Declawing. What are your thoughts?
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I have one cat that is declawed, but I was Godmother to him and he came to me that way. I honestly feel that as long as the proper amount of scratching boards/toys/multi level climby things, are provided and discipline applied (compressed air works great for me), then they can be trained to know what is scratch appropiate.
Cutting a kitties paws at the knuckle seems soo painful and breaks my heart. I know people have their reasons, but for me personally, I could NEVER EVER do that to one of my babies
Cutting a kitties paws at the knuckle seems soo painful and breaks my heart. I know people have their reasons, but for me personally, I could NEVER EVER do that to one of my babies
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We've gotten too many cats from the shelter because they were dumped there for poor litter box habits AFTER being declawed.
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I don't know if I'd agree with immoral, but I definitely support inhumane...
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It is a mutilation that is outlawed in many countries. My mother-in-law had a sweet declawed cat that was allowed outside. Because she couldn't climb a tree or fence or protect herself with her claws, she was killed by a dog that got into her yard. I have also seen declawed cats that bite when they can't scratch. Cat bites are very painful and infect easily. There are ways to prevent scratching damage without resorting to this awful practice. Julie
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Personally, I would not declaw a cat unless it was a polydactal and it had a unusual nail growth that would harm the cat. Even then I would only have the offending nails be removed.
Danser came to me as a 4 feet declaw. Even my vet said her feet were mutilated. She has arthritis, has had pain in her feet for years and bad scar tissue. She has litter sensitivity for certain brands. Plus, she can't scratch herself at all.
The declaw has prevented her from loosing weight through exercise which is hard because she has a heart condition.
Danser came to me as a 4 feet declaw. Even my vet said her feet were mutilated. She has arthritis, has had pain in her feet for years and bad scar tissue. She has litter sensitivity for certain brands. Plus, she can't scratch herself at all.
The declaw has prevented her from loosing weight through exercise which is hard because she has a heart condition.
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I think it's barbaric!
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I value cats more then I value furniture. I would never declaw a cat and I believe many other people wouldn't if they understood what it truly is, an amputation.
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Illegal in UK thank goodness. I just imagine its like humans having all their toes chopped off to the first knuckle and then saying " go have a scratch about in that rough cat litter" OUCH!! Can't imagine the pain. We would be laid in a hospital bed for quite some time I think.
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One of my past cats I rescued from a shelter was declawed when I got him and I think that my other cat bullied him because of it
. I felt so bad for him but he was the biggest sweetheart and my best friend. I would never get Gizmo declawed! Even though my leg is his scratching post
. I felt so bad for him but he was the biggest sweetheart and my best friend. I would never get Gizmo declawed! Even though my leg is his scratching post
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I'm glad it's illegal here in the uk, I don't like the idea of declawing, I think it goes against natural, yes it can be frustrating at times when wallpaper gets shredded off walls or the sofa gets scratched but I wouldn't have it any over way
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I chose other only because while I would never declaw a cat, there are times when it may be medically necessary. That being said it should never be necessary to remove more than one or two due to an injury or some such.
I will never declaw a cat for the sake of my safety or the condition of my possessions. When my new boy comes home I will use kitty caps or at least give them a try. I do worry tho about him getting too rough with Vito who has no claws. That is why I am going for the right personality. I want a kitten that is respectful and wont challenge Vito's authority should he choose to exert it.
I will never declaw a cat for the sake of my safety or the condition of my possessions. When my new boy comes home I will use kitty caps or at least give them a try. I do worry tho about him getting too rough with Vito who has no claws. That is why I am going for the right personality. I want a kitten that is respectful and wont challenge Vito's authority should he choose to exert it.
Pauly107
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It's illegal here, as it is in a lot of countries as its considered cruel. It's basically amputating each digit from the last joint, sounds nasty.
A lot of breeders in countries where it is legal have in their contracts that you can't declaw their kittens.
Personally I don't think declawing is necessary and don't agree with at all, I clip all their nails regularly and have no issues with clawing or stuff getting wrecked. Nail clipping is something they get used to quite easily, and literally only takes a few seconds every two weeks or so (a bit more often when kittens as their nails seem to go faster).
I have no experience with declawed cats, but have read that it can cause psychological issues, litter tray issues, and that some cats resort to biting when declawed. But as I said I have no experience with a declawed cats.
I heard someone argue before that if it was a choice between a family dumping their cat in a shelter(or just dumping it) or declawing, maybe it's the lesser of two evils?
I think if you want to get a cat you should want a cat, claws and all, if not maybe you should rethink getting a cat.
A lot of breeders in countries where it is legal have in their contracts that you can't declaw their kittens.
Personally I don't think declawing is necessary and don't agree with at all, I clip all their nails regularly and have no issues with clawing or stuff getting wrecked. Nail clipping is something they get used to quite easily, and literally only takes a few seconds every two weeks or so (a bit more often when kittens as their nails seem to go faster).
I have no experience with declawed cats, but have read that it can cause psychological issues, litter tray issues, and that some cats resort to biting when declawed. But as I said I have no experience with a declawed cats.
I heard someone argue before that if it was a choice between a family dumping their cat in a shelter(or just dumping it) or declawing, maybe it's the lesser of two evils?
I think if you want to get a cat you should want a cat, claws and all, if not maybe you should rethink getting a cat.
Pauly107
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That clip is so sad!
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I have 2 unopened packs from when we brought Emma home. She was well trained and didn't need them, but I got them just in case. You can PM me your address and I will get them in the post to you as a love gift
Valenshy
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In the 90s we de-clawed two of our indoor cats, at that time it was not frowned upon and our two guys never suffered any problems from it (thank goodness).
I would never consider de-clawing a cat now, even if they were destructive. There's way too many other options out there that are not only more humane for the cat but cheaper, lol. I worked in a grooming salon for 2 years so I have zero issues keeping claws as short as they can possibly be and never have issues with them. All 3 of our babies are pretty respectful of furniture and use their posts/tree.
I would never consider de-clawing a cat now, even if they were destructive. There's way too many other options out there that are not only more humane for the cat but cheaper, lol. I worked in a grooming salon for 2 years so I have zero issues keeping claws as short as they can possibly be and never have issues with them. All 3 of our babies are pretty respectful of furniture and use their posts/tree.
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A friend of mine had a cat that needed to be declawed for its own safety. The critter was, shall we say, developmentally challenged. She and her roommates came home one day to find the poor thing stuck to the carpet because it couldn't figure out how to retract the claws. It wasn't even thick carpeting. Neither of them routinely declawed their cats, but they had to make an exception for this special feline.
I realize that I am definitely in the minority, but I have had declawed cats in the past with no problems, no litterbox issues. My sphynx cats are not declawed, simply because they are so good about using their sisal poles to scratch. If it was an issue, I would not have any qualms about having them declawed. My other, non-sphynx cat, is declawed, & he has no issues, either. My cats are well-loved, well-vetted, indoor only, well-fed, & spoiled rotten. I would not consider myself a barbarian if I chose to declaw. I am a registered nurse, & the "horrific" photos of cats waking from anesthesia look no worse than a person coming out of anesthesia. The cat I do have that is declawed in the front was declawed by laser, which was less painful, with less swelling , less bleeding, & less recovery time.