Did you have your cat declawed?

[claudia]

no....I use softpaws.....

 

[Planogirl]

no....I use softpaws.....

If we ever have a problem clawer again I think that I'll look into these. I like the idea.

 

[Mickey'sMainMami]

I did mine's front paws, but would never do it again. I just felt so bad for him when he came home, I cried. Mine didn't even get pain meds when he came home, shouldn't they have given him some? I would do it, but only if I can keep him drugged until the pain goes away.

 

[Mickey'sMainMami]

I forgot to add that I would get those things that they glue on their nails, even if they have to be replaced every month, I would do it rather than put another one of my cat's thru it.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

My rescue cat came declawed...and polydactyl.

I'm on the fence of the declawing issue. Growing up I've had all situations: clawed, clawless, front declawed. A vet friend of mine has two declawed cats (although I believe they came to her that way as well). She's in favor of declawing because, as she says, she'd rather a cat had a home and no claws then keep its claws and be thrown out into the street because the owners can't take the scratching.

 

[lillielil]

I voted "no, it's cruel an inhumane" but in reality, when I was very young, my family had our cat declawed (front only). She used to run up the wallpaper (it was this weird textured grass stuff), and because we were renting we got paranoid about the damage she was doing to the house. Unfortunately, she got out one day and when she was chased by two dogs, she couldn't defend herself or even run up a tree to get away. I was only 6 at the time, but I still regret my family's decision.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

The 16-year old cat I have now I did have his front paws declawed when he was a kitten. It was that or my mom was going to toss him into the street.

If I get another cat in the future, I will try to work with the claws (unless I adopt a declawed cat of course).

 

[mariolatry]

I had honestly never heard of NOT declawing a cat until I came to the DIS. When I grew up (and I'm not that old), all indoor cats were at least partially declawed. I did my cats front paws.

 

[PhotobearSam]

My two 15 yrs old cats are not de-clawed...I did not have the $$$ when I was a student.

The male won't let me trim his claws any more because he has arthritis and I am sure it's not comfortable for him.

They have never used a scratching post no matter what kind I got and how much Catnip I put on it...I have always had one piece of furniture that they can claw since they were kittens but that was not hard when I was a student. Now that I have really nice furniture, I cover them with blankets unless company is over because I want my furniture to stay that way.

When our kitten came along, we got his front paws done. All our cats are indoor cats and have NEVER gotten outside even with claws...The kitten does not even seem to know he has no claws in front...He seems happy. I think he is much better off without his claws in our home than with claws in someone's barn or at the SPCA...

We will always get the front claws done when we get cats in the future.

 

[goofygirl]

Both my girls are declawed- front only. I was told the back claws are needed for balance.

Sometimes they play with each other too roughly and I'm glad the claws are gone!

 

[RSoxFan]

I never did it, and I never will do it. I think it's cruel.

My cat loved to scratch furniture, rugs, anything he could get his paws on except for his scratching post. We made sure to trim his nails weekly and kept a spray bottle of water handy. Any time he scratched, a small quirt of water near him would stop him. It was never a big deal.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

nope...NEVER.

 

[azgal81]

I have two cats and I will never get them declawed.

 

[paigevz]

My boy has his claws. In fact one is permanently out, vet said an old injury, that one has to be trimmed frequently or it catches on the carpet when he walks and digs in to me when he steps on me or curls up on my lap. He only scratches the undersides of the box springs on the beds for some reason. I don't think I could stand to amputate toes.

 

[Sparx]

when i was very young, we did. as i grew older and realized the proceidure involved, I would never condone that happening again. its like cutting your fingers off at the first knuckle.

If you can't handle the claws, don't get a cat, in my opinion.

 

[BillSears]

Yep I did it and I'd do it again. I thought it was better to declaw them and give them a good home to live in then to drop them off at the shelter where they'd probably be put to sleep.

 

[mmcguire]

No declawing here. After I learned about the procedure, I could never do that to my cats.

We bought our two kitties a nice sisal scratching posts that they go to town on daily. We have leather furniture and neither of them has made a single scratch on it in 4+ years. One does like to sharpen his claws on the berber sometimes and we have to tell him to stop.

 

[MyManGoofy!]

Yep I did it and I'd do it again. I thought it was better to declaw them and give them a good home to live in then to drop them off at the shelter where they'd probably be put to sleep.

Not just asking you - but using your statement to ask a question.

Is there anything in the middle of those two choices for anyone? Soft paws or even just taking the time to keep the claws trimmed up?

 

[Kath2003]

Nope. You'd be lucky to find a vet that would in the UK. It is NOT common practice.

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

We had to. We had 2 cats at the time and they would play all the time. The big one scratched the little one in her eye-- had to go to the vets and get drops. Almost a week later the same thing happened in the other eye-- the vet said it was almost a mirror accident.

He recommended it because he said it was so easy to just pop out an eye like that!