yes, but not for the sake of saving your furnature.
mr. tinkles would still be with us if he had been decalwed. he ended up scratching the heck out of his neck (and yes, ways to heal it were tried) but it ended up getting infected, and he stopped eating because of that, and died.
yes, there are horror stories about cats being in pain after waking up after the operation, but there are horror stories about getting wisdom teeth pulled, or any other surgery. in my experience, none of my cats have had any pain when waking up, but our vet gives them a pain killer through i.v. before they wake up.
all of my cats have had happy, healthy, and except for 2 of them, long lives. of the two, one had diabetes, and the other had bladder cancer, and both had to be put down. i have NEVER personally heard of a cat being badly affected by not having claws. search the internet enough, and you can find bad cases. but this is true for anything. ************************************************************************ 10-25-03, 07:49 AM Chipmunk NO!!! I don't think cats should be declawed. If you are about to buy a cat you should first make sure you have furniture that doesn't easily get destroyed by the cats scratching. Like I have blankets over the sofas. Also you can teach you cat when its still a kitten to not scratch them. And if your cat is an "outside" cat it could be dangerous for it to not have claws because they can't climb trees to get away from for example dogs.
10-25-03, 08:07 PM kittypal First of all if cats are declawed as soon as they are able to be (they must weigh no less than 3 pounds) it isn't that painful, how do I know??? Am I a real cat? We had our three cats declawed because my mom had a disorder where she bled very easily and could not have her skin ripped. ALL three cats were done as soon as they were able to, they all came home from the vet, jumped out of the carriers and went off ate, played, and carried on as if nothing happened. I would not get a grown cat declawed, nor would I ever put my declawed cats outside, we are very careful to watch the doors at all times so they do not go out.
11-05-03, 12:57 PM mystery250 I might. I think it is fine, as long as they stay STRICTLY INDOORS. Without claws, they have no way to protect themselves.
11-05-03, 02:46 PM Texan-In-Exile My vet said that some cats have only the front paws declawed; and he knew at least one cat that could climb trees using his back claws to dig in!
I still don't like it though. Neutering them was bad enough!
11-05-03, 03:01 PM Georgia85 I definately believe indoor cats should be declawed. I've had that done to both of my cats and neither have shown any inclination that they were uncomfortable with the procedure. They are, afterall, anesthetized and given antibiotics to ward off infection. And believe me, if they ever got outside they certainly could defend themselves with their back claws. Although I do try to keep those trimmed.
Now my vet does do front AND back declawing but I think that is a little too drastic.
11-06-03, 05:00 PM FredPuli It is illegal to declaw cats in the UK. How on Earth do our millions of cat owning families survive with a cat with its claws still on and in the house? We poor things !
It really must be important to you people; I bet you can't think how we can be without it. What wonderful furnishings you must all have that you do this; my, the typical American home with a clawless cat must be better than the Palace of Versailles or any British cat-owning millionaires or Duke's ! It's illegal in most of Western Europe and other places too in spite of the wonders of modern surgery. Aren't we backward ! Of course some countries don't care what the surgery is; they think it cruel to deprive the cat whether the cat be in Rio or Tokyo, Lisbon or Berlin.
Mind it's been illegal to crop dogs' ears here for a hundred years or so and you do that in the US for some reason; what would that be ?
It's tempting to ask whether you've got around to banning bear-baiting or cockfighting yet but it's a bit off topic ( and the answer might be 'no' which would be unfunny)
11-07-03, 01:11 AM mattlynda honestly, i could care less about my furniture. thats what sticky tape is for.
i DO care about my legs and other body parts though, and the dogs, and any kids that come over. if a cat scratches a kid who is visiting, the chances are the cat will have to be put down. (yet another reason i dont like people... but thats another topic).
i have heard of NO cat being in pain after declawing (anymore than after getting fixed). yes, you can find articles on the internet about horror stories, but i can find horror stories about people dying from a hair cut if i look enough.
we got our cat declawed as she had claws that would not retract, and was causing herself a lot of pain from getting them caught in the carpet.
and i am very much against getting an older cat declawed. we got phantom done the same time she went in to get spayed. she dosent seem to miss them at all.
11-07-03, 03:09 AM Jenny Roberts I agree entirely with Fred Puli. People who think more of their furniture than they do their pets should not be allowed to keep a pet. How would you like all your fingernails being removed!
11-07-03, 05:18 AM FredPuli Don't get a pure-bred Burmese cat, anyone ! Uniquely, it's claws only partially retract.So you could find that a problem. You could hardly try to justify declawing that on the grounds its claws proved non-retractable Wink
11-07-03, 08:24 AM Lydia I think declawing a cat is inhumane...it's cruel and an easy way out for those that are too lazy to train a cat not to scratch furniture and/or people. Both of my cats have been trained to use a scratching post...the only time I get scratched by Emmie is when I start it Wink
Now if I were to ever have children, you can be sure they would have their fingertips cut off - certainly the only way I know of to avoid fingerprints on the windows and fridge!!! Big Grin
12-24-03, 06:00 PM IndigoFlavours We declawed the front paws of my two cats. When they were young. And they're indoor cats. This helped because 1. We didn't have to clip their nails as often 2. They couldn't hurt each other as much 3. They couldn't hurt US as much 4. They couldn't hurt the furniture as much and 5. They didn't need them for anything.
Cats aren't awake when this procedure happens. It's kind of like when some parents pierce their daughter's ears when she is a baby/toddler.
If they were outdoor cats the situation would have been different.
12-24-03, 07:32 PM Jelp01 I'd never have it done if the cats were to be outdoors. They'd be left defenseless that way. As for indoor cats, if they were young, I'd see no problem with it. But older, adult cats.....let 'em keep their claws.
quote:Originally posted by IndigoFlavours: We declawed the front paws of my two cats. When they were young. And they're indoor cats. This helped because 1. We didn't have to clip their nails as often 2. They couldn't hurt each other as much 3. They couldn't hurt US as much 4. They couldn't hurt the furniture as much and 5. They didn't need them for anything.
Cats aren't awake when this procedure happens. It's kind of like when some parents pierce their daughter's ears when she is a baby/toddler.
If they were outdoor cats the situation would have been different.
Helped YOU yeah....but I bet the cat would answer differently.
And Matty, why in the world would a cat have to be *put down* for scratching a kid that was visiting? I've never had a cat scratch a kid who didn't mistreat the cat in the first place. They just don't attack humans for no reason, as a general rule. This is a good time to teach the KID to treat the kitty nicely.
In my opinion, and that of the 5 cats I have now, and the countless cats I've owned in my lifetime, declawing is mutilation done for the convenience of the owner. Period.
12-29-03, 04:28 PM jusork
quote:Originally posted by Cyndiluwho_99:
quote:Originally posted by IndigoFlavours: We declawed the front paws of my two cats. When they were young. And they're indoor cats. This helped because 1. We didn't have to clip their nails as often 2. They couldn't hurt each other as much 3. They couldn't hurt US as much 4. They couldn't hurt the furniture as much and 5. They didn't need them for anything.
Cats aren't awake when this procedure happens. It's kind of like when some parents pierce their daughter's ears when she is a baby/toddler.
If they were outdoor cats the situation would have been different.
Helped YOU yeah....but I bet the cat would answer differently.
So are you saying most cats wouldn't be happy without their claws (don't forget we're talking about indoors right now)? Are they really being stripped of anything important?
12-29-03, 06:59 PM mattlynda cindy, that floors me too, yet we have had cases here in town where cats have been put down for clawing the kid who was to blame.
12-30-03, 03:20 AM Cyndiluwho_99
quote:Originally posted by jusork:
quote:Originally posted by Cyndiluwho_99:
quote:Originally posted by IndigoFlavours: We declawed the front paws of my two cats. When they were young. And they're indoor cats. This helped because 1. We didn't have to clip their nails as often 2. They couldn't hurt each other as much 3. They couldn't hurt US as much 4. They couldn't hurt the furniture as much and 5. They didn't need them for anything.
Cats aren't awake when this procedure happens. It's kind of like when some parents pierce their daughter's ears when she is a baby/toddler.
If they were outdoor cats the situation would have been different.
Helped YOU yeah....but I bet the cat would answer differently.
So are you saying most cats wouldn't be happy without their claws (don't forget we're talking about indoors right now)? Are they really being stripped of anything important?
why do it, jusork?...It's mutilation of a body part done for the convenience of the owner and to me that is a disgraceful thing to do to an animal.
01-04-04, 03:17 PM IndigoFlavours Unless you are a vegetarian I hardly think you can call me and thousands of cat owners disgraceful for "mutilating" my pet for my convenience without being a major hypocrite.
My cats came home from being declawed as kittens happy as they were two hours earlier. I saw no bandanges, no blood, no limping, no unhappiness. If you're calling declawing disgraceful then you might as well apply the same adjective to spaying and neutering.
They didn't feel it. They weren't awake. And don't doubt that I love my cats. I would rather speak out against FGM, which to me seems like a worthwhile fight.
02-03-04, 12:37 AM Cyndiluwho_99 The use of animals especially raised for food and the mutilation of domesticated pets for the convenience of their owners is so far apart from each other, it doesn't even warrant a response.
And to equate it with spaying and neutering is just ludicrous.
I can't believe I've wasted THIS much time responding.
02-03-04, 07:58 AM Lydia
quote:Originally posted by Cyndiluwho_99: The use of animals especially raised for food and the mutilation of domesticated pets for the convenience of their owners is so far apart from each other, it doesn't even warrant a response.
And to equate it with spaying and neutering is just ludicrous.
I can't believe I've wasted THIS much time responding.
I agree with you Cyndi...but you (nor I) will ever be able to explain this to individuals who look to justify cutting off the tips of cats "fingers"...
02-03-04, 05:25 PM Cyndiluwho_99 Exactly, Lydia....so I'm not going to waste my breath.
Indigo....if "FGM" is such a worthy cause, why not enlighten the rest of us to it....it could be we agree on something there....
02-03-04, 05:51 PM IndigoFlavours Yes, because writing two measely sentences is 'wasting THIS much time responding.'
This shouldn't be an argument, but really you have no explanation for why I can't call you a hypocrite for not being a vegetarian. Or why I can't equate it with spaying and neutering.
And FGM needs no explanation for why it's so horrible. But it doesn't belong on here. Just type in FGM into google and I'm sure we'd agree.
Oh my, look at the time. What a waste of responding Wink Lighten up, my post was supposed to make you think, not get you mad. Razz
02-03-04, 08:41 PM Cyndiluwho_99 You think calling me a hypocrite is supposed to just make me think, not make me mad????
Well excuse me, but that's not exactly a compliment.
Spaying and neutering is done for the animals GOOD, not for the owner's whim. Stupid argument.
I did Google FGM and I got nothing that applied to animals. But since you don't want to say what it is that you're supporting so vehemently, I won't bother looking any further for it.
02-03-04, 11:00 PM jusork Cyndi, saying someone is being hypocritical can often be a neutral statement, not a degrading statement at all. A lot of people take it emotionally when someone says they're being hypocritical because they don't realize that they aren't degrading them by calling them hypocritical, the situation is just hypocritical.
02-03-04, 11:11 PM Cyndiluwho_99 No, jusork...you are wrong....saying someone is a hypocrite is an insult. Pure and simple.
There's an old saying where I come from....
You can put your boots in the oven, but that don't make 'em biscuits.
To explain that, you can say that calling someone a hypocrit is a "neutral statement" (whatever you mean by that)...but that doesn't make it so.
02-04-04, 07:26 PM IndigoFlavours Okay FGM doesn't have to do with animals, it has to do with mutilation.
And the thing about being hypocritical is I'm just pointing out something (not necessarily how I look at it, since I 'like mutilating' my pets and eating meat).
If you are not a vegetarian, then it can be hypocritical because: Declawing cats is atrocious, blah blah blah, BUT Murdering animals for food even when you could be eating a non-meat diet is just fine.
A little unbalanced.
And where I come from, saying that something is mutilation doesn't make it so.
LIGHTEN UP. I guess the smilies didn't work. Jeez.
02-04-04, 09:32 PM Cyndiluwho_99 Insulting someone and then adding a smiley face to it does not make it any less an insult.
Why am I debating this with kids anyway?
I'm out of this thread. No need to reply.
02-05-04, 06:40 AM Karrow This is a very emotive subject, but that shouldn't mean that it can't be debated without resorting to insults. Please remember the AnswerPool site rule which states:
"We hope that ideas will be expressed, exchanged, debated and discussed in depth; diversity of opinion is a good thing and we encourage it. However, disagreements must remain courteous and within the boundaries of the site rules. Personal attacks, or 'Flame Wars', have no place here and are not acceptable as a means of expression."
Thank you all for your co-operation. Smile
02-05-04, 04:06 PM IndigoFlavours Of course, why debate it with a 'kid'? It's not like they have any worthwhile ideas or opinions of their own. I'm sorry you took that as an insult. IMHO it was an insult to not actually reply to what I was trying to say (to try and give you a different point of view, including the point about vegetarianism), but instead make an excuse and leave the thread. I thought people here could take what they were dishing out (differing opinions).
Karrow I am sorry that somehow I got everybody riled up for having a different opinion. I didn't realize that pointing out a flaw in logic was somehow a personal attack. Personally I didn't think I was 'flaming,' I guess some people take criticism of an idea differently than others. If you could email me to help define what exactly is within the site rules, I would appreciate it.
02-05-04, 06:18 PM Karrow IndigoFlavours, I didn't accuse you, or anyone else, of flaming. If the squabbling had sunk to that level, then I would have deleted the posts!
What I said was: "This is a very emotive subject, but that shouldn't mean that it can't be debated without resorting to insults."
I'm not sure which part of the site rules you want defining, but if you e-mail me with specific questions I will try to answer them.
02-05-04, 10:10 PM Cyndiluwho_99 Indigo...the personal attack came in when you called me a hypocrite.
THAT is namecalling and against the rules.
02-05-04, 11:06 PM jusork Cyndi, if someone on here posted about, let's say, boycotting company A yet just supported them somehow without realizing it, would I be wrong to point out that they don't realize they are being hypocritical (a hypocrite)? I think that's what Indigo is doing.
02-06-04, 10:07 AM Lydia poor horse Roll Eyes
02-06-04, 10:29 AM IndigoFlavours Thank you for the clarification, Karrow. I misinterpreted and that's why I was confused about the site rules (because if that HAD been considered flaming, I would have wanted to know what was 'tame').
Thank you for defending me, jusork.
Cyndiluwho_99 I thought you had left the thread? But of course you wanted to come back and once again avoid the actual topic. You want insults? Calling me a 'kid,' saying my reasoning 'doesn't even warrant a response,' and saying I'm 'disgraceful' could start the list. But the second I point out something in your thinking that contradicts itself, it's a personal attack. And I'm guessing from your reaction that you would rather cry foul than focus on what I'm actually saying. If one word makes you so defensive, then I will just assume that you have nothing to to say in response to the points I have made in defense of de-clawing cats, and nothing to refute the fact that it is hypocritical to support the murdering of animals for food you don't need but say that declawing a cat is an abomination. I already apologized, and I have nothing else to say to you UNLESS you actually respond to the topic at hand. (I can't believe I wasted THIS much time responding Roll Eyes)
LOL@Lydia
02-06-04, 10:55 AM Lydia Indigoflavors - I do not know Cyndi personally, so I cannot comment on why she may not respond to what you are saying, but I will say that I am vehemently AGAINST the declawing of cats, but your position for being pro-declawing wouldn't hold up in an actual debate. You are not comparing apples to apples and your argument is neither logical nor sound...this is why I am not bothering.
02-06-04, 11:07 AM Texan-In-Exile Would this be considered a "cat fight"? Wink
02-07-04, 12:39 AM Sherasi My family always declawed our cats.. everyone of 'em.
I have never seen any indication that they were in misery or distress. Of course, the vet also removed Lacie's tail.. is that also mutilation? What about the docking of the dewclaw? Is that also abuse? Neutering is also a surgical procedure altering the original shape and function of that body part.
Not trying to start an argument, but I just want to clarify exactly where abuse starts and stops?
None of our cats ever got out.. ever. They never even tried to get out... that was with 21 years and more of cat ownership.
What about baby human boys that get circumcised? The doctors are cutting off part of an appendage of their most private (and PAINFUL) anatomy.
Something to think about.
02-07-04, 09:57 AM Lydia For the life of me, I cannot understand why people cannot discuss this particular issue without bringing up other things that are totally irrelevant...comparing apples and oranges.
02-07-04, 12:38 PM Lydia Personally, I don't think it's ok (unless the reason for the dewclaw removal is purely for safety reasons; for the dog). I think that removing a dewclaw for reasons of "smoothing" the appearance of a dog's leg and the docking of a tail is purely done for comsmetic purposes. So, no, I do not think that it is comparable. 02-07-04, 04:57 PM mattlynda what about declawing for the safety of the cat, or of other pets?
02-08-04, 03:11 PM Lydia as with many situations, there are times when things that are not necessarily "acceptable" are warranted. If there is nothing else that can be done and the health of an animal is at stake, then yes, there is no alternative. When it's done as a matter of convenience or as opposed to taking the time to train an animal, that is different.
04-27-04, 03:31 PM Elexina Sorry, I'm a little late getting to this post but I did want to add my six cents about cats and their horrible horrible claws. I have one declawed (only the front) and one clawed and they were that way when I got them. If it had been up to me, I never would have gotten either of them declawed. I think it's cruel, unfair and unnatural. My cats don't go outside, but what if they got out? They would never be able to defend themselves. Cats without claws would be great, but that is only for my convenience. I could Nair off all of my husbands' chest hairs so that he would stop leaving them in the tub, for my convenience, but is that really fair to him? No.
If a cat cannot get it through its thick skull that clawing things and people and animal siblings is NOT acceptable (and, usually, a stern lecture will take care of this), then declawing may be the only option short of getting rid of the creature. But it should only be a last resort. If a cat is a danger to others, or to himself, because of his claws, then declawing is actually the humane thing to do. If not, then not.
As I said, I have one with claws and one without. The one without is the only one that (tries to) scratches the furniture -and it's actually pretty funny to see. We just keep the other one's nails trimmed way down and we don't usually have a problem.
I think that the procedure can be done safely and without much pain to the cat, but I don't think it's right to do just out of convenience for the owners. However, there are many sides to a story. I adopted my cats as adults and if I could not keep the fat one from clawing, I might well have gotten her declawed as well. Not because it would be easier, but because a cat who has never been taught any different and who lived alone for nearly a year can be very difficult if not impossible to train. But I would have tried everything else first! They also have claw caps that you can get, rather than declaw, but those can be expensive and my cat puts up a fight for the comb...
ANYway. I think that declawing is acceptable as a last resort (preferably when the cat is still very young!) but I still think it's wrong, and should never be done as a convenience. ...I just wish my cat would speak English and say, "now seriously, woman, yank these darn things out of me so we can get on with life!" Wink
04-27-04, 04:42 PM Lydia
quote:Originally posted by Elexina: I could Nair off all of my husbands' chest hairs so that he would stop leaving them in the tub, for my convenience, but is that really fair to him? No.
Seriously though...I think you should try waxing first...and get back to us to let us know how that works out!! Wink
Heck - the cats may enjoy watching too!!! (sorry...I know - off topic, but I couldn't resist!!!) Roll Eyes
04-30-04, 04:25 AM puppyblues Declawing for anything other then the cats health is selfish. So is the 'cutting off the tail'. Why on earth did you do that, Sher?? As for the spay/neuter argument, that's just crazy. Claws and tails don't get pregnant and produce thousands of unwanted and uncared for pets. Having your pets spayed/neutered is for the animal, itself. It's a proven fact that they live longer, healthier lives and they don't have unwanted litters.
So, in my opinion, if you are declawing for your own convience, then you are just selfish and should reconsider having a pet in the first place.
04-30-04, 11:11 AM FredPuli Sherasi,what argument do you have for tail-docking? Docking tails is another daft practice. It only survived being outlawed here, back at the end of the C19, because of a lobby of influential traditionalists who were patrons of the Kennel Club and the RSPCA.
Parliament did outlaw cropping ears at that time. None of these gentlemen indulged in dog fighting; an occupation peculiar to the lower orders; which they also had had made illegal. {The ears were cut to help the dogs in fighting ) That totally unjustified practice is still permitted in the USA; like declawing cats (also illegal elsewhere) it demonstrates a strange attitude to animals; one which is not encountered in other advanced nations.
The reasons given for docking tails have now become one in the UK. Vets here refuse to do it anyway. Nobody can argue that it is justified for cosmetic reasons. It is that dogs that are used to hunt and retrieve in gorse and thorn thickets may suffer serious injury to the tail. This argument is meant to justify docking animals that have never and shall never work in this way, or at all. Note that this is akin to saying that we should all lose a leg to stop risk of injury to the foot. On those rare ocasions that such accidemts occur in the field the tail may, in extremis, have to be amputated later. Otherwise you are removing the principal means by which the dog communicates thoughts and emotions to other dogs and to us.
That argument cannot be valid for breeds , such as the boxer or Rottweiler, that were not even bred for this work. It becomes sillier when you realise that there are gundog breeds which are never docked but which are just as likely to suffer the injury in practice.
Which poodle in Manhattan (or anywhere ) is being sent hunting in thickets? The dog was originally bred to have a full tail; it's a duck retriever.Docking the tail is for the vanity of the owner. Only one poodle in this house is docked and one American cocker; both by their breeders; it is interesting that the poodle docking is minimal (she's a standard)The other eight eligible dogs, all raised here, are untouched, as are the nine new puppies. All look fine and none have been incapicitated in an important way.
Dewclaws are not to be removed either; the only reason for doing so must be medical necessity, not tradition.
04-30-04, 12:34 PM Sherasi
quote:Originally posted by puppyblues: Why on earth did you do that, Sher??
Puppy, I didn't do anything to either of my dogs. I even asked for Lacie to NOT have her tail docked, but the breeder refused saying she wanted to choose the correct dog and it was too early to know which would be best for us by the time the tails needed docked.
quote:Originally posted by FredPuli: Sherasi,what argument do you have for tail-docking?
Dewclaws are not to be removed either; the only reason for doing so must be medical necessity, not tradition.
Fred, I didn't WANT lacie docked, that is the only way we could get her. Rajah (our new puppy) HAS his tail.. this breeder didn't mind letting us keep the tail and as he was the only male, it wasn't difficult to "choose".
I only recently even found out about dewclaws while researching on the internet. I do not believe the dewclaws on my dogs have been removed. I am not exactly sure where the dewclaws are, but they appear intact to me.
05-02-04, 10:29 PM puppyblues Then my sincerest apologies, Sher. I can understand the situation you were in and I'm glad you didn't opt for the new puppy to get his done. Smile
06-02-04, 03:25 PM Elexina
quote:Originally posted by Lydia: Seriously though...I think you should try waxing first...and get back to us to let us know how that works out!! Heck - the cats may enjoy watching too!!!
Oh, they would totally enjoy watching that. Those little freaks. The little one HAS to be in the bathroom with us ALL the time and then she just stares. There is quite the jolly rivalry between the cats and the husband, that's for sure.
So. Now I have this issue, though. I finally figured out how to trim the cats' claws (the little one was no problem but the big one is MEAN if you touch her and she doesn't want to be touched -she hits me when I comb her! and I don't mean she swipes at me, she really punches!) but I have some troubles. Silent Bob has suddenly developed a penchant for digging her nails into the arm of our insanely expensive sofa. And you don't just tell Bob not to do something. She does what she wants. So we've got this "cat away" spray and it seems to have worked, but my husband says he's going to rip her nails out of her feet -or sell her to the Chinese restaurant- the next time she does something like that. I'm not really keen on little bloody stumps. So my question is this: do cats have skin in their nails? How far can I clip before it hurts her? I can't tell with her because she acts like everything is a major ordeal (this is the one who limps for attention!) I want her nails as short and as dull as possible. Can I file them? Are there special cat files? Granted, I'm going to need a posse if I try to file her claws as well as trim them because it could get ugly. Thank goodness for over mitts! But really. I will not have her de-clawed, but my husband will not put up with nails in the sofa or the carpet or anywhere but in her scratchy thing. I've ordered fresh scratchy things, but I'm just looking for some suggestions on nail maintenance. Thanks!
06-03-04, 12:58 AM mystery250 Neighbours cats are declaws. Their furnature is fine. Our cats here have decimated the walls, the furniture, and everything else they can get their claws on.
BAD CATS!
Oh well, they are just cats... 06-03-04, 08:57 AM Elexina
quote:Oh well, they are just cats...
Yes, but... Any ideas for me?
06-03-04, 11:23 AM Lydia Elexina, There are a couple of options. You can clip the nails, which should be done every few weeks or you could even try the new things they have out now (there are likely several brands) - the web site below will give you some info on these as well as picture of where to cut your cats claws.
Be careful not to cut the quick...it will bleed and it could bleed quite badly!!!! (The "quick" is the pink area in the middle).
See THIS site for some additional information and instructions.
06-11-04, 03:31 PM Elexina Thanks, Lydia! I've actually figured out how to pin the big girl down and clip her. ...But I can't imagine her letting me put caps on her claws. Though pretty red ones would be so sexy! Wink Thank you for the info! Good stuff.
07-11-05, 01:53 PM Snow i had just declawed my cat because she was scratching the dogs eye out...i have tried everything to get her to stop but it seemed like the only choice....
just to say that when the cat had scratched the dogs eye it took $200 to get it fixed...we tried seperating them and it didnt work
also the cat is an in door cat and never goes outside so my point is that sometimes it is ok to declaw cats but for a good reason not for just saving funiture
thats my say in this
07-11-05, 02:45 PM aminator2002 I think declawing is wrong. I think if you can't deal with taking care of a cat with claws then you ought not have one... I imagine that there are extreme situations but most owners that I know do so to save furniture. My cat doesn't ruin my furniture that I can tell... she has been trained not to and she has a scratching post laced with real good catnip that she enjoys. I cut her nails every week or so and she is very used to the routine. I cut my nails and then I do hers. I think the website that Lydia posted was exactly right on how to approach it... you have to get the cat used to having its paws touched first and then after a bit of trust and desensitizing has taken place they won't be traumatized by nail clipping.
In my life we have had about 15 different cats. All except one had claws intact. The one that didn't came to us from a friend who couldn't care for him anymore. He was an outdoor cat (after he was given to us) and he has done very well for himself... before anyone gets excited, he can even climb trees and fight for himself very well. I know that sounds like we were negligent, but you take a look at this cat and he was just fine at taking care of himself. 15 years he's lived with us.... I only wonder how many deer he would have killed if he had all his claws (he managed to kill several birds, squirrels and racoons without claws).
I was also given a declawed cat for a short period of time and hers was a different story. Her paws were basically mutilated by the declawing and she had less balance than a regular cat because they do take off a bit more than just the claw. She still has the instinct to paw at things but it's very sad to see because it's like she gets none of the satisfaction... my other cat looks like she goes into another world when she sits and needles her paws into something.
I am surprised that the vote on this topic was so evenly divided... I thought more would be against it.
07-11-05, 04:48 PM Snow i agree to where cats shouldnt be declawed for no reason at all but when you try everything to keep other animals away from the cat or even training the cat and nothing works the last thing you should do is declaw the cat
my mother was crying for two days straight because she had to declaw the cat. we dont like to hurt animals but it was the only choice to make and my mom didnt want to spend $200 each time the cat scratched the dogs eyes ( the cat is bigger then the dog anyways) i dont like to hurt the cats but when it comes down to it for me i had to
01-18-07, 02:14 PM Tanita I believe that nature knows what it does and how are animals made… if you what to have a semi - wild creature as your pet, you have to create the environment for you both to be comfortable...My cat goes out, has all kind of toys, climbs trees and does all sort of “catty” things...the couch does not present any interest to her whatsoever...
Edited to rmove ad.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed, 01-18-07 01:37 PM
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