A domesticated, declawed cat has very little chance of surviving outdoors and Warren County Animal Control and Adoption Center has proof of it.
The adult cat is currently under the care of Dr. Sam Young. It weighs 3 pounds and 10 ounces. He’s covered with matted hair and is estimated to be between 5-7 years old.
“It breaks my heart to see an animal in this condition,” said Animal Control director Kim Pettrey. “Someone once loved this cat. It’s been neutered and its front claws have been removed. Why it has been outside fending for itself, I don’t know. It is skin and bones. He’s been on his own a long time.”
It’s a misconception that domesticated cats can still survive outdoors because they are inherently wild animals and those abilities will once again emerge if left to fend for itself, said Pettrey.
“If a cat has never been on its own and all it knows is the comfort of a home, it’s not equipped to survive on its own. Yet, people will dump them and assume they can. This cat had it even worse because it was declawed. If they can’t find scraps, cats use their claws to catch food. He couldn’t even do that.”
Claws are also a cat’s primary defense mechanism. Once declawed, they can’t defend themselves if they get into an altercation with another animal and they can’t climb a tree if they’re being chased.
“We’ve had it tested for disease and all the tests were negative,” said Pettrey. “All this cat needed was food and someone to take care of it, because it couldn’t take care of itself. We’re going to do everything possible to nurse it back to health and then find him a home. He’s a good cat. He’s in the worst shape I’ve ever seen a cat in, but he still purrs when I pet him.”
Donations for vet care can be made at Animal Control, which is located at 169 Paws Trail, or at Dr. Sam Young’s office on Sparta Highway.
Vet nursing abandoned cat back to good health
