A touchy subject, declawing.....

[jenluckenbach]

Here is a link to a petfinder bio. It is not something I wrote, nor do I know this rescue group. But someone had the guts to simply tell it like it is and I would like to make SURE people read it.


Nala's story (http://www.petfinder.com/pet.cgi?action=2&pet=2838151)

Can anyone still defend declawing? :(

[CalliesMom]

:( :( :( :( :( :( God, that broke my heart. I was one of those owners who chose to get their cats declawed and regret it to this day (I was completely and totally ignorant; not that that is an excuse). Callie became a completely different cat after we got her back--she went from this affectionate kitten to a kitty that doesn't really like other people and will only let you "love" on her for about five minutes before she BITES you. I would never, ever have gotten rid of her for some behavioral issue that I created.

[dukedogsmom]

That was so horribly sad. When I was a young kid, we had our Persian declawed. This was in the 70's and we didn't know how horrible it was then. Our kitty didn't change, thank goodness. I would love to be able to show that sweet cat some love.

[Vette]

Thats why my cats are is a indoor/out door cats. especially with Cheetoo,, she HOWLS to get out. everyone thinks shes inheat,, but thats impossible as shse spayed. she also scratches the ever living daylights out of all the window screens. so my mom says she goes outside when she wants,, or we get rid of her claws.. your choise...

im well aware of the dangers of her going outsid... but i think thats better then declawing any of my cats.

[sirrahbed]

What a a sad and heartbreaking story:( In years past - all of our kitties were declawed - most came to us that way from shelters - the others we took to our vet to have done because it was just what you did for indoor cats. Thankfully - none of them changed personalities. RB Ernie used to get absesses on his foot - but I never suspected the declaw.

Now we have beautiful Dylan - who we adopted several years ago when he was about 1 1/2 years old. He had been in the shelter for 6 months and nobody wanted him because he was "fat". He had all four paws declawed - I had never heard of doing that - but he was just the kitty I wanted and now he is mine. I noticed that at times, he would jerk his paw up and hold it - and that he sometimes nips when he is petted more than he wants. I took him to our vet who suggested that his declawed feet might be hurting, and suggested and x-ray. Sure enough, two of his paws show pieces of bone fragment left in the tender tissue.:( If he ever becomes infected, my vet will do more surgery on him to best help remove the little pieces and make him feel better.

That mutilated and unwanted kitty was Cat of the Day at one time!! He is my gorgeous sweetheart!! :D

We adopted two more baby kitties last year and they will keep their claws. No more of our babies will have this done!! It did take time to keep offering them scratching posts and cardboard to scratch - and yes, we have some ripped furniture and screens - but they rarely use those claws for more than play and exercise on their toys. They even play with my 9 month old grandbaby and always have - never scratching her even if she pulls their tail.

Now PLEASE read the following:

People who declaw are not bad owners or bad people - they are likely folks who just do not know what is involced in declaws and what might be the consequence. Like I said - *most* of my declawed kitties had no problems at all - but why risk this? They might end up like Nala in the story - or my Dylan sitting in a cage at the shelter.

Teaching facts is the remedy - not accusing or blaming owners - we simply need information. I really do not believe that most owners who declaw do it with a hard heart. I am not even sure that many care so much about their furniture - I know that was never my reason. It was jsut ignorance.

Here on the PT forum I have been blamed and rediculed to tears several times...none of which changed my views on declaw. But, others have given good information and options and that is why I am owner who will never again declaw. I am trying to be more assertive when I talk to owners and even my own vet and technicians who asked nonchalantly if I wanted my two kittens declawed at the same time as their spay and neuter a few months ago. I had to tell them NO, I did NOT, and that I felt it was NOT a viable option and wish that it was not so common. I am hoping that that approach will eventually change their way of looking at the procedure.

[LKPike]

Declawing? - No. Period.

[elizabethann]

I have several family members who have all their cats declawed (even after I BEGGED them not to)! They complain that my furniture is all ripped up because of the cats! I say "WHO CARES????" When I'm on my death bed, will I be saying "I will miss my family and my lovely couch and loveseat - how I love them so." NO. I'll be saying "I'll miss my family AND my pets - how I love them so". I could never understand why people declawed their cats because of the furniture. If you don't like my ripped up couch and loveseat - then sit on the floor (better yet, don't come over). My cats can scratch all they want!

POWER TO THE CATS THAT SCRATCH!



:D

[rg_girlca]

OMG!!!!!! This story had me in tears. How heartwrenching.

In the 70's, I also had my kitten declawed as he was one Holy terror. While I was at the counter fixing supper or whatever, he would get up on the table and then jump on my back. The scratches I had endured during about 2 months of this, was unbelievable. Being naive about declawing, I had his front claws removed when he was neutered. Other cats that I had in the past never needed to be declawed as they were easily trained not to scratch the furniture or me. BUT, when I started viewing PT and read what declawing ACTUALLY involved and the terrible pain that these poor kitties go through, I vowed, no matter what, NO other cat of mine will ever be declawed, EVER AGAIN!!!!

I pray with all my might, that some kind, loving soul, with look past Nala's problems and give her a forever home.

[Pit Chick]

What I can't stand is trying to inform someone looking at our cats for adoption about declawing, what it really intails, and the behavioral problems that can follow and let's not forget the fact that it takes away their defense mechanism or ability to climb a tree to get away from a dog if they get outside, then they say "I know" or "we've always had our cats declawed" or "we don't want it to scratch: the dog, the other cat, the kid, the furniture" or "they managed to climb the tree just fine without their front claws", so I tell them to go to the shelter and adopt a cat that's already been declawed and was dumped in the shelter by the former owner because it wouldn't use the litter box, or it was biting people.

If your furniture is more important, then don't get a cat, and sure as heck don't have kids cause they tear up everything. A couch can be replaced. If you're worried about the cat scracthing a dog, a cat, or a kid, DON'T, this teaches the other animal or kid not to mess with the cat. I don't know how I managed to survive as a child with 3 cats with claws. :rolleyes:

[gemini9961]

I had cats as a child and we never declawed any of them. It wasn't an issue. They were mainly outdoor cats until they wanted to come in. We never had any problems with them being outside. If you don't want your furniture tore up or house a wreck then DON'T GET A PET! You have to take the good with the bad and if you can accept that then you shouldn't get a pet. Mutilating your pet for your own sanity is gross.

[finn's mom]

I doubt I'll ever declaw another cat again, but, I have to say I've had multiple cats declawed and they have never had problems after the surgery. I remember a couple of days afterwards, they all went through a tenderfooted stage, where they couldn't jump down to the floor from the back of the couch. But, they were all fine within a couple of days. And, I guess my cats were all really lucky and they must be one of the minority that the surgery didn't affect their personality in the slightest. Poor Nala, that story is sad. :(

[Samantha Puppy]

I am currently under attack at another forum I frequent because I'm pregnant and because I won't do the following with my animals:

1) I was told I should get rid of the 2 new kittens;
2) Declaw Sushi and Kirin because they'll attack the baby;
and
3) Beat Samantha to let her know that humans rule the roost;

It means that I am putting my animals at a higher priority than my children. When I responded that I would be keeping all four cats and all four cats would be keeping their claws AND that I wasn't going to beat my dog into submission, several members went off on me.

(They're also currently going off on me because I made mention sometime in the last few weeks that I am not going to breastfeed. Apparently personal decisions like that are also up for debate.)

But at any rate, there is absolutely no way I will ever declaw one of my cats. That story was heartbreaking and I'd love to post it at the other forum, but they're all hard-headed morons whose favorite saying is: "Humans are at the top of the food chain for a reason." :rolleyes:

[caseysmom]

I never had any problems with cats and babies...that is kind of nutty.

[elizabethann]

That's a freaky forum you're visiting.

[Samantha Puppy]

Not to hijack this thread, but the forum itself isn't freaky. There is just one bad seed on there in particular that never fails to remind people that he's an @$$hole. He's the one that said all that above about my animals. So it's not everyone. (More than just the jerk did debate my breastfeeding decision, but that's just people not knowing when to keep their mouth shut. That, I can forgive.)

My declawing opinion still stands. My children will grow up learning to love, but more importantly RESPECT animals. Sure, they might get scratch if one of the cats don't want to be picked up but if my children don't chase them, tease them, or abuse them, why would the cats feel the need to scratch them? They won't.

And Samantha? Samantha wouldn't hurt a fly.

[Pit Chick]

If a cat can't scracth, it's gonna bite and from personal experience I would much rather be scratched than bitten. OUCHEEE!

Ask the A-hole from the other forum if he would like to have his fingers and toes cut off and beaten with them.

[Samantha Puppy]

I've tried that argument. I've posted the link to declawing.org. I've provided a list of countries that veterinarians will not do it because it's cruel and inhumane. Doesn't matter to this idiot. He suffers from the worst form of ignorance I've ever seen.

[CathyBogart]

0_0 Poor kitty!

We never considered having Cupcake declawed. So she mangled an arm of the couch, so what? It's a couch. When we got a futon with wooden arms, she started using her scratching post. If the couch had been an issue, we would have worked to redirect her scratching, but nobody in the household cared because we love our kitty!

[Bubblehead1123]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach

Can anyone still defend declawing? :(

No, I can't... poor kitty's:(

[smokey the elder]

It sounds like the person on the other forum is just being a troll.

[LKPike]

Originally posted by smokey the elder
It sounds like the person on the other forum is just being a troll.

exactly.

Breastfeeding is the *BEST* thing you can do for your baby. Samantha looks like such a sweet soul :( I cant believe anyone would tell you to beat her. :(

I have never, ever, ever, heard of a cat killing a baby. Scratching, Biting? Sure. But go back and ask the kid why he pulled the kittys tail, or foot, or didnt handle the cat properly??

The people on that other forum sound very uneducated.

[dukedogsmom]

I'd love to beat some sense into that idiot! What a jerk. And what business is it of theirs when of if she breast feeds? Geez! Do people have no scruples these days? You should give us the link so we could open up a can of wupa$$ on him.

[CatMama78]

Poor Nala :(

When we went to adopt our kitties, I was very uneducated about cats. But all Operation Kindness had to say to me was we do not recommend declawing - it hurts the cats. That's all I had to hear to decide against it. Now I've got my two clawed love bugs who sometimes 'get' me in play (never maliciously), but it's no big deal. I do not understand the furniture argument because dogs chew the dickens out of things and kids draw on the walls and tear up everything. You wouldn't remove a dog's teeth or a child's hands.

There are some who will argue that it's better to declaw than not adopt at all and I sort of agree. We can educate and do our bests to prevent people from declawing, but if it comes down to declaw or leave in shelter, I would rather they adopt I guess. But I think most people are like me, who just need a little education and if they were just aware of the damage declawing does, they would never consider it.

[Samantha Puppy]

LOL I would, but this particular forum was begun by a small group of us that'd met at another, larger forum. We didn't like the rules and the iron fist that one was ruled by so we began our own. The jerk I speak of is a friend of one of my favorite people from the original forum so he got invited in. If I gave out the URL just to start trouble, I'd lose actual friends I value - several I've met in real life, two of them flew from Scotland to Maryland for my wedding (and Theresa was actually a bridesmaid in it)... so I'd better not, though I'd love to see you all rip the jerk a new one.

LKPike - Samantha is one of the sweetest dogs you've ever seen. She is so loving, she wouldn't hurt a fly. I have absolutely no worries about bringing a child into the house around her. She's going to help me by being Nana (the nurse dog in Peter Pan)! :) She was fine (curious, but what dog wouldn't be?) when I brought Sushi and Kirin home. She was fine when we recently brought Maya and Kimi home. She'll want to see the baby. She'll be allowed to. I was brought up on a steady diet of dog hair and dog kisses. My kids will be too. Samantha may be a dog, but it doesn't mean she's any less important to me just because she isn't a human being.

Breastfeeding - This is what I said on that forum in response to their 'bashing' of me:


I agree - I never disputed the benefits breastmilk is said to have over formula. But so far, none of those benefits has been enough to outweigh the numerous personal reasons that I've chosen *not* to.

I was formula-fed. Palin was formula-fed. My best friend was formula-fed. I actually know more formula-fed people than breastfed. We're all healthy, normal, intelligent people. So I have absolutely no fear that feeding my child formula over my breastmilk will cause him/her irreparable damage.

Everyone has their opinions, but it is a fine line beween merely expressing one's opinion and telling someone else (in so many words) that a decision as personal as this, is wrong. Not pointing fingers. Just stating an opinion.

And to try and keep this topic on topic as much as possible (I really do apologize for the "hijack")... As for the cats - like LKPike said, a cat may scratch but ask the kid if they pulled it's tail or picked it up when it was trying to get away, and I bet the answer would be yes more often than not.

[jenluckenbach]

I have to say I've had multiple cats declawed and they have never had problems after the surgery.
Working with other people's animals I have seen MANY declawed cats who are happy and well adjusted. Working in rescue I see MANY declawed cats who are no longer wanted because of a change in behavior (and usually NOT for the good).

I think what people need to ask themselves is....."Is it right to take the risk? One that is irreversible once the damage is done."

[wolflady]

Wow, that was really well-written. It was almost as if I was back in the hospital that I used to work at. This was a very typical scene, and a very accurate description. I felt really nauseated the first time I had to assist in a declaw mutilation (very approproate term) and what this person described in the article is exactly what I observed. It's a very disturbing memory for me, but at least I will never have one of my cats mutilated.

It just makes me so mad when people do this to their cats, and then they dump the cats when a behavioral problem develops. Sure, there are MANY cats that come out of it just fine. But there are always many more that come out of it with behavioral problems. Believe me, I know. I too was ignorant as to what declawing was years ago. My boyfriend (now husband) had his cat, Scooter, declawed and neutered because that's what everyone else did. Now, Scooter has a behavioral problem and we're stuck with it. It's our fault he has this problem, and it's our responsibility to deal with it. I can't tell you how many times we had people drop cats off at the shelter where I was also volunteered during the time I worked for the hospital. Cats that were dropped off due to "behavioral problems" were always declawed... :rolleyes:

When will people learn??! :(

[KYS]

I have one sister that will only adopt animals from
kill shelters.

She has 5 cats and 2 dogs, and recently she
mentioned she wanted to
adopt 1 or 2 kittens when the oldest dog passes away.
(All 5 cats have their front paws declawed. They
are happy and have no behavior problems. )

I mentioned to her about the controversy over declawing.

Her statment to me:
What is better for the cat? To be put to sleep in a kill
shelter or be declawed and live a happy life as a house cat?

I do not have cats and I am not going to judge.
But I do see the other side of the coin too when
the alternative could be death in a kill shelter.

[jenluckenbach]

Her statment to me:
What is better for the cat? To be put to sleep in a kill
shelter or be declawed and live a happy life as a house cat
I hear this argument a lot. It is hard to fight unless you think of thess scenarios:
a) What if someone else,who WON'T declaw, adopts that cat before it is put to death?
or
b) What if complications come up because of the declaw and it DOESN'T live a happy life?

Is 15 to 20 years of agonizing pain (assuming a faulty declaw) better than a quick and painless death? And since there is no guarrentee that there will not be dreadful consequences from the surgery, you take that risk each and every time.

If having your furniture scratched by a cat's claws is unacceptible, then I can assume that if litter box problems arrise (And I can't guarrentee they won't), peeing on said sofa will not be acceptible either.

[KYS]

posted by jenluckenbach: I hear this argument a lot. It is hard to fight unless you think of thess scenarios: peeing on said sofa will not be acceptible either. >>>>>>>>>>>>

I guess life is full of what ifs.

So I will leave it up to the cat owners to decide
on what is best.

I do have to mention this on a lighter side.
My sister had a cat who recently past away.
She took in an older cat when her elderly owner
past away.
This cat would only use the litter box in the upstairs
bathroom.
So if for some reason if the dogs were upstairs
she would go downstairs and
would pee/poop in certain areas of house.
( do not remember the exact reason why the
cat would not go back upstairs)
I can not answer for others, but my sister would never have
dreamed of getting rid of this cat because of
this smelly problem where I am sure others might have. :)

[Vette]

Samantha Puppy *hugs* i know exactly how you feel. though i was picked on over very different issues.. i know how someone can get under your hide like that...

the best thing to do is to ingore this bunghole and hope it gets bored of its own stupid little game and shut up.. or better yet leave all together.

*hugs* hang in there.

[LKPike]

maybe it should be mandatory for Vets to educate people about Soft Paws, the rubber tips you can put on a kittys claws, before they decide to declaw. We've been tempted to use them for our dogs :p

[Pit Chick]

I wonder what would happen if ALL vets quit declawing? Either people who prefer declawing won't get cats or they will just deal with it and the issue of cats being adopted or not because of claws, won't be an issue. This will leave people with these options: accept the claws and teach your cat the proper places to scratch, clip their toe nails, or get Soft Paws. But then again, that might mean putting some effort into owning a Cat and God forbid anyone do that. :rolleyes:

[Vio&Juni]

Even if the risk of behaviour change would not exist, I would still not even think about having my cats declawed. It is a violent, painfull, not normal thing. Cats are not rugs that you cut according to your floor, they are living creatures.