What is your opinion on declawing?

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I will be moving in July to wherever I get into grad school, so I've been looking around for pet-friendly rentals where I applied. In one town, I found a place that accepts cats and dogs, but the cats must be declawed. I've never seen this before- is it common?

I'm really hoping to be able to rent a house so we have some room and a yard, but I realize this might not be possible. I was just wondering what everyone here thought about declawing. I personally would never declaw my cat, so obviously I won't be living in those apartments.

[Crazy-Cat-Lover]

I personally think declawing is cruel and unethical. UNLESS it is absolutely needed, or there is NO other choice, I am completely against it. We have apartments here that have that policy. If I couldnt find another place to live that didnt have this policy, I would rather have my cats declawed than give them up. I learned alot in college about declawing - the PROS and CONS of it. Sometimes there is no other option and it has to be done.

I am considering getting Amadeus' dewclaws removed, because he will NOT let anybody clip his claws. The vet cant even clip them. They had to put him under anesthetic just to clip them!

[CathyBogart]

I am totally, completely against it, and I think the US should follow suit with a lot of countries that have outlawed it. If there is a health reason, that's a different story.

I can definitely see why a one-time operation to have the dewclaws removed would be a better alternative to anesthetizing a kitty every time the dewclaws needed trimming!!

[Karen]

There are many, many threads on this very topic, we don't really need to all post again!

Here is a good long one.

[Jessika]

I personally think that it should only be done for a medical reason or as an ABSOLUTE LAST resort. Cats can be trained to use scratching posts AND you can trim their nails yourself, so there is really no reason to have them declawed in the first place.

[boscibo]

I am against it. I'd rather replace my furniture/carpet than declaw my cats.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

There are many, many threads on this very topic, we don't really need to all post again!

Here is a good long one.

Sorry I am not trying to start an argument, I had just not realized that there were apartments that would require cats to be declawed. It's kind of scary considering I won't have a lot of options on where to live. I also was not aware of past debates on this board.

[rosethecopycat]

I just want to say that I considered having Malfi declawed for medical reasons. He has an autoimmune disease that makes his claw beds become infected. It is terrible to see him with all infected claws, but still I decided against declawing him.
Even though it would be done for medical reasons you still get all the behavioral side effects. Mainly biting. Many cats react to the lack of claws be defending themselves with their teeth. Spraying and urination can be other issues.
I'm fighting Malfi's disease with his steroid drug, and so far no infections in the claw beds.

I certainly wouldn't declaw a healthy cat. I have foster cat Nocci here, she's a long time declaw, and guess what? She bites. It will take some time for her to be adopted.

[catnapper]

Yes, this is a sensitive topic around here.

I just want to say that the landlord has no clue about cats. Ask him if he asks renters to keep their children inside plastic bubbles.... because in my experience kids (toddlers through teens) are far more destructive than any clawed cat. We got rid of our ugly old couch, not because Harry shredded it to the point where there was no fabric on one arm, but because the kids managed to spill pizza, cool-aid and cola on it a hundred times, They ruined the seat and back from flopping on it. I could have simply re-upholstered it to hide Harry's work, but I couldn't repair what damage the kids did. I won't go into what the kids have done to doors, walls, windows, carpet.... my cats have nothing on the kids.

[renfest]

I use to work as a Vet PA and I am totally against declawing they actually break the cat's toes to get the claws out and even tho they are asleep it is painfull

rennie

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Yes, this is a sensitive topic around here.

I just want to say that the landlord has no clue about cats. Ask him if he asks renters to keep their children inside plastic bubbles.... because in my experience kids (toddlers through teens) are far more destructive than any clawed cat. We got rid of our ugly old couch, not because Harry shredded it to the point where there was no fabric on one arm, but because the kids managed to spill pizza, cool-aid and cola on it a hundred times, They ruined the seat and back from flopping on it. I could have simply re-upholstered it to hide Harry's work, but I couldn't repair what damage the kids did. I won't go into what the kids have done to doors, walls, windows, carpet.... my cats have nothing on the kids.

I agree that most kids are more destructive than cats clawing. My husband is too! lol He's very tall and not careful- he broke our couch by flopping down and now we have a large sink-hole on one side of it (the pets all like laying in it though).

[renfest]

I know that feeling my cat goes outside and we have antiques he use to try and scratch them a squirt bottle worked wonders when he was just a yr old now he is 3 and no problems..

rennie

[icedtea]

im with evryone else. unless fr medical reasons it eeds to be done, i would say no!!!!! no way.

[Crazy-Cat-Lover]

I agree on the kids vs cats. My daughter is two and can be very destructive if shes bored. She will colour on the walls, dump all the cat food into the toilet... I dont let her eat on the furniture unless its a small, non messy snack. My cats have the parts of the chair scratched up, but eh, it is so much more comfy! My house is their house, whats mine is theres - excluding my food! I really hope you can find a place to rent that doesnt have this policy. Most of these policies are made because of a few bad tenants who let their cats scratch up carpet. I can see where they're coming from. If I was a homeowner and rented my house to people, my only rule would be that the animals MUST be spayed/neutered. I cant stand the smell of spray and it is very hard to get out of carpet.

[.sarah]

As with every other form of "plastic surgery" for pets I am 100% against it, unless if for medical purposes. There was a cat named Hootie who lived at the vet I used to work at and he was declawed because he had a skin disease. One good scratching and he would be bleeding profusely. His skin was too thin to handle it.