March 5th 2012 8:13 am
[ Leave A Comment | 6 people already have ]
My daddy took me to the vet last Friday, and it most certainly was NOT pleasant! I'm a very fast learner and unfortunately I knew what the vet doctor was going to do when he and his assistant came over with a bundle of towels. The dreaded wrap-up for a nail trimming!
This was what they did the last time prior to trimming my claws, so I got VERY defensive! So bad was I, that this time the vet had to administer a sedative in order to do the nail trim and administer a flea treatment.
When daddy got me home, I could not stand up, even though I tried very hard, I kept falling over on my side. Daddy stayed right beside me and tried to help keep me upright so I could use the litter box and then eat/drink a little. I stayed right beside my daddy for several hours.
[** Sidenote from daddy **] -
While Munchkin's extremely fast learning ability is one of her unique qualities, in this case, it was a real disadvantage. Munchkiin didn't utter a sound on the trip back home, but kept watching me intently with her big, green/gold eyes that looked like she had tears coming out.
Her vet visits are just about as traumatic for me as they are for her! I know she is confused, not understanding how it is that I provide her with a loving home where she doesn't want for anything, but yet take her to a place where she is always terrified of.
A friend had suggested having Munchkin de-clawed, but I am very opposed to that. While de-clawing would eliminate (in part) the need for trimming her front claws, there are still the rear claws to consider. (Her rear claws generally do not need to be trimmed as much as the front, because she does a lot of jumping up on the bed, up on top of her scratching post, etc).
Although I have provided Munchkin with two scratching posts (1 is the typical circular, wood post with a carpet-like exterior & the other is a taller, sisal-fabric type post), she rarely uses the sisal fabric post which would actually do a better job of helping keep her front claws worn down so they might not require trimming.
Another concern is de-clawing deprives Munchkin of her primary means of defense (even though she doesn't have a need for that here in her furrever home).
I feel such a procedure would also irreparably damage her, psychologically...to say nothing of the pain she would endure.
The idea of perhaps giving her some kind of oral sedative prior to going to the vet is not an option, unfortunately. The vet does not favor that idea, and besides that, Munchkin will not allow me to put something in her mouth.
Her next visit will be the annual wellness checkup in September, at which time she will have to again be sedated for a nail trimming, flea treatment and the vaccinations which will be due. NOT something I ever look forward to...and Munchkin most certainly does not!
----** END OF DADDY'S SIDENOTE - and back to Munchkin's **-----
Daddy finally managed to figure out what the computer problem was...quite by accident no less. Turns out the keyboard was malfunctioning. Once he replaced it with a spare one he had in the closet...everything now works like it did before, YIPPEE!!!
Until next time...lots of purrs to all our furriends!
Munchkin
Leave A Comment | 6 people already have Your daddy is making the right call Munchkin! Good for him! My last owner declawed me and it was very traumatic and guess what, it doesn't solve many problems. I still have back claws that mommy calls 'dagger toes' and now I fight even harder than the average scared kitty to keep them from getting cut. Being declawed makes a cat more prone to biting when they are afraid and bites are far more dangerous than scratches and it also leads to behavior problems. 70% of kitties who wind up in shelters for 'behavior problems' were declawed. When I'm scared of something, I tend to be naughty and have accidents around the house. My parents have to keep a calming collar on me when this starts up. Declawing solves nothing and it creates major problems. Your daddy is making the right decision for you, he's my hero!
(Oh yeah, River says HI and HAPPY RIVER DANCES for fixing the computer!) munchkin....
why dont ewe ask yur dad to trim yur nails...then ewe woodna knead to go thru all that stress....
bee leeev it ore knot; it trooly is an easy procedure; all yur dad kneads ta due is press on yur paw sew de nails "stik out" then clip with a cat nail trimmer..
tell him he will bee able ta "see' de quik which iz close ta de toe and he can pick one up that he can use forever probably for less than what de vet be chargin...
a reely good one will cut de nail sew noe shards remain; it will cut de nail smooth and cleen...
honest :)
and this bee comin frum kittehs who swear by it and who dont like their paws touched frum de get go :) ooops....
forgot
tell yur dad ta get a sissal mat....it lays on de ground sew ewe can sit an scratch at de same time...ewe can scratch at floor level instead oh reachin "up" Sorry you had a a tough time. I actually like getting my nails cut and am very cooperative - maybe I'm just an odd kitty! Sorry you had such a traumatic time at the vet. I agree your Dad should see about trying to trim your nails yourself. I have heard that kitties like the underside of a carpet. I know I do! We have a piece of carpet rolled up and I like to scratch at it because the underside is facing me. Maybe Munchkin would like that too!
We are glad you are back!
Love Elsa, xo
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March 5th 2012 at 11:34 am