I hope I've not made a horrible mistake...

[hail]

Well, contrary to my own personal beliefs and ethical judgement, I had my Fergus (2 year old male) declawed today. But before everyone jumps down my throat on the evils of declawing, I should let you know how I came to this painful decision, and the other options I've explored prior to having the surgery performed.

Fergus was an unusually friendly stray that I met last April. He had obviously been around people, as he was not timid, and was affectionate. I met him when one night while at my boyfriend's apartment... I heard a scratching at the door, and when I opened it, there he was...a gorgeous while harlequin male with large orange patches and deep sea-green eyes. He immediately ran in from the rainy 38 degree weather, wet, confused, crying, and starving for attention. Clearly he used to be someone's pet...I let him stay the night with us, and in the morning called our local animal shelter. There were no cats reported as missing that matched his description, and I had every intention of surrendering him to the shelter...but as we spent a little more time together, I decided I would take him home with me and inform my landlord that I now had a cat, which I knew he'd be fine with.

Well, the first three months or so was heavenly with my new-found companion...he was taken to the vet, neutered, and it was determined that he was somewhere between 6-9 months old. I even got Fergus a little kitten girl-friend...little 2 month-old Ripley...they became instant best friends, and still are.

Then the trouble started...I came home one day from school, and Fergus had stripped half of the wallpaper from my bedroom. And this is not an exaggeration. I then went out and purchased several scratching posts and sprinkled them with catnip...and was living in fear of my landlord finding out about the damage. He still continued to take wallpaper down, after weeks of redirection to the scratching posts and positive reinforcement...I then heard of Feliway...and bought a plugin. The problem continued. I nailed a very durable plastic materials to layer over my walls...but he shredded it to bits in about three nights. I then purchased a spray bottle, and every time he was caught in the act, he would then be sprayed...I came to find out he actually liked the water. I tried shaking pennies in a can...and even an airhorn. Noise would not deter him. And then my toilet broke, and I was forced to call my landlord...fortunately, when I got the guts to explain the damage, he handled it quite nicely, and told me that if continued, the cat would have to go. I then tried spraying the walls with apple bitter spray, with no results. I have used Soft Paws...and that did work, for a while. About a month ago, he began to rip them off his claws, so that he could continue to go at the wallpaper...

It was then that I began to consider the declawing surgery. I had done my best...and quite honestly could care less about the cheap wallpaper that my landlord had shoddily put up in the first place. I know that if he continues, I will have to find him another home...and after his behavioral issues, this will not be an easy task. That would break both of our hearts...

He is now at the vets, and the procedure happened around noon...I can take him home tomorrow. I am positively heartbroken over this...I do not believe in declawing, and understand the cruelty behind it.

I am so afraid for my little guy now...I don't want him to be in any pain, but I know he will be. I love him dearly, and this was the last thing I would ever put him through...did I make a terrible mistake? I'm beginning to feel like I don't deserve him.

[davet]

just an opinion but is it not better to allow fergus to continue living with you declawed then maybe potentially having to abandon him because you could not teach himn to not do damage...after a couple day he will be the same old Fergus but a more welcome member of the family.you can allmost teach kids not to write on the wall paper etc but it is really impossible to teach some cats to not do what they have done for a million years, ie
sharpen their claws on the nearest object...

[jason]

I do not believe in declawing, and understand the cruelty behind it.

i do not and ask you to refrain from making such remarks here...it only stirs up controvers...heated debates are not allowed.

did I make a terrible mistake? I'm beginning to feel like I don't deserve him.

of course its not mistake...as davet mentioned, better to keep him as part of your family to love then to give him up.

you really need to come to grips with "necessary measures" and understand that declawing is a procedure that does not disable nor are there painful effects afterwards (unless there were complications, which are rare these days).

ive had both of mine front declawed in order to keep them (would of given them up otherwise), so i had no choice as it sounds you also didnt.

again, lets not let this particular discussion get heated (not just talking to you hail, but to many others).

[littlefriend]

It sounds to me that you love your kitty and wanted what was best for him.

Keep on loving him!

[Sun & Star's Mom]

I am very proud of you for ALL of your attempts, and for being so consciencious and knowledgeable on what your options were! I know you weren't trying to start a debate here...you've obviously done your research. I too know the "story" behind declawing, but I applaud you for saving your baby from sending him to the shelter after trying everything else, and avoiding an undetermined future. I hope you now have many wonderful and loving years together. Good Luck!

[Traci]

No one is going to jump down your throat here....as stated in our House Rules, the declaw debate is prohibited on this board.

While none of us truly wants to declaw a cat for obvious reasons, most of us understand the reasons for doing so (number one reason, so as not to relinquish the cat to an ill fate). Contrary to some of the horror stories you see/hear across the net, the majority of cats do not suffer long-lasting effects, do not change personality, nor does biting behavior replace the loss of the claws. Yes, some cats do experience an infection post-declaw, some do change their behaviors (mostly because the owner percieves the changes, or the previous behavior was never corrected before a declaw, etc), but the statistics are favorable for a suitable outcome providing the kitty is healthy, young when the procedure is performed, and if the owner works toward correcting other unwanted behavior patterns (that usually have nothing to do with scratching behavior)

If you observe him carefully when bringing him home and watch for infection, etc....your kitty should heal completely and be able to enjoy indoor life to the fullest. See our declaw page for tips on recovery and what you can do to prevent infections.

[hail]

Thank you for all of your words of encouragement...and I truly did not intend to start any type of debate on this forum. I apologize for not reading the House Rules before posting.

Fergus came home yesterday, and all seems to be well. He's limping a little, but personality-wise, is the same cat as he was before...he somehow made it on top of my refridgerator this morning (one of his favorite perches), and a bit later he was trolling around my apartment with his favorite mouse toy in his mouth. He did throw up sometime during the night, but I suspect that's more from the anethesia then anything, and he doesn't seem to be in unbearable pain. I suspect he'll be as good as new in the next 2-3 weeks. I even heard him attempting to scrape away at my wallpaper last night, so I know he's his old self. At least now, we can live together knowing that he can continue being part of my life.

[Susan and the girls]

Hail - I, too, could tell you really love your kitty and just want what's best for him. I agree with Davet about your case --- you had to decide which was best for your kitty, abandoning him/giving him up, or keeping him and declawing. I know it was a terribly difficult decision for you.

If you haven't already replaced the wallpaper, maybe you should consider just painting the wall. It's SOOOOO much cheaper than wallpapering, and it's so much easier to do. (Take it from a person who had to repaint the entire house last summer! Wallpapering can be such a hassle!)

Give your kitty some TLC and a few hugs from me.

[hail]

I actually offered to paint (it would look better than the ugly paper that my landlord had originally thrown up on the walls...) to fix what damage has been done, but my landlord claims that he put wallpaper down originally because the drywall underneath is in such terrible condition...so my landlord has refused to let me paint. Blah!!! >:(

Anyway, Fergus is about as good as new...he's running and jumping around as usual. Thanks again, everyone.