Helping My Animal

Posted on: 25 July 2018

If your cat is going to be declawed, you'll need to prepare for the recovery period. Your cat will need some extra care and attention following the procedure. While declawing is a minor procedure, it's still a surgical procedure, which means your cat will need a few days to rest and recover before it's back to its normal routine. Here are four important steps you should follow while your cat is recovering from surgery.

Ensure Proper Pain Management

Once your cat has been declawed, it will be in pain for a few days. You can help alleviate the pain by ensuring proper pain management. Your veterinarian will probably provide you with a prescription for pain medication. If your cat has never taken medication before, it may take a bit of work to administer it. One way to ensure that your cat receives its pain medication is to wrap the pill in a treat that your cat enjoys. Slip the pill into the center of a piece of food and feed it to your cat. That way, you don't have to struggle with your cat to get it to take its pain medication.

Provide Recovery Space

During recovery, your cat is going to need a small space to rest. Allowing them to have access to the entire house may encourage them to jump—which can cause the sutures to break open. To help your cat get the rest it needs, set its bedding up in a small room, such as the bathroom. Be sure to include soft bedding and plenty of fresh food and water.

Keep the Wounds Clean

While your cat is recovering from having its claws removed, you'll need to keep the wounds clean. Failure to clean the wounds can lead to serious infections. To clean your cats' wounds, you'll need a small basin, water, and a soft cloth. Fill the basin with lukewarm water and gently wipe your cats' paws with a moistened cloth. Repeat the process several times a day. If you notice swelling, redness, or discharge from the wounds, be sure to contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Those could be signs of a paw infection.

Make Some Litter Box Changes

While your cat is recovering from declawing, its paws will be sore. Not only that, but there will be open wounds that need to be protected. Because of these issues, it's important that you make some litter box changes during the recovery period. If you typically use a clay-type litter, it's a good idea to switch to a clump-free litter. This type of litter is usually softer on delicate paws, and it contains no dust that can get into the wounds. It's also important that you provide a slightly larger litter box. During recovery, your cat might not be so agile on their feet, which means they may miss the mark if they're trying to navigate a small litter box.

For more information, reach out to companies like the Animal House Veterinary Hospital.