Quote Originally Posted by Jessika View Post
Working at a clinic where we regularly declaw cats, it was really trying on me at first. I, personally, will never have my cats declawed. I have never had issues with cats scratching inappropriately when they have been supplied with plenty of their own furniture to use.

However, I have to look at it this way. If declawing a cat means the difference between that cat having (and keeping) a home versus sitting in a shelter or being euthanized... I will opt for the cat to be declawed. But if you're going to do it, DO IT EARLY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Younger cats recover MUCH faster and with less complications than older cats.

I guess, being in this field, I have a different way of looking at it... AGAIN, I DO NOT agree with it, nor will I ever voluntarily have it done on my own cats, but it if means the difference between a pet having a home or being given up... I've come to terms with it being a good thing.

Plus, on rare occasions, owners with clotting disorders or auto immune diseases who have to give their pets up unless they're declawed (on all 4 legs) because if they get scratched, it can kill them...

AGAIN, not condoning it, but just trying to give a different insight to it........
I agree Jessika. I wouldn't do it, but can't condemn those that do. I am on anti-coagulants and suffer from auto-immune disease. Spunky is my only true scratcher and biter, so I have to be careful with him. So far he hasn't hurt me. He's too old to declaw. I couldn't do it. A friend trims his nails.

Since our laws do not really treat animals as life forms, but property, there really isn't much we can do. My foster, Bertie, was declawed and you wouldn't have known unless you inspected her feet. Thankfully, Her Grumpiness, found a home with other declawed kitties.

It's a shame they won't consider a declawed kitty from the shelter.