Pets
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Declawed Indoor/Outdoor Cat
My husband found a feral kitten last July. He was absolutely gorgeous so we kept him. After about 3 weeks the kitten acted as though he was never feral and is now a part of the family. We had him neutered and declawed. I know having cats declawed isn't the best, but we live in a tiny apartment right now and he was messing up the furniture. We are hoping to move in the near future and I am hoping that I can eventually allow him to venture outside. He is very loving and attached to me and I sincerely believe that if I allowed him to venture outside he would come back. I have never been a cat person and know very little about them. I know outdoor cats need their claws. I have some friends with indoor/outdoor cats. Is it too unwise to allow him to venture outside on occasion? I would be devastated if he never came back or was harmed.
Re: Declawed Indoor/Outdoor Cat
I would never in a million years let a declawed cat "wander". Yes, they can get hurt. That's their first line of defense and sometimes teeth don't cut it.
Keep him as an inside kitty. If you really want him to go out, take him on a leash, or buy one of those enclosure things and supervise him.
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<a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Home DPlease don't let your kitten outside. Not only does being outside put him in danger, it also puts the local wildlife in danger.
We had a former regular who had an inside/outside cat before she knew better and accidentally ran over him with her car.
My heart just jumps thinking that he could get hurt. I never in a million years thought I would have a cat as a pet, but he truly is my best friend now! He just sits up on the window seal all the time and I feel like I have ruined him by declawing him! I will have to look in to the enclosure thing. I've never heard of that.
We are looking to move to a heavily wooded area near a lake. Just last night I dreamt that I tested letting him out and he was bit by a snake. I guess I know I shouldn't let him out. I just wanted to hear opinions from other cat owners.
I would absolutely not let your cat outside. I wouldn't anyway, but especially since it doesn't have claws. Your kitty will be perfectly happy inside.
Declawing is so awful that it is actually banned in some countries. I hope you will look into it further if you ever get another cat.
Thanks for rescuing a feral kitten though.
Next time, please spare any new kitties from that painful amputation, and just cover their claws with nail caps.
And claws or not, kitties should not be outside.
This is my Shiloh! This picture is about 4-5 months old, he's 10 months old now!
First, kudos for rescuing a feral. I'm so glad he adjusted quickly because many feral cats do not. It's probably because you got it so young. Definitely do not let a declawed cat outside!!! They have no means of protection. You should read up on declawing so you understand why it is illegal in so many countries (still waiting for the US to catch up!).
DH and I fostered a litter of kittens a couple summers ago and I refused to adopt out one to a lady who told me straight up that she planned to declaw him. We ended up keeping him and he's an awesome cat. Yes, he claws on stuff occasionally but such is life with a cat. But, there is a solution - like pp said you can put protective caps on their claws so they can't claw your furniture.
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THank you ladies for covering all these bases. I'm a little tipsy, and was "talking" to the computer screen as I read the OP's post.
"No, no, no, NO! Yes...NO!" Hahahaha.
I have a front-declawed kitty (done before I got her) and a fully-clawed kitty. Both remain inside full time and are perfectly fine with it. Well...the partially declawed one does like to try to slip out the back door, but we don't let her out on the patio unless she's harnessed and supervised.
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I would never let my cats out unsupervised. Occasionally, I will sit outside with them on harnesses/leashes. For you, I would definitely not let your kitty out since he was feral before and probably used his claws. Not having them would be extra dangerous for him since he probably would not understand why they aren't "working". Also, cats that were born/raised feral might not necessarily know to return home (I dont actually know this, just a hypothesis based on fostering feral cats).
Anyway, your cat is gorgeous!! Best of luck with your move.
Don't ever let him outside, not in a pen, or on a leash.
He'll be happier and so will you!
I've lived in urban and rural environments, with declawed and claw-intact cats, and they've all always been indoor-only. I, too, would be devastated if anything happened. Going outside they have a much bigger chance of being hurt by injury, cars or other animals, getting sick from eating something they shouldn't (diseased small animal, antifreeze, other chemicals, poisonous plants), getting lost, getting stolen, and other things.
Cats love looking outside, but trust me, they're fine indoors. Play with him and give him indoor stimulation, and let him look out the doors and windows. My cats are sometimes curious about the door, but it's only when my H or I are coming in or out - they want to see where we are going/come from. But when we carry them outside (in their carriers) to go to the vet or groomer, they get kind of scared. They are much more comfortable in their safe, indoor space, where they know where they are.
In addition, I've had cats with severe medical problems/special needs, and I need the ability to monitor their food intake and excrement. If they are outside part of the day, that would be next to impossible. Plus, I currently have long-haired cats and grooming would be MUCH harder if they were rolling around in the dirt!
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It's illegal in my city, along with cosmetic procedures like tail docking.
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