options other than declawing

Another thing to consider is natural disaster. No one caught in Katrina could have foretold such an event. The thousands of cats left homeless was staggering. Imagine being a declawed cat out in that horrific mess. How would you survive? What would you eat? How would you defend yourself against predators and other frightened animals?

Natural disasters can strike at any time; volcanoes, tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires.

Even having a cat chipped with a collar - many never made it home. Having the claws would give them a fighting chance to stay alive long enough to be rescued. Just my opinion.

yep try Soft Paws (or Soft Claws). both almost the same thing except one comes in more colors. Pretty sure on an adult cat they will last a while since they aren't getting any bigger. Kittens will probably need more buying.

Also, declawing a cat is not going to fix aggression or protect you from being injured by your cat. My cat (who has his claws) has periodic problems with aggression... he's a biter, and cats can do a lot of injury that way (and they're more likely to bite if declawed).

I've had to work to train him out of this behavior, and to make him happier and better adjusted (which also helps). So if aggression or attacks are the problem, you have to address the aggression itself, not take away one set of the cat's defenses.

Originally Posted by Nimbus

Yes, I've already decided that I'm going to fight for my kittens claws. I just ordered a pack of soft claws and I'm going to buy an extra scratching post. I'm trying to get him used to me handling his paws, so he hopefully won't put up too much of fight when I use the soft claws.
-Kristen

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Good on you!!!! Our kitties had no problems with the Soft Claws, it just meant they couldn't dig their claws into the furniture when they climbed it If your mother is only worried about the cat when you visit her, then you can just do the Soft Claws before your kitty goes to her house, and just trim them the rest of the time if that's easier for you.

Originally Posted by beemo

can i chime in? im the mother of five cats ranging in age from 12 months to 8 years.
all my cats are declawed. they run and play, bounce and pounce, they act exactly the same as when they had their claws.
i got my first cat, a dsh, declawed when she was three years old, all four paws. the reason was it was either this or i give her away, and not too many people jump at a chance to own a three year old cat. you see, she had this problem that when she was on my lap and would spook she would maul my face. the last time she did it she came extremely close to my eye. i had blood running down my face and on the top of my head i had a large gash. it had to be done, not to mention all the destruction of my furniture. yes she had scratching posts and i did try those soft paws that stayed on for about 20 minutes, she pulled them off and wouldnt walk with them on. she would hang out on the window sill looking at the birds, normal kitty stuff, but she would always get stuck on the curtain, there were pulls and tears all over my custom made curtains (not cheap!)
i made the appointment and it was done. she was sore for a few days, no different than when she was spayed.
since then everything has been great. shes eight now and doesnt act any different. she walks and jumps fine. she still jumps 7 feet high on top of my dining room hutch.
four cats later and i had them all declawed at the time of their neuter.
reason, yes they will use the scratching post, but it doesnt stop them from pulling down curtains accidently, and scratching the sofa.
after their declaw i felt the freedom to finally buy new furniture without worry.
i dont regret it at all, believe me if they showed any signs of discomfort or not being able to run and play i wouldnt do it, but they are fine.
they are indoor cats only, four are pedigree persians so they shouldnt be outdoor kitties anyway.
just my input and my experience with five declawed cats, i wish not to offend anyone

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Unfortunately I have also seen too many cats that have suffered behaviourally after being declawed and ended up at the shelter. Generally every cat we get that has biting issues is declawed. Biting is MUCH worse than scratching. And we don't have to euthanise animals for overcrowding, just behavioural problems. Unfortunately the majority of declawed cats we get through get euthanised because they are too moody and bite out in frustration. Luckily we don't get many declawed cats as California seems to be pretty anti-declaw.

I believe you are lucky, and hope that you do not go advocating declawing to people - it honestly can cause a lot of problems in cats. It's illegal in 99% of the world because it is considered such an inhumane thing to do.

Originally Posted by Arlyn

What to you have to compare your cats to?
Do you have cats in your home that still have their claws?

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I may not be beemo, but I have some input on this as well. My mom's cat is declawed, mine are not. So I do have something I can compare her cat to. My mom's cat is the exact same as my cats, even without claws. She bites just as much, and she has no problems using the litter box. She doesnt mind having her paws touched.

Originally Posted by Arlyn

Cat without claws may behave 60% to 99% like a cat.

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Again, I do not agree. My mom's cat acts 100% like a cat. I see no difference what so ever. My mom even says she's more "lovey dovey" and I can see that as well. She's about 9 years old I think, and she has had no problems.

My mom's previous cat was declawed as well. No problems behavior wise, or litterbox wise.

I've always included my self in these debates. I've had no problem experiences with declawing what so ever.


(Edit) And regarding SoftPaws on my one cat. When we got her from the shelter, she liked to scratch on the door frame. Because we live in an apartment, we couldnt have her doing that. We tried softpaws and they stayed on for about a month. It was expensive and wasnt worth it to keep having to put them on. Luckily, she stopped scratching though after having them on the first time.

Originally Posted by beemo

99% dont come out ok? i have five and they are all perfect.
behavior/psyhological/physical problems? no, not one of mine.

not sure how declawing can cause behavior problems

its been five years since my girl was done, theres nothing wrong with her.
another male persian its been five years since his declaw also, again hes fine.
two brothers its been four years, they are fine also.
the last is a 12 month old, he was done 6 months ago, and he is very active no different than any other 12 months old kitten.
ive known several declawed cats in the past 20 years or so, and ive never heard of a problem or witnessed any handicap due to declawing.

im sure theres some botched jobs out there, just like any surgery there is a risk. my dog nearly died from being neutered

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Beemo....you may want to read the link below that was provided by Mary Anne:

http://www.thecatsite.com/Care/34/De...-Manicure.html

I have actually witnessed cats that after a declaw procedure chose to bite because their pads were so sore, I have seen cats that avoid the litterbox because the litter is painful between their toes. Although I appreciate that you have seen no ill effect, please be aware that this board views declawing as a extreme solution and encourages it's members to consider alternatives first.

This website considers declawing a drastic way to curb cat behavior. A painful ordeal for your kitty we would suggest that declawing never be considered for any behavioral issue. Health issues are entirely different. It is up to you as a responsible pet owner to explore all the different options available instead of declawing. Your cat is dependant on you to make wise choices for her, and not put her into any more stress or discomfort. Please be a responsible pet owner and research this subject thoroughly. Understand that if you are pro-declaw in your posts, you will encounter opposition. Please learn more about alternatives for declawing here in our forums as well as on our website itself. Declaw - More than Just a Manicure. Hopefully those of you with claw-related problems will find solutions by spending time in our Behavior Forum.

Originally Posted by yam102284

I may not be beemo, but I have some input on this as well. My mom's cat is declawed, mine are not. So I do have something I can compare her cat to. My mom's cat is the exact same as my cats, even without claws. She bites just as much, and she has no problems using the litter box. She doesnt mind having her paws touched.






Again, I do not agree. My mom's cat acts 100% like a cat. I see no difference what so ever. My mom even says she's more "lovey dovey" and I can see that as well. She's about 9 years old I think, and she has had no problems.

My mom's previous cat was declawed as well. No problems behavior wise, or litterbox wise.

I've always included my self in these debates. I've had no problem experiences with declawing what so ever.


(Edit) And regarding SoftPaws on my one cat. When we got her from the shelter, she liked to scratch on the door frame. Because we live in an apartment, we couldnt have her doing that. We tried softpaws and they stayed on for about a month. It was expensive and wasnt worth it to keep having to put them on. Luckily, she stopped scratching though after having them on the first time.

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I have no behavioral or litter box issues here either, never said I did.
I am with these cats literally 24/7 and I can see the subtle differences between them.

As for softpaws, of course they only stayed on a month.
Cat's shed nail sheaths, a month to six weeks is about as long as they are supposed to last


The bottom line is that declawing a cat is basically choosing material possessions over living, breathing, feeling beings.
It is a mutilation, no different at all than tail docking, ear cropping or debarking a dog.
None of it is done for the animal's benefit.

Originally Posted by Arlyn

The bottom line is that declawing a cat is basically choosing material possessions over living, breathing, feeling beings.
It is a mutilation, no different at all than tail docking, ear cropping or debarking a dog.
None of it is done for the animal's benefit.

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Agreed.

I think if you had your cat declawed prior to learning about how declawing REALLY is, that's one thing...but anyone who can read how it's done, and what an awful experience it is for the cat , that STILL gets it done, doesn't deserve to have cats at all.

My cat is 17 next month. My mom had her declawed when I was just a little kid so I had no say. Knowing now what she went through and deals with everyday due to not having her claws makes me feel terrible. She's shown not outward signs of pain, but really, how couuld she tell me if she was in pain anyway??? Cats are good about hiding pain. Do people REALLY want their cats to silently deal with pain half their lives and just because there are no behavioral problems it's ok???????


This isn't a matter of opinion. Your cat can't express to you their "opinion" on the subject. It is a FACT what happens during the procedure and it is a FACT what the cat has to deal with after the procedure. It's a FACT that cats use their claws for balance in walking. Just because they can't tell you how they really feel about the situation, does not mean they're not suffering. If people look at the facts and still justify having their cats claws surgically removed, it's just cruelty.

i dont know what else to say, i mean all i know is that my cats are fine.
my oldest cat is 8 years old

yes ive had cats when i was growing up that had their claws so yeah i know how a cat should act, and my cats act no differently.

are my cats 99%? lol no, they are 100% cats, minus claws, minus a uterus and minus scrotums.


my cats never were aggressive, the first cat, the one that mauled me, she was not aggressive, she would just panic and climb up my face to get behind the couch. cats freak and their claws come out, i just happen to be in her way of escape. and for the record, after her declawing she stopped being so panicky.
my cats dont bite, they never did. their personalities are the best! claws or no claws this is who they are.
so many cats are declawed and live normal healthy lives. people are against it, then thats fine, people are against alot of things, to each his own.
my cats all werent done by the same vet, in fact its been three different vets in three different states and all of them are perfect.

im not sure where the litter box problems come in?? how would that matter?
the first two weeks it is advised to use soft bedding as litter, like shredded paper towels until they heal, after that they are fine to go back to their origional litter, which in my case is fresh step clay.
they all use their box, scratch and clean up after them selves.
im just not sure where the arguement is going?
where are these cats that are lame, aggressive and dont use their box??
ive never known any such cat this has happend too, and i know alot of cats and organizations that specialize in adoptions.

as for my cats escaping, you dont know how paranoid i am, and yes i have double doors they would have to get through. when workers come to my house (plumber etc) i lock them up in my bedroom until the work is done.
im also kinda in a fort lol, my house is surrounded by a 6foot tall privacy fence with no gaps in the ground, so no one would go far if it ever did happen anyway.
as for katrina, im in pennsylvania, high up on a hill away from any flood zones.

i said my peace, im all for declawing, ive found nothing wrong with it, five cats to prove it
and no one can predict the future and say my cats will end up lame at an older age, thats just hogwash
every living thing gets brittle as they age, dogs get arthritis, cats, people, its just a way of life. but i surely am not going to blame that on declawing

i said my peace, im all for declawing, ive found nothing wrong with it, five cats to prove it
and no one can predict the future and say my cats will end up lame at an older age, thats just hogwash
every living thing gets brittle as they age, dogs get arthritis, cats, people, its just a way of life. but i surely am not going to blame that on declawing
Reply With Quote

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Then clearly you haven't read up on the subject and don't know what the procedure actually entails and what your cats actually deal with.

Or maybe you don't care.

*exits thread before steam comes outta my ears*

99% of the people on this forum do not declaw for obvious reasons.

The dangers and cruelty of declawing will fall on deaf ears of the 1% who do declaw. Don't waste your time or your energies! Be glad your cats have CLAWS! Be glad you did not subject them to the unnatural, cruel, self-centered, ugly, evil act of declawing.

WWJD? Would He declaw?

Originally Posted by DaniMarie

Agreed.

I think if you had your cat declawed prior to learning about how declawing REALLY is, that's one thing...but anyone who can read how it's done, and what an awful experience it is for the cat , that STILL gets it done, doesn't deserve to have cats at all.

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This is what really makes me mad, when people say things like this. So you're saying, that my mom, who knows what declawing is (I told her) and still had it done, doesnt deserve to have her cat!? You've got to be kidding me. As long as she loves her cat unconditionally and wont abandon her, it doesnt matter. As long as anyone will love their cat unconditionally and care for them no matter what, it shouldnt matter. This is what irks me, when people say that people that have their cats declawed shouldnt even own cats.

Originally Posted by Arlyn

I have no behavioral or litter box issues here either, never said I did.
I am with these cats literally 24/7 and I can see the subtle differences between them.

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The whole litter box and behavioral issues, werent really directed to you. It was a general comment, because everyone says that almost every cat that gets declawed goes through those issues. And I wanted to state my comment and say that my mom's has had nothing whatsoever.

Originally Posted by Arlyn

As for softpaws, of course they only stayed on a month.
Cat's shed nail sheaths, a month to six weeks is about as long as they are supposed to last

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And to me, that is kind of a waste of money. To spend so much money on these things that last a month or so. I'm sorry, but I'm not rich, and I dont make a lot of money. But to me, I'd rather have food to eat and a roof over my head.

But thats my opinion again.

For those 1% who do declaw, I'm sure they DO love their feline friends.

But, they love their furniture just a tad bit more.

Originally Posted by ddcats

For those 1% who do declaw, I'm sure they DO love their feline friends.

But, they love their furniture just a tad bit more.

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of course i love them, i snuggle them and play with them buy them every purty bed that petsmart carries, toys etc. they are treated like royality.
they are declawed yes, and their quality of life isnt lacking because of it.

i also love expensive furniture and collect victorian antiques, things that cannot be replaced if damaged, do i love my cats more? well yes of course i do, but i can have both. after all this procedure has been done for many many years, i havent come across a vet that refused to do it or even ever stated its a cruel form of mutilation.
did i do my research before i declawed?? yes i sure did, after all i was looking for every option for my kitty.
before the internet people werent as freaked out about it as they are now.
like i said ive known declawed cats in the past, way before the internet, so i felt it was a safe and sound thing to do.
how many cats died from being spayed compared to how many died from being declawed?? but yet we still remove a cats uterus, a very painful opperation, it has a wonderful cause yes i know, we cant have millions of unwanted pets roaming around, and it decreases the risk of certain cancers, makes an all around better pet, this is why we spay.

im sorry but in my opinion and the millions of people out there that have their cats declawed there is nothing wrong with it, and does not at all cause problems. its the internet and members of cruelty to animals rights organizations that make you think so.
one of my cats just zipped by me now and leaped over my dog....you would never know the difference between my cats and an claw intact cat

In ancient Egypt people would have been put to death if they did such a cruel thing as ripping out the claws of a cat. The cat was honored as a god because it used it's claws to kill vermine and snakes.

For those who declaw, your ripping out the claws of a god. It's not nice to fool Mother Nature.

Originally Posted by beemo

of course i love them, i snuggle them and play with them buy them every purty bed that petsmart carries, toys etc. they are treated like royality.

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You can buy them all the furniture in the world and it won't make up for their amputated limbs.

how many cats died from being spayed compared to how many died from being declawed?? but yet we still remove a cats uterus, a very painful opperation, it has a wonderful cause yes i know, we cant have millions of unwanted pets roaming around, and it decreases the risk of certain cancers, makes an all around better pet, this is why we spay.

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You cannot compare being spayed to being declawed. Being declawed is an unnecessary surgery that in time causes a myriad of problems with your cat that you may never even know about. Taking out a uterus and taking away part of the cat's "fingers" is a totally different thing. There's no comparison. The spaying is beneficial TO THE CAT, the declawing is beneficial only to you and completely unbeneficial to the cat.

im sorry but in my opinion and the millions of people out there that have their cats declawed there is nothing wrong with it, and does not at all cause problems. its the internet and members of cruelty to animals rights organizations that make you think so.

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This has nothing to do with the internet. It's common sense. Common sense backed up by countless amounts of medical research and articles on the subject. In the US, declawing is quite common because as Americans, most tend to be pretty selfish about their pets. You can give them all the love in the world, but knowingly chopping off part of their body for your own convenience is sick.
Would you like someone to amputate part of your fingers or toes???

If you've researched it , as you've stated, and still chosen to do it, it is just plain CRUELTY. Bottom line, it is for YOUR convenience with no thoughts about what's actually happening to your cat. Would you like to walk around with part of your toes cut off and not be able to have any say in it?

If your cats could talk, you better believe they'd want their toes back.

But they can't.....so people like you will just continue to do what is best for yourself without thinking of what is best for your animals.

I repeat and stand by the statement: If someone knows what declawing actually entails and still declaws their cats, they should not be allowed to have cats. PERIOD. There are a myriad of resources out there providing information from cat EXPERTS.

This is not the opinion of animal activists, this is the FACTS of common sense on the subject of people that empathize and understand that declawing is something people do because they don't want to take the effort to train their cats, they just want an easy fix for their own convenience, with no regard for their cats.

And let me just add about the "millions of people out there" comment....
There are tons of people who are not fully educated on the subject, and I guarantee if they were, there wouldn't even be a fraction of the declaws that happen these days. There ARE many many vets who won't perform the procedure, and I hate to say it, but you have to take into account how much extra money is made from declaws. If you really asked a large portion of vets about the facts, I'm sure you'll find that they are either apathetic (which you never want someone taking care of you or your animals to be) or just haven't been properly trained on the subject (as most CAT only hospitals require their vets to be).

Since such a large part of the world outlaws this act considering it animal cruelty, maybe you should research that... Obviously THOSE millions of people are onto something.

You'd think with how much moral credit we give ourselves as Americans, we'd be more up to date with the rest of the world on how inhumane this practice is. Unfortunately, Americans tend to be more selfish when it comes to these things.

Originally Posted by yam102284

This is what really makes me mad, when people say things like this. So you're saying, that my mom, who knows what declawing is (I told her) and still had it done, doesnt deserve to have her cat!? You've got to be kidding me. As long as she loves her cat unconditionally and wont abandon her, it doesnt matter. As long as anyone will love their cat unconditionally and care for them no matter what, it shouldnt matter. This is what irks me, when people say that people that have their cats declawed shouldnt even own cats.

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Terribly sorry if this "irks" you. But I stand by that statement, and many on this board who are extensively trained with cats and other animals feel the same way.

People that are declawing KNOWING how bad it is, are only doing it for THEMSELVES, and aren't thinking of the cat's welfare.

That isn't a good pet owner in my estimation. Aren't you supposed to think first of the animal before you do something so extreme for your own convenience???

If you can't deal with trimming claws and spending time and effort training the cat not to scratch where it shouldn't, then NO you shouldn't have a cat.

A little extra effort for the cat's benefit goes a long way.

I just wanted to say, that I've avoided every other thread about declawing previously because I didn't want to get into it with thickheaded individuals...I think I need to avoid these again in the future. Some people will stubbornly stand by their "opinion" , despite how ignorant that opinion may be.

this is just rediculous

its not cutting off their limbs lol
its removing, or excuse me, amputating the very tips. if you removed all the tips of my fingers i would function just fine, clumsy at first maybe but please you cant compare it to removing limbs. were not taking off a cats legs
and we are not egyptians
how many cats were slaughtered by man in bizarre rituals in the past??? millions were slaughtered, burnt along with witches.

its obscene to think this is cruel. are they crying? are they limping? are they acting like they are in any discomfort? no they are not. yes animals are programmed to hide their pain, but come on we all know when our pets are in discomfort.
its just humans being overly emotional and caught up in the hype.
what about canine tail docking? and ear cropping? against that too?
but its ok to take out a uterus? no matter what the cause, people say whats to be taken from an animal. we alter them for our own preference and convenience, and yes spaying is for our own convenience so we dont have to deal with all the unwanted pets. if you can spay you can declaw its as simple as that.

if it were truely an act of cruelty then it would be banned, no vet would do it, it would be illegal. theres not much money in it for the vets because declawing isnt very expensive, its a simple procedure with a quick recovery.

enough said about this on my part, theres way more people who agree with me in the real world than on the internet. the internet is known for crazed opinions
i never met a PETA member that wasnt a wacko...sorry