily so we shut the doors (i have the
    same doors as you nancy) during the day and that leaves them one room
    and some hallways to play in.  what confinement!!!  when i get home
    verne yells loudly to pppppppllllllllllease open the windows mommy!
    and shirl... well... her favorite chair is (you guessed it) the
    reclyner.  and when she goes to sit in it or anything else in that
    particular room she always 'pricks' and when we tell her no she runs
    away scared.  a very shy and timid kittie she is mind you.  it took her
    a week to come out from the under the bed and now that she is getting
    comfortable i don't want her limited to areas of the house.
    
    
    i'm so confused!
    
    

    
    I had one cat who kept her claws and despite training and trying to
    keep her confined she went through two chairs and a couch (cheap ones
    at that).  I was nervous about doing it too when it came to the two
    new guys but they are none the worse for wear and life is so much 
    better in our house.  They still "pretend" to dig, even on the wood
    trim, so I know they would have wrecked the place.  
    
    After two years,  my personal opinion is it would take a bit to 'train'
    them and if you are not home all day it makes it worse.
    
    At their age, there should be no problem with anesthesia assuming they
    had no problem the first time and you have a good chat with the vet.
    The worst part is having to use paper in the litter box for a week
    after the operation!  My boys had NO problems at all.
    

    How about putting a decorative throw on the recliner, like an
    afghan or somesuch?  I have one on my sofa cushions, just to
    keep down the black cat hair on beige sofa problem.  It
    looks fine.
    

    p.s.  I don't mean cover the whole recliner, just leave the
    throw over the area that needs protecting, and remove it when a
    non-cat wants to sit in the recliner.
    

    I think I am going to have my 5-year old spayed female declawed
    since she tears out all of screens to come and go as she pleases
    indoors and outdoors.  I think if I replace the screens she will
    just do it again.  I don't think there is anyway to train her to
    discontinue doing this.  You can't use positive reinforcement...
    at least I don't see how in this scenario.  My other spayed female
    Siamese is declawed and is very contented and just simulates on
    the furniture as if she did have claws.  Of course, she still has
    her back claws since I believe the operation only removes the 
    front claws, although I am not positive about this.  I can tolerate
    the furniture to a point being damaged but I cannot tolerate the
    screen problem since in Colorado it gets very hot in the summertime
    and I do not have an air conditioner and replacing screens is no fun.
    
    Yvette/Colorado Springs  
    

    The best way to train a cat not to scratch is to only give them
    access to the scratchable item while you are there to correct them.
    That is the first step.  Then get a spray bottle, fill it with water,
    and let them have it when they go to the scratchable item.  Then
    after they shake themselves off, pick them up, love them, praise
    them and put them gently on the scratching post.  Always remember
    to praise them to the heavens when they use the scratching post,
    and always make using the post a positive experience for them.
    Don't ever throw them on the post in anger.  Cats have long memories
    and will forever associate the post with your anger.
    
    Jo who has 20 cats and "like new" furniture

    RE: .9 
    
    >How about putting a decorative throw on the recliner, like an
    >afghan or somesuch?  I have one on my sofa cushions, just to
    >keep down the black cat hair on beige sofa problem.  It
    >looks fine.
    
    ME TOO! I don't know what possessed me to get a wheat colored couch 
    with 3 solid blacks and 3 other dark cats. I find it amazing how
    much fur gets on the couch during the interval that the cover is
    off being washed and dried!
    
    Deb

    
    
    but of course you realize that i have already thought of that.  i have
    a homemade quilt that is on the sectional and a cotton (white) throw
    over the reclyner.  both seem to work alittle bit but when they start
    pricking they just claw through it.  i've seen in and so has my BO,
    unfortunately.
    
    i want to thank all the repliers for their concern and thoughtfulness
    in getting back to me.  however, we have decided to de-claw the babies. 
    my vet which is in fitchburg says 65.00 for the both of them and if i
    bring them in between 8-10 a.m. i can pick them up around 6ish that
    night.  i have decided to take the day off (just in case i can wait for
    them in the room where the cages are so i'm there when they awake) and
    will be spending the entire weekend with them.  my bo will be going
    backpacking.  i'm not sure if its because he wants to go or because he
    is jealous that my babies will be getting all my attention for two days
    in a row.  :)
    
    thanks again,
    
    cj
      

    re: .14   I know SO is significant other.  What's "BO"?
    
    Good luck with your kitties.  I know there are a few different
    methods of declawing.  One method involves removing just the claw
    itself without taking any of the underlying bone.  I hope that's
    what your vet is going to do.  Let us know how your little guys
    make out.
       Nancy DC
    

re: .14

	I would suggest that you leave the kitties overnight.  I had
	my two declawed and left them for two nights.  This keeps them
	off their feet for the most part and allows them the chance
	to heal.

	Karen

    I considered having this done (being at wit's end with the clawing
    situation.)  However, Benj has not taken anesthesia well in the
    past.
    
    There is a blood test that vets can do that can determine if the
    cat will be able to metabolize the anesthesia well.  It has something
    to do with his kidneys, I think, but I don't know the formal name
    of the test.
    
    Anyway, Benj failed his miserably, and the vet advised me not to
    have it done.  He said there was a good chance he wouldn't make
    it through the surgery.  Given that option, I decided I could live
    with the shredded furniture!
    
    I do know that as cats get older, vets are more reluctant to use
    anesthesia.  
    
    Good luck!