Declawing. What are your thoughts?

[Nefertari]

As stated if its a medical reason fine, but to declaw because they are destroying the furniture ect it is inhumane...also glad it is Illegal in this country!

 

[starfar]

pretty ashamed that I used to think declawing was the best idea ever.. That is, until I read about what it actually is. It should be called amputation instead of declawing because it truly is very misleading..
I think most people would be against it if they knew it was kin to chopping off fingers as opposed to simply, removing claws..

That being said, I do care about my furniture and my skin, so for the time being we're doing the "Lee Press-ons" as my vet likes to call them lol or "nail caps" .. Dobby doesn't seem to mind them, she doesn't even take them off. I thought cleaning the nail muck would be an issue, but I'm still able to get right up close to the nail bed and clean her up, especially as they start growing out.

 

[Gesundheit]

I realize that I am definitely in the minority, but I have had declawed cats in the past with no problems, no litterbox issues. My sphynx cats are not declawed, simply because they are so good about using their sisal poles to scratch. If it was an issue, I would not have any qualms about having them declawed. My other, non-sphynx cat, is declawed, & he has no issues, either. My cats are well-loved, well-vetted, indoor only, well-fed, & spoiled rotten. I would not consider myself a barbarian if I chose to declaw. I am a registered nurse, & the "horrific" photos of cats waking from anesthesia look no worse than a person coming out of anesthesia. The cat I do have that is declawed in the front was declawed by laser, which was less painful, with less swelling , less bleeding, & less recovery time.

I can see issues with declawing cats, but I've seen many cats declawed as kittens who've developed no issues. They've had no problem using the litterbox and they're still the sweetest creatures. I haven't personally met a single cat whose temperament was changed by declawing.

As you can see, Nym isn't declawed. She's getting better about keeping her needles to herself, and she's MUCH better than she was when this picture was taken.

 

[Fester]

I can see it in exceptional cases. but I can't think of one other than compensating for a deformity offhand.
I also understand/forgive owners who don't/didn't realize what declawing actually is... For their vet not to make it very clear, however is inexcusable of the vet.

I've met some cats with severe aggression issues... on those evil b*****ds I was very glad they still had their claws. I'll take being clawed over bites any day. Puncture wounds heal slow and painful.

//I don't much care for thornless roses either...

 

[KitCatty]

I have done it in the past... Had a special needs kitten who kept her claws out... She got stuck on everything carpet, furniture and skin! We also had a naughty male who... No matter what we did scratched furniture and anything cloth.... We just plain got frustrated with him (not the best reason).

Soooo when we sent our kit in he went too. They never had issues after that but we had to re-home them and my sister let Olivia outside!!!! (Made me mad on two accounts) 1 she was special needs (neurological, she couldn't see straight and was off balance and 2 had no claws)... I was pissed because I would have taken her back but we were cross country I feel bad every time I think about her.

We would never in a million years do it again!

 

[elleinad8050]

Declawing is despicable in my opinion. Claws, when well maintained, are no problem at all.

 

[Cleopatra Beers]

If and when the owner decides to have the first knuckle of their fingers removed the same day their cat is subjected to this barbaric procedure I may consider it almost ok, but nothing else will be allowed. Any pet sells grooming scissors for blunting claws.
Bob

 

[Lickleone]

If and when the owner decides to have the first knuckle of their fingers removed the same day their cat is subjected to this barbaric procedure I may consider it almost ok, but nothing else will be allowed. Any pet sells grooming scissors for blunting claws.
Bob

Be careful what you use as comparison.. I have the tip of my finger cut off!! does this now mean I can with clear conscience declaw Tau? (never fear I would never) but using that s a bad example you forgetting here are people without limbs some of us without the tips of a finger lol...

 

[2Knights]

Totally unneccessary and I am thankful it is illegal. My guys nails are trimmed. The DSH scratches the lounge, while I do tell him off if caught I just wear it, having him is worth it.
Yes barbaric is a word that comes to mind.

 

[Cleopatra Beers]

Be careful what you use as comparison.. I have the tip of my finger cut off!! does this now mean I can with clear conscience declaw Tau? (never fear I would never) but using that s a bad example you forgetting here are people without limbs some of us without the tips of a finger lol...

I take your meaning, however, using an accident in comparrison with a decision isn't cricket (using an english expression). My meaning is this, because of the number of very affordable grooming tools, if there is no medical reason (the safety of the cat) then the declawing operation is done with no good reason and in my personal opinion barbaric and done out of either a lack of knowledge or worse. I saw that many here had done so in the past and had learned their lesson and they should be commended for that change of heart. (Bob)

 

[Lickleone]

I take your meaning, however, using an accident in comparrison with a decision isn't cricket (using an english expression). My meaning is this, because of the number of very affordable grooming tools, if there is no medical reason (the safety of the cat) then the declawing operation is done with no good reason and in my personal opinion barbaric and done out of either a lack of knowledge or worse. I saw that many here had done so in the past and had learned their lesson and they should be commended for that change of heart. (Bob)

No I know what you were saying and wasn't necessarily disagreeing with you, just saying some people know what it feels like to loose the tip of a finger till the knuckle etc and some worse have lost limbs... so didn't think the comparison was good.. and i was actually in reality being more tongue in cheek which possibly got lost lol

 

[Chiquita44]

To be honest, I don't care what my furniture, bed, leather chairs or even my own skin looks like I couldn't imagine doing anythings so horrible. Yes i understand there are some special circumstances but i would rather try change the circumstances rather then the poor kitty.

 

[Emily0404]

I have lost 2 carpets to my cats - never thought of declawing them! I would rather rethink my furniture/ flooring than cause them pain and suffering.

 

[amanda rae]

What are your thoughts on declawing? (Please be polite. We understand this is a sensitive subject.)

I can always see the frustrations of your kitty tearing up furniture and what not, but you purchased a cat. What do you expect? I don't necessarily think its fair. Like debarking a dog.. It's just sad. I don't have the heart for it.

 

[RyuusMom]

Considering that declawing actually removes the first bone in the toes and severs a ligament. No, I'd never do it. 20 years ago there wasn't SoftPaws so my mom had my childhood cat declawed. But I looked up what it does to the cat and the possible deformities it can cause if it isn't done right and I just think its cruel. This goes beyond something like spaying and neutering. That prevents things like cancer and unwanted pregnancy. Declawing is just terrible. I mean its a personal decision, but I wish people would dig deeper into the procedure before doing it. There are ways to break an animal of clawing up everything. :/

 

[1sphynxlover]

I think it's horrible! I quit going to a vet because he did the procedure. The US is one of only a few that it isn't illegal. I think it should be. My furniture, carpet, walls don't mean that much to me. My husbands favorite chair is in shreads. It cost over $1000, he doesn't care. I remind him it was his cat not mine. She's quit because we redirected her. The naked kids have never bothered anything it was his Bengal . I keep their nails trimmed.if you get a cat you should realize you may get scratched. I HATE declawing. I think people should be educated more about it. I don't think they really know what it is.

 

[Rosered13]

I used to work at a Vet and had to sit in on surgeries many times, so I saw quite a few cats get declawed, I saw the whole procedure right in front of my eyes and then had to watch the horrified and mutilated cats wake up and freak out. It was a terrible experience and has scarred me for life. I would NEVER declaw my cats. I have also known people that have declawed cats and yes some of them still act normal, but most of them do not. The most common behavior change I have seen is biting for no reason, and biting hard enough to draw blood. I am actually watching a cat for a friend of mine that she got declawed as a kitten and when I went over to feed and water her today she was rubbing on my leg and purring, so I reached down to pet her and she hissed at me and then tried to bite me. That is a very common behavior in declawed cats.

 

[Franksmom]

I had 3 Persians that were declawed. When I got Frank I said no, he needs to climb up his condos and if he ever got out how would he defend himself. Then Luci and Squatty can along and we said no for them also. It is just not right

 

[cleozmama]

I would never de-claw.

 

[bceanpa]

De-clawing your cat is equivalent to getting your fingers cut from the distal interphalangeal joint (last joint in your finger). How would you like that??? Its MUTILATING AND DISFIGURING YOUR CAT!!! And its traumatizing to your cat as well. Please please please do not get your cats de-clawed-- it is not like just removing the fingernails like some vets say!!!

 

[MisoLina24]

I see it almost every week at work I have two vets who refuse to do them because of how cruel it is! I mean if it was an aggressive cat most of them get declawed and end up biting! It's my job to assist in declawing and other surgical procedures though I don't want to I've seen them done many different ways even the new way to do it with a laser is really just awful.

 

[NeyaBenz]

Im going to share my story, and my personal experiences of why I dont believe in de-clawing. Obviously, this doesnt happen to every cat.
When I was growing up and we got our first(feral) shelter kitten my mom insisted we have her declawed to save our furniture. She must have been at least 6 months, and was finally adjusting to being a house cat vs completely feral.
After what shouldve been her healing period passed, her attitude changed a bit. No longer would she "kneed" us when cuddling with her paws. She walked around more delicately. She stopped sleeping in our bed, preferring instead to sleep alone. She didnt run to play as much as she used to and when she did, she didnt play for very long. We could not inspect her paws, she wouldnt let us, releasing a hard bite. Hard enough to draw blood on a few occasions. Other than touching her paws, she was otherwise an excellent cat although became a little more indifferent to us she still cuddled & layed with us.

After a usual vet exam(at a different vet than the de-claw procedure was done by) we asked about the problem and they checked it out stating either there was either regrowth, or scar tissue causing pain. I was young, I dont know if any options were offered to alleviate the problem but I know if we could have done something to fix it my mother would have.

All that being said, it made me quite sad to know my "baby" had sensitive feet all the time. If I remember correctly, it didnt cause litterbox issues. We did do some things that she seemed to enjoy (heating pads on the feet, soaking her paws in warm water) and of course, never touching them and warning the vet or vet techs of this problem.
All in all, she otherwise seemed to live a happy, loved life. Although the paw issues never went away. I certainly wouldnt want to risk it with another cat unless medically necessary, the whole experience just made declawing seem cruel to me.

 

[bceanpa]

That makes me sad that these poor cats have to experience such sadness all because someone wanted to save their furniture. I strongly believe that some vets do not explain exactly what the procedure entails, they just want to keep their customers happy. Of course not all vets are like that. I feel that in this era, being computer savvy-- we are completely informed of anything we want to have more knowledge of--this makes us smarter consumers. All things aside, please don't get your cats declawed.

 

[NeyaBenz]

That makes me sad that these poor cats have to experience such sadness all because someone wanted to save their furniture. I strongly believe that some vets do not explain exactly what the procedure entails, they just want to keep their customers happy. Of course not all vets are like that. I feel that in this era, being computer savvy-- we are completely informed of anything we want to have more knowledge of--this makes us smarter consumers. All things aside, please don't get your cats declawed.

This is pretty much what happened. The vet that did it made it seem like not a big deal. It was our first cat ever, we put our trust in the vet. My mom always regretted doing it - no furniture was worth putting Chrissy in pain. I agree, its nice now to utilize the internet to look up these things or other concerns to pretty much anything.

 

[Tiffany_Kay]

No I know what you were saying and wasn't necessarily disagreeing with you, just saying some people know what it feels like to loose the tip of a finger till the knuckle etc and some worse have lost limbs... so didn't think the comparison was good.. and i was actually in reality being more tongue in cheek which possibly got lost lol

I think the comparison is right on Considering that's exactly what happens, the first digit of their toes are amputated. They are losing the very first digit of their toe that would be the same as a person losing the tips of their fingers. But this is no accident this purposeful mutilation.