Little Big Cat

Here are a just a few of the thousands of cats for whom declawing did not save their homes.

Snowy Snowy

British Shorthair, Maine Coon [Mix]

Snowy is a 4-5 year old male that came to us already declawed and neutered. He has seen a few hard days by the notches taken out of his ears while he was a stray. He would love to live the rest of his life out in comfort and is looking for a warm lap and his forever home. Snowy can be snuggled at the All In One Pet Care Faculty in Red Deer.

This petite beauty came into the shelter as a stray -- can you believe no one has claimed her? So sad. Despite it all, she's super sweet. Who knows, maybe she ran away from a bad situation, and knew that a new safe, loving home would await her.

"KB" picked up as a stray, covered with sores because some misguided individual had tried to cut the mats out, but instead left him in horrible pain. This kitty is so sweet and loving that he greets his foster mom by stretching out his forepaw--a love salute every time he sees her. He's just a little shy in this new situation for him, but perfectly sweet. He's a great little companion. Fostered in Davis.

Tonka is a pure-bred 9 year old Tonkinese rescue from a N. CA pound. This cat was surrendered there because the couple had a "new baby" and no longer wanted a cat. Poor Tonka! He is a bit bewildered at his new circumstances, but hopes someone will want to provide a home for him despite his "flaws." He is a shy cat at first, does not want attention unless he asks for it, and sometimes thinks hands are a toy and can nip at them. Declawed cats can be nippy since they have no defense, and Tonka is no exception. Tonka likes to play with a toy on a string like a 3 month old kitten does! He absolutely LOVES to play! Tonkinese are very athletic and so is Tonka despite being declawed. Tonka has been through much and is looking for a patient person with a quiet home who can allow him to feel safe again and blossom on his time. We believe he would be happiest as an only cat with someone who has experience with pure-bred Siamese, Tonkinese or another high strung breed. Tonka is a breath-taking cat to behold and will make a fabulous companion to the right person or couple. Declawed.

Ginny is a most sweet and affectionate cat with much personality and expression. She loves people! She's very talkative and gives hugs. Ginny must be placed in a business or office environment without access to soft material such as a bed or couch. She was deeply traumatized as result of being declawed by her former owner and developed a problem where she sometimes urinates in inappropriate places. She does so infrequently and only on soft items; couch, bed, or laundry left out. She's been fostered in a room with only her cat bed, cat tree and litter box and has no accidents in this type of environment. Despite this, Ginny is a wonderful and super special cat. We estimate Ginny's date of birth to be August 1999.

This handsome young cat was found in Oakland hanging out with some feral cats. After their caretaker searched for his guardian, we were asked to help get this tame, declawed, boy off the streets. Dane has a calm, mostly easy-going personality to match his gorgeous face and coat. He's active, smart, assertive, and sociable with people, even those he's just met. He likes to be the center of attention and cozies up to everyone wanting attention. He's friendly and enjoys laps, but he also loves interacting with a young cat who enjoys wrestling games, to keep him entertained. Dane can sometimes play rough with his humans too so we don't recommend him with kids nor cats over 5 years of age who wouldn't tolerate his physical play. He will bite now and again when overstimulated and in play-hunting-mode. We assume this is a result of being declawed as he feels vulnerable without them and uses his teeth. He may do fine with a cat-friendly dog. We estimate that Dane was born in mid to late 2006.

I'm Bianca, and I'm a big ragdoll mix girl with a beautiful chocolate-point coat and blue eyes. I'm front-declawed, so I have to be an indoors-only cat. Im a major lover when I feel like it, purring and meowing and rubbing against your ankles, but, like many cats, I dont like to be picked up much. I came from a difficult home situation, and as a result I am easily startled, and when I don't like something, I'll put my ears back and growl because I am scared. Sometimes I'll hiss to get your attention or let you know when Im not pleased, such as when my food bowl is emptyJ If I get very upset I have been known to nip (which is common with those of us who have been declawed) so I would do best in a home without small children. I'm perfectly litter-box trained (and not fussy about my box either). Im about ten years old, spayed, and up-to-date on my shots.

Patty is an affectionate girl who loves to know what everyone around her is doing. She likes to look out windows and get her head scratched. She would do best in a home without children, as she will sometimes nip/swat when overstimulated.

Roxy is a 3 year old (est. DOB 3/06), DSH, front paw declaw, spayed female. Roxy was adopted out from us as a kitten and her first owners had her declawed at 3 months old. Roxy had many issues afterward, fear and stress in her home. She was returned and adopted out again to another home that kept her for 2.5 years. While they loved Roxy very much, they said she bites when over stimulated or stressed out and with young children in the house they thought a different home would be best for her. Roxy is a great cat. She's really blossomed in the last few months and loves attention. She's shown no signs of biting or being mouthy in months. We think, in a home with no small children to pull on her tail or pester her, that she'll be a wonderful companion.

Kiba is a gentle, sweet, neutered, front paw declaw, short haired Scottish Fold, male. Kiba is a wonderfully affectionate guy who came to us on 9/22/09 from the Kings County Animal Shelter. We were told Kiba was a 5 year old, spayed female. Kiba shocked us all when we went to give him his exam before his dental and discovered he was an older neutered male. Kiba was very skinny and need of TLC. But since his dental he's shown that he's a great eater though and especially loves the treats he's given nightly. He's gained weight and is looking great. He would love to be an only kitty.

Kiba like people, but hates cats. He was adopted out briefly, but really hated the other cat in the home. He kept beating up that cat. Here is what the person who adopted him says about him.

'He is sweet and very friendly to people. He usually comes to your lap. He loves to be scratched his chin and head. He doesn't hide even if he sees new people (he is not shy), instead, he goes to say hi, and asks to be pat. He loves attention from people. He also loves have his ears cleaned. When he is on your lap, be scratched, he purrs a lot to show you how much he loves it. However, He does not like to be picked or held. He runs if he finds out you are trying to pick him.

He not interested in toys (I tried a couple different toys, but he never played with them)

He will let you brush him, but does not love it. He sometimes bites you when he is overstimulated, but since he doesn't have teeth, it won't hurt you. He loves wet food. He is a good eater.'

Mooch showed up at my back door every night to be fed for over a month. This quite and gentle cat was weary but approachable. After a time I decided to scan him and he was actually microchipped and declawed. The person who had adopted him claimed he was not their cat so Mooch moved in. It took Mooch some time to accept other cats. Obviously living outside with no claws had put him on the defensive. He's not really a cat's cat but he tolerates them. He does love people and will come when called. Mooch is a sweet and quiet cat who likes to be petted. He is 4 years old, FIV/FELV negative, microchipped, neutered and front declaw.

As you can see. The first photo shows Hemmie as he is today. The last photo shows him as he was and when we got him he was so matted that they had to shave him from head to tail. Hemmie loves to be loved. He will sit in your lap as long as your willing. He also chases his tail and loves the laser light. Because he has no claws he needs to be in a single cat home.

Front paw declaw What a pretty girl, and what a difficult start she had with us. She came from a shelter far, far away. She was dropped off as a stray in ghastly condition. Fully matted and nearly starved, she could barely walk around. We were pretty concerned about her when she came into our care. A few months later we barely recognized Pumpkin when she came for her photo shoot. We apologize that the pictures didn't turn out better. She was so busy looking for love and checking out her surroundings that she wouldn't hold still for her "money shot". Still we got some pictures that showed her beautiful eyes and pretty facial features. Pumpkin's coat is still a little dull, but that will perk up with a good diet. She actually looks like she's got a reddish or chocolate tail, very pretty. She has the most amazing ear feathering that we've ever seen. Oh ... personality ... you need to know about her personality. It's great. Adopt her. Seriously, this is a sweet cat. She gets along with the other cats in her foster home and is even used to small dogs. We think a nice quiet home will be best for her and she may be OK as an only cat, too. She just needs a perfect home.

Hermione is a special needs cat. She was born a little 'slow' in the head and sometimes her back legs wobble. She does use the litterbox but you must have one in several areas so she remembers to use it. If there is not one nearby she might potty on something inappropriate just because she forgets where the litterbox is. She is a very easy going cat with big round eyes, and is very mellow and playful at times. She is declawed on all 4 feet, likes to play with other cats and tolerates dogs. She needs a home where she can be watched and reminded to use the litterbox. She loves being with you and has a very kitten like personality. She needs a special home to keep her safe as her back legs wobble and sometimes give out on her.

Onyx is a handsome, snuggly little guy ready to cuddle his way into your life! He is working closely with our training and behavior center to polish his litterbox habits, as he had a few accidents in his last home. Onyx would prefer to be an only kitty in a quiet home, which should help set him up for success with his litterbox!

He has been diagnosed with struvite crystalluria, which is crystals in the urine. Crystals in the urine are a common finding, and can often be controlled simply with a special diet. Onyx should be on a high quality or prescription urinary diet to prevent problems caused by struvite crystalluria. There are several diets available including: "high" quality diets like Science Diet and Eukanuba are formulated to prevent crystals. Hills Prescription C/D, Purina CNM UR or IVD Select Care Control are helpful in dissolving and controlling crystals. The urine should be monitored periodically. Extra water consumption should be encouraged. This can be done by adding a little water to canned food and some cats will drink more water if a little low-sodium chicken broth is added. Cats with crystalluria often need to be fed the special diet life-long to prevent urethral obstruction. These special considerations will be nothing in comparision to the love you receive from this loving cat.