Do you de-claw your cats? Mine are not de-clawed. I think that it is cruel to de-claw them.

We have 19 cats, and none of them are or will ever be declawed. We do consider it to be very cruel!

NO! And this board is very anti-declaw!

Do not declaw your cats. It is cruel and it also hurts them. Plus, if the cat ever gets outside he or she can't defend itself or climb.

Absolutely, positively, definitely NO! NEVER!!!

3 of our cats are declawed, only because they already were so before we adopted them.

Declawing is the equivalent of cutting off a human's fingers and/or toes. Not a pleasant thought, is it?

http://burns.thefinaldimension.org/contrib/Bizkit/peoples.gif


http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declawpics.html

I have three cats and I would never declaw my furkids. I clip their nails when they get long. :cool:

I hate the word de-claw! It makes me sick! I would never, ever de-claw my cats. I clip their nails weekly. When they were kittens, I taught them not to scratch or bite human hands. To them, my hand is god!

I would never declaw a cat. Peaches had a front declaw but it was done by her first family. Hmm! I think she's better off with ME! :tongue2:

Originally posted by Mom of 10 Cats
Declawing is the equivalent of cutting off a human's fingers and/or toes. Not a pleasant thought, is it?

Not just cutting them off but PULLING them off. Pretty sick, huh? :onfire: :onfire:

ok don't hate me, I have had one cat declawed about 3 months ago, but that was before I realized what declawing actually is, I just got a kitten 5 weeks ago and she will never be declawed, although my husband thinks that she is going to be, I am putting my foot down!

Tarav,

I've been fortunate to have the situation where, even if I would like to ((declaw that is))I wouldn't because I lost one of my baby's to the surgery. She was 10 months old, and my boyfriend (at the time) took her to get declawed without me knowing. ever since then I haven't even thought about doing that with any of my furbabys... not to mention I diched the BF.

Declawing is the ultimate in the human perception of the need to control. If they cannot force the cat not to claw, they will take the claws away, showing the great power man has over the tiny creatures called Animals.

It makes me sick..

:kitty2: ~ Salem

:cringe: I would never even think of doing this to a cat :cringe:
Clara

I used to work in a vet clinic and witnessed many declaw surgeries (mutilations!). They gave me nightmares...I would never do that to my babies, and always tried to talk people out of doing it to theirs, suggesting alternatives like training and/or softpaws.

Before my recent wedding, my cats were a point of contention - I had old furniture and never bothered to train them not to scratch. When my husband & I moved in together after the wedding, I put softpaws on all the cats & will leave them on until they learn not to scratch the furniture. Problem solved, relationship saved!

:heart3: :bicolor:

:D How to say “NO” in about 520 different languages..... :D
Ôda/K'amaj/C'am/N...taj/Tsaa/Haw/Hawaa/Maley/Nee/Geen/Gai/Ci/Mah
nguh/Indi/Ánkobi/Jo/Ne/Jok/Yelem/Aydelem/Aye/Ie/Cuwa/Ti/Na/Dah/Ma/Lay/
Laa/La/Lela/Jo/Jo/Maiçá/Voch/Che/Nu/Daabí/Ma/La/Non/Nun/Iyat/Mam/Ba/
Wín/Ahq áho/Aqa/Janiwa/Janiw/Jani/Janixay/Janixä/Gatu/Yox/Sinalubiri/
Ahah/Nangwa/Enna/Ayi/Hais/Katai/Kutai/Yok/Ez/Daong/Ne/Nie/Awe/Na/Bobo/
Ni/No/Saa/Te/Ao/Ne/Hm/Awíje/Nann/Ket/Nope/Mu/Teo/Taawe/Ne/Momo/
Mahou'hpu/Mahou'pabu/Bee/Be/Bee ya/E/Ee/É'e/Dooyee/Kily/E/Kí'i/Ma...ta/Maan/
Mhai/Nie'/No/Ô/Ahe'/Ándi/Ná/Ohò'm/Haan-haan/Haa-ha'/Dac/Ka'c/Ka'cu/
Katcokma/Tla/V'-tla/Tla-hv/Hová'âháne/Iyayi/Iyaye/No/Halo/Wake/
Íài/Iyayi/Ani/Pepe/Keyu/Ahanh/Chikimba/Iksho/Mach/Ma'/Ma'anic/Ma/
Mach/Xá'ñí/Hañí/Ma/Ohom/K'amu/Ma/K'amu/Ohóm/Sewilx/Amo/Se/Anictu/
Museil/Pwo/Chuk/Ohom/Nyi/Kai/Keka/Ko/Tocusé/La/Vê/Nani/Kai/Kamu/Kepu/
Nageus/Na/Nagusy/Non/Innò/Kue/Akwi/Akwe/Ekwe/Elekic/Eka/Mwâc/Namôya/
Mola/Kus/Mónkos/Hekúst/Non/Ne/Sa/Su/Déta/Ne/Ai/Nej/Kaha'/'Andooh/
'Awundooh/Noon/Umaaw/Aliu/Hani/Ohóm/A'ou /Nee/Neen/Yimba/Aa/
Kha-/Gadu/Daá/No/Nope/Uh-uh/Nut/Naw/Nah/No way/Na/Nese/Ne/
Me'tea/A'na/Maal/Ei/Ep/Es/Eiba/Eih/Õih/Ein/Quéta/Aan/Aach/Aachin/Koa/
Koko/Aaha/Nei/Nah/Ne/Xai/Sega/Ei/Eo/A'a/Non/Nee/Nò/Ala/Jikai/Wà/Xai/
Diyl yola/Non/Nenni/Nona/Nani/Gamil/Nedda/'Aa/'Aaà/Nani/K'amu/Áo/Óhv/
Ahra/Ara/Nein/Nö/Nie/Naa/Nee/Nei/Naa/Na/Maya/Nau/Ochi/De'ngje/Nã'ã/
Ahaniri/Nahániri/NahiiN/Naa/Ma/Biway/Gurrangung/Aya/Mo/Me/Babu/A'a/
'A'ole/Lo/Desa/Nesats/Ji nahi/Nahin/Hye/Ji nahin/Naheen/Na/Tsis/Chúi muá/
Hina/M hai/M si an-ne/Msi/Bo/M tioh/Mmsi/Uhun/Qa'é/Gae'/K'ae'/Aè/Ib/Ngwüy/
Ngome/Ngo/Ka-/Nem/Nei/Ntondo/No/Saan/Haan/Ne/Tidak/ndak/nggak/
kagak/Jangan/Belum/Bukan/Aa/Maawaach/No/Non/Naaga/Naamik/Aagaa/
Aakka/Naagga/Naaka/Naamik/Ní hea/No/Engga/Ma'/Omba/'A/Na/Ani/Ye'/
Mach/Isha/Iie/Nne/Iya/Yanda/Ingeno/Mboten/Ora/Sanes/Nannîn/Kayon/
Nau/Ak/A'ou/Ahani/Áni/Lawnga/Kuru/Ne/Moh/Mao/Mako/Uga/Anité/K'amaq/
C'am/Beda/Illa/A a/Ali/Deeai/Jo/Áni/Ei/Mwe é/Ne-keh/Ma/Aricne/Ka'ya/Lawnga/
Kètô/Kiép/-eém/Zhoq/Ohom/Ink'a/Ma/Ink'a'/Chox/Te/Ot te/No/Moh/
Ingaaha/Vê/Aca/Tiguo/Aa/Oya/Acha/Jok/Oya/Yo/Hapana/A-a/?awa/Íniko/Ni/
Bebe/Aga/Abu/Naa/Aniyo/Animnida/Ajo/Ajej/Moh/Non/Nomo/Wiya/Suli/
Pûuhara/Na/Ne/Neu/No/Mala/Mats/Gooran/Aaye/Ahawe/Ahowe/Man/Biduk/
No/Áni/Mah hey/Ñi/Hiya/Shnee/Bo/Non/Nullus/Minime/Ne/Kapwa/Ku/
Mata/Kuta/U mayay/Ta hashi/Ta chich/Mahchikwi/Alalan/Ku kesi/Ku nkesi/
Ku ktakohchi/Ku ntakohchi/Okeksene/Té/No/Non/Ne/A'a/M'm/Äb/Ät/Äb/
No/Nee/Nee/Ne/Qay/Gai/Inehi/Ngaaha/Nangwa/Kwaha/Ooyo/Xwí?/Kagute/Neen/
Nee/Lawnga/Ne/Ikai/Dele/Tsia/An, an/Tidak/Bukan/Le/Mi/Min/Ai/Yimba/
Waka/Aku/Bu shi zhe yang/Bu dui/Meiyou/Bu shi/Hani/Aat/Aita/Kao/
Kare/Mü/Nahi/Uke/Jaab/Mme/Nanga/Aepotá?a/A-a/Nole/Gâmu/Noo/
Pa miyeur/Mv [+ subject]/Maiv [+ subject]/M´i mái/Moqwa/Ao/Indak/Hë'ë/Apia/
Ewutû/Hama/Hella/Huma/Ken/'Ewyty'/'E'eh/Hela/Ewutu/Ka'p/Kiáp/Ka/
Ña d+u/Tú'/Túu/Ekshu/Q'ay/Nau/Hùe;'/Non/Ügüi/Bish/Karu/Gadu/Garu/
Ayo/Ma'/Aras/Ajaš/Aš/Amo/Hiya/Edi/Ana:/Achicha/Iòk/Deò ei/Dooda/
Ndaga'/Me waq/Hayi/Ya'ngo/Ahaa/Hoina/Chaina/Makhu/Jowandjan/Ùú/
Warrayi/No/Nei/Næi/Deai/Áà/Àwâ/Ohò'm/Juat/Ni/Gaawesa/Kai/Ana/
Hon'-ka-zhi/On'ka-zhi/Nö/Næ/Noun/Mbu/Vuo/Vuol/Vuel/Ya'a/K'ami/Mwi/Pame/
Ning/Neng/Pia'a/Roba/Aní/Nãhã/Na/Nakhayr/Kotama/Konotiri/Ne/Iniani/
Hari'a/Áni/Karu/M'khu/Ámbe/Ástarhu /Ási/No/Nomoa/Pia'a/Inte/Tesu/Tee/
Wiya/Eeno/Nau/Nee/Ma/Ntaj/Ntax/Ta/Maa/Ma...ta/Nie/Si'ai/Siei/Kui/Da'/
Caj/Não/Co/Non/Nani/Naheen/Nahi/Yaapw/Mmm/Yeehee/Manam/Mana/Manan/
Ama/Ma-/Man...taj/Mana/Ina/Kare/Haeñum´/Na/Na/Nu/Na/'Igka'i/'Igke'i/Nyet/
?ewe/Taj/Ále/Ii/Ij/Ij/Tae/Täto to/Tahatna/Meré/Öhö/Leai/Kai/Ipo/Waà/No/Na/
Nde/Ee/Naw/Nae/Na/Mo/Aowa/Ne/Saate/Nou/Non/Tjhe/Tjhee/Aikona/Nyaa/
Õiõ/Ahha/Mecheye/Me sheki/Uh uh/Gè/Neh/Aiwa/Kwete/Kai/Atsa/Nuddu/Nessunu/
Baatili/Na/Ma/Natha/Qa/Ha/Nie/Ne/Do/Maya/Ayi/Ne/No/Tá/Heunteu/Sanes/
Ulah/Na/Noe/Nej/Ohom/Hindi po/Hindi/Aita/U'a/Wu'a/Ne/Nono/Kala-kala/Illai/
Venda/Baety/Ké/Que/Quetasi/Tásirapé/Tasi/Tarapé/Akêa/Nay/Yuk/Boomi/Gom/
Umbae/Bae/Kaddu/Ledu/Maitague/Lae/La/Mai/Maidai/Maichai/Maioua/Maja/
Yo/Marey/Meyin/La'/Lala'/Ay/Tailpa/T'akwha/Klek/Tleix/Miyuc/Mi/Nogat/
'Ikai/Hí-ekh/Nichuna/Gala/Te/To/Wik/Haic/Mbe'ae/Anhan/Ijji/Iddi/Mbaa/
Naani/Naanikwaw/Naani-mia/Hayir/Yok/Chok/Daabí/Ju'uk/Ma'yuk/I'i/Mo'oj/
Mu/Muc/Ma/Maan/Övöl/Ni/Ana/Nahin/NehiiN/Anin/Ta'/Kach/Ka-/Jyok/Yaq/
Yuk/Yöq/No/Ei/Không/Thua không/Awigi/Dili/Tifale/Ei/EB/Ep/Wihya/Mi/Neis/
Aye/Wandi/Lawa/Walku/Wangaay/Ès/A/Aitsa/Wayil/Ohòm/Na/Naddo/Nage/
Nagoes/Nac ydw/Ya'a/El-eh-oh/Min/Mina/Wirraay/Kia/Ohom/Deedeet/
K'amu/Anrê/Ñiá/Hayi/Nne/Ngava/É'e/K'amu/Ohom/Nit/Neyn/Anhan/K'ami/
K'amu/K'amu /Ohom/Rara/Oti/Béè kó/Ma'/Maa/Yahq/Tan/Mi-tang-keh/No/Ganga/
Que/Ka'á/Ko'/Akti/Bi/Bito/Cabi/Abi/Bi/Bibi/Bitw/Cabi/Bow/Ejxe/Watkáh/
Ja'ne/Cha/Tsha/Haai ngeko/Ella/ :D

I raise Persian cats and have it in my contract that they are not to de-claw my kitties. If they do they must forfiet the kitten and pay a $1000.00 fine to a no-kill shelter in their area.
If they sign a contract, they must follow it to the letter. I was told to include consiquences for the court to enforse. This was the best thing I oculd come up with.

No, I do not declaw my cats, I do have some who are declawed but thats what you get when you rescue. These people declaw their cats, then the cat begins to urinate on the carpet or any number of other problems, then they bring them to me. Poor babies, they never asked to be declawed, I did have one who was declawed by a monster of a vet, he cut off 5 WHOLE toes, three on the left front paw and 2 on the right front paw, he did a better job on the back. Normally a vet only amputates the first diget not the whole darn thing :onfire:

Originally posted by DragonLady
I raise Persian cats and have it in my contract that they are not to de-claw my kitties. If they do they must forfiet the kitten and pay a $1000.00 fine to a no-kill shelter in their area.
If they sign a contract, they must follow it to the letter. I was told to include consiquences for the court to enforse. This was the best thing I oculd come up with.

That is an excellent idea, I plan on raising kittens next year sometime (after 5 years of research and showing) and have heard horror stories of people letting cats out, declawing them, ect. I dont want that to happen to any of my babies. Putting the punishment in writing and making the new owner sign it is a great idea.

Cats have claws for a reason. God gave them claws, he wouldn't give them claws if he didn't think they needed them.

I have never had a cat de-clawed and I never will.

Has any one had a cat de-voiced?

NEVER EVER! NOT EVEN MINI! Which is saying something because Mini couldn't scratch as bad when she was declawed, now could she? I would never have her declawed though. I hate declawing. It involves something though I can't remember what.:confused: :scratch: I hate declawing tough most shelters do it. I thought shelters were supposed to help cats. Not cause them pain? Declawing is very painful.

I had a dog once that was de-barked, but she came that way. I would never do an unnecesarry surgery to a cat. Feet and voice can stay they way God made them.

Not only is my cat not declawed, I don't even clip her nails. Imagine, trying to protect yourself and not having anything there to do it with. It would be very cruel.

Fortunately in Australia declawing has been recognised as the barbaric and cruel practice that it is and it is illegal in all states..........praise be!!

:( That's sad Teresa!

Regarding de-voicing that is also illegal in Australia in I think all States with the possible exception of W.A. There are some vets who will do this operation in extreme circumstances.

I have a very very noise stud cat - his voice is the volume of a braying donkey and he can roar about 10 yowls one after the other without drawing breath and every now and then I threaten him with de-voicing but I do not think I could do it. I have heard a de-voiced boy - they can still meow but the volume is much reduced......in fact I may have a seal point boy living here next years that is de-voiced......he is very vocal so it is possibly just as well he has had his operation BUT I am fairly sure I could not do it. "Clyde" my boy loves to sing.

OMG NO i would NEVER declaw Fluffy. If i foud his scratchimng to be a problem (which it looks like it may be) i'd get a scratching post,clip his nails or for drastic i'd try out soft paws. Declawing is cruel,how can people do that to a pet they love? :(

NO WAY! Never would I do that to either of my babies. I think it's such an awful thing, and even the bajillion scratches I have from my new kitten won't change my mind. My girlfriend had one of her cats de-clawed, and I gave her such a bad time about it, that the next kitten she got she listend to me and he's still in tact.

I had never even heard of de-voicing a cat or dog! :emba: How awful!

I would NEVER (in good consious) declaw a cat. I think it is cruel, inhumane, and vile. The only reason it's ever been done and ever will be done, is for human preferance!

sorry... *sheepish*

:kitty2: ~ Salem

No I would never declawed my cats, that is abuse to the cat and very painful to there paws. It changes there personlity become more aggressive and bite more. There are other things you can to do prevent them from scratching. I don't think anyone should get there cat's declawed, if you don't want your cat to scratch the furniture then don't get a cat. I adopted a tabby cat that was already declawed and has a broken foot and he is not the same cat. His personlity changes. The women that gave him up to the shelter, didn't even keep him for very long, only had him for 2mos, then she gave him to the shelter. I bet he was a really nice cat before he got declawed and they screw him up by taking his claws out.

Originally posted by DragonLady
I raise Persian cats and have it in my contract that they are not to de-claw my kitties. If they do they must forfiet the kitten and pay a $1000.00 fine to a no-kill shelter in their area.
If they sign a contract, they must follow it to the letter. I was told to include consiquences for the court to enforse. This was the best thing I oculd come up with.

That is an amazing idea!!! When I adopt cats out I'm going to put that in my contract!

Originally posted by DragonLady
I raise Persian cats and have it in my contract that they are not to de-claw my kitties. If they do they must forfiet the kitten and pay a $1000.00 fine to a no-kill shelter in their area.
If they sign a contract, they must follow it to the letter. I was told to include consiquences for the court to enforse. This was the best thing I oculd come up with.

Hi Dragonlady - this is long, and I do apologize, but I felt strongly compelled to address your comments above ...

I sincerely wish you only the best of luck in trying to enforce that. It truly is a wonderful idea and I know it came straight from the heart of a person strongly (and rightfully!) concerned about an abhorrent practice being performed on one of their precious babies. But *sigh* while this is unfortunate indeed, our laws here in the US still view animals as property, much like a shovel or a coffee maker or some other such thing. And as such, you cannot legally place conditions on the treatment of said property once ownership has been transferred. You may only strongly discourage or advise - you cannot force anyone to care for your kittens in any certain way in your contract.

For example: Let's say I sell you a shovel. In my buyer's agreement, I say that you cannot paint that shovel green, nor can you leave it out in the elements. You happily sign this agreement and off you go, shiny new shovel in hand.

Because I am a responsible and ethical shovel person, I come by your house one day a few weeks or months later to check on the shovel and *GASP* Oh My GOD there it is, painted bright green and laying out in your yard just rusting away.

I take that shovel firmly in hand and cart it right back home with me to care for it the best way I can because afterall, YOU signed my agreement, and I said there would be consequences ... and that I would take that shovel right back home with me if you didn't follow the conditions of my buyer's agreement. You call the police to report your stolen shovel, the police come to my home and arrest me for 1) trespassing and 2) theft of property. We go to court. I come fully prepared with my signed buyer's agreement and you come fully prepared with your shovel's ownership documentation, which legally designates you as it's rightful owner. The judge takes a very short glance at my buyer's agreement, then takes a nice, long look at your ownership documents. I get convicted, sentenced and have to eat the court costs as well as "pay the fine and do the time" if any ... while you get your shovel back and don't have to deal with ~any~ of the consequences I set forth in my buyer's agreement. Plain and simple Law of Rightful Property Ownership 101.

That all now being said - your agreement ~will~ keep the honest people honest, but it won't make the dishonest people suddenly become honest. The only way to get around this is to make certain your kittens go to only the best of homes with people you trust (I've given you some very handy tips below) and make certain your buyers know that your agreement clearly voids any health guarantee or other such promises YOU make to the buyer if you find out one of your kittens was declawed. If, and the good Lord knows I sincerely hope you never have to experience this, but IF a buyer goes against you, immediately contact all the other breeders of your type of cat to notify them of this buyer's name and what they did. If you are like many breeders today, you subscribe to breed-specific email lists or other breeder networking groups - believe me, the word will get around quick-smart and this buyer will NEVER have another kitten from anyone. Don't forget to notify the Breed-Specific rescue orgs too - many of them have similar conditions, and would deny a potential adopter if it was learned that a person applying to adopt defaulted on a Breeder's Agreement.

The same thing goes for the part of many breeders' agreements which state that the cat is NEVER to end up at the shelter ... if for any reason the buyer cannot keep the cat, then the breeder will take it back into his or her home. Of course, you can't enforce that either. But what you CAN do is to microchip each and every kitten that goes out your door with YOUR contact information and instructions to contact YOU in ~all~ circumstances, not the buyer. That way, if one of your cats does show up at a shelter, they will be scanned and YOU will be notified, not the person who surrendered the cat.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but laws in all of the 50 states are similar to the ones here in Virginia. It is up to us as breeders and responsible cat owners to make certain we place our kittens in homes where we know they will be treated with only the highest regard and respect.

Tips on what to do when interviewing a potential kitten buyer: I cannot stress this enough - do your homework on those kitten buyer interviews honey!!! On your application, ask for information about ALL of the cats they have had over the past 15 years (or whatever you feel comfortable with) including names of the animals, dates of ownership and the circumstances of surrender or loss - also ask for their home addresses for the past 15 years (or whatever you feel comfortable with) and then ask for complete names, addresses and telephone numbers of all vets they have used within that same time frame. I'll tell you why this is a good idea in a minute. Then make 100% absolutely sure your contract contains as many medical information release documents signed by the buyer as they have listed vets. Make a separate copy of this release for each individual vet. These signed release documents afford you the right to all medical information about ANY animals these vets have cared for owned by this buyer. Then do not hesitate to call those vets ... ask if any of this person's cats have been declawed - but don't leave it only as the question of "Have YOU ever declawed any of this person's cats", but also ask about any other ones that they might have brought in to be examined there as well.

The reason I suggest you ask for past home addresses is this: If the kitten buyer lists 4 addresses, all in different states, but only TWO vets in TWO of those states, then you will know they are not being honest with you or that they didn't own pets during that time frame. But if they listed that they lived in say ... Maryland from 1995 to 1999 and owned a cat named Boots, but do not have a vet listed for Maryland, be very specific about asking for more information. You follow? Use your gut instincts and if it just doesn't FEEL right, then it probably isn't.

Yours,

Gaye