Upset over Declawing

[Taz_Zoee]

I know exactly how you feel. I have a family member that is actually ok with this procedure as well. They say there are wrong ways and right ways for it to be done. They work in the veterinary field. But I say it's ALL wrong! There's no changing minds either. I am so sorry.
If I were you and lived close enough I'd volunteer to come over weekly to clip the kittens claws. Also suggest the nail caps (can't remember the name) to go on.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I would also think that when you adopt a cat from the SPCA that you'd have to sign a form stating that you won't declaw the cat. I think that you have to do this with the Humane Society but I'm not sure. I do know that you have to do this when you adopt from rescue groups. I sure hope that you'll be able to change their minds about this. I know that my mom also thought that this procedure was the thing to do and she talked me into doing this to my RB Pepper when he was still a very young kitten. I will never ever do this again. He had complications and he wouldn't even walk on one of his front paws. My vet had to put a splint on his front paw for a while. My vet couldn't understand why this happened. Well I sure know. Because the poor little kitten was in pain. It also changed his personality so he was much more timid than before. I learned my lesson the hard way and will never do this again. People who want a declawed cat should adopt one that it already declawed.

[sasvermont]

Listen, I am against declawing and before I was informed about the options, I, too, declawed two of my cats, years ago. Do not fret over it. It doesn't usually bother them beyond the initial surgery. Lots of people have opinions much different from mine. Both of my cats lived long, happy lives. One was 21 and one was 18 when they died. I would NOW never ever do it and would encourage people to buy scratching posts to help prevent them from scratching things.

I know that many folks here are rabid about this topic.

[Catty1]

Can you call the SPCA and ask if they have a policy on declawing?

Here's a couple of links to the Soft Paws page:

http://www.softpaws.com/gallery.html

http://www.softpaws.com/about.html

They even have a page on trimming claws. I mean - I have 3 cats and it takes about 5 minutes every week or two!

http://www.softpaws.com/article.html

[Karen]

You should talk to your son again, and stress the problems declawing can cause if it has not been done yet, and tell them you can talk to your grandson about teaching him to use a scratching post, and not scratching up the furniture! Maybe you can visit some times and bring some "soft paws" on his nails and show your grandson how to do it, and that can be one of his jobs with his new kitty! That and emphasizing to him how important play is for kitties, and how much fun he can have teaching it tricks and stuff!

[maerlyn]

Thank you all so very much for the compassionate replies. My grandson has already chosen this kitten and named her Nya, so there's no chance of adopting a different one - and at least it's better than the alternative, the SPCA not being a no-kill shelter.

As for behavior problems with declawed cats - we've been through this before. Eleven years ago, they adopted, from a rescuer, sibling kittens whom they named Linus and Lucy. When my grandson was about 4 (my memory's not so good here), Linus started threatening him and actually attacked him once, scratching Cameron with his hind claws. (I saw the scars.) My daughter-in-law's decision was either rehome Linus or euathanize him. (She actually contacted the vet about this, but wasn't going to go; she would have made my son go alone.) I knew the only chance Linus had was if I fostered him until I could find him another home -and that's what I did. He found a good home with a family whose only child was then 12; I would not have placed him with a young child.) I told them at the time that Linus' being declawed may have contributed to the problem. So, been there, done that - makes no difference. Nothing is more important than having a perfect-looking house.

My daughter-in-law doesn't want to have her house "cluttered" I guess she would say, with cat furniture. She and her parents seem to think of cats as animate decorations. I feel sorry for Lucy; they do NOT abuse her in any way at all - absolutely not - but her food, water, and litterbox are all in the dark basement. There is no natural light in there at all, my son thinking that "cats can see in the dark." When they first asked me to catsit years ago, I got a night light and put it in the basement and explained to them why; they hadn't known that cats need *some* light to see! There are no birds or squirrels for Lucy to watch all day while they're at work and school; she has nothing at all to do all day. When their power went out one winter, they went to my daughter-in-law's parents, but left Lucy (with a blanket "nest") in the cold, dark house all alone. They're not cruel, but Lucy isn't treated as a member of the family - and history is about to repeat itself. I hope Lucy will accept Nya, but if she doesn't. . . I hate to think what might happen.

I'm trying not to stress over this, but I can't get it out of my mind - and I know I need to. I had planned to go over there on Sunday and meet Nya, but I simply cannot face meeting her knowing the pain she's in for. Somehow, I failed to instill sufficient compassion into my son (who'll surely be voting for the animal abuser next month.) I need to become a hermit; I wish I could.

Thank you all again; I knew you all would understand - and I appreciate that more than I can express.

[sasvermont]

Years ago, when I had my cats declawed, they sailed right through the procedure. The male cat didn't have any problem as he was a kitten but the other cat was a little older and kept a low profile for a couple of days. They both had no other issues as others may have experienced.

As I said, I would NOT do that to my cats now, but I was uninformed then.

Sounds as though you daughter in law and family don't treat pets like we do! I don't think they should have any pets at all, but hey, what do I know? And guess what, they are going to keep getting pets - we have no control over it. I wonder how often they take them to the vets? My pets go more often than I do!!!! I bet your d.i.l. would never spend $700 to have a cat's teeth cleaned etc. would she? She would have the cat put down and then get another one with clean teeth! Am I right?