To all cat owner: Are you against declawing?

noize · 06-12-2005, 07:44 PM

After reading this article, I got kinda freaked out. http://www.declawing.com/

My g/f got her cat declawed several months ago without doing any research on the issue and now we regret it. The thing was that, we thought it was a common things to do to cats...my friends and cusins have done it to thier cats as well. The vet didn't really say anything negatve about declawing other than the usual post surgery affect such as discomfort due to medication, possible bleeding and such.

I decided to go check into diffrent cats forum to gain insights on how to take care of our cats, a first time owner, and to see how common declawing are. After reading many article on this issue, little did I know what vets and others are not telling us. According to certain articles, declawing is the most painfull rehab for a cat to go through and that there are many permanent life changing side affects associated with the cats behavior such as depression, abnormal pee/poop behavior and being way more aggressive than usual. Luckily for us the cat acts normal like his usual self, no sign of anything diffrent 3 month after surgery.

For you cat owners, are you against it and have any of you done it to your cats?

Anyway, this is our 2 yrs old cat Morris...

giddyup · 06-12-2005, 07:57 PM

I've owned about 8 cats over the last 20 years and I've never de-clawed a cat because they were always indoor-outdoor animals.

**Jeff** · 06-12-2005, 08:03 PM

I've owned more than 20 cats over the past 20 years. I have never had a single one declawed for a number of reasons. The main reason is that it can be very painful for the animals and actually increases the risk of illness and infection as they get older.

The secondary reason is that if the cat ever gets outside, it is rendered defenseless against any other predator.

I have one de-clawed cat, but he was found that way. I don't necessariliy consider it cruelty, but I think it is something that should be SERIOUSLY contemplated before being undertaken and should ONLY be done if the alternative is much worse.

KingCheetah · 06-12-2005, 08:03 PM

Don't get your cat declawed.

Mack · 06-12-2005, 08:12 PM

My ex got her three cats declawed. I didn't notice anything detrimental.

Vengeance · 08:45 PM

My folks have 12 cats. One is declawed -- he's the first one we got, so the whole cat thing was brand new to our family. Only declawed on the front. We did it when he was young, and he doesn't really seem to know that he doesn't have front claws -- he still "sharpens" his paws on stuff and acts like he has claws. But for all the cats after that, declawing wasn't an option.

One of the reasons is that most of the others aren't declawed is because they are all older cats (except for the most recent 5 who were kittens from a cat we took in who was pregnant). Older cats will have a much more painful time of it and it is more difficult for them to adjust. Back when I worked at the animal shelter, we advised people not to declaw animals because of the potential psychological effects to the animal. It's not tremendously uncommon with cats 1+ years old, to never really adjust to not having claws, and for them to become depressed.

I'm pretty stong against it -- our cats' happiness is more important than furniture or carpet or some wallpaper. But, if the cat is young, and it won't be outside, I can somewhat understand declawing, I just don't really believe in it.

Sishir Chang · 06-12-2005, 08:47 PM

My former GF had her cat declawed and it started biting a lot more. The worst would be if you left your foot out of the covers the cat would leap up and attack your foot.

I hope you left the back claws in so the cat can still scratch itself.

Isabel · 06-12-2005, 11:55 PM

I am against it. It's not just like clipping fingernails; it's surgery to remove the whole base of the claw. More like getting your fingertips cut off. The cat will not only suffer pain, but won't be able to do things like grab onto a surface that he needs to hold onto, scratch himself, defend himself, etc. No wonder they get upset and act out. Fortunately your cat seems to have recovered OK, but please don't do this to any more cats. It's not humane.

Baqui99 · 06-13-2005, 12:21 AM

Although I'm not a cat owner, I don't think it's right to declaw them. If you're so damn concerned about your carpet and furniture, maybe you should get a different pet.

CBrownFanClub · 06-13-2005, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baqui99

Although I'm not a cat owner, I don't think it's right to declaw them. If you're so damn concerned about your carpet and furniture, maybe you should get a different pet.

I am pretty much with you - cats are a good way to keep people in check about how much they care about furniture. A good sprayer should do the trick long term without digging out their claws, but you will probably get some nicks and dings on the furniture.

That being said, I know plently of cats that are happy even without claws. I would not personally do it or recommend it, but I would not kill yourself over it, noize, it is nice that you care and think about your cat's comfort. Be sweet to your kitty, pets and playtime, post pics on this BBS even when it barely necessary, and Morris will be fine.

DonnyMost · 06-13-2005, 12:36 AM

how do all of the anti-declawers here feel about spaying and neutering in terms of inhumanity?

Vengeance · 06-13-2005, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonnyMost

how do all of the anti-declawers here feel about spaying and neutering in terms of inhumanity?

I think that's sort of a strange question . . . animals aren't adversely affected at all by being spayed or neutered . . . comparing the two doesn't make sense . . .

Spaying/Neutering is infinitely more humane than bringing more unwanted animals in the world who will be euthanized or used in lab experiments . . .

Palmray · 06-13-2005, 03:39 AM

I deteethed my kids. They didn't found it very funny.
Say no to declawing.

Davidoff · 06-13-2005, 06:45 AM

I notice that some here have owned lots of cats over the years I think Jeff has the most at 20 over 20 years, I have never had a Cat or really thought too much about them because the hair makes me sick... my question is why do people seem to have cats in groups and not so much one at a time like a dog?? Is it because cats are low maintenance, because they are smaller or could they not live as long as a dog?

giddyup · 06-13-2005, 07:02 AM

I was told that cats were happier with companions, so I've always had at least two at a time approximately the same age. It wouldn't surprise me if dogs weren't the same way really-- being pack animals.

ima_drummer2k · 06-13-2005, 07:40 AM

It's cruel. Don't do it. Train your cat not to scratch your furniture. It's not that hard.

All I did was get a tin can, put some pennies in it and any time my cat even thinks about scratching the furniture, just shake the can and watch him/her run. It's actually pretty fun. :D

PhiSlammaJamma · 06-13-2005, 07:46 AM

claws=no food
Neuter=no sex

There are only two other primary needs for a cat

Shelter
Air

pirc1 · 06-13-2005, 09:01 AM

I do not plan to declaw my two cats. But I do cut their nails once a week.

Supermac34 · 06-13-2005, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonnyMost

how do all of the anti-declawers here feel about spaying and neutering in terms of inhumanity?

If anybody ever feels like they don't need to get their pet fixed, they just need to go over to petfinder.com and see how many animals are without homes.

The sad ones are the ones in the kill shelters with 3 days to get adopted before they are euthenized.

Isabel · 06-13-2005, 10:10 AM

Better to get your cat fixed than not fixed. If it's not fixed, then 1) if it's indoors, it gets to be frustrated and knows what it's missing, or 2) if it runs around, you make lots of kittens that no one has a place for.

My kitty has her claws and doesn't claw furniture at all. Or even scratching posts. She just claws pieces of paper or cardboard that are on the floor. We usually leave her a few pieces of cardboard. So it's not all cats that give you problems.

She's not a pack animal, though, at least not in the sense of wanting a cat companion. She isn't comfortable around other cats. She thinks people are her pack and wants lots and lots of people attention.