Would this be out of line? Help ASAP!

trixie23

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Ok so I just moved a few weeks ago (new apartment) and yesterday I met my neighbor! He is so nice (40's) and has a black maine coon cat named bones! My neighbor and I talked for a bout 20 minutes about our cats, their diets, behaviors, etc! Here is the thing Bones is six and is allowed to raom outside up and down our side walks with supervision! He is an amazing cat very friendly, personable, and loving! Well my neighbor is planning on getting new furniture and plans on declawing Bones eventhough he doesnt want to! i think Bones is allowed to scratch on the old furniture! Bones is 6 this would be beyond cruel! Since my neighbor is so damned nice I wrote him a letter and printed out material on why declawing is wrong and what to do to stop scratching (off of TCS of course
)! Anyways I want to know if my letter comes off as psycho since we just met yesterday... I offered to give him one of my old kitty posts for Bones and Im bringing him some live catnip today! I just don't want Bones outside clawless and don't want him to experience depression, behavior issues, lameness, pain, etc! So here it is...


Hey Neighbor


I wanted to say it was nice meeting you and Bones yesterday! I have never had a friendly neighbor and it is nice to know that I live right next door to one! Ok so here goes! I remember we were talking yesterday and you were concerned that you may have to declaw Bones to protect your new furniture, and I know you really don't want to! I decided to print out some excellent material for you, to give you other options and possibilities! By no means am I being a crazy cat lady and soliciting my opinions to you, but I figured if you were unsure I would present you with a different approach! I have used these articles to help keep my kitties from terrorizing my furniturer, it has been very successful! Of course I am anti-declaw but I support your decision if it is in the best interest of you and your cat! I'm not sure if you have a scratching post but if not I'm sure I could supply Bones with an old one I plan on getting rid of soon! Please take no offense to my gesture just thought it was something I'd share with you! Good Luck with Bones and whatever you decide.........

Then I posted a bunch of great cat links for behavior tips!

Is it out of line? Sorry this is so long!
 

crazyforinfo

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I would meet with him in person again and tell him that you remember him mentioning declawing his kitty and that you have some great advice on why he doesn't have to.
 

adymarie

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I think it is a great letter - give him the TCS website and then he will really meet some crazy cat people! Hopefully your letter works.
 
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trixie23

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Oh I am going to ring his doorbell and give him some of the live catnip we were talking about yesterday and then mention that I printed out some stuff about declawing for him and what to do to stop behavioral scratching! He is a really nice guy and this is why Im shocked that he has considered this cruelty! I know he really loves Bones and I want to help! I'm nervous lol!
 
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trixie23

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I think everyone misunderstood I am giving this information to him and the catnip in person! That would be weird leaving the note on his doorstep! I feel like the jahova witness of cats lol!
 
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trixie23

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I put the TCS website on his letter as well as the humane society, aboutcats.com, and armarkat furniture! It's worth a shot! My bf asked if I said anything to him about the effects! I personally never really knew how horrible declawing was or how it was done until I became a cat owner and my boyfriend told me about it! Both my polydactyl and kitten have all their claws!
 

swampwitch

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Originally Posted by trixie23

I think everyone misunderstood I am giving this information to him and the catnip in person! That would be weird leaving the note on his doorstep! I feel like the jahova witness of cats lol!
I thought you were going to email him with the links.
 
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trixie23

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No I put website links on the letter for him! I don't have his email! We just met! Sorry if I misworded it! I was in a typing frenzy!
 

theimp98

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lol good idea. maybe invite him over for coffee,
and give him that. and show him your cats.
 

muttigreemom

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Originally Posted by trixie23

He is a really nice guy and this is why Im shocked that he has considered this cruelty!
A lot of people don't realize just how cruel it is. A lot of people think it's a standard thing - as in I've met a lot of people who just assume everyone automatically spays and declaws their cat at the same time.

I think the only thing I would do with the letter is take out a few of the exclamation points. I know you're excited (and I'm an exclamation point junky myself!
) but in this case it comes across a little forceful. I think substituting periods would make the letter seem a little more friendly.

Hope it goes well!
 

shopcat

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Maybe he is unaware of what a terrible operation this truly is, & what exactly it will involve for Bones. You're doing a good thing by helping out with the info, I hope he takes it to heart.
 

sarahp

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I think it's a great approach, and you're definitely doing the right thing. If he decides you're a crazy cat lady and ignores you, then it wasn't worth knowing him in the first place, and at least you tried.

But it sounds as though his vet has just told him it's a good idea and something he can do, and hasn't told him about all of the possible side effects and outcomes.

I know how hard it is to talk to someone about that sort if thing, but I honestly think most people are just unaware of the consequences, and appreciate the information.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!
 

goldenkitty45

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Its not out of line at all IMO. However, I would stress to him about the fact his Bones may start peeing in other places, hiding in fear, biting more cause he lost his defense. I really don't think a person would want their cat peeing all over the house.

AND tell him that if his cat starts doing these things after he's declawed, that HE'S responsible to keep the cat and the problems the rest of the cat's life!


Or you can tell him, that if he really cares more about the furniture then the cat, you will be glad to adopt Bones and keep or find him a new home without declawing him!


One more thing - offer to show him HOW to cut the nails so he won't declaw - my guys claw more then their nails are longer.
 

carolpetunia

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Well... I wouldn't allow that declawing is ever acceptable, but that wasn't your question.
The letter is very friendly and certainly not at all obnoxious -- you did a great job of being nice about it.

But I'm afraid I'm going to have to ration your exclamation points, young lady.
In the immortal words of David Ogilvy, "If you emphasize everything, you emphasize nothing." Less is more. One exclamation point per page, tops!
 

clairebear

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I think that you were able to get your message across in a very friendly non-threatening way. I don't think that he'll be offended by it.
 
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