Is cat declawing acceptable?

[LDS Jock]

Do you think a cat should be declawed? Ever? If so, take a look at these pictures. Pretty barbaric looking practice to me. Why do people get cats and then want to take away part of what makes them cats?

http://community-2.webtv.net/zuzu22/STOPDECLAWCOM/

pics of surgery here http://community-2.webtv.net/stopdeclaw/declawpics/

read more about the practice .. if you want

http://community-2.webtv.net/zuzu22/stopdeclawtemporary/

I post this because I don't think some people realize what it is and what all is involved. Sorry to be a downer. Just thought maybe one person might learn about this practice who didn't already or might spread the word.

[slackmaster]

1. I'm not going to look, and my answer is "No!"

The practice is barbaric and cats need their weapons.

If your furniture is so important to you that you would declaw a cat, get a goldfish instead.

[ET Awful]

2. No, it is not acceptable.

It's a disgusting mutilation of the poor cat.

[brokensymmetry]

3. No!

My cats have their claws. Claw removal is essentially equivalent to chopping off a person's fingers at the first joint.

If the furniture is that precious, get a dog. Or a fish. But don't go around chopping off claws.

[LDS Jock]

4. You are exactly right

Thats what those pics show, that it is indeed the equivalent of amputation at the first joint of our fingers. Poor little kitties.

[LynneSin]

5. Is it acceptable to chop human fingers off at the last knuckle???

when that is acceptable then I suppose declawing would be because that's exactly what we are doing to cats.

There are so many options available other than declawing including something as silly as clipping the damn cat nails on a regular basis. You can also buy training items to train your cats to not claw certain things.

I'd rather have a cat claw the bejesus out of me and my furniture than to put him/her through that kind of torture!

[Voice_of_Europe]

6. Or pull out your nails?

[LynneSin]

8. Declawing is NOT pulling out the nail

it's removing the last knuckle on each toe of the cat.

[RebelOne]

41. Well, that's just as bad.

[trotsky]

7. You will find very strong opinions on both sides of this issue.

And like the anti-choice movement does, if you choose to broadcast graphic pictures of the procedure, it's not going to do much good to change any minds.

I know I will get flamed for this post, by people who will claim that I hate animals or whatever. But I have had several cats declawed and NEVER noticed a change in their personality or abilities to enjoy a full kitty life. In exchange for their claws, my cats have gotten a totally pampered, totally indoor existence, with all their needs met and protection from those who would do them harm.

From a cat's perspective, I'd say that's a pretty good deal.

So why would people want to do this? Maybe a hemophiliac wants to have a cat. Even the tiniest accidental scratch could result in serious problems for them. How about people with compromised immune systems? A scratch that gets infected would also be dangerous. You can go on all day about how people who want to declaw shouldn't get a cat in the first place, but considering just how many cats need homes, I don't think any animal lover should put restrictions on people who want to adopt them and love them.

On edit: Your pictures are outdated, too. Many declawing procedures today use a laser, which results in less tissue removed and less trauma for the cat.

[Bridget Burke]

11. I inherited 2 declawed cats.

Their front claws were removed because their owner had health problems that caused her to bleed freely. They recovered from the procedure--done when they were kittens--quite quickly. They've always been indoor cats, which is healthier for clawed cats, too. I can't say they've suffered for it.

Personally, I would not declaw a cat for a trivial reason. But the fates of the cats that die in the streets or are killed by animal control are far worse.

[trotsky]

12. Well put.

But the fates of the cats that die in the streets or are killed by animal control are far worse.

That's exactly what I was trying to say, but you put it a lot more succinctly.

Say you're put in the position of making a choice:

A) Allow a cat to be declawed
or
B) Have him put out on the street or euthanized

Which shall it be? Because there aren't enough people to adopt pets NOW, if you put further restrictions on them, you'll have even more cats that end up with option B.

[LDS Jock]

14. Hmmmm

I'm not sure why a hemophiliac or someone with immune deficiency would want a cat or any animal and tempt fate. They still have teeth. Are you going to have them pulled or ground down to smooth, non-threatening teeth?

This is an ELECTIVE AMPUTATION. It is illegal in many countries. Yes there are a great number of cats needing homes. This is a reason for spaying and neutering, not declawing.

[trotsky]

23. Non sequitir

An accidental scratch is MUCH more likely than an accidental bite. The only cats I've seen bite are kittens (in play), and older cats when seriously threatened. I did once have a "love-biter" who nibbled while you pet him but that was about it.

But I would still like to know - if you were faced with the decision of allowing a cat to be declawed, or having to let it live on the streets or be put down, what would you choose?

[LDS Jock]

24. I would choose neither

It doesn't have to be one or the other. There are options. Many people have trained their cats to use scratching posts. I've never had any problems with cats not being able to learn. You can also use SoftPaws to cover the nails to prevent damage. You can use furniture shields and sprays to keep cats away from furniture you want to protect. It doesn't have to be declawing or death.

[trotsky]

27. SoftPaws can come off

Some cats don't like scratching posts. Sprays have a very mixed track record. We once had a cat who was ATTRACTED to sprays. Even the hot pepper stuff, and sour apple! We bought all-plastic Xmas ornaments so that when he climbed in our fake tree and knocked it over, at least he wouldn't break anything.

Bottom line is, the potential for an accidental scratch, some of which can be quite serious, and if the cat had recently used the litterbox, have the potential for terrible infection.

While you sit in judgement over what you think is appropriate and acceptable, you are limiting the number of homes available to cats who need one.

[LDS Jock]

29. And you sit in judgement of others too

and use you exceptions of cat training to justify mutilating your cat. If such arguments help you sleep better knowing you have amputated part of your cat for your own selfish convience then so be it.

[trotsky]

30. Considering what my cats have gotten in return,

I sleep very well thank you.

Keep in mind I'm not the one who started this thread and accused people.

[LDS Jock]

31. Who did I accuse?

No accusations, just info and opinions. Is that not allowed in the Lounge?

[trotsky]

34. By calling the practice "barbaric"

you instantly judged everyone who has gotten the procedure done on a cat. Look, you feel strongly about this, and that's fine. Don't get your cats declawed. But like the anti-choice quest, you'd never succeed in stopping declawing, only forcing it to the "back alleys" where cats would be in more danger from non-sterile conditions and botched declawings.

Life is all about taking the good with the bad, and if one more cat can live in a comfy home with a loving family because of declawing, then it's worth it.

[LDS Jock]

40. Rereading it

"I post this because I don't think some people realize what it is and what all is involved."

That doesn't sound like judgement to me but instead giving the benefit of a doubt to those who do it.

I still don't see the comparisons between declawing and abortion that you keep wanting to press. The idea of people sneaking cats for back alley declawings is rather amusing. I see a better comparison to the death penalty. It is a practice other educated nations have done away with as barbaric but yet we still have it. Both of these practices should be done away with.

[Bridget Burke]

38. I inherited the cats from my mother.

Some of the drugs she was on in her last years of life rendered her skin rather thin. When she took the kittens to see the vet, just after she got them, they accidentally clawed her as they were being taken out of the carrier. As she was using up a whole box of Kleenex to stop the bleeding, the vet suggested declawing--front claws only. I was taken aback when I heard this but I saw them the next day, scampering about on their bandaged feet.

My mother died a few years ago & the cats live with me now. I repeat: I would not have a cat declawed for frivolous reasons.

Get off your high horse, take some of your excess energy & go work in a free spay & neuter clinic.

[LDS Jock]

45. so sensitive.. but still.. there are other options

Here is my high horse. Why didn't you take the cats to the vet for her? Its not at all unusual for cats to scratch going in or out of a carrier. With her skin so thin, it was an accident waiting to happen. You or someone else could have taken the cats and avoided the whole incident. There are also other options listed on other posts. Chill.

[bratcatinok]

73. Chronic lymphocitic leukemia

Should we have gotten rid of our cats? One was 11 years old and the other was 3 years old. They had been with me since they were kittens.

In October of 96 my then husband was diagnosed with leukemia. The leukemia didn't exhibit any symptoms until July of 97. For the next year hubby was in and out of the hospital. Two times were for staph infections in his hand resulting from minor scratces he can't remember how he got. Both times he nearly had to have his right arm amputated. During all of this his oncologist sat down and asked up questions about our life. He made suggestions such as use an electic razor instead of one with a blade and to get the cats declawed.

We made the decision to keep our cats and to get them declawed. They were already strictly indoor cats anyway. The oldest kitty died the Sunday after 911 in her sleep. I still have the other kitty. Both of them didn't realize they didn't have claws after the operation was done.

I guess the more humane thing to have done would have been to take them to the local shelter and hope against hope they might be adopted.

[LDS Jock]

77. Or maybe

you could have just amputated all four legs and filed their teeth down to prevent any accidents. They could lay on the floor for you and you could pick them up and show attention/affection when convenient, then put them down somewhere out of mind at other times.

There are always options. Find the cats a home yourself or use softpaws. Pets are a commitment.

[bratcatinok]

86. So you're saying that instead of declawing my two I

should have trusted softpaws with my husbands life or I should have found the cats a home after they had lived with us since they were kitens.

I find your post very hateful as I'm sure my namesake Brat would if she could read. She's draped over my shoulder as I type this.

May you never have to make such hard decisions as you go through life. I really hope you never have to go through the hell we had to go through. I apologize to you for wanting to not tear my life up any more by getting rid of my family members during months of uncertainty about whether my husband was going to live or not.

[northzax]

43. spaying or neutering?

you complain about cutting off a cat's first knuckle, but it's okay to cut off their balls?

quick show of hands: would you rather lose your fingertips or your sex organs? hmm?

[LDS Jock]

46. you can still have sex

I use my fingertips every day, but not my sex organs. Plus you can still have sex after being surgically sterilized. And enjoy it too.

[northzax]

51. this is true

but not after castration.

Frankly, as far as I'm concerned, if you can't handle a pet the way god made it, through training and lifestyle adjustments, you shouldn't have that animal as your 'property' Frankly, I'd love to have a dog, but I don't have the space for one (I grew up on land with roaming dogs and cats) so until I do, I won't force an animal to live in my apartment while I'm gone. (ok, I guess I force the fish to live in my aquarium, but that's a pretty good gig) So, anyone who has an indoor cat is already making remarkable lifestyle choices for the animal. Let them choose, inside or outside, it's only fair. Can you really imagine the tens of thousands of cats who never leave a building in their entire lives? what kind of life is that?

yes, yes, indoor cats live longer, fine. and Tigers in xoos live longer than in the Jungle, doesn't mean it's fair.

[Pithlet]

88. Many times

A health issue arises after somene gets a cat. Also, in all of my years of having cats, one bite broke the skin only once, and that was because I was stupidly trying to break up a fight by hand.

[Placebo]

9. My kitty is declawed!

It makes her more fun to play with, when you're not risking getting scratched up all the time.

plus her soft lil paws are sooooooooo cute :)

[LynneSin]

18. I clip Abbotts claws and he's just as fun and I don't get scratched up

He's even use to the clipping and will hold still while I take care of him. He's very active with those paws. I rarely clip Evita's because she doesn't user her paws like Abbott does and she tends to be on the receiving end when Abbott gets nasty on her. He's less agressive because he does not want to get clipped by Evita and her claws. Because of that I think he's been much nicer to her lately!

[RebelOne]

39. They passed a law banning it in a part of California.

I'm not sure where.

[Terran]

44. Great. Fun for you.

Torture and mutilation for her. Way to go.

[Placebo]

93. oh demonizing me isn't the way to go!

you'd think her soft lil paws were cute too! :)

[fugue]

10. In the UK, veterinarians won't do it

When I lived in the UK in 1986, I shocked a woman by telling her it was still done in the US. She had thought all "civilized" countries didn't do it. I agreed with her that they shouldn't.

A friend of my sister's got his cat declawed--which generally means just the front feet. Unfortunately the poor cat would make holes in the waterbed with his back feet when he jumped up on it. So . . . away went his back claws. I asked my sister's friend if he had considered options other than a waterbed.

My sister's cat had all her claws all her life. Yeah, one of the chairs was pretty mangled. My sister shrugged.

I'd also point out that her cat was a very gentle creature, claws and all. Once we had to wash her (I don't know what she rolled in, but it was awful). She did beat at us with her paws . . . but her claws were sheathed. Maybe because we'd never actually hurt her, she didn't feel the need to hurt us?

Sorry to go on so long, but declawing cats is like docking dog tails: simply vicious.

[eyesroll]

13. No.

I mean, you won't have less of a kitty if you adopt one that's already declawed, or if you need to do it for legitimate medical reasons (deformity, injury, etc).

But -- sure, you'd get your fingers amputated if you had do. But would you do it for convenience?

[Not Me]

15. Your post is somewhat disingenuous...

You ask the question, "Is cat declawing acceptable" and then throw up links to sites that advocate against the practice with graphic (perhaps excessively) pix to make your point. I am reminded of the far right anti abortion movement... kitty paws instead of fetuses.

I don't own a cat, and never will...I am allergic to them; so I don't have an opinion either way, except that I will say that nature gave cats claws to defend themselves, so if you declaw a cat, it is your responsibility for life to ensure that you protect that animal from predators.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

16. It is so easy to avoid declawing that only jerks do it, I think.

Cats are intelligent. It is ridiculously easy to train cats to use a scratching post. I have a rough textured wool couch that cats would consider ideal. They tried a couple of times, I admonished them with a tone of disapproval, and they haven't touched them in years.

My secret? Lots of love, a proper scratching post (combination sleeping tower), and catnip spray! When I got the post, I sprayed the sides with catnip. Then whenever they used it, the first few times, I praised the cats, stroked them, and made a big, fun-loving fuss over them. The couple of times they tried the couch, I immediately told them "No, bad cat", in a loud, low tone of voice. Then I picked them up and placed their forepaws on the scratching post and praised them as I made scratching motions with their forepaws. I gently pressed on their paws to extend their claws so that they would catch on the post. They have never abused the couch since (years ago), and no other piece of furniture has been abused ever. They love the post, which has been replaced since, and they take to the new ones instantly.

I hesitate to make blanket statements, but it seems to me that anyone who can't train a cat to use a scratching post is an immature, unintelligent idiot. Anyone who declaws a cat for the sake of furniture is an immature unintelligent idiot. Anyone who declaws a cat that goes outside is a vicious animal abuser. Cats need claws to defend themselves outside, and to climb trees in self defence if need be.

I was not interested in looking at the "surgery", since I am owned by cats myself.

[kcwayne]

17. Our cat caused $3500 worth of damage to our furniture

We didn't want to have her declawed, and could not break her of the habit. Whenever she got pissed, she would attack the sofa and shred it.

Fortunately for our furniture, she died of natural causes after 13 years of terrorizing every piece of accessable cloth item in the house (rugs, furniture, drapes).

Other than her hatred of our furnishings, she was a great cat. But I will never have another.

[Meshuga]

19. It's mean!

They need their claws to feel secure and to defend themselves. My friend's cat went into deep depression after being declawed. Sometimes the ASPCA will not let you adopt a cat if you say you are going to declaw the cat.

[gollygee]

20. I would never declaw a cat - not just because it is cruel

It is cruel.

But on top of that, it can make cats more aggressive. When they feel their defenses are weakened, some cats will start biting more.

I think it isn't only bad for the cats, but it can be bad for the people who live with the cats as well. It's really just bad all the way around.

[LynneSin]

21. Without a doubt about the agression

I volunteer for a cat adoption center and from time to time we'll get declawed cats into the center that need adopting. Just because those cats don't have front paws doesn't mean they won't scratch the bejesus out of you. I got messed up badly from one declawed cat because he stated using his teeth and his back paws to defend himself.

:scared:

It's just so not worth it when there are so many other options out there. And no, I haven't viewed those pictures. I don't need to see them to know why declawing is wrong!

[LDS Jock]

22. Good for you LynneSin!!!

Volunteering for the adoption center. I'm sure that is very rewarding work. :toast:

[LynneSin]

25. Don't get too excited, I just told them I won't be volunteering again

until 2005. I need all my free time for the election

[LDS Jock]

28. Well that is still helping them

in a round about way. You are working on bettering our country through this election, cats included :)

[jukes]

26. barbaric

& selfish. declawers do NOT deserve companion animal, & shd have the 1st digits on their hands surgically removed!

[CanuckAmok]

32. A good alternative:

I use these on my cats. They have to be replaced from time to time as the claws shed, but they are good for several months each (you can see them on Millie, in my avatar). My cats are pretty good about having them put on, but if you have squirmy cats, your vet can do it instead.

http://www.softpaws.com

[LDS Jock]

33. Love the pose in your avitar!

How cute! And yes, that is a very good alternative.

[CanuckAmok]

35. here's a closer look:

[LDS Jock]

42. Very cute!

Love the red nails.

[Love Bug]

49. I just started using softpaws

I just got new furniture and we put softpaws on the two non-declawed cats and they are just fine with their new nails! It's a win-win--they get to keep their claws and my furniture stays nice.

[Gothic Sponge]

36. NO!

[sus]

37. no.

they can tear my house to shreds(and don't think they won't) and i don't care. it's just stuff.

[Phillycat]

47. I declawed a cat once.

She was tearing up the carpets and furniture in my (rented) house. I was very concerned about the money it would take to replace those things. We had provided her with a scratching post and even rubbed catnip on it to make it more enticing to her. We tried spraying the areas where she scratched with anti-cat spray. We tried a lot of things.

But finally I said, okay, let's get her declawed, even though I thought it was a mean thing to do.

We took her in and they kept her overnight and when I went to pick her up, she was all out of it from the anesthesia. She was wobbling around when I took her out of the cat carrier, and her little paws were bleeding. I looked at them gently, and they were so mutilated and awful. I was crying, and I said out loud, "I will never declaw another cat. There has to be another way."

Also, about a month after being declawed, she started to bite a lot more than she had before. I assumed it was because she was making up for the fact that she didn't have claws anymore. But my nephew got a puncture wound in his hand from her biting and had to have a shot.

I would never get another cat declawed after that experience. Poor little thing.

[LDS Jock]

48. I'm sorry to read that

It had to be hard, seeing her hurting after it. :hug: I do understand the frustration though over destruction. Wish it had a happier ending though.

Welcome to DU!!!

[Phillycat]

55. Thanks!

Yes, it was hard. I am a softie for animals and children being in pain, I can't stand to see them hurting, so I'm probably the worst person to see their pet in pain. :(

Thanks for the welcome. Let me see if I am interpreting your login name correctly. LDS is the Mormon church, right? And then jock I guess means you're an athlete. And then you live in Texas? Did I get all that? :)

[LDS Jock]

57. yep, you got it all right

other than I don't go to church that often, but its still a big part of who I am. If only they weren't so totally republican. :(

[Phillycat]

58. I have a friend

who is a Mormon. She is a Republican, unfortunately. :( I think she is socially liberal but because of abortion and gay rights, since she is Mormon and takes it very seriously, she feels she has to be Republican. It's sad to me, I've known her a very long time and she is NOT a hateful person but I don't think she feels like she has any choice.

[LDS Jock]

59. I know the feeling

At church, they will pass along info from the leaders of the church in Salt Lake, who are considered to be modern day prophets. If a prophet of God tells them abortion and gay rights are the most important issues, then they believe it and make it their primary issues. There is an old saying in the church "When the leaders speak, the thinking has been done" or something like that. Many wonderful people in the church though. If they would only think for themselves. Sigh.

[Phillycat]

60. "When the leaders speak, the thinking has been done."

Boy, sounds like Bush&Co, doesn't it? Complacency and uneducation is definitely our enemy. I'm sorry you have grown apart from friends, too. It's hard. :hug:

[freeplessinseattle]

61. don't even get me started!!

I was so shocked and appalled when my mom told me she had her cat declawed, I never would have thought she would do that bust she tends to be submissive and wanted to please her boyfriend-they didn't even try to adjust him to a post, just so concerned about the goddam furniture. It makes me so ill, and what's worse is he was an indoor cat but now they've started letting him go outdoors! This has seriously driven a wedge between my mother and I-in all my 32 years I have never felt so distanced from my mom, I have really lost respect for her. I have been thinking of sending her info like the above, but since what's done is done it would only serve to make her feel bad, but maybe it would motivate her to be less submissive.

[Phillycat]

63. Oh, that's terrible.

Doesn't your mother realize that he can't defend himself adequately outside now that he is declawed? I hope she realizes this and you two are able to mend fences. :hug:

[freeplessinseattle]

69. that's sweet of you

thank you, what a cute icon. I'm sorry, my post sounded harsh and unclear. I'm actually just more distanced emotionally in my own mind, but we still get along and see each other now and then, a little less than before (I can't stand her redneck boyfriend anyway, so sexist, racist, homophobic, you name it) but I haven't voiced why. I have pointed out to her the danger of him going outside, especiallys ince they live in the country and see racoons and coyotes around, as well as other cats. she just says, oh claws couldn't ptotect him from a racoon or coyote, and he's such a big cat (a bobtail) he acn protect himself from other cats. obviously she's got some cognitive dissonance going on. I know of cats that have protected themselves from racoons, but without claws he doesn't stand a chance. that's one reason I don't visit as much, I'm very fond of him and don't want to get too attached.

[Phillycat]

70. No apology necessary!

Family, you can't pick 'em, right? :) And just when we start to adjust to the weirdnesses of the people who are actually related to us, they bring in OTHER people who aren't even related and we have to adjust to them, too! Ugh! (I'm going through a similar situation with my brother's wife. I've tried to be nice to her, but she and I just rub each other the wrong way. It's sad because I used to be very close to my brother and now I don't seek them out to spend time together because I feel uncomfortable around his wife. ACK!)

I think you are right in that the damage is already done as far as the poor kitty's already been declawed, but I think it doesn't hurt to keep talking to her about the dangers of him going outside. Maybe you could try appealing to her emotions as a woman? Something like, "Hey Mom, I know you think it's not a big deal, but I'm really scared that something will happen to Kitty if he goes outside without claws. Could you please keep him inside, for my own peace of mind?" Maybe show her that you're not mad at her, but you just want what's best for Kitty. You never know with moms though, do you? :) Good luck!

[freeplessinseattle]

71. good idea

thank you for your kind words. I think I will just keep asking her, but actually ask, not hint, to keep him inside, she knows how sensitive I am and we had our 12 year tabby pass a couple years ago which devatsted me, but she hides her emotions more-I know they're there though! no man-especially a repugnitan-is worth the life and well-being of our pets!

[miss_kitty]

90. im off topic here, freeplessinseattle, but i wanted to let you know

that i answered your post in Washington...it's just that your original post is more than 24 hours old, and you haven't posted enough for me to pm you! :)

[cally]

50. I adopted a declawed cat

without understanding the personality changes that come from the operation. The first year or so, she was pretty aggressive and would bite us. She's now the sweetest cat and is not aggressive at all but it's taken much attention from us. I wouldn't declaw a cat ever and I would hesitate to adopt a declawed cat next time.

[LDS Jock]

54. you're a good cat mommy

to have pulled her though it. Good job!

[flvegan]

52. Like other cosmetic mutilation

Such as ear cropping and tail docking (unless for the well-being of the dog, such as "happy tail"), absolutely not.

[Surf Cowboy]

53. Well, if neutering and spaying is fine....

I mean, I'd rather you took my knuckles than my nutz.

[flvegan]

64. What?

You can't be serious. I mean, you'd probably rather someone take your nutz than kill your kids, grandkids and so on, right? By this, I mean that isn't it better to neuter a cat than have to euthanize the thousands he'll be responsible for (or thousands that died in shelters in their place because they DID find homes)?

[Surf Cowboy]

72. I don't know. Ask the cat.

[RebelYell]

56. I personally would never do it

I feel bad enough for cats already. The poor things are relegated to living indoors their entire life.

Cats are needed outdoors - they're predators, they kill vermin. I predict a return of the plague because cats aren't killing the rats with fleas that carry the disease. I read somewhere that in downtown London, you are never more than 10 feet away from a rat.

[Logansquare]

62. I did it once, as well--she was destroying our new sofa, and my bf

was in an uproar over it. I felt terrible after I got her home. She was in so much pain, and her beautiful paws looked stubby and deformed. I have five cats now, and have decided that you either have beautiful furnishings, or you have animals and kids. You can't have both.

[flvegan]

65. Adopt declawed

If someone really wants a cat, and insists on that cat being declawed, they ought to head to their local shelter, rescue, petfinder.com, etc and find one that's already been done and dumped/lost. If you don't find one today, be patient. You get what you want, and you give a homeless animal a home.

[mark414]

66. it's cruel

i used to work at a humane society and didn't realize just how bad it was until i got there

imagine someone cutting off every finger of yours at the first joint

it's no good, and people who insist on having it done are either too lazy or too inept to train their cats to use a scratching post or some other alternative

[Cheswick2.0]

67. If I didn't adopt my cats they would have been taken the pound

and destroyed. I had them declawed because I am sick of my furniture being destroyed and my landlord's wood work which I can not afford to replace.

I don't need to look at the pictures anymore than I need to look at pictures of an aborted fetus. Please spare us the PETA fundamentalism.

[mark414]

68. but just imagine

having your fingers cut off at the first joint.

that's what it is.

i am far from a peta person, i eat shitloads of meat, all the time and i love it. but that shit is just cruel.

[Solon]

81. Declawing cats is cruel and can lead to unintended consequences...

My best friend recently had her new kitten declawed in the front, to save the furniture. I warned her not to, and after the procedure, he is now a biter, and uses his back claws to great effect. Its so bad now that she is thinking of giving him to the nearest animal shelter, most likely to get destroyed. THAT IS WHAT IS CRUEL, and don't start with the PETA crap.

[snooper2]

74. I have a question...two cats

I have had one cat since she was born, her name is Flake and she is 4 years old. She has never been fixed, which she needs, and has all of her claws.

I went to visit my sister in Missouri as I am trying to get her to move to Texas, so I "stole" :) an armour and one of her cats from the "farm" where I grew up. This was one of about 16 cats running around and 6 dogs. Cat was basically an outside cat, in the countryside of Missouri. His balls have been cut off, but he still has his claws.

So, I come back to Dallas with my new cat Sam. Flake is a freak small kitty, she looks like a kitten but again is 4 years old. Sam is a beast, since being inside for about 3 months now, he is starting to get a little fat, but was already a large Tom Cat. Flake is about 3 pounds, Sam is around 12.

Sam terrorizes Flake, and she is often hiding underneath my chair/ottoman. I have to give them seperate food and water bowls because Sam will be an asshole and screw with her when she tries to eat. Anytime she ventures out he comes chasing for her. One good sign was this morning, I was giving Sam his food and Flake heard me and the bag, and came out as well. Sam starting chomping his fat ass away and little Flake got a swipe in at him. :)

On top off this, Sam has destroyed the back of my leather couch, which now has the back facing the wall.

So, to even things, I was going to get destructive wild Sam's front claws removed. Laser surgery sounded okay, and Flake will have an upper hand still having her claws.



Any ideas on this?

[LDS Jock]

80. please don't do it

I understand you frustrations with the fighting and clawing your couch but don't declaw. Read up more about it. Try www.declawing.com or www.stopdeclaw.com You can try some other options, maybe softpaws and scratching posts and sprays. Give everything a try before the declawing. See some of the other posts on here from those who have had a declawed cat and how their personalities changed. Good luck.

[snooper2]

82. I think I'll try the softclaws..

And see how things go.

How often do you have to trim the claws, a regular nail clipper or do they have a special one for cats that is curved more?

[LDS Jock]

85. yes, they do have special ones for cats

which will probably make it much easier to clip. PETsMART has several on its website for $5-6.

As far as how often, the SoftPaws site says

"Once the nail caps are applied they remain in place for approximately 4-6 weeks. They will fall off with the natural growth of your cat's nails. We recommend that you check your cat's nails periodically because usually just one or two fall off at a time and these can be easily reapplied.

Each kit contains 40 nail caps and will last approximately 4-6 months per cat."

[newsguyatl]

75. never acceptable

[miss_kitty]

76. OK I SAW THIS ON 'QUEER EYE' LAST NIGHT-CAPS FOR CAT CLAWS

The guy they were fixing up last night, very very cute, a Buddhist with cats that clawed the shit out of the sofas. They discussed the barbarity of declawing (love those guys) and said vet have plastic caps they can put on cat claws that stay for a while....

[LDS Jock]

78. softpaws

www.softpaws.com .. didn't see the show but glad to hear the message.

[miss_kitty]

79. actually i read after i posted

other ppl put up the link, but a good message is worth repeating...

[Dukkha]

83. It should be Illegal!

and hopefully will be soon
http://www.straypetadvocacy.org/html/declaw_law.html

[scarlet_owl]

84. No. It's never acceptable.

It's painful and just plain cruel. Teach the damn cat how to use a scratching post!

[slutticus]

87. No.

Never never never.

[Pithlet]

89. Making it illegal

Will only lead to millions more cats being dumped on the street or into already overcrowded shelters. While declawing isn't ideal, hyperbole about it being akin to chopping off limbs and calling for banning the procedure does no one any good.

[bigwillq]

91. No I do not think it should be done

And I don't think they're are any reasonable excuses like:

It's to protect my kids
My furniture, etc...


If that's the case, don't get a cat b/c you are not in the right environment to have one in the first place.

[Individualist]

92. No

My nine year old cat has damaged furniture over the years, but he still has his claws (and I won't even look at the links you posted).

[hyphenate]

94. I won't look

and I know that declawing sucks. They're literally removing the top phlange of the joint when they do it. An animal will be left defenseless once they have been declawed.

I don't condone it, and I will usually say something to people who do declaw their animals.

My Dax, when I lost him in Arizona on the move cross country (he escaped from the van and I never saw him again), was a big cat--about 16 lbs. He was also in full control of his claws, which got me several times, but it meant that he had a good chance to survive on his own. I would weep to think if he didn't have his claws to defend himself.

[Christof]

95. Yes, it certainely is.

Especially in my house. I don't want my cat scratching up my leather furniture. I had her declawed four years ago, and she recovered from it quickly.

Best thing I've ever done for her.

[sleepyhead]

96. I will declaw cats

if there is a good reason. I have many immunosuppressed (HIV, chemotherapy, etc.) and diabetic clients who depend on their cats for love and affection, and if they get inadvertently scratched, both they and the cats are screwed. If it is a choice between that and the streets for the poor kitties, yes, I will declaw them. They stay with me for 3 days, with aggressive pain management, and go home with painkillers for at least 2 weeks. I will think long and hard about declawing cats over about a year of age, but I know that I am doing it in the most humane way possible. And yes, I talk to my clients about alternatives. My own cats are declawed (one came to me that way, and I declawed the other myself to avoid unfair advantage - he is a major bully), and the cats in my clinic are declawed in order to avoid lawsuits. All of them are as happy as clams. No, I wouldn't recommend it routinely, but if it must be done, I insist on appropriate surgical technique and pain management.

[marigold20]

97. No

Just can't do it. My two indoor cats have their claws and do scratch the furniture, their scratching post, the rugs, towels, etc. Fortunately, I don't have any good furniture.