This site is anti-declawing as we feel it is a barbaric and inhumane procedure. When all of the pro-declaw folks out there agree to have all their fingers chopped off at the first knuckle perhaps we'll rethink our stance.Originally Posted by GloriaJH
Declawing is an on-going, never-ending topic, and has the possibility to get people "screaming".
Since I've posted some thoughts about declawing - my ideas mostly in the minority of the opinions on this website - I thought I'd direct you to another thread under "Care & Grooming, entitled "Declawing". There's some feisty conversation in that thread, and, I imagine if you just did a search on "declawing", you'd spend the next couple of days sorting out, and reading through all this site has to offer in opinions.
My posts in that thread are #11, 21, and 33. I would have copied them here, but then, that would take the comments out of context.
If you declaw your cat, he must never be allowed outside - you must become extra protective, because you have taken away one of his key defenses to protect himself. Declawing is an added responsibility for you, the caregiver - if you don't think you'll be successful keeping him indoors, and you're not prepared to go the "extra mile" to protect and defend him, then - don't declaw.
People on this forum will talk about the surgery, the pain, the possible after effects, or perceived health issues - the experience depends on the cat, the medical professionals, and the cat's "guardians".
My experience of the surgery has been that our cats were given pain medication before surgery, and after - they've never showed any tenderness in their feet (even after surgery - had to put them in a place where they couldn't be jumping off things).
They had all their surgeries done at the same time - the neutering, the declawing, and the chip - and, surgery was done at as young an age as possible which was about 4 months. (Just like human surgery - the older you are when you have surgery, the more difficult the recovery - ask any adult that's had his/her tonsils out.)
So, the decision to declaw is sobering - but each person must evaluate this decision for him/herself - a decision, hopefully, with no regrets.
Gloria
Not to mention that scratching is a natural ingrained behavior in cats! Heck, even declawed cats still "paw" at things like they are trying to scratch.Originally Posted by katiemae1277
my personal feelings on declawing are that if your child was caught with his hand in the cookie jar you wouldn't chop off his hand to stop him from doing that, so why would you chop off a cats' claws to prevent him from scratching??
" ... site is anti-declawing..."
My brother has a very large male cat named Sabre. When he was younger (until about 10 years old) he was very very aggressive. You simply did NOT do anything to Sabre he did not want done. Doing his nails took many people, towels, screaming and blood loss on my part. I have scar on scar from him, just to try and clip his nails. We had to clip his nails, because he would attack people that came over. I mean literally chase them around the house and attack them. If they made the mistake and trying to pet him (and he would rub on their legs to make them think he was friendly) he would rip them wide open. We ended up locking him away when anyone came to the door.
Thank you, I do love our cats and animals in general. I don't doubt that you love your animals too, but I sincerely hope that the majority of people who justify declawing for ANY reason will become educated enough to know it is wrong and inhumane.Originally Posted by GloriaJH
" ... site is anti-declawing..."
Yes it is, and I'm glad it is, it helps people become educated about the de-clawing process. What is more inhumane is all the cats that are being destroyed, or kept in cages because no one can adopt them.
This site helps people to think through the pros and cons, helps them understand how problematic this procedure actually might be so that they won't decide recklessly. I post the "other" view, so people also have an opportunity to consider the experiences of others with de-clawed cats.
Chopped Off Fingers - pretty gory picture, for sure - this picture is effective to help us humans relate, - yet, - comparing fingers being cut off to de-clawing a cat shouldn't be confused with actuality.
Surgery Recovery: It's unbelievable what people have described as their experience with the cat when bringing him/her home from surgery - YIKES - my experience was NO WAY like what has been shared in other posts. Maybe that's why I'm having "trouble" relating because the care my cats received was awesome, and their recovery was without any negative incident.?
I had done research, prepared the "nursery" for their recovery, chose the best surgeon, and hospital, etc. to have as good as an outcome as possible
I guess that's why I think that this surgery process depends on so many different factors for a "positive" outcome. ?
If I couldn't have done all that I did to prepare for the surgery, I wouldn't have done it either.
De-clawed cats in Shelters - (btw, there are cats with claws in shelters, as well as de-clawed.) De-clawing, shouldn't be automatically linked to the cause of behavioral problems, there's too many other factors that contribute to behavioral problems - it's too "easy" to just blame problems on "de-clawing" of the cat.
Scratched furniture: "... overlook the mutilation and justify the declaw for the sake of furniture or other silly reasons..."
That comment seems to assume that the reason for declawing is only to "save the furniture" - how about scratched up humans?
(There are many other reasons for de-clawing, - the furniture consideration is just one of the reasons - like many have said, there are solutions, other than de-clawing to save the furniture.)
Many humans, adults and children, probably carry scars from handling their cats.
Trimming Nails: Eyesight fails, and being able to trim claws is almost impossible when you can't see the nail to clip it, or attach covers.
Accidentally cutting part of the cat's toe off with nail clippers to trim the nails is something I wouldn't want to have happen, now, THAT'S cruel!
Defense: I had to watch while dogs killed a cat - even as I was trying to save it - its claws didn't help. I live with that "defeat" today, just as if happened a few hours ago. So, having claws won't guarantee protection.
Additionally:
I know I'm in the minority - just "reporting" my experience , trying to "balance the scale" of the thought process, just a little.
All three of my cats are very loving - to each other as well as to us - we have a house of "harmony", for which I am grateful.
Because they are de-clawed, I'm not wounding them by trying to clip their nails, or getting wounded when I'm caring for or playing with them.
As I posted previously, "So, the decision to declaw is sobering - but each person must evaluate this decision for him/herself - a decision, hopefully, with no regrets." The decision is very sobering and should not be made lightly.
Thank you, Yosemite, for your post - you love these precious furbabies, and it shows in your passionate posts - I understand "where you are coming from", and only ask for your tolerance in expressing my view,because I love my furbabies too, and truly care for them as tenderly as I am able.
Gloria
Well said, like I have mentioned before declawing is illegal where I live. It's legally defined as animal abuse. I don't see as there is any "balancing of scales" needed. There are no excuses for declawing a cat once you know what it does to the cat and entire countries have people happily keeping lots of cats as pets without declawing being available as an option. It's simply not necessary.
Thanks.
Unfortunately, the 2+ years I worked in a shelter showed me that even though that is true, people assumed they had issues. Part of that due to misinformation that floats around the internet. Part of it probably from what family members/friends had told them about personal experiences. Most likely involving leaving said cat with problems at the shelter. And if the cat didn't have problems, so many people said "what's wrong with him?" and passed the cat by. If it was an intact cat with claws, he/she was assumed to just be a stray by people. If it was a previously indoor declawed/fixed cat, it was assumed by the potential adopter that it had behavioral problems. And many of these people had seen this info on the internet or heard from a friend. That of course didn't stop them from wanting to adopt a kitten and declaw it.
