Does de-clawing change a cats personality?

I want to de-claw my cats. I want to know if it changes their personalities, how much it costs, and how long will it take?Does de-clawing change a cats personality?
In many cases it changes them, yes. The evidence shows that they have a great chance of becomeing aggressive or house soilers. There is a bvery long list of complications they risk as well - why not use common sense like the rest of the world who knows this as inhumane and clip the claws every other week?


Cats really actually need their claws - don't ,make them an amputee because you aren't sure why they have them.....Does de-clawing change a cats personality?
I really don't think that declawing a cat is a good thing to do. It doesn't change their personalities, but it hurts them. A cat's claw isn't like a toe nail, it's part of their bone. It you want to declaw them, it's like chopping the edge of their bone off. It's a very painful, cruel surgery to do. In many European countries, declawing a cat is even illegal! Also when you declaw a cat, they start to stop using their litter box, and start '; going '; all over your carpet and floor, and i really dont think you'd want that.





The cost varies on the type of surgery you get:





Declawing a cat using one of the two common conventional methods usually costs between $100 and $250, depending on the veterinarian and which procedure is used. The ';Rescoe clipper'; method is more common and usually falls at the lower end of the cost range because it is a simpler procedure and takes less time. In the ';Resco Clipper'; method, the veterinarian uses a sterile clipper to cut off the tips of the bones in the toes, from which the claws grow. Then, the incision is closed with stitches or glue. This method usually has the fastest surgery time, but there is a slight risk the claw will re-grow, which can cause infection and require more surgery.





Declawing a cat using the laser method usually costs between $250 and $450, depending on the veterinarian. In laser declawing, the veterinarian uses a laser, instead of a scalpel, to entirely remove the bones from which the claws grow. With this method, there is almost no bleeding and less pain.





There's more costs:





A pre-surgery blood test, to check liver and kidney function, is recommended for all cats and often required for older cats. It costs about $40 to $50 extra.


For a few days following the surgery, most veterinarians recommend that the cat wear a patch that releases pain medication. It costs about $40 extra





Now, considering all that, do you still wish to declaw your cat? I would appreciate it if you didn't torture you little kitties.





:)
Well done for getting educated before you take this irreversible step.





Yes, it can definitely change a cats personality. There's growing evidence that a large percentage of cats that have been declawed develop behavior problems such as toileting in the wrong places and biting. It won't directly change a cats personality (they are not operating on the cat's brain..) but the pain can be a major trauma and the cat is physically disabled afterwards, which may make the cat less secure emotionally. In some cases the cat will be in pain for life (from undiagnosed bone chips, regrowth, phantom pain (we are talking about amputations here) and arthritis as the cat ages). Cats hide pain, but a cat in pain is not a happy cat.





You might get some people telling you the cat's temperament improved afterwards. In some cases this will be due to the cat aging: some people get kittens declawed to stop them playing rough, not realizing that kittens naturally mellow and learn not to dig claws in as they get older. In other, sadder cases the owner is probably mistaking a cat that has become fearful and clingy for one that has become more affectionate.





You don't say why you want to declaw your cats, but I strongly advice you study the links below.
Yes is changes their personalities.





All of the stuff below is from research %26amp; the websites listed below.





You should read these websites. To see what declawing really is. It’s not a simple surgery of removing the “claw”. It’s an amputation of 10 digits.





Please consider other option before declawing.





Psychological %26amp; Behavioral Complications:


Cats who were lively %26amp; friendly become withdrawn %26amp; introverted after being declawed.





In some cases, when declawed cats use the litterbox after surgery, their feet are so tender they associate their new pain with the box...permanently, resulting in a life-long adversion to using the litter box.





Other declawed cats that can no longer mark with their claws, they mark with urine.





Others, deprived of their primary means of defense, become nervous, fearful, and/or aggressive, often resorting to their only remaining means of defense, their teeth.





Many declawed cats become so traumatized by this painful mutilation that they end up spending their maladjusted lives perched on top of doors %26amp; refrigerators, out of reach of real %26amp; imaginary predators against whom they no longer have any adequate defense.





Unlike routine recoveries, including recovery from neutering surgeries, which are fairly peaceful, declawing surgery results in cats bouncing off the walls of the recovery cage because of excruciating pain.





A declawed cat frequently resorts to biting when confronted with even minor threats. Balance is affected by the inability to grasp with their claws.





Removing the claws makes a cat feel defenseless. The constant state of stress caused by a feeling of defenselessness may make some declawed cats more prone to disease. Stress leads to a myriad of physical %26amp; psychological disorders including supression of the immune system, cystitis %26amp; irritable bowel syndrome





Some veterinarians are now promoting laser declawing as a ';guilt-free'; procedure. While laser declawing can reduce the bleeding %26amp; perhaps diminish, to some extent, the agonizing pain, the procedure is the no different, only the means of amputation.





A cat relies on its claws as its primary means of defense. Removing the claws makes a cat feel defenseless. The constant state of stress caused by a feeling of defenselessness may make some declawed cats more prone to disease. Stress leads to a myriad of physical and psychological disorders including supression of the immune system, cystitis and irritable bowel syndrome.





Please do not get your cat declawed. Most of the problems with declawing has nothing to do with the actual surgery. Declawing is the worst thing you could ever do for your cat-other than not getting I fixed. Most cats that do have problems are not visible. Most of it has to do with their back muscles. Cats need their claws in order to stretch properly. That would be like a human not being able to stretch when they wake up in the morning. Imagine how stiff you would be. That results in back problems their whole life. And because cats are VERY good at hiding pain/sickness you can't really tell.





Also you should know that when a veterinarian declaws a cat without trying everything else possible they are breaking the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) guidelines: Declawing of domestic cats should be considered only after attempts have been made to prevent the cat from using its claws destructively or when its clawing presents a zoonotic risk for its owner(s).





There are tons alternatives to declawing.





Here is a list of items you can use to stop a cat from scratching:


A bottle/can with something noisy in it


Air (I use a balloon pump)


Aluminum foil


Anything citrus smelling (spray/rub in on whatever they’re starching)


Double sided tape


Dumb Cat Anti-Marking %26amp; Cat Spray Remover (Spray-Petco-This one is for urine)


Four Paws Cat and Kitten Repellent (Spray-Petco)


Four Paws Keep Off Indoor and Outdoor Dog and Cat Repellent (Spray-Petco)


Fresh Kitty Furniture Protectors


Gingerroot


Packaging tape


Pet Botanics Bitter End Training Aid (Spray-Petco)


Pet Organics No Scratch! for Cats (Spray-Petco)


Pet Organics No-Mark for Cats (Spray-Petco-This one is for urine)


Pet Organics No-Stay Furniture Spray for Cats (Spray-Petsmart)


Scratching post


Simple Solution Indoor/Outdoor Repellent for Dogs and Cats (Spray-Petco)


Softpaws


Spray that stops them (there all different kinds)


Spray that stops them (there all different kinds-just go to petco.com type in “scratch spray”)


Trim their nails back once a week


Water bottle spray





Also if you have a scratching post %26amp; your cat is not using it you can get some catnip %26amp; rub it on there or they sell catnip spray. Also it might not be big enough. A scratching post needs to be as tall as the cat (about 32”).





Also people think it’s better if they get it done laser. NOT TRUE. Watch this video. It’s long, but worth it. The part about laser is 10:44 into the video


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaEx-qe2w…





A few quick facts:


The Cat’s Claws:


Unlike most mammals who walk on the soles of the paws or feet, cats are digitigrade, which means they walk on their toes. Their back, shoulder, paw %26amp; leg joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments %26amp; nerves are naturally designed to support %26amp; distribute the cat's weight across its toes as it walks, runs %26amp; climbs. The claws are used for balance, exercising %26amp; stretching the muscles in their legs, back, shoulders %26amp; paws. They stretch these muscles by digging their claws into a surface %26amp; pulling back against their own clawhold-similar to isometric exercising for humans. This is the only way a cat can exercise, stretch %26amp; tone the muscles of its back %26amp; shoulders. The toes help the foot meet the ground at a precise angle to keep the leg, shoulder %26amp; back muscles %26amp; joints in proper alignment. Removal of the last digits of the toes drastically alters the conformation of their feet %26amp; causes the feet to meet the ground at an unnatural angle that can cause back pain similar to that in humans caused by wearing improper shoes.





The cat's claw is not a nail as is a human fingernail, it is part of the last bone in the cat's toe.





Declawing is not a “simple”, single surgery but 10 separate, painful amputations of the third phalanx up to the last joint of each toe.





';Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat's ';toes';. - Christianne Schelling, DVM.





“Fifty percent of the cats had one or more complications immediately after surgery.... 19.8% developed complications after release.”





Many vets deliberately misinform %26amp; mislead clients into believing that declawing removes only the claws.





Many cats also suffer a loss of balance because they can no longer achieve a secure foothold on their amputated stumps.





';Among 218 cats relinquished to a shelter, more (52.4%) declawed cats than non-declawed cats (29.1%) were reported by owners to have inappropriate elimination problems.';
It shouldn't, but every cat is different. The cost varies from vet to vet; the amputation/surgery/procedure takes about an hour or so and the pain will last for about a week or so. Your vet should prescribe pain pills and you'll need to change its litter to something soft (like shredded newspaper, which I think you can get at petstores or supermarkets). If you've made up your mind to get them de-clawed, I recommend you start getting them used to the new litter now.
Your vet may try to talk you out of declawing because it is physically and psychologically traumatic to the cats. Declawing frequently results in nerve damage to the feet that can lead to pain, excessive licking of the feet, or even pulling the hair out of their feet and legs. Ask your vet about the possible side effects of declawing. If he says there are none or they are minimal then run, don't walk, away from your vet and find another opinion.





Never EVER declaw a cat that is allowed outdoors as it can no longer reliably defend itself or escape predators (climb trees).
2 of my cats are declawed. One always seems to be depressed, but I give her a ton of love and nothing seems to change. Maybe it's because her first owner had to give her away to us because she was moving to an apartment where they didn't allow pets.





The other declawed cat is mean and snippy. Again I give her a ton of love and am always nice to her. It's weird that she's mean to me, but not my brother.





Before the second cat was declawed she was a sweet little angel to everyone. Very cuddling and kind. Now the complete opposite!
30 % of declawed cats develop at least one behavioral issue after they are de-toed. The claw isn't removed, the first joint of each toe is amputated, and a good number of cats are in pain forever after. Those behavioral issues include things as refusal to use the litter box, biting, aggression, lethargy, and depression and hiding. Your vet - if they are still one of the money-grubbing ones who'll perform this surgery - won't tell you about these, as these cats never go back to the vet. They are hauled off to the shelter, where 80% of them are promptly euthanized. After all, how many people do you suppose go into a shelter and ask to adopt a cat that bites, and pees on the floor?





Educate yourself about what declawing really is.





http://maxshouse.com/Truth%20About%20Dec…





http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declawpics.…





There are many alternatives, including taking the time to actually train your cats to scratch suitable surfaces. There will be links to those on the two sites above.
In many cases its DOES change the behavior and NOT for the better. Many declawed cats will stop using the litter pan and start peeing on carpet or clothes. Their feet hurt a lot and some have problems with jumping and climbing. Some will also resort to biting (and biting hard) or hiding in fear of people or animals as they cannot defend themselves well.





A cat bite is far worse then a few scratches.





Before you resort to mutilating your cat, read this.





http://maxshouse.com/Truth%20About%20Dec…
Hmmm by the majority of the other replies i think you have your answer huh? They don't just dewclaw the cat...they remove its first joint so imagine having the first joint on all of your fingers cut off. Not nice. And yes it probably will and your cat will never trust you again....at what point do you think it would be ok to torture whats meant to be your companion? It's very very wrong and i couldn't condone putting an animal through abuse like that because that's what it is. It can do all of these things to a cat. Traumatize it, kill it, make it unable to prevent falling from great heights resulting in injury or death, unable to defend itself against other threats, can't scratch and stretch trees or a post as way of relaxation and normal well-being, it's not really a cat anymore if you remove its toes and claws. Kitties are meant to have claws....if you cant except that give it away to a better home please.
No. but it does really hurt them. You can go to the pet store and get caps for their claws that really work. I have three cats and they where them. They last for a couple of weeks then fall off. You just pop it back on.
Hi,





De-clawing is very painful for a cat. It isn't just removing the claws, it is removing part of the toes too.


Please reconsider, have a read up about it.
why do this causeing them pain,and if outside cant defend themselves,in uk most people cant do as vet will not do this as cruel
I would have a severe attitude if some one declawed and deballed me.
DO NOT DECLAW UR CAT IT REALLY HURTS THEM SO YES IT WOULD CHANGE THERE PERSONALITY!!!!!!!!!!


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I'd refer you to the ';devil cat'; question!


Don't do it!