Did you declaw your cat?

[kinntj]

You have to wonder if the same selfish people who advocate declawing are also hunky-dory with de-barking a dog.

If you can't be a responsible owner of an animal without mutilating it, perhaps you shouldn't own the animal.

I'm a very selfish person who gave 2 cats a home and declawed them (fronts only). Can you imagine how many cats would be euthanized if they weren't adopted? You think the animal shelters are full now.

I've never heard of non barking dogs, so I can't comment. Barking dogs don't really bother me, but scratching cats do.

If it became illegal in this country, then that's correct, I would not own cats. Instead of all this hatred towards us "barbarians", maybe your efforts would be better received fighting the laws harder. That wouldn't be as much fun though.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Nope never will do it. You are not crazy.

 

[disney4us2002]

Yes. We have inside only cats and would not have a cat with claws. I will not get into a debate with those who disagree. To each their own.

 

[Coconut36]

I'm a very selfish person who gave 2 cats a home and declawed them (fronts only). Can you imagine how many cats would be euthanized if they weren't adopted? You think the animal shelters are full now.

I've never heard of non barking dogs, so I can't comment. Barking dogs don't really bother me, but scratching cats do.

If it became illegal in this country, then that's correct, I would not own cats. Instead of all this hatred towards us "barbarians", maybe your efforts would be better received fighting the laws harder. That wouldn't be as much fun though.

It's lazy and selfish to mutilate an animal for your own purposes. It's one thing if the cat needs surgery (like the mention of the claws growing into the foot..uncommon and understandable why it would need to be corrected).

Basically you are trying to justify amputating part of your cats toes..for your own convenience. Cats have claws..it is not a big shocker or an unknown factor. Claws can scratch humans and objects..if you can't handle that you have no business having a cat.

 

[tinah159]

No

 

[canadianjovigirl]

We have 2 cats. Our oldest is 16 and was declawed when she was a kitten. We tried everything with her to get her to quit scratching and climbing the wood trim in our house to no avail. After many discussions with our vet and trying different tactics we decided it would be best to get her declawed or we would have to get rid of her as she was destroying everything in site. Our vet did say that some cats are climbers and scratchers just like some kids are outgoing and bubbly and you cant change that. Our cat did not have any issues and came home the next day. She is an indoor cat and only had her front claws removed, but she can certainly defend herself as she almost shredded the vets arm last week when we had to take her in. She uses her back paws to their full extent. She is now in kidney failure and nearing the end of her life and i do not regret for one minute having her declawed as it meant we got to keep her. I would never do it just to rid them of claw, but would again if it meant we got to keep the cat instead of getting rid of it.

Our other cat is 9 and we had no issues with him, he uses a scratching post and the water spray bottle worked with him so he has his claws, but is an indoor cat as well.

 

[Atlas722]

Yes.

 

[eeyoremum]

if my vet offered to declaw my cat, I would be looking for a new vet. It is animal abuse, no matter how people may try to defend it. It would be the same as having your toes cut off at the first knuckle.

It also alters the disposition of many cats that have the procedure done, and in the case of my next door neighbor's cat, it killed it.

Really? Why? My vet knows us well. Knows we are responsible animal owners and knows our other fur babies. I took his advice, thought about it and decided declawing was the best decision for my family and the other pets in my home.

Neutering and spaying can change a cats disposition too but most responsible owners have it done. Our little boy is the same lovable guy he was and I don't have to worry about my dog being hurt when they play.

 

[shortbun]

I don't believe in declawing. I've had 10 cats. Never had one declawed and never had one ruin anything. I keep a log beside their food dish, a couple clawable items scattered in the house and I train them as kittens. The cat I have now obeys verbal commands, hand commands and sounds. I snap my fingers and she stops what she's doing almost always. I swing my hand and she gets down from her perch. She comes when she's called, even if she's asleep. She responds to 'stop', 'get down', 'no.' Cats are trainable.
There is no need to declaw. I also train them as kittens to allow brushing and claw clipping. They respond best to positive reinforcement.

 

[gert]

It's one thing if the cat needs surgery (like the mention of the claws growing into the foot..uncommon and understandable why it would need to be corrected).

One of our cats has this problem... he's actually poly-dactyl (is that the right word?). He has fully functioning "thumbs" with claws and then an extra claw that grows out of what would be the skin between his thumb and forefinger. We take him to the vet once a month to get his nails clipped, because if we don't they will grow into his paw. They're in such a position that it is nearly impossible for us to cut them at home and feel confident about it. Even though it's only 10 bucks a visit and not a hassle to go, I have considered getting just those two claws on each foot removed permanently.

But I'm a chicken about the procedure and he loves going to vet's office (he's not right in the head), so for now we'll keep our monthly appointment.

 

[tasha99]

When DS14 was a baby, we had a kitten who scratched him. I overreacted as a mother, and had the kitty declawed. That kitten always had a grumpy personality, and ended up being a biter. She also tracked litter everywhere--I think it got caught up in her toes somehow.

I wouldn't declaw another cat, but the cat we have now came to us declawed. She's neat with her litter and never bites, so maybe those bad habits had nothing to do with the declaw.

 

[TurkA77]

Just imagine having your finger amputated to the first knuckle, to prevent your fingernail from growing back. Now you know what its like to be a de-clawed cat.

Having a cat de-clawed because you are worried about your possessions being destroyed is selfish. If you are more worried about your stuff being destroyed than you are about the well being of your cat, you should re-evaluate things.

Of course the Vet is going to tell you it doesn't hurt or bother the cat, would you do it if you knew it did? Of course not. The vet is making a living doing these procedures, that doesn't make it right though.

Ok, say you have your cat declawed because its an indoor cat. What happened if it escapes? I have had my indoor cats escape on numerous occasions, but they had their claws to defend themselves. If your cat escapes with no claws, it can't fight off predators and it can't climb trees to get away from them. You have sentenced them to die. I don't care how hard you try to keep them inside, over the life of a cat, they will find ways to escape.

Please, Please, Please I am begging of those of you that still do it, stop this barbaric and unnecessary torture of your pets. Also try to educate people you know who are thinking about it and don't use a Vet if he is performing this procedure for others. Thank you.

 

[kacaju]

Ok If your cat escapes with no claws, it can't fight off predators and it can't climb trees to get away from them. You have sentenced them to die. I don't care how hard you try to keep them inside, over the life of a cat, they will find ways to escape.

LOL REALLY?? You said yourself you have never declawed your cats. I have, and I also used to let them outside when I was growing up...and guess what?? They ALL climbed trees and my cats died of old age...not because they went outside without front claws

 

[jennyjinx3]

I would say don't do it. We too adopted a new kitty about 1 month ago from the Humane Society and did not declaw him. I trim his nails regularly, and he only really scratches his post. He will sometimes stretch and appear to be scratching something else but he is not exerting pressure from his nails. Maybe we lucked out

We have another cat who is declawed, and I often wonder if she looks at him scratching and thinks about her lost claws. We had another cat who passed away last year and he was also declawed. He would always poop and pee outside his litter box, and looking back now we wonder if it was a by-product of the declawing.

So...try not to do it and give kitty a chance with just trimming them. BTW why do I find it so hard to type the word declawed!!

 

[deegack]

We had a cat that was declawed front and back. Dh got her from the shelter that way. She hated the outdoors so we didn't worry about her getting eaten or anything.

 

[kinntj]

It's lazy and selfish to mutilate an animal for your own purposes. It's one thing if the cat needs surgery (like the mention of the claws growing into the foot..uncommon and understandable why it would need to be corrected).

Basically you are trying to justify amputating part of your cats toes..for your own convenience. Cats have claws..it is not a big shocker or an unknown factor. Claws can scratch humans and objects..if you can't handle that you have no business having a cat.

You have your opinion on what I do and I respect that. I also have opinions on certain matters where I feel selfishness comes into play too. It's just not a part of this conversation, so I won't mention it.

It's legal and I will continue to do it. We're a happy family with happy furbabies. I have to go take my dog for a walk.

 

[eeyoremum]

Just imagine having your finger amputated to the first knuckle, to prevent your fingernail from growing back. Now you know what its like to be a de-clawed cat.

Having a cat de-clawed because you are worried about your possessions being destroyed is selfish. If you are more worried about your stuff being destroyed than you are about the well being of your cat, you should re-evaluate things.

Of course the Vet is going to tell you it doesn't hurt or bother the cat, would you do it if you knew it did? Of course not. The vet is making a living doing these procedures, that doesn't make it right though.

Ok, say you have your cat declawed because its an indoor cat. What happened if it escapes? I have had my indoor cats escape on numerous occasions, but they had their claws to defend themselves. If your cat escapes with no claws, it can't fight off predators and it can't climb trees to get away from them. You have sentenced them to die. I don't care how hard you try to keep them inside, over the life of a cat, they will find ways to escape.

Please, Please, Please I am begging of those of you that still do it, stop this barbaric and unnecessary torture of your pets. Also try to educate people you know who are thinking about it and don't use a Vet if he is performing this procedure for others. Thank you.

OP if you have a good relationship with your vet then talk to him/her. As I said my vet promised pain free and he delivered. It is surgery so the kitten is asleep during the procedure then with proper pain medication it will be fine. My kitten didn't need all the pain medication that was sent home with us he was fine, happy and healthy.

He also isn't in it for the money. By my estimation with a sick cat that ultimately died, a sick dog and the new kitten that came to us very sick my vet UNDER CHARGED us by about $1000 or more dollars in follow up visits, reduction on med costs and calcium shots for the kitten.

Just like any other health care professional you need to have a relationship with your vet. You need to trust them. If you feel they are in it only for the money then find a new vet.

As for "accidentally" escaping I think that owners have a responsibility to make sure it doesn't happen. Just like you make sure small children can't escape. Our little one hates the outdoors and runs in the other direction when a door is open. Even so I keep an eye on him just like I do the dog.

 

[goofy4tink]

The vast majority of vets will not declaw cats unless there is a medical reason, and that's usually on the owners part...hemophiliac, HIV positive, etc.
If you start handling the cats paws and nails when they are kittens, it is very easy to trim their nails. You need only do the front paws. I didn't start early with my now 12 y/o cat, and he is not easy to trim!!!
If you can get in the habit of trimming their claws yourself, you will save yourself a lot of angst.

 

[Scotgirl]

I currently have eight cats - all indoor and I would never never never consider having them declawed. I love my cats like I love my kids and I would never have my kids declawed! Cats have claws end of story. My cats on the whole don't claw at much but when they do a sharp telling off deters them. And they are big cats - Maine Coons. I just think if you're going to have cats you have to be prepared to deal with what goes with them.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Yes.

we are highly responsible pet owners. Our cats are loved and spoiled.

Shelters are filled with cats looking for loving homes. It is far more important that they find homes than for them to keep their claws. If you take away the option, I believe adoption rates will fall. THAT would be a travesty.

I don't see declawing as that terrible. I don't buy into the ridiculous descriptions. It is a medical procedure done under proper care as any other medical procedure. My cats did not suffer. There is no difference between my cats and my friends/families cats who are not declawed.

I would do it again if other methods did not work and declawing was necessary in order to bring and keep a cat in my home.