FREE DECLAWING!
Saving money is always a good idea, even for the financially secure.
Depending on where you live and the veterinary clinic you choose, the exact amount of money it takes for the declaw surgery can vary drastically. Some even say the method used helps dictate the cost.
Who says that declawing has to cost an arm and a leg? Wouldn't be GREAT if you could get it done for free?
Continue reading to find out how to save money and have a declawed cat...
Want Your Cat Declawed For Free?
Adopt a declawed cat from a shelter. You save a lot of money on the declaw surgery and rescue a cat from death at the same time. How cool is that?
According to Wikipedia and many studies, there are a growing number of declawed cats who have been surrendered to shelters. Many of these shelters are high-kill shelters and won’t keep any animal very long, especially older ones. Large numbers of shelters only keep the animals for a few days or a week before killing them.
What a sad way to end up! Unwanted, and then killed because someone threw you away.
WOW! Save money and a life at the same time… Now THAT’s an idea!
So, Why Should I Adopt a Used Cat?
Shelter animals should not be viewed like used cars. Nor should they be seen as someone else’s throwaways. These animals have many years of love to offer to anyone willing to give them a chance. Most shelter animals are even grateful for being rescued from a life of imprisonment. This applies to all shelter animals, not just cats.
Find the cat you want at any shelter, even if it is out of state. There are many volunteer networks that will help transport the animal, even if it is across the nation. One of the transport groups is called Underground Railroad Rescued Kitty Network, www.urrkn.com. They specialize in cats and kittens. I am sure there must be some for dogs too. Cat Transportation Services and Dog Transportation Services show many different sites that offer their services, some at no cost to the recipient.
OK, What’s the Catch?
Just like adopting a human child, you need to know as much about the cat’s medical history as possible. While most surrendered animals don’t bring any medical records with them, the shelter staff may have some results from their medical staff. They should also have a reason for surrender that could be helpful.
Many veterinarians will encourage declawing as a way to keep the cat in his/her home. If that is true, then why was the cat surrendered? The amount of unwanted declawed cats seems to rule out sudden allergies to cats. What is more realistic is that most of these cats have developed behavioral issues so severe that the owners did not want to deal with them, even when the owner is the cause of the issues. Even Wikipedia agrees with those facts.
While I am not suggesting that you turn away from the declawed cats because of possible behavioral problems, it is a necessity to know what, if any, issues the cat may be having.
Why?
As a good pet parent, you need to be aware of any and all current and possible future medical and behavioral issues. The cat may need to be seen by your veterinarian as soon as possible, depending on the issues. Many declawed cats have different issues that a vet can help with.
Some problems are so severe that many people will return the cat to the shelter rather than try to help the cat. Please don’t be one of those people. These cats are in dire need of love and medical attention, either today or in the future.
Most of these problems can be helped with medication, repair surgery, and other methods. Main Street Veterinary offers help for veterinarians who are interested in helping declawed cats.
http://www.msvets.com/DeclawRepair.html
Wikipedia on Declawing!
Wikipedia's facts even support the need for declawed cats to be rescued from shelters rather than declaw more cats/kittens. The following is copied from Wikipedia with references following:
“At one veterinary teaching hospital, between 50 and 80% of cats had one or more medical complications post-surgery; 19.8% developed complications after release.[18] Other studies have reported medical post-op complication rates as 24% (Jankowski 1998), 53% (Martinez 1993), 1.4% (Pollari 1996),[19] 82.5% for blade and 51.5% for shear technique (Tobias 1994), and 80% (Yeon 2001).
"Reported medical complications include:
"pain, hemorrhage, laceration of paw pads, swelling, reluctance to bear weight on affected limb, neuropraxia (transient motor paralysis), radial nerve damage, lameness, infection, abscess, tissue necrosis, wound dehiscence, incomplete healing, protrusion of 2nd (middle) phalanx, claw regrowth, scurs (growth of deformed claw segments), retention of flexor process of third phalanx, chronic draining tracts, self-mutilation, dermatitis, lethargy, palmigrade stance (walking on wrists), chronic intermittent lameness, chronic pain syndrome, flexor tendon contracture, and cystitis (stress-associated bladder inflammation). Claw regrowth has been seen by veterinarians anywhere from weeks up to 15 years after onychectomy.(Veterinary Information Network).[20]
“Behavior problems are a primary cause of cats being relinquished to shelters… In a shelter setting, more declawed cats were reported by their owners to have problems with inappropriate elimination (house soiling). [22][23]... 16% of declawed cats developed behavior problems (12% biting), and more declawed (55%) than clawed (45%) cats were referred to a vet teaching hospital for behavior problems.[24]
“Chronic pain syndrome of onychectomy has been described by a pain management specialist as leading to unwanted behaviors, including increased aggression.[27]
“A prospective study comparing declawing with tendonectomy noted many medical as well as behavior complications.[28]
“An internet survey found that declawed cats were more likely to jump on tables and counters and house-soiled more than non-declawed cats (25% vs. 15%).[29]"
References:
- ^[18] Tobias KS. Feline onychectomy at a teaching institution: a retrospective study of 163 cases. Vet Surg 1994; 23:274-280.
- ^[19] Pollari FL, Bonnett BN, Bamsey SC, et al. Postoperative complications of elective surgeries in dogs and cats determined by examining electronic and paper medical records. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996; 208: 1882-1886.
- ^[20] http://www.vin.com
- ^[22] Patronek, GJ, Glickman LT, Beck AM, et al. "Risk factors for relinquishment of cats to an animal shelter". J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1996;209:582–588.
- ^[23]Patronek GJ. "Assessment of claims of short- and long-term complications associated with onychectomy in cats". J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2001 Oct 1;219(7):932-937.
- ^[24] Bennett M, Houpt KA, Erb HN. Effects of declawing on feline behavior. Comp Anim Pract 1988;2:7-12.
- ^[27] Gaynor J. Chronic pain syndrome feline onychectomy. NAVC Clinicians’ Brief. 2005 April.
- ^[28] Jankowski AJ, Brown DC, Duval J, et al. Comparison of effects of elective tenectomy or onychectomy in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998;213:370-373.
- ^[29] Morgan M, Houpt KA. Feline behavior problems: the influence of declawing. Anthrozoos. 1989;3:50-53.