Home Care for the Declawed Cat

Remember, you are now rehabilitating a handicapped indoor animal, so plenty of TLC is necessary, especially for the older cat. You will find that your pet is tender for at least the first 2 weeks after surgery. The normal running, jumping gait can take up to 2 months to return. There is a possibility regardless of all precautions, post-operative lameness problems may persist even after the patient is healed from surgery. Some Home Care tips: * Keep your pet's normal food and water in a low, easily accessible spot to prevent her from jumping. * Line the litter pan(s) with shredded newspaper instead of litter (do this for one week at least.) You Can Expect: * Some lameness for up to 2 weeks. * Hesitancy to jump. * Some light scabs at the edge of the toes. Please Report: * An animal walking 3-legged and persistently holding up one paw. * A lethargic cat acting very tired and refusing to move. * A cat not eating. * A cat persistently licking at one spot on the paws. * A cat with drainage or bleeding from the paws. If you observe any other unusual behavior, please contact your veterinarian immediately. The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin any course of treatment without consulting your regular veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every 12 months.