Declawing: against or for?

acatsmeow2006 · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:05 am Post subject: Declawing: against or for?

I'm totally aganist declawing because it is abusive and causing unnecessary pain and suffering with no benefit to the cat. It is a serious surgery and with a painful recovery afterwards; it is removal of the claws, the last bone of the cats claw has to be removed. Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cats "toes". Also, part of the digital pad is removed and incomplete removal of the nailbed. Removing the claws makes a cat feel defenseless. Declawing changes their behavior real fast and their personality changes all together. Some cats become nervous or aggressive, often resorting to their only means of defense, is their teeth. They become biter; using their teeth as a only defense against prey and they become depressed. I have tabby that is declawed on all four paws, he was like that when we adopted him. I recommend don't get your cat declawed. They become really different cats after the surgery. There are other alternatives things you can do like soft paws. They are caps you put on the cats claws but would have to replace every 6weeks. By him/her a scratching post and showed how to use it, put some catnip on the post. Just don't get them declawed. I am curious as to what other cat lovers think about declawing.

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3437

Romeo is our only declawed cat (front only) but he was that way when we adopted him (didn't want to hold it against him). I would never, never, never declaw a cat.

When we first got Romeo, he had a MAJOR biting problem. We figure it was partly due to him being poorly socialized (we suspect he was a breeder at a kitten mill) but largly because he was declawed. He's also pretty clumsy which I think is partly due to not having front claws.

And back many, many years ago, when I was a kid and my parent's didn't know any better, they got a couple of our cats declawed and they stopped using the litter box.

-Chelle

DeLaUK · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:05 am Post subject:

I agree, I think its a cruel and barbaric act. I had never heard of declawing until I moved to CA, as far as I know its never been an option or legal in UK (anyone in UK verify that??).

Working as a vet tech in CA I will say of all the surgeries Ive seen done this has to be the absolute worst to watch a cat coming out of the anaesthesia with. I managed to talk a couple of vets into giving a strong sedative while cats were in recovery from it....why they didnt already do that I have no idea, some vets do but not all (I wont go into any detail of what happens but anyone who has worked in a hospital and seen or heard a cat recovering without a sedative will probably never forget it).

The only time I have 'seen the point' with this has been on a few rescued feral cats that were extremely aggressive, it came down to another home couldnt be found despite the owner trying every avenue, behaviourists had been brought in and didnt work so it was declaw or euthanazia (I remember one cat also having a pulpotomy on it canines, they were filed down).....like I said the ONLY alternative was to euthanize....

What really makes me mad is people who have this done to their cat and then let the cat go outside, I wont tell you how many cats Ive seen brought in after either being hit by a car (first thing you look for if there are no obvious signs is torn nails) and cats that have been chewed up by dogs....these cats should never have been outside in the first place.
Another thing that makes me mad is hearing the excuse that 'I have an expensive leather sofa'......my opinion on that is you have pets (or kids for that matter) then make sure your furniture and carpets are hardy enough to withstand a bit of abuse, people get really offended when you say "so keeping your leather sofa takes priority over amputating your cats body parts" !!!! Mad

The last I heard (when I left CA in 04) quite a few vets around Los Angeles/Hollywierd area were not declawing any more, I think they are trying to bring in a ban on it altogether.

Okay....stepping off my soap box now. Embarassed

Mary_NH · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 1:02 pm Post subject:

my Tilly is like chelle' cat. Her former owner had her declawed and she came here with a biting habit. She's fine now although it took some time, and patience, to get her over it. My husband wasn't sure he wanted to keep her (like he had any say in it).
I know many people use the excuse of protecting their furniture is why they declaw the cat.
Which makes me wonder - if the furniture is so important they have to mutilate the cat if they had a house fire which would they save first - the precious furniture they were willing to mutilate the cat to protect; of the cat.

acatsmeow2006 · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 1:42 pm Post subject:

I voulnteer at the Humane Society and everytime come into adopt a cat, they ask me for a declawed cat. They don't want their furniture scratch. They won't give them a cat if they are going to get the surgery done. They are strict on that but alot veterinarian here still do it. But I didn't think they do all four paws, I thought that was against the law. I think they shouldn't do any paws, if they worry about the cat scracting them or the furniture then do not get the cat.

darkrabbit213 · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 3:12 pm Post subject:

I'm glad to see that everyone who has voted has been against declawing, I'm sure it's already been mentioned but I think it's completely inhumane. It's taking away your kitty's cat-hood. I also know that none of the veterinarians in my town will declaw anymore, it's been that way for atleast three years now. Like acatsmeow said, the shelters up here are also very strict, if you even mention declawing, they won't let you adopt. I do think it's different, however, if you are looking into adopting a cat and look to see if there's one who is already declawed, that kitty needs a home just as bad as the others in the shelter.

Basically, if you don't want to risk having wrecked carpets/rugs, furniture etc. just don't get a cat! Have a hamster or something...

faeriedust1127 · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 3:44 pm Post subject:

I find it funny that you so often hear a silly excuse that ppl will have their cat declawed because the cat scratched the furniture, but how often do you hear about ppl having their dog's teeth pulled for chewing up their shoes? hmm... Rolling Eyes

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3437

DeLaUK · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:31 pm Post subject:

Ginger · Member Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 176 Location: UK

I'm in the UK, it is illegal here and concidered cruelty.
To be honest I'd never even heard of it until I saw it being discussed here on auspet!
I had a look at a few websites about it, its hard to beleive someone could do that to their cat just for the sake of saving some furniture

DeLaUK · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:45 am Post subject:

Thanks Ginger, I thought so.

What I dont understand is you always hear about peoples outrage over docking tails and cropping ears but not about declawing cats which I think is a LOT worse. Not that I agree with tail docking or ear cropping either but seriously, declawing....the procedure, recovery and effects that it can have on the cats entire life and lifestyle are much worse.

darkrabbit213 · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 12:46 pm Post subject:

sunset05 · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 1:57 pm Post subject:

I, of course, voted against declawing. I think it is inhumane.

Chezza · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:17 am Post subject:

I am "AGAINST" this Barbarick horrible, cruel procedure...
It would be like ripping our fingers off.. Mad

How people could even do this is beyond me...I'l never ever support such a cruel cruel act.. It is Illegal here over in Australia..Thank God for that

Bente · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:42 pm Post subject:

Declawing is illegal here in Norway too, and I can't say how happy I am for that Smile

DeLaUK · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:46 pm Post subject:

Heres a link with a lot of info about declawing and the 'current' laws in California (its actually only up to 2003 so I dont know if more progress has been made since)

http://cats.about.com/cs/declawing/i/declawlaws.htm

There are more links in there telling which countries in Europe and around the world have a ban on declawing.

Found another one with more infor on it.

http://www.straypetadvocacy.org/html/declaw_law.html

Chezza · Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:27 am Post subject:

This is a bit graphic, so please be aware ok..
This is how cruel it is, and why I'm so glad it is getting banned..
Its so bloody cruel and it makes my blood boil..

http://community-2.webtv.net/stopdeclaw/declawpics/

Alasse · Member Joined: 02 Jul 2006 Posts: 55 Location: Queensland

OMG....How cruel!!!

DeLaUK · Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 7:39 am Post subject:

Pity there were no photos of the cat thrashing around a blood soaked cage while attacking its feet and ripping the bandages off......sorry, didnt mean to get even more graphic but thats the reality of 'recovery time' in too many cases. Mad

Chezza · Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:08 am Post subject:

Yep to true DeLaUK, as horrible as it seems, its reality and the people that do it should be ashamed of themselves. Mad