Why do you have a problem with declawing?
My cats are 5 years old and they were declawed and spayed when they were 4 months old. We were told to use paper litter until their paws healed, and they never acted as if they were in any pain at all.
These are strictly indoor cats, because we live on a busy street and in my opinion, it’s more cruel to let the cat run loose and encounter a speeding car than to declaw it and keep it indoors unless on a leash.
It’s almost a unanimous opinion that all domestic animals should be neutered or spayed, but people get very vehement about declawing. My cats still have their back claws and when they scuffle, they use their front paws to box.
BTW, they don’t hate me.
J!ll, I have examined my cats paws, numerous times, and the joint was not removed. Only the very tip was removed, at an angle so that the entire pad is intact.
SunshineG, these cats have no problem jumping any place they please. There’s no need for them to "climb" anything.
Cherry, considering how young my "girls" were when this was done, I suspect if we could communicate and I were to ask them how they felt about having no front claws, they’d look at me and say "Huh?"
Filed under: Cat Furniture
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Being British, I have grown up in a country where declawing is illegal on the grounds that it is classed as animal cruelty. The law actually refers to it as "mutilation".
Like a lot of my fellow Brits, I’d never really heard of it until I joined Yahoo Answers. The more I learn about it, the more I am at a total loss to understand why anyone would choose to do this to their pet. When there are millions of cat owners worldwide who happily share their homes with their claw owning cats, it just doesn’t make sense to me that some people feel the need to declaw theirs.
People justify the choice any way they see fit.
Firstly it’s not up to us to decide what parts we want of theirs and what not, not when so many alternatives are around.
It affects their body (proven by vets)
They hide pain so you wouldn’t be able to see it and you’d think they’re fine.
There are more complications then people like to admit happen, and a lot more often too, as so many vets can also certify.
These animals do get out, and a lot more frequently than people like to admit. Then it’s a tragedy that could have been averted. Especially when one can teach a cat about cars (yes, thousands of us do it already). Hind claws and teeth do not mean happy endings with strange dogs.
You;re using a medical surgical procedure to "FIX" a inborn natural behaviour of cats. It’s not a problem when you take the time and show the love to teach them.
When a child is abused by it;s parents, in most cases they don’t hate them either when that’s the only thing they’ve ever known. THat’s why they seem to not hate you, nesides they’re probably hoping you don;t just decide to chop off more parts.
There are so many cats in shelters because of behavioural changes after declawing, and the owners simply go ahead and keep doing it. It boggles my mind.
I can’t wait (and yes, it’s coming, just wait for it) for it to be banned all over the USA, forcing people to have respect for their animals and fiond and use alternatives. These are animals you are mant to protect, not maim for convenience. And it’s part of their genetic make-up to climb.
These are living animals people try and turn into soft toys, cruelly so
would you like your mom to remove your finger and toe nails, when you are only a kid?
I don’t have a problem with having my cat declawed because she is able to do things that people say that cats can’t do when they are declawed. She is able to do everything. I have given her a loving home and she gives me a lot of loves back.
http://geocities.com/declawing/index.htm
Cats who are declawed develop issues later on in life, often with crippled feet.
Many people who declaw cats don’t declaw them properly, so the cats get painful bone spurs that grow back.
Essentially, getting rid of a cat’s claws and then having them walk around on their feet is like cutting off the fingers on someone’s hands and asking them to put their body weight on them for years.
I’ve seen many cases where cats wind up crippled when they get older because of declawing- it’s horrible, and I wouldn’t wish it on any cat. Scratching furniature is easily preventable and much better for the health of your cats in the long run.
Getting them declawed at a young age simply mean they have softer, more malleible bones, which are more prone to distortion. Spaying and neutering aids in decreasing the amount of animals that are surrendered to shelters. Declawing does nothing but cripple cats and prevent them from doing something they naturally do.
I have very strong opinions about this topic, so please forgive me if I offended anyone.
Generally, I like to give a cat an opportunity to show me they don’t need the surgery. If I clip the cat’s claws and provide them with a scratching post, frankly I don’t have a problem. My furniture has lasted a long time and still looks new. What I really want to avoid is unnecessary surgery and unnecessary expense. Of course, there are some cats that are like little furry delinquents and they need to be declawed in order to live with humans. What some people don’t realize is that it is YOUR cat so you get to decide what is done. However, I can’t see any of my fur children having a surgery (which involves pain) if they don’t need it. Spay/Neuter is absolutely necessary for the cats to live with us, because they can have some very bad habits if the surgery is not done. The cats seem to be more at peace and live more quiet lives with the surgery. Cats can also be more prone to certain cancers if they don’t have the surgery — breast cancer for one.
Cats are very forgiving of us and that’s one of the reasons why we love them so much.
Even though I don’t absolutely agree with declawing, I’ll fight for your choice to do so.
This is not my opinion but fact!
My Aunts HOUSECAT rips her chair up!
My Aunts HOUSECAT gets DECLAWED!
My Aunts HOUSECAT gets OUTSIDE!
My Aunts HOUSECAT gets ATTACKED and RIPPED UP by a CAT with CLAWS!!!
My Aunt does not have a HOUSECAT anymore!
I have five cats and I would never leave them defenseless!
Declawing is offensive to most because it amputates the first knuckle of each toe. Just imagine it on you, it would suck. Also it’s an elective surgery that some cats do not need. But if declawing keeps a cat in a loving home instead of being put up for adoption or euthanized then woo hoo. Luckily the amount of vets using post surgical pain management these days has increased, but why have the cat declawed needlessly? Cat owner education and knowing your cat’s personality is always better then blindly declawing just because you think the cat might scratch something. I know many cats that were declawed just because they are in a house with a declawed cat. This is not always necessary as not all cats use their claws even if roughhousing with their housemate. But educate yourself not all cats react well to being declawed. Some turn to biting when their 1st defense is taken away and some never get over the emotional /or physical trauma. Don’t limit your mind by assuming all cats are like yours.
I really feel that it really is your decision to declaw or not. However, I must warn you that some declawed cats turn to biting (which is more serious that scratching) in self defense. Also, I prefer not to mess with nature and creation, ya know? I see no reasons other those against declawing. Do what works for you! If they are indoor cats declawing is ok if it is necessary. I’m sure your cats love you!
Declawing is not just the removal of the claws…it also removes one of the joints in their "fingers". The Vet never told me that, I found out from the ASPCA, they wont even allow you to adopt a cat from them if you have plans to have it declawed. I felt really bad for the one cat I had declawed..and I will NEVER have it done to my other 3.
Because declawing is the equivalent of a human having almost half of all of their fingers removed–they actually remove part of the cat’s toes, it’s not just taking out their nails.
Sometimes the declawing can cause problems much later in their lives as well.
There are many alternatives to declawing cats including Soft Paws, Feliway spray or plug-ins, or using double-sided tape on furniture if that’s a concern.
I agree with one person here.They were born with the claws.What if they need to use them some day for some reason?You took away the only defense they have!I totally agree with you about keeping the cats indoors.My cats are always indoors but not declared…Come on!!! Cats are cats! Cats are supposed to scratch things!and They use them to play, to catch, to climb, and they clean them nicely one by one!I love to watch my cats clean their paws.That is amazing!Of course your cats will never hate you.You are the one feeding them but they have never been asked if they wanted to be declawed or not, right? I guarantee you that they would say "NO" to that question if you could ask them.
http://www.declawing.com
I am not for declawing my cats but for each his/her own. The only reason I am not for it is cuz I own strictly indoor cats but one got out accidentally last year. She broke through a screen on the window and was attacked by another cat. Thank god she had the use of her front claws because she probably would be dead now. I just feel you know I wouldn’t want somebody to rip my nails out and I just feel it is kinda cruel and done for selfish purposes to prevent the cat from scratching. Which is a natural part of there lives. If you don’t want them to scratch your furniture train them to use a scratching post
The website listed above would be a good education for you (declawing.com). You can examine the paws all you want, declawing does not effect the pads, it is the first joint. It is also not a ‘pretty’ procedure. That first joint is crunched off, not nicely surgically removed with a scalpel.
And of course, the cat doesn’t appear to be in pain, because if they do, it shows potential predators that they are easy game. It is built into their genetics.
As far as indoor vs. outdoor cat, can you imagine what would happen to those cats that are ‘declawed indoor cats’ that accidentally get out? They have no defense with little experience. I did adopt an older cat that happened to already have been declawed. I adopted him for two reasons – he was very sweet and two, I knew he had to be an indoor cat due to having no claws. His cage card indicated he was an indoor / outdoor cat.
There are too many options today to declawing, it is strictly an elective procedure, that the cats would definitely not elect to have it done. Learning to trim the claws is the easiest and most economical. Soft paws are also an option.
Of course, there is also the mind set of the pet owner. If you are willing to make the commitment of owning a pet (which is your decision, NOT the animal’s decision), there are certain things you just have to deal with. If your material possessions are more important than the quality of life of your pets, don’t have pets, or just get a gold fish!
I have a foster dog that has chewed up my house, including my bathroom cabinets and my power cord for my lap top ($80 to replace). Do you think I should have her teeth removed?? Does that sound extreme, ridiculous, insane? Don’t think that can even compare, because a dog needs their teeth to chew and eat their food? Well, a dog can eat soft food without teeth, so why don’t vets offer tooth extraction for dogs along with declawing cats?
Declawing is totally a self serving procedure for the human and inhumane for the animal. There is no dancing around it.
Hi felines,
I too am in the minority of the "declaw club". I had my cats done as kittens and they have never had any problems.
Actually, this will really bring the thumbs down….when I got my first kitten 17 years ago, the apartment complex we lived in required cats to be declawed. Before you start voting…I was young and a first time cat owner. We discussed the declaw surgery with her veterinarian (a DVM who had been practicing for MANY years). His cats were declawed. So we thought nothing of it. Do you know what problems she had….she herniated at the spay site because she was so rambunctious! Never gave the paws a second thought.
So each cat afterwards was declawed. My cats are all well adjusted, content to sit at the numerous windows with bird feeders close by and watch the birds, squirrels, and chipmonks (we live in a rural area). They do not try to get outside. My youngest (7yo) sits in the window and watches for me to come home from work. The other come to greet me once I’m inside. They all sleep with me and try to get as close as possible to my body. They are my life and I am theirs.
They have not shown any of the adverse health problems that are quoted in the other answers. My beloved Maybelle (17 yo) crossed the Rainbow Bridge 3 weeks ago from renal failure. Just days before she died, she was "galloping" thru the house! I have my serious doubts that declawing has caused my beautiful Kelley (14 yo) to have feline diabetes (5 years in June). And my dainty and graceful Miss Lily (10 yo) to have gum disease and nearly all of her teeth removed. In her young years, my Bonnie (16 yo and never over 7 lbs) could jump over 5 feet in the air.
Yes, I take cat ownership very seriously. And yes, I have witnessed first hand declaw surgery both by cutting and by laser when I volunteered in a clinic. I so want to go to school to become a veterinary technician and was doing my observations.
Each of us makes decisions based on our knowledge, research and consultation with an expert. With the health problems and elderly ages of my cats, I am not sure when or if I will adopt any more, and if I do, I plan to check rescues for cats that have already been declawed first.
Blueeyes, your information is great on the pro-declaw stance. I have saved the website you listed to my favorites.
Of course they don’t hate you. They don’t know that it was you that decided to do this to them.
I’m against it. Why? Well, you see that see where your fingers bend the most, right in the middle? Well, getting declawed is like that all of the finger after that joint removed. It’s terrible for them. Would you enjoy having to live life like that? I think not.
I have a huge problem with declawing
The very phrase "until their paws healed" makes me want to throw up.
Here is a list of countries where declawing is banned as an inhumane practice or ‘unecessary mutilation’, and therefore illegal:
England
Scotland
Wales
Italy
France
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Norway
Sweden
Netherlands
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Denmark
Finland
Slovenia
Portugal
Belgium
Brazil
Australia
New Zealand
Yugoslavia
Japan
i do have a BIG problem with declawing…and that is just my opinion. when they declaw a cat they cut so deep the claws won’t grow back. your probably thinking Duh, but don’t you think they have a right to their nails. why would u declaw them? because they scratch the furniture, well boohoo that’s a part of having cats. have you ever watched a declawing? there is a lot of blood! did you know that declawing a cat is the equivalent of cuting 1/3 of someone’s finger off.
I agree with the first answerer. The cats don’t have a reason to hate you. I think declawing is wrong because what would happen if your kitties need to climb or want to climb something? What if they need to defend themselves? Not necessarily from outdoor threats, but from a person that might break in? It sounds cruel to me. I just think cats and dogs should be left alone. Declawing isn’t natural. What is the purpose?
Oh, and I don’t want to be mean. This is just my opinion. Have a nice day!
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personally I dont hate you.
Declawing for me personally i feel is inhumane
frankly if they werent meant to have claws they wouldnt have been born with them.
Perhaps you can start a breed that is borne without claws to satisfy the indoor pets market.