? for all cat lovers? To declaw or not?

[eclectics]

That's really not a fair thing to say. Kitties have very different personalities. And if you are a "cat" person and adopt a cat with the best of intentions and despite your measures, the clawing problem is too much of a problem...some are saying declaw rather than take to the pound.

Different animals have their different challenges and whether or not to use a very legal procedure in the US is a personal decision and does not make you unfit to own a cat.

I've never heard of anyone having a cat euthanized for scratching. Perhaps you are reading more into everyone's post than necessary.

I'm just responding to the posters (and there are quite a few) that are giving only two options to the scratching problem: declawing or the pound. Anyone thinking about adopting a cat in the first place should be aware of the fact that a cat has claws and it's a natural thing for them to use them and sharpen them. I'm just saying nobody should be surprised later. Some have said "Isn't it better to give a cat a home and declaw it rather than not adopting it"? Well, who knows if someone else wouldn't have come along and given it a home. If you really want a cat and you don't mind putting it through the declawing process, then certainly no one can stop you. All I'm asking is just be aware this issue might come up before you adopt the cat and give it some serious thought beforehand. Sadly there are a lot of shelters that are full to capacity. If you know beforehand that scratching will cause a problem in your household dynamic, maybe you could shop around and actually find a cat that is already declawed for you to adopt. It boils down to personal choice. I think declawing is cruel and not necessary but others see nothing wrong at all. We can just agree to disagree and try to give our pets all the love we can! aw:

 

[Snowy]

I was wondering why more people aren't using the SoftPaws. We've been lucky with our cats but if I had a problem scratcher and couldn't break the habit, I'd certainly look into them. It's better than amputating their toes IMO.

Couldn't agree more. I'm glad to hear some posters who have had good luck with SoftPaws. If they are superglued onto the cat's claws, I can't imagine the cats could remove them on their own. Sounds like a great alternative to amputation of their fingers.

When I first got my 2 kitties from a shelter, I closed them in the kitchen where the only thing to scratch was a scratchpost - for a month. When I let them out into my carpeted apartment, they had no interest in scratching anything except the scratchpost. Although now, the cardboard "Alpine Scratcher" with catnip is a big hit too.

If nothing else, try SoftPaws first. Of course, all of the above is just imho.

 

[Redbudlover]

A great alternative to declawing is to get plastic claw covers for your cats' claws. I am really surprised no one on this thread suggested it before! The covers look like tiny clear claws and are applied over the cat's real claws. You get them at your vet's office. they are not sharp and so do not tear up your furniture when they are on. We considered them when we got our two kittens a year ago, but found the combination of spraying water, tin foil, and scratching posts in two rooms was adequate. We now have cats who never scratch anything but the scratching posts.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

For those wondering why those of us didn't do XYZ for our kitties instead of declawing. My vets told me nothing about them and as a college student just learning how to use the internet...it wasn't like I could google alternatives.

In the end it is personal choice. I can't see my kitties wanting to sit for a "manicure" essentially. We have one that still scratches...but gets busted pretty easily. We have another who very very rarely ever does anything. So no kitty pedicures or declawing in their future.

ETA: The kitties in question that were declawed were done so about 10 years ago. Just for a frame of reference in case anyone was wondering. And no I didn't have a computer until my senior year...computers were not required and the internet was still pretty much a new thing and not widely used as I use it today.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm just responding to the posters (and there are quite a few) that are giving only two options to the scratching problem: declawing or the pound. Anyone thinking about adopting a cat in the first place should be aware of the fact that a cat has claws and it's a natural thing for them to use them and sharpen them. I'm just saying nobody should be surprised later. Some have said "Isn't it better to give a cat a home and declaw it rather than not adopting it"? Well, who knows if someone else wouldn't have come along and given it a home. If you really want a cat and you don't mind putting it through the declawing process, then certainly no one can stop you. All I'm asking is just be aware this issue might come up before you adopt the cat and give it some serious thought beforehand. Sadly there are a lot of shelters that are full to capacity. If you know beforehand that scratching will cause a problem in your household dynamic, maybe you could shop around and actually find a cat that is already declawed for you to adopt. It boils down to personal choice. I think declawing is cruel and not necessary but others see nothing wrong at all. We can just agree to disagree and try to give our pets all the love we can! aw:

If you've been to a pound lately--you'd see the number of cats put down. I'd rather adopt a kitty than see it die. If someone has tried everything and nothing has worked--it isn't fair to say they must not be cut out to be a cat owner.

Most pet rescues will actually have you sign a form stating you will not declaw them as they would rather find a home for the kitty where they can keep their claws.

 

[pattyT]

Ya know - I don not know why I came back to read the rest of this thread!
It infuriates me when someone takes a question and rather than just answer it and move on - they feel the need to CONSTANTLY argue with every other poster that doesn't have the SAME exact opinion as themself!
You post your opinion.
nuff said.
leave it alone.
The more you argue - the more it makes me want to do the opposite of whatever you say - as you make yourself out to be a nutcase!
I am sure you are a wonderful person - but leave it alone now... geeezeee..

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Ya know - I don not know why I came back to read the rest of this thread!
It infuriates me when someone takes a question and rather than just answer it and move on - they feel the need to CONSTANTLY argue with every other poster that doesn't have the SAME exact opinion as themself!
You post your opinion.
nuff said.
leave it alone.
The more you argue - the more it makes me want to do the opposite of whatever you say - as you make yourself out to be a nutcase!
I am sure you are a wonderful person - but leave it alone now... geeezeee..

I will leave the thread then.

Good grief!!!

Sorry--slow day--with a hurricane and all!

 

[pattyT]

Lisa if you actually READ the thread you would know that I am not reffering to YOU specifically!
and the slow boards has nothing to do with the weather - but the lasck of posters since they have all been banned!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Lisa if you actually READ the thread you would know that I am not reffering to YOU specifically!
and the slow boards has nothing to do with the weather - but the lasck of posters since they have all been banned!

Found your post and sorry about that.

And slow day was in reference to us being couped indoors all day due to weather conditions related to Wilma.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Some have said "Isn't it better to give a cat a home and declaw it rather than not adopting it"? Well, who knows if someone else wouldn't have come along and given it a home.

Well over 90% of cats in shelters end up having to be euthanized simply for lack of a home. All of my cats lived happy and fullfilled lives well into their late teens.

It isn't that I reject that declawing is a serious procedure. I just personally feel the amputation analogy is a little misleading. It is true that a body part is removed, however the cat doesn't need physical or occupational therapy as a result in order to move around, eat, and perform other catly functions in their normal manner. Other than being groggy from the drugs and having their paws wrapped up for a couple of days, physically they were mostly still the same cats.

I'm simply telling my experience with three cats. My main concerns when I chose to have the procedure done was pain management and of course risk from anesthesia. Those would still be my main concern today.

My cats didn't speak English, so I certainly can't say for sure --- but from my observations it certainly didn't seem to cause them undue pain or stress.

 

[puffkin]

I don't know why this is necessary since message boards are "opinion" based, but here goes, this is MY OPINION:

We are not cat people. Never were. All the cats I have been around were declawed. I knew nothing about the procedure. We adopted our cat a almost two years ago from a rescue league and I was going to get it done. However, once I looked into the procedure and saw what it involved, I just was appalled. I trully think it is AWFUL. And, it is done only for convenience of the owners, not (in most cases) for the safety/health of the animal (like spaying/neutering).

My vet will not perform the surgery unless it is a last resort. I place more value on my animal than on my material possessions, so I would never use the "it's destroying my furniture" rationale. I believe the United States is the only industrialized country that still allows declawing. I know it is banned in most of Europe and I think Australia.

Please, if you are considering declawing, at least wait long enough to determine if your cat is a scratcher. It would be a shame to get the procedure done if your cat doesn't need it.

 

[Denine]

I would not declaw. I trim my cats nails. He is very tolerable of it. Our other cat wont let us hold her. She uses a scratching post. I occassionally put catnip on it to remind her. I also have a scratching box. I also have no scratch spray, but it doesn't seem to work.
You can also get those soft paws which go over their nails.

 

[pfishgirl]

We have a cat who is almost 2. He is a 100% complete indoor cat. We had him declawed when we had him fixed. Only the front paws are declawed, even though I was asked if we wanted the back done. aw:

 

[tiggersmom2]

Ya know - I don not know why I came back to read the rest of this thread!
It infuriates me when someone takes a question and rather than just answer it and move on - they feel the need to CONSTANTLY argue with every other poster that doesn't have the SAME exact opinion as themself!
You post your opinion.
nuff said.
leave it alone.
The more you argue - the more it makes me want to do the opposite of whatever you say - as you make yourself out to be a nutcase!
I am sure you are a wonderful person - but leave it alone now... geeezeee..

Patty,

Don't hold back....tell us how you REALLY feel!

 

[Aidensmom]

It is true that a body part is removed, however the cat doesn't need physical or occupational therapy as a result in order to move around, eat, and perform other catly functions in their normal manner.

Sorry for getting off topic, just wanted to say that phrase just really cracked me up.

 

[jenm2878]

All three of my babies are declawed (only front). It did not alter their personalities at all, they were not "mad" at us, and none acted as if they were in pain. I actually think spaying my 1st fur baby was more painful then declawing - she had an umbilical hernia and had to have a larger incision then normal to fix it. We have always been extremely attentive to them and their personalities reflect that. (all very sweet, loving, come when called, love to be cuddled) I was comfortable doing it because my vet is absolutely excellent - he always gives 110% and treats my babies like they're his own. aw:

 

[eclectics]

If you've been to a pound lately--you'd see the number of cats put down. I'd rather adopt a kitty than see it die. If someone has tried everything and nothing has worked--it isn't fair to say they must not be cut out to be a cat owner.

I never said that. I said someone maybe should think twice about getting a cat if they anticipate a problem with clawing in their household. Cats claw. No one should be shocked by that after the fact. Hate clawing? Think before you adopt. Keep in mind that you might have to declaw your cat. If you know that going in and you don't have a problem with it, go ahead and adopt. All I said was that I personally wouldn't put a cat through that ordeal. Loving cats is the only criteria to be a cat owner. What's unfair is insinuating that I would rather see a cat put to sleep than have someone adopt it and declaw it. That is ridiculous.

 

[Morganpics]

Guess I might as well leap in to the fire, too. We got our kitty from the local shelter last August. He's a very loving kitty, but WOULD NOT stop scratching up the furniture even though I had applied sticky paws to just about everything, provided him with a scratching post, and the catnip scratching box. He would use them and then turn right around and go to the couch. I'm not willing to have it ruined. I waited 25 years for good furniture. He is home alone during the day, so reinforcement wasn't there when he misbehaved. We had his front claws removed, and it didn't change him. He is still a very loving kitty who sleeps with his paws touching my arm.

 

[pattyT]

Patty,

Don't hold back....tell us how you REALLY feel!

Keep it up I might have to start a BAD PET OWNERS official thread -
for those who use a leash, and those who don't, for those who feed dry cat food, and those who feed canned stuff....

 

[jenm2878]

Does anyone have a cat that bites his/her own nails? When we were in a moving stage last year, my cat of course sensed something was going on. He just about had all of his nails bitten as if they had been filed. We even watched him do it one night. It was extremely odd behavior.

Two of my babies do this. During their "baths" they will chew on their back claws and spit out the "clippings." Funny to watch.