NWR: Getting a kitten tonight!! A few questions...

I figured you girls may be able to help. We're getting a kitten tonight that is about 8 weeks old. YAY! She has been living outside with the mother, but the woman we are getting her from has been able to hold her, play with her, etc... So when we pick her up, should we take her right to the vet?? How old do they have to be to get spayed (sp?) and declawed? TIA!!!

I'll post pics when we get her.

oh congrats!
Maybe if you call the North Shore Animal League, they can let you know about that age and they can to it too

Congratulations...we had a stray cat in our yard that had kittens and we were able to hold them, feed them and play with them. We ended up bringing them to North Shore - they turned out to be healthy and playful kittens.

They need to be at least 8 weeks to get spayed. I would bring her to a vet to have her checked out for Feline HIV, ringworm and to get any shots....and anything else that she might have gotten from being outside...

Post pics when she gets home

please please please don't get her declawed!!!

it's so painful for the cat and is the equivalent of cutting our fingers off at the knuckle--it's NOT just their nails you're taking out!

just trim the nails every few weeks--it's easy to do.

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Posted by SummerBride06

please please please don't get her declawed!!!

it's so painful for the cat and is the equivalent of cutting our fingers off at the knuckle--it's NOT just their nails you're taking out!

just trim the nails every few weeks--it's easy to do.

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I've had cats all my life and they have always been declawed and everyone I know has cats that are declawed. I've never heard anyone say NOT to. But, now I guess i'll have to think about that...

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Posted by klingklang77

do you have any other cats?

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Nope! This will be our first pet together!

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Posted by CaMacho

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Posted by SummerBride06

please please please don't get her declawed!!!

it's so painful for the cat and is the equivalent of cutting our fingers off at the knuckle--it's NOT just their nails you're taking out!

just trim the nails every few weeks--it's easy to do.

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I've had cats all my life and they have always been declawed and everyone I know has cats that are declawed. I've never heard anyone say NOT to. But, now I guess i'll have to think about that...

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I'm so jealous you are getting a kitten! You are so lucky!

As a kid we had declawed cats but I just couldn't do it to the cats I have now. I just clip their nails every few weeks and they are fine.

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Posted by CaMacho

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Posted by SummerBride06

please please please don't get her declawed!!!

it's so painful for the cat and is the equivalent of cutting our fingers off at the knuckle--it's NOT just their nails you're taking out!

just trim the nails every few weeks--it's easy to do.

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I've had cats all my life and they have always been declawed and everyone I know has cats that are declawed. I've never heard anyone say NOT to. But, now I guess i'll have to think about that...

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Our cat is not declawed, either. We just clip his nails every few weeks and its fine. Plus, we have had mice before, and it is WONDERFUL having a cat that can get rid of mice. Without their claws they are defenseless.

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Posted by glinda_goodwitch

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Posted by CaMacho

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Posted by SummerBride06

please please please don't get her declawed!!!

it's so painful for the cat and is the equivalent of cutting our fingers off at the knuckle--it's NOT just their nails you're taking out!

just trim the nails every few weeks--it's easy to do.

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I've had cats all my life and they have always been declawed and everyone I know has cats that are declawed. I've never heard anyone say NOT to. But, now I guess i'll have to think about that...

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Our cat is not declawed, either. We just clip his nails every few weeks and its fine. Plus, we have had mice before, and it is WONDERFUL having a cat that can get rid of mice. Without their claws they are defenseless.

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Without claws they can never, ever go outside because they have absolutely no way to defend themselves. I've heard it's very painful for the cat when they get declawed. They actually cut a portion of their paw, not just take out the claw.

My fiance found our cat at the ATM. He was taken right to the vet and had his shots and was checked out. Since she was living outside, I would 100% take her to the vet right away. I can't remember how old he was when we had him neutered but I'll ask FH. We never declawed him but we're lucky because the only think he scratches is his scratching post. If she is going to be an outdoor cat, you may want to reconsider declawing her because the thos claws are one of her only defenses in the outside world. Scary but true! Our cat clawed his way out of a nasty situation with a neighbors dog when he was first brought home (he used his nails to hang onto the top of the fence until FH could get to him).Congrats!!! Can't wait to see pics!

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Posted by glinda_goodwitch

Our cat is not declawed, either. We just clip his nails every few weeks and its fine. Plus, we have had mice before, and it is WONDERFUL having a cat that can get rid of mice. Without their claws they are defenseless.

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Hmm... I never really thought of not declawing her. She won't ever be in a situation to defend herself, she'll be an indoor cat and we would just do her front feet. But, i'll have to talk to DH about this now. Thanks for the info...

how exciting!!!

My vet says to wait until they are 6 months to get spayed/neutered...

When you go to the vet, also try and bring a stool sample... that helps to check them out to see if they are healthy and stuff

We also did not declaw our cats... we just cut their nails every few weeks... if you start doing this when they are kittens, they get used to it... we have had hardley any problems with scratching at all... except the time that Blu climbed the fire place!

Thanks girls... great info!! We just called the woman with the kittens and she said we might have to come tomorrow instead.

We also need a name... she's brown and striped with white paws. Any ideas?

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Posted by kittythestray

Please do not declaw. I volunteer at a shelter and it's in the disclaimer - you need to sign a release that you won't declaw them. It's extremely painful for the cat and not necessary as long you train them, give them lots of things to sctrach on and clip their nails!

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Get her a scratching post - my cat had one of these and she always used it - never scratched on the furniture. You just have to show the cat where it is and how to use it.

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Posted by CaMacho

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Posted by SummerBride06

please please please don't get her declawed!!!

it's so painful for the cat and is the equivalent of cutting our fingers off at the knuckle--it's NOT just their nails you're taking out!

just trim the nails every few weeks--it's easy to do.

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I've had cats all my life and they have always been declawed and everyone I know has cats that are declawed. I've never heard anyone say NOT to. But, now I guess i'll have to think about that...

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My cats had always been declawed as well.....