Declawing your cats

[Miss Daisy]

So, a few weeks back a neighbor came over with a kitten that needed a home. According to her, her daughter had rescued it from a Horse farmer who didn’t want them, and took them away from the mother way too early. The kitten that survived (two others died) was maybe six weeks old when I first saw him. I could hold him in one hand with ease.

Being an animal lover, I immediately wanted to take the kitten in. However, I live with my boyfriend and his mother, and her partner already has two cats that are pretty old (14) and haven’t taken too lightly to the new kids presence. We were allowed to keep the little guy, and named him Puki. The other cats greatly dislike him, but I’m sure they’ll get over it – they all do.

My only problem is, my boyfriend’s mom and her partner want to have Puki neutered and declawed. Now, I have no problem with getting animals spayed and neutered.. in fact all of my animals always have been. My issue is declawing. It’s unnecessary and inhumane. Here in the U.S. it’s done simply for the convenience of the owner because cats, naturally, like to claw things. I’ve had cats all my life, and have NEVER had them declawed. My cats have never ruined furniture; it’s not that hard to teach them to use a scratching post.

I know a lot of members here at PBS are from the UK, and as far as I know, getting your cat Declawed is illegal there, as it should be. It would make my day if it became illegal in the United States as well. So, for those that don’t know.. when you have your cat declawed, it’s not just simply removing a nail from the paw. Cat’s claws are pretty much connected to the bones in their feet, and when declawed the vet must remove that bone entirely. In a human perspective, it’s basically amputating fingertips at the last knuckle. It’s a painful surgery, and painful recovery time where you cat still has to walk and use a litter box.

Opinions?

I refuse to have this procedure done to my cat.. period. And needless to say, I’m entirely against the practice and anyone that thinks it’s okay to do it. IMO, if you don’t want to deal with the cons of owning an animal that naturally likes to do things like that, don’t own cats. Would you have a dogs voice box ripped out because you didn’t want it to bark? o.0

I know that there’s some kind of plastic caps that they sell at stores like PetCo and PetSmart, but I’ve never used them – as I said, my cats never had problems and they were all outdoor cats anyway. Does anyone here use them, and do they work?

[BEAST]

Declawing a cat? Thats not right in my book tbh. Cats have claws and thats life.

Do we debeak a parrot because it pecks at things.



No no no

[📚 Dianne 📚]

Why are you asking for opinions? I'm not being snarky, just very curious. You've left us no real room for other opinions unless we (anyone who may have had it done) all want to be hammered.

[tylerk]

I seem to remember someone mentioning placing a dab of super glue on the tips of the claws so they don't come to a point and therefore rip carpeting and furniture. Of course, it seems something like that would eventually come off, and you'd have to keep it up.

I've heard there is a tape you can get to run down the edge of furniture that cats don't like, so they won't rip up your couch and chairs. We keep talking about getting it, but never get around to it. If we ever do, I'll report back.

As for declawing, I can't remember where I saw it, but I read a terribly sad article about a cat being declawed (they remove the first joint) and how the female cat would sit on her hind legs holding her bandaged paws in the air and cried. The person who wrote it described it as a terrible thing to do to a cat.

That did did for me. I'll never have a cat declawed.

[Miss Daisy]

Sept 22, 2008 10:07:48 GMT -8 📚 Dianne 📚 said:

Why are you asking for opinions? I'm not being snarky, just very curious. You've left us no real room for other opinions unless we (anyone who may have had it done) all want to be hammered.

It's alright, Dianne. I'm not going to get gripey with anyone if they disagree, but on the same note my mind can't be changed on the issue. I'm firmly against it, and have seen reprocussions of cats that have had it done. It's really sad

However, I didn't want to make a topic like "I know I'm right, and if you think different I don't want to hear your opinion, so go away". I'm totally open to hear from anyone here who may have their cats declawed. I know not all cats suffer after, and I'd like to hear credible reasons why people choose to have it done.

[wildmaven]

I did a little man-on-the-street poll at work and realized that 90% of those I asked didn’t realize what is involved in declawing a cat. Most thought just the claws were removed. If it were only that easy.

First, I want you to do something for me. While barefoot, stand up and take a few steps forward, but keep your toes up off the floor. Notice the unusual pressure points put on your other foot parts. If you continued to walk this way, you’d experience back and joint pains. Now hold up your hand and look at the part of your fingers where the nails grow. Bend your fingers, noticing the joints. Sit for a few minutes until you get an itch. Try to scratch it with your knuckle. Tomorrow, when you wake up and go into the bathroom to get ready, don’t use that comb or brush. Confused? You should be. You’ve just been declawed.

Now, the info:
Declawing is such a misinforming term. True, the claws are removed, but also part of the toe is actually AMPUTATED: “Contrary to most people’s understanding, declawing consists of amputating not just the claws, but the whole phalanx (up to the joint), including bones, ligaments, and tendons! To remove the claw, the bone, nerve, joint capsule, collateral ligaments, and the extensor and flexor tendons must all be amputated. Thus declawing is not a “simple”, single surgery but 10 separate, painful amputations of the third phalanx up to the last joint of each toe. A graphic comparison in human terms would be the cutting off of a person’s finger at the last joint of each finger.” Source

You know how humans get phantom pains after an amputation? How even a simple injury or surgery can turn into arthritis later in life? No one knows if a cat experiences these things. They can’t tell us. But why should they even have to?

[🍁🇨🇦 Tai Pan 🇨🇦🍁]

My dear female cat of 17 years was declawed on her front paws and she did just fine. In 17 years she never once got past me at the front door. She was a house cat 100% never getting fleas or her ss kicked in fight or having a randy male chasing her down.

[Miss Daisy]

Thanks, wildmaven I don't think enough people really understand what's involved when they get their cats declawed. I find it very unfortunate and rather saddening that people have it done to their animals that they love so much, without realizing (or even with realizing) what's happening to them. I can't stop people from making that kind of decision.. I just wish they were more educated on what a cruel action they're making.

Especially when there are alternatives.

[۞QCStar۞]

When I've had cats, I never had them declawed. To me, that's just evil. If they even tried to claw the furniture, they got swatted once and they never did it again. That and climbing the kitchen furniture and appliances are a big no-no to me. My cats only had to learn that lesson once.

[Taylor]

I don't agree with declawing. I have a cat and four kittens (who are techincally cats themselves now ) and we'd never dream of having them declawed. It's wrong.

[📚 Dianne 📚]

Sept 22, 2008 10:30:20 GMT -8 🍁🇨🇦 Tai Pan 🇨🇦🍁 said:

My dear female cat of 17 years was declawed on her front paws and she did just fine. In 17 years she never once got past me at the front door. She was a house cat 100% never getting fleas or her ss kicked in fight or having a randy male chasing her down.

I was going to write a lengthy post about how mine are hail, happy and if I hadn't had the procedure done they would have been put down because they are from the pound and hours away from death.
They are able to leap, jump, frolic and climb with no problems. They fight with their back claws Until it becomes illegal I can keep rescuing cats, and they all can live a hail and hearty life in the lap of luxury with me! They have suffered no long term or short term effects. They've all lived to be over 15 years old and one has lived to be 18. Done as kittens they know no different and thus cannot miss what they never had, it's like being born with out that limb instead of having it amputated.

[MarvinRules]

We got a kitten last year. We decided to have it de-clawed, but only the front claws. The reason is that we have antique furniture and did not want it damaged.
He is over a year old now, and he paws at things (Probably to put his scent on them). If he still had his claws he would have damaged the antique furniture, than we would have gotten rid of him.

When we first got him we managed to train him to stay off the table and counters, but the clawing of furniture would not stop.
It was not an easy decision, but for us it was the best choice.

The vet recommended that we only do the front claws, and leave the back ones in place because that would be easier on the kitten. He was going to be an indoor cat so he was not going to need the claws for defense.

The only time that he uses his rear claws is for traction when he wants to run really fast and make a sudden turn. (He learned the hard way that trick does not work on tile.)
He seems happy, and loves to play with everything.

It is not a cosmetic surgery like is commonly done with some other animals. And it is not for all cats in all situations.

[Shady]

I think it's horrible, and I'd never heard of it being done until an American told me about it. You'd be prosecuted for doing it in this country.

[MarvinRules]

Sept 22, 2008 10:31:13 GMT -8 Miss Daisy said:

Thanks, wildmaven I don't think enough people really understand what's involved when they get their cats declawed. I find it very unfortunate and rather saddening that people have it done to their animals that they love so much, without realizing (or even with realizing) what's happening to them. I can't stop people from making that kind of decision.. I just wish they were more educated on what a cruel action they're making.

Especially when there are alternatives.

We tried those... He kept chewing them off, so they did not work for our kitten.

[tenthofmay1957]

I would love to get my kitten declawed (those little claws hurt) but I'd never do it after learning about it. If it was just removing the claw, I might consider it, but as it is, no way.

I'm sure she'll grow out of thinking she has to claw us when we're playing with her, so it's worth suffering now.