Zaza...Your post was emotionally charged and inflammatory. Using words like irresponsible, implying that people who have had their cats declawed are some kind of monsters, was uncalled for. I have posted this before so those of you who have already heard this please bear with me. I came from a dog background. My first cat came into my life 8 years ago and all of my acquaintainces who have cats (which are several, I might add) had declawed cats. I was never around anyone with cats whose claws were intact. Yes, I had the deed done. In fact when I got my second cat he met the same fate.

I have been an animal lover all of my life. I have loved each and every animal I have had with all my heart and I have taken excellent care of them. They have been absolutely beloved family members. They eat good food, keep regular vet appointments, kept clean and are well socialized. To call someone like me irresponsible cuts to the quick. There is not a thing I wouldn't do for my pets.

I am not condoning what I have done. When I started reading the posts on Pet Talk I came into contact for the first time with people who had cats that were not declawed. If I had it to do over again would I not declaw? Yes, of course.

One last point...Your statement that "it is common knowledge that cats who have been subjected to a traumatic and monstrous experience like declawing become nervous, irritable and often refuse to the litter box" is ridiculous. My friends' cats all use their litter boxes and neither of my cats has ever gone anywhere except in their litterbox. Also, my cats are far from nervous and irritable.

Yes, I did something that I quite possibly shouldn't have and so have many others. My cats are in a loving home where they are adored. To say that your post was not diplomatic is a bit of an understatement.

I am sorry this post is long and heated but I had to weigh in here. There are LOTS of us out there who have had their cats declawed and we still do make good pet owners, believe it or not.



[This message has been edited by Pam (edited May 08, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Pam (edited May 08, 2001).]