Declawing cats?!?!?

Charliesmommy · May 23, 2007

A co-worker of mine just got her adult cat declawed. I think this is a horrible, horrible thing to do to a cat. She was surprised that the cat was going to have to stay overnight at the vet. I said "well, if someone ripped out your fingernails, you'd probably want to be taken care of for a night too!" I hate some people. If you can't deal with a cat that has claws, DON'T HAVE A CAT!

Sweet72947 · May 23, 2007

Its not just the "finger nails". Its the whole first digit. Perhaps you should send her to http://www.declawing.com. My cats are declawed, but they were that way when we got them. My future cats will not be declawed.

Some people just think its the normal thing to do, they don't realize the problems it can cause.

Denaluvscorgis · May 23, 2007

That's horrible!!!!! Most vets won't do that on adult cats.

Sunnierhawk0 · May 23, 2007

We had our male cat declawed, but in all fairness, this was before I really had reserached it and I was pretty young when it happened. Our second cat is *not* declawed, and if there are ever any other cats here in the future, they will not be declawed either. Althou my declawed cat has nevr missed a beat, and can still climb trees, its just not something I would ever do again.

Denaluvscorgis · May 23, 2007

We had our cat, Felida declawed when she was a kitten. I didn't realize at the time how inhumane it was. I wouldn't have had it done...I wouldn't do it again.

Sunnierhawk0 said:

ACooper · May 23, 2007

I had a cat once that I was tempted to have declawed. The only thing stopping me was the factor of self defense. I asked myself what could happen should the kitty escape the house (some do even after nuetering) how could they climb a tree or defend against other animals. So we struggled through and worked harder on breaking bad habits.

That is the reason I would not do it.............it leaves them virtually defenseless.

skyeboxer · May 23, 2007

Charliesmommy said:

I totally agree. It is a horrendous practice and is illegal in the UK, considered tantamount to animal abuse.

Rosefern · May 23, 2007

None of our males were ever declawed, and Lillian isn't either. Except, we did have to have one of her claws on her front paw removed - it somehow got ripped out, and we had to have it taken out, so it wouldn't get caught on something and rip up her entire paw...

-Rosefern

SummerRiot · May 23, 2007

At work we try and discourage people from declawing their cats.

Its basically taking the front digit of their toe off.

There are "soft paws" that you can get for your cat, they are like a nail casing thats soft to the touch. Its basically glued onto the nail. Harmless and works fabulous apparently.

Denaluvscorgis · May 23, 2007

I use those on Hootie...our older Siamese. They work really well!!!! She doesnt like them at all though!!!!!!!!!:yikes:

SummerRiot said:

squirtsmom · May 23, 2007

Mr. Houston has his nails intact. Did declaw a cat when i was younger and w on't do it again.

Denaluvscorgis · May 23, 2007

Me either!!!!!

I still feel so incredibly guilty for my stupidity having poor little Felida declawed. I WILL NEVER do it again to another one of my kitties!!!

squirtsmom said:

mjb · May 23, 2007

Yes, I've had cats all my life and never had one declawed. With the two I have now, both are declawed. It was very popular, the vets around here did them routinely with spays and neuters, etc. I had not looked into it very well, although even so I wasn't sure about it. It just didn't seem 'natural'. (Of course it's not natural, and I should have gone with my gut.) My family was all for it, and I went along with it.

Both cats are very happy and have no trouble, but I won't do it again. My family thinks it's great still, but they know I won't do it again.

I have heard all the pros and cons at this point, and I've known knowledgeable people who think it's fine and others who don't, but when the debate is over whether or not harm is done to an animal, I have had to make the decision that I will not do it again. I won't criticise people who do, though, unless I find out for sure it leaves cats permanently traumatized. I do occasionally feel guilty about having my current cats declawed.

RedHotDobe · May 23, 2007

My parents have all of their cats declawed. I finally fought against it for the most recent cat, but it seems to have fallen on deaf ears as he was declawed without hesitation. The only reason I got was "I don't want him scratching the furniture." Then don't own a cat. I've never met anyone who has had their furniture destroyed by a cat.

It bugs me even more that they have them declawed, and then proceed to let them outside.

Denaluvscorgis · May 23, 2007

I would like to let everyone know that I DO NOT let Felida outside ever!!!!!

Spirit2010 · May 23, 2007

I know it's horrible! Lucky, and Hunter had to get theirs done, or they weren't allowed indoors.

And so we got it done.

And their poor front paws!!!! When it was done. We got it done, when they went to get fixed. Poor babies. They had to stay 2 nights, I believe, but that's fine with me. As long as they are healthy, and so nothing will go wrong. I told my mom about the "Soft Paws" things, it didn't seem to click. I do think it is horrible though, it's like ripping a human's nail off!!!

mamasobuco · May 23, 2007

Our cat is declawed but she showed up in our garage like that (She was spayed too, pretty lucky!!). I would never declaw a cat or kitten. But, I would adopt a declawed cat.

skyeboxer · May 23, 2007

Spirit2010,

It is worse than ripping off fingernails, it's more akin to amputating your friend at the first knuckle. And I have had furniture compeletely totalled by a cat but that was because I moved her from a happy, safe, outdoor, garden-type environnment to an enclosed apartment lifestyle. My fault, not hers.

In the end we came to an arrangemant where she wouldn't shred the sofa if I didn't eat her sardines (ha, joking!) In the end, I moved to a ground floor flat, Boos was the favourite of all that lved in the block and I was able to buy new furniture without fear of destruction.

That puss lived with me for near on 22 years and only left because she was sick from cancer and I had to let her go. She had her natural complement of tools/weapons till the day she died and I would not have a cat any other way unless it was one I'd taken in.

And I would definately adopt a declawed cat but I wouldn't allow it the freedom that I give the Gangsters. Whoever ripped thier claws out, for whatever reasons,took away the first line of defence.

GlassOnion · May 23, 2007

Nice to meet you, I'm Steve.
Now you have.

We declaw them at the clinic. I don't agree with declawing adult cats but younger cats? Eh, ok. Cat won't know it's any different. I just hope it's strictly an indoor cat.

But we generally try to encourage people to cut the tendon that allows them to 'un-sheathe' their claws in the first place. It's more expensive but at least you're not butchering the cat.

Spirit2010 · May 23, 2007

Ya, this is why Mika was kicked out, because she had claws.

(her and her babies both) And she clawed my mom's brand new couch! :lol-sign: It was funny. But she is still safe inside.

And if you want a cat, go buy a scratching post, is what I'm thinking. I like Hunter, and Lucky with their claws. But, theres no turning back now. But I still love them the same. And this is like ripping a dog's claws out too! Thats even worse!! :yikes: I would never declaw my own cats, the one's I get in the future, I would just go buy the "soft claws" when I move out. And that's what I am going to do for Mika, and Smokie. :nod: If Mika ever gets a long with the other cats anytime soon!

Declawing cats?!?!?

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