Declawing

[wolflady]

Just thought I would put my 2 cents in about the declawing issue. My husband got his cat declawed (before we were married) and now the cat suffers from behavioral problems, possibly as a result of the surgury. It's hard to tell for sure if the surgury is what caused his problems, but a lot of research over the web indicates it as a possibility. After educating myself about what the surgury entails, I was appalled and will never ever get a cat declawed...especially if there is no need. My cat Marius wears his soft paws nail caps quite well! (I'm sure he feels so stylish in blue nails... )
Check out www.softpaws.com. It's a great alternative. Also, I volunteer at a cat rescue affiliated with alley cat allies. It's called Town Cats and we're located in Morgan Hill, CA. Check out www.towncats.org. We do not adopt our cats out to people who are going to declaw them. Thought you might find that interesting.

[Ginny]

I got Misty at when she was six weeks old. I took her to the vet to get all checked out and asked how soon I could get her declawed & fixed. The Vet said when she is 6 months old. Let me tell you before I got her declawed she was clawing everything. Her claws were out continually. We had blankets and towels over all the furniture so they would not get ruined. I had scars from her claws she was bad at clawing. We took her in and when we got her back you would not know that anything was wrong with her. She jumped and played. She still cimbs and jumps on things. Her toes are strong. She does not need her claws. I have a good vet and he loves cats and would not hurt animals unjustly. I think Misty is happy without them and she was young enough I don't think it bothered her much. I am happy too! One big happy family

[thelmalu99]

You know what? This made me think of something. When I went to adopt my boys, the lady at the shelter kept mentioning over and over that she had declawed cats for adoption too. She wasn't pushy or anything, but she did mention the declaws an awful lot. I wasn't sure if it was because declaws are harder to find homes for or what ?? I would think that declawed cats would be easier to find homes for. For this reason, I insist on adopting cats that have not been declawed because I would never have this procedure done on one of my cats. It's better than having them end up where they will be declawed.

Am I making any sense?

I guess my question is, are declawed cats more likely to be adopted than cats that have not been declawed?

[4 feline house]

thelma-it would be my guess that she was tryig to prevent the procedure being done - in other words, if you were so inclined, she would have you consider kitties already declawed instead of risking having more procedures done - now, am I making sense?

[thelmalu99]

Oh, Ok. That makes sense.
It was only after I assured her that it DID NOT matter if the cats were declawed or not and my two previous cats had not been declawed because I would never do that, did she stop talking about the declaws.
Thanks.

[Lennie B.]

Thank you for your kind welcome to this discussion board. You're right- it is addictive. I am lucky enough to be able to share my life with (as well as my human family) two dogs and one cat. We've had the dogs for several years, but Vinny the cat joined us only last year. I never once considered getting him declawed, though I knew the potential for damage to furniture etc. existed. Now, eighteen months later, I see that he has left his signature on various pieces of upholstered furniture, and has modified the curtains in the livingroom so that they let in more light. (I was getting sick of those curtains anyway, and plan to replace them with heavy duty vertical blinds!) This in spite of the fact that I trim his claws once a month and have provided him with a substantial metre high carpet-covered scratching post, which he uses with great enthusiasm! I still wouldn't dream of having him or any other cat declawed- my reasoning is that, just as roses have thorns, cats have claws. It's worth mentioning that Vinny seems to be well aware that his "slashers" could hurt you- he's always very careful not to scratch you, even in play.

[yorkster]

my reasoning is that, just as roses have thorns, cats have claws.



I like that line!

Oh, and welcome Vinny!

[yorkster]

Ooops!!!
You're Lennie..........the cat is Vinny. Welcome BOTH of you.

[lynnestankard]

Thanks for finding this older thread - I'd never read it - it was before I joined Pet Talk - interesting reading through it now.
I think I Welcomed Lennie B. on the other thread - if I didn't - Welcome to the best Pet Talk site around. Be warned - you'll get addicted

Lynne

[sasvermont]

I know this might tick off lots of folks, but here we go.

I can think of so many irresponsible things to do and not do to animals, than declawing front paws. If it is done properly, it is not painful beyond the proceedure itself. As I said in a previous post, two of my RB cats had it done and they both were running around without complications the next day.

I would not do it now since my cats were trained to a post when I got them, and I spend the time to clip their nails. I am NOT a person who tortures pets. There are times when decisions need to be made that are personal ones. Would it be better to be yelling at, and wacking at a cat that constantly scratches things? Would it be better to confine it to one room without furniture? There are times when the owner of the pet gets to make a decision that works for them, and in the long run, works out better for the cat.

I have never let my cats wander and am very responsible for them. I can honestly say, that if I had adopted cats that were not able to be trained to posts etc. I would have them declawed, if necessary.

If you want to believe all those nasty stories about the torture, then do, but like I said, I have had the proceedure done in the past, and the cats were fine afterwards. They led happy go lucky lives and lived a long time too, constantly "pretend scratching" my rugs, furniture etc. ....

So that's my opinon, and I hope that folks understand that MANY people have this proceedure done to their cats. I could think of many more horrible, irresponsible things to do to cats.

Then End. (Remember, I am not a advocate for declawing, just the opposite, but I have been there, done that!)

Please don't make people feel guilty about making such a decision. I don't regret it at all.

[Former User]

Well said SasVermont, I have to say!