Back paws declawed?

[cassiesmom]

Dear Pet Talk, I have a question. When I adopted Cassie, she had already had her front paws declawed. In my adoption contract I agreed not to declaw her any further. I have a neighbor in my building who says that because she never goes outdoors, she has no need for her back claws either and I should have her declawed. I disagreed because of the contract I signed and also because I understand declawing to be painful for the cat. Cassie is not "scratchy", although she is less playful now that she is getting on in years, so she doesn't scrape off her old claws in play as much as she did when she was younger. I try to give her play time so she can get rid of the claws on her own. But if she doesn't, I'm not afraid to clip her claws and even if she only lets me clip one or two at a time, I'll get through them all soon enough. I don't want to have her back claws removed in case we ever move to a place where she could safely go outdoors. I just don't want to put her through that. Am I making the right decision?

[jenluckenbach]

Of course you are making the right decision. There is no reason to have her further declawed. As a matter of fact, cats with no back claws have a hard time getting a "grip" on the floors they walk on. They can't effectively scratch an itch either.


Keeping them clipped should be all you need to keep them "healthy." Never doubt the decision NOT to declaw.

[Freedom]

No declawed cat should EVER be outdoors except if you are right there to supervise. That is front claws only or all 4.

The cat with no front claws has no way to defend herself or climb a tree to save herself.

As an older cat, her nails grow more slowly. You can keep up with it by clipping them. Kittens may need clipping once a week or more. An older cat, and rear claws, every other week should be fine. But you will find a routine that works for you.

[Catty1]

Your neighbour needs an education!

[lvpets2002]

And a baseball bat to knock some sense into her.. **I for one HATE for any cat to be declawed..** I wish every state would outlaw it..

Your neighbour needs an education!

[Taz_Zoee]

Dew claws serve basically no purpose in domesticated animals.
Taggart has all four dew claws and usually they would remove them while he is under getting neutered. But ARF did not do that. My vet said not to remove them unless something happens to them (like ripping them off or something). She said it is horribly painful and not necessary to remove them.

I would think the same would be true for cats. If you can't get the nails clipped the vet can do it for you. I had to take my friends cat to the vet because I didn't feel comfortable doing his myself. My cats I can do with Bruce's help. Taz I was able to do by myself.

[Catlady711]

No declawed cat should EVER be outdoors except if you are right there to supervise. That is front claws only or all 4.

The cat with no front claws has no way to defend herself or climb a tree to save herself.

I agree with declawed cats being kept as indoor only. I have rarely encountered a 4 paw declawed cat as most places around here will only do the front paws in case the cats ever do get out they have a little defense (rabbit kicking), could possibly climb a tree (see below), and most cats don't seem to do much damage with back claws, particularly if the back nails are kept trimmed.

I have personally seen several front paw declawed cats climb trees almost as easily as clawed cats, including a manx cat I aquired many years ago (it came already declawed). Just an observation

[G535]

Declawing is barbaric, I wish more governments would ban it.

[rg_girlca]

Of course you are making the right decision. There is no reason to have her further declawed. As a matter of fact, cats with no back claws have a hard time getting a "grip" on the floors they walk on. They can't effectively scratch an itch either.


Keeping them clipped should be all you need to keep them "healthy." Never doubt the decision NOT to declaw.

I agree 100% on what Jen said.

[Sonia59]

Declawing should even not be a question. Never declaw a cat!

[cassiesmom]

THANK YOU ALL! Cassie's front paws had been declawed when I adopted her. Our shelter discourages all declawing of a cat's front or back paws. Cassie had taken up residence under the front porch of a family that lived near the shelter. After she had her kittens they had her spayed and had her front paws declawed, thinking that would make her more adoptable. The shelter is no-cage, so they hoped to have her adopted quickly since she did not have front claws and most of the other cats in the shelter have not been declawed at all. We played again last night and I did find a "shell" of a claw in the rug. When I comb her coat she will sometimes let me clip one or two - and if not, we just play more so she can get rid of the long ones on her own. If we ever move from apartment to a town house, I would like her to be able to go outdoors for short periods when the weather is fine with me supervising, wearing a collar and leash. She would not go out except under those circumstances. She will always be an "inside" cat. I'll talk to my neighbor again and tell her I have no reason to have Cassie's back paws declawed.

[areias]

I used to get into arguments all the time with the vet I used to work at over declawing. Although he believed that you should never declaw all 4, he always wanted us to push front declaws. I honestly think it was just to make more money. It is a horrid surgery, and the cats feel just awful for the first few days. The first night/next morning they are just pitiful, if anyone were to see what the cats go through they would probably change their minds. Cats have claws for a reason.

All the clients I spoke with about declawing, I always recommended to only get it done if it is the only way to actually keep the cat.