Rescue Work Lesson #1

**kimlovescats** · 04-17-2003, 11:20 AM

Oh my gosh..... I almost made a HUGE mistake with two of my tiny kittens! This woman who has supposedly done rescue work in the past and appeared to be a great pet owner told me yesterday that she planned to declaw my kittens!!!!!

We were discussing how they were doing and how many more weeks til they would be ready for her to pick them up! She just casually mentioned that she was going to immediately take them to be spayed / neutered, and DECLAWED!!!! I just froze, unable to even speak! She further explained how she has antique furniture she doesn't want scratched! I just left in shock to ponder over it further when I got home. Well, there is no way in this world that woman is going to declaw my 2 babies!!!! I haven't told her yet, but I need to soon I know. I know she will probably try to convince me that she won't ... but I can't trust her now, so I will just say .... SORRY, can't do it!!! I will offer her one of my adult rescues who happens to already have come to me declawed .... but no other cat!!!!

How would you handle telling her this? I'm not good at this sort of thing!!! I should have questioned specifically about declaw with her ... but I just assumed since she did rescue work!!??

One day I will learn that to "assume" is to make an ass out of u and me !!!

**ramanth** · 04-17-2003, 11:39 AM

I'm sorry that it didn't work out.

Amazing some people....

**Tubby & Peanut's Mom** · 04-17-2003, 11:42 AM

Sorry, I don't have any advice on how to tell her/handle this. I'm not good in situations like this either. I would definitely tell her about softpaws though, and how cats can be trained to scratching posts and such and that her furniture may not have been harmed if she had taken the time with the kittens instead of taking the easy route and getting them clawed "immediately." I mean, sheesh, they're just barely old enough to be away from their mom and immediately she's running to the vet with them.

**Vermontcat** · 04-17-2003, 12:44 PM

Is this the person who was going to take your black kitten and meezer kitten? I think that like you said you should offer her one of your older rescued cats that is already declawed if she feels she needs a declawed cat! It is sad how many declawed cats end up in shelters and rescues.

You also might want to have it in writing somewhere when screening potential adopters that cats must not be declawed! You could also mention softpaws if they are worried about their furniture.
Good luck Kim!

**lailamara** · 04-17-2003, 01:12 PM

Like you I would not let her have the kittens and I would not trust her no matter what she says. What if there are other potential problems like peeing and spraying. Would she be willing to work out the problem or just dump them at a shelter at the first sign of trouble. Cats are for life or you just don't get them !!!!

**Russian Blue** · 04-17-2003, 01:17 PM

I would just state that you are against declawing and you will place the cats in homes that will not have this procedure done.

I would then hand her a resource package that shows all the negatives of declawing and listing of the actual details of the procedure and possible side effects. You can easily get this info off the internet.

I still find it such a tragedy that vets are so willing to declaw, and not make the client go through other options first.

Even if she gets a declawed cat, what happens if the cat pees on her antique furniture???? You know that the cat won't last long there!

**moosmom** · 04-17-2003, 05:41 PM

Kim,

I don't blame you for being upset. I'd tell her immediately that she can't have the kitties. And I also wouldn't give her ANY cats, I don't care whether they're declawed or not!

Just be careful. If she really wants those kitties, she COULD send a "friend" in to adopt them for her. I have become very wary of people these days. Sad but true.

I've rescued and adopted many cats in my 6 years in rescue. The one thing I do with prospective adoptees is casually, in conversation, ask them how they feel about declawing, whether they will be outdoor or indoor cats, etc. It kinda weeds out the not-so-desirables.

Good luck, kiddo.

**slick** · 04-17-2003, 05:47 PM

Good thing you found out now and not later. You have the power to say NO and if I were in your shoes I would not beat around the bush. Be blunt and tell her that she's lost out on a lifetime of love. Dont' trust her at all.

**jenluckenbach** · 04-17-2003, 08:26 PM

I think you need to make up an adoption application. One that states clearly all things that are important: No declaw, indoor only, etc. what ever you think is necessary. Everyone must read and sign. Tell this woman that you are sorry this was not mentioned at the first meeting, but how you ASSUMED that she knew how inhumane declawing is, you know, because she is in the rescue business......anyway, you cannot allow any cat that is under your care be declawed. PERIOD!

**kimlovescats** · 04-18-2003, 02:50 PM

Well, the woman called me at 8:00 am this morning.... trying her best to get me to reconsider! She claimed that she only planned to declaw Gwen because she thought it would make ME happy!!!?? I asked HOW? She said that since I was so adamant about keeping them indoors, that she thought declawing them would insure me that they would be indoors! ??????? Another thing .... she has never even asked about Tubalina... how is she, I can't wait to get her ... only the meezer girl!!! Favoritism already!!!

Oh well, I stuck to my guns, she's not going to get any of my babies!

**sasvermont** · 04-18-2003, 03:55 PM

Please don't think that people who declaw cats are monsters. They may just need some guidance. They are not murders. Lighten up you guys. I can certainly understand your not wanting to have your kittens' claws removed. I agree. But really, as I mentioned in another thread, try to educate these folks rather than make them out to be horrible people. Really. There are LOTS of declawed cats' owners on Pet Talk. That doesn't make it ok to do it, by any chance, but it was a choice and probably made very blindly. I for one, would never declaw a cat again, but I have in the past. I now know how to train them to a post and how to clip their nails. Get involved in educating the prospective owners ..... and start clipping the kittens nails right away....then they won't have a reason to declaw.

Yikes.

**PayItForward** · 04-18-2003, 07:36 PM

She said that since I was so adamant about keeping them indoors, that she thought declawing them would insure me that they would be indoors! ???????

I can see what she means, as declawing is associated with inside cats. Declawed cats can't be allowed outside for safety reasons.

I think you should decide whether this lady is genuine or not. As SASVermont says, you might be able to re-educated her, for the better.

You can always get her to sign a contract as Jen suggested, saying these cats are to be 'inside cats WITH claws' or else, in their adoption paperwork.

If you are not sure, keep hold of these precious babies yourself.

Ps. I am anti declawing.

**kimlovescats** · 04-18-2003, 07:42 PM

What good is a contract? I would have to visit her home every so often (if she allowed) and then if she's already had it done.... what then? Not much I could do!

As I posted elsewhere on this board ... this woman also had other "red flags" concerning her ability to be a good adoptive cat mom at this time.

**PayItForward** · 04-19-2003, 05:46 AM

Well in that case. Keep hold of these kittens and love them (with their claws)

Well done for spotting the red flags before the adoption.

**smokey the elder** · 04-19-2003, 08:20 AM

Those are YOUR fosters and you have every right to put as many rules and stipulations on their adoption as you see fit. You're the one feeding, vetting (if needed) and socializing these kittens. They are a serious investment of time and love and should not be placed lightly. Personally I'd tell that woman where she could go.