Family is trying to kill me!

Specialties Private Duty

Published

My patient's family has 2 cats. They don't behave at all - not sure if cats ever behave. Anyway, I have been at work for a little over an hour and the have blown an air horn at them at least 5 times - my heart just about stops every time! Good grief!

Declawing a cat is one of the most inhumane things you can do. It leaves them defenseless if they ever get out for one and it is a painful surgery for two. This is my opinion I'm not saying people who declaw are bad people but please do research before you do this. Cats were not meant to have their claws surgically removed. It is like us getting our fingernails ripped out......[/quote']

I did my research. Indoor cats. Awesome vet. No problems. Happy, healthy cats. They still have their back claws which leaves them capable of climbing and defense if they did get out. I do not regret it.

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I always considered myself a dog person. Then I took a private duty case, working nights. There were 2 cats in the house and I liked those cats very much. They were smart, curious, and affectionate. They were fun to watch. After that, I rescued a kitten, and he lived with my 2 dogs in harmony. Once I got him, he was strictly an indoor cat.

I also fell in love with a cockatiel while caring for a terminally ill woman (again, private duty night shift) for several months.

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

I did my research. Indoor cats. Awesome vet. No problems. Happy, healthy cats. They still have their back claws which leaves them capable of climbing and defense if they did get out. I do not regret it.

Well, i assumed they were inside cats....it would be pretty awful if they werent.

They may beable to scale a tree but they can't slash an attacker or climb said tree as fast or as easily as if they had claws. Please don't be misinformed....if they do get out they have much higher of a chance of being hurt or killed. But they're indoor cats so I'm sure you're careful....

Hey...its your choice, I dont agree with it, but to each their own.

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Well, i assumed they were inside cats....it would be pretty awful if they werent.

They may beable to scale a tree but they can't slash an attacker or climb said tree as fast or as easily as if they had claws. Please don't be misinformed....if they do get out they have much higher of a chance of being hurt or killed. But they're indoor cats so I'm sure you're careful....

Hey...its your choice, I dont agree with it, but to each their own.

I am far from misinformed and I understand the risks. I have had cats my entire life and the only cat to meet an untimely demise was a fully clawed cat who was hit by a car -- which is why all my subsequent cats have been indoor only.

Even without claws, they put my dog quite easily in his place.

I have successfully kept my declawed indoor cats alive and safe and inside for 12 years, for the oldest, 6 years for the youngest. I love my cats dearly, and having them declawed means I can have my beloved pets and my husband doesn't freak out over scratched couches.

For me, it was the humane choice, because it means I know these cats are loved and cared for. I don't agree with getting rid of an animal because they scratch a couch, but my husband doesn't share my view and neither do many others. My vet declaws cats because it keeps many cats from being needlessly euthanized or passed from home to home or just abandoned. The college of veterinarians doesn't agree with practices of tail docking or ear cropping in dogs, but will declaw cats for the reasons above.

You don't have to agree with it, but don't automatically condemn it either. If I didn't live near a busy road, I would have indoor-outdoor fully clawed cats. I do live by a busy road and cannot safely let them out, and as well one of my cats is deaf. Keeping them indoors is the safest thing for them, and doing that is easiest when they are declawed.

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

I am far from misinformed and I understand the risks. I have had cats my entire life and the only cat to meet an untimely demise was a fully clawed cat who was hit by a car -- which is why all my subsequent cats have been indoor only.

Even without claws, they put my dog quite easily in his place.

I have successfully kept my declawed indoor cats alive and safe and inside for 12 years, for the oldest, 6 years for the youngest. I love my cats dearly, and having them declawed means I can have my beloved pets and my husband doesn't freak out over scratched couches.

For me, it was the humane choice, because it means I know these cats are loved and cared for. I don't agree with getting rid of an animal because they scratch a couch, but my husband doesn't share my view and neither do many others. My vet declaws cats because it keeps many cats from being needlessly euthanized or passed from home to home or just abandoned. The college of veterinarians doesn't agree with practices of tail docking or ear cropping in dogs, but will declaw cats for the reasons above.

You don't have to agree with it, but don't automatically condemn it either. If I didn't live near a busy road, I would have indoor-outdoor fully clawed cats. I do live by a busy road and cannot safely let them out, and as well one of my cats is deaf. Keeping them indoors is the safest thing for them, and doing that is easiest when they are declawed.

I'm certainly not condemning it, like I said, to each their own, I'm sure you have your reasons and I am sure you keep your cats inside and I have no doubt you love them. All I am saying is if they DO get out they have much less of a chance w/o claws than with. Sounds like for you, maybe no matter what they woudnt have a chance due to the busy road. Hey, I get what you're saying.....again, to each their own.

I just don't want anyone reading this to think a declawed cat has just as much of a defence outside as a clawed one, because it isn't true.

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I'm certainly not condemning it, like I said, to each their own, I'm sure you have your reasons and I am sure you keep your cats inside and I have no doubt you love them. All I am saying is if they DO get out they have much less of a chance w/o claws than with. Sounds like for you, maybe no matter what they woudnt have a chance due to the busy road. Hey, I get what you're saying.....again, to each their own.

I just don't want anyone reading this to think a declawed cat has just as much of a defence outside as a clawed one, because it isn't true.

And on that last part, we do agree.

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Oh dear, OP. Death by cat? May I suggest you bring some treats for them? Kitty nummies, cat nip, anything. Start giving those little beasts enough to spoil them while you're there and they won't act out. The best part is that the family won't have a clue why they are friendly while you're there, and the air horn comes out while you're off duty!

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

I had my first cat declawed bc I didn't know much at the time and thought that's just what you had to do for an indoor cat. I got two others shortly after getting the first one that were not declawed. One was extremely destructive, ruined the wood on our piano and shredded two couches. The declawed cat still "scratches" everywhere, like she still had her claws, but does no damage.

After having it both ways, the declawed cat seemed to never know the difference all these years. We kept her inside, cared for and loved. She had gotten out once or twice, but she came back safe and sound. I probably wouldn't do it now if I could go back 16 years, but she's really been a happy, healthy cat.

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.
And on that last part, we do agree.

Oh well okay then :-) 4 huh? My husband would kill me lmbo

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Critical Care Nursing.
Ya know, cats HATE walking on tinfoil. So you can lay that around where you don't want them. That's a lot of tinfoil though!

At one point we had a cat who lived to pee on the couches, she was protesting the new baby we brought home. We ended up having to take plastic rug runners and put them upside down on the couches EVERY time we left the room. The pointy surface deterred her. It worked, except for the times we forgot to do it.

I actually tried this with my cats and as luck would have it, they LOVED the tinfoil and actually went on the counters more lol

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I actually tried this with my cats and as luck would have it, they LOVED the tinfoil and actually went on the counters more lol

HA! That is so funny!

I have two cats and I've just accepted the fact that when I'm asleep or out of the house, they get on the counters. :/ I just disinfect the counters regularly.

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Oh well okay then :-) 4 huh? My husband would kill me lmbo

I always remind him that the forth one was his fault. That usually shuts him up.

(I always wanted a white cat, and he is the one who found one for adoption at the SPCA and took me to go meet him.)

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