Declawing...some thoughts.

tamme

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 2, 2002
Messages
2,201
Purraise
1
Location
Calgary, Alberta. Canada
I don't have declawed cats and they don't ruin my leather couch. They do ruin my cloth couches for sure, but a little more discipline on my part would solve that.

One of the cats at my work has been declawed and she is very unsociable, she runs away when you get near. While the untouched one is very sociable to the people who approach her.

I wouldn't declaw my dog, so why would I declaw my cats?


If I had the choice, I wouldn't do it. If it's already done, then what's done is done, you deal with it, but a choice is a choice and you have to live with the results afterwards. I can't believe that lady put her cat outside after she had it declawed (who wrote about this????) because she couldn't deal with the problems. WHoever said this was right 'if you can't deal with the problems, then you shouldn't have a cat in the first place'.

Now this is only my opinion and I accept and respect others opinion. My own is only my own.
 

bendy

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 4, 2003
Messages
121
Purraise
1
Location
Central NC
wow!


I am still trying to learn how to talk to people about it. As the "cat lady" for the shelter I foster for & volunteer with I am often asked "at what age would you recommend a declaw?" and my usual answer is "never."

I list the behavioral & health problems first, but I save the risk of arthritis for last. and then I make it a little more personnal.
I tell them that changing the way the cat walks, as well as damaging its feet, increases the liklihood of arthritis. and I tell them I have arthritis, which I do, and that I would not wish arthritic feet on anyone! There are days it is hard to walk, but I do anyway - and so will the cat. But unlike the cat I can understand what is happening and try to temper my moods.
A hurting cat will be grouchy, but doesn't understand and probably won't make an effort to be nice in spite of the pain.

I've found this an effective approach.
One college girl stopped me midway and said 'OH! That explains my mother's cat! That's it, I'm never declawing'

America is the land of throw-away everything, convenient everything, and sadly it applies to pets as well as televisions.

Some people just refuse to learn, they don't get a good recomendation from me to the shelter director for the adoption.

Cat Fancy Magazine published an article which stated that U of Ca at Davis had done a study which showed 20% of declawed cats developed behavioral problems after the surgery.

I wish there was a study on the numbers of cats developing physical problems (arthritis, re-grown claws).

Bendy
 

carrie640

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Dec 14, 2001
Messages
1,040
Purraise
203
Location
Michigan
I was talking to someone at the shelter about this issue and she mentioned Soft Paws. I never heard of it, but it sounds interesting.
Does anyone know anything about it???
 

valanhb

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Messages
32,530
Purraise
100
Location
Lakewood (Denver suburb), Colorado
Bendy, we do try to keep everything civilized and for the most part it works around here.
It's nice isn't it? We've talked about everything from declawing to politics and religion and kept it civil in the past. That's one of the things I love about this place, we can have differing opinions and still talk about hot topics with respect for each other.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. I think a big part of the problem is with the vets who not only treat it as a normal procedure, just like spaying and neutering, but actually recommend it. I'm totally ashamed to admit that I did have it done.
When we took Trent in for his neutering the vet actually recommended we get him declawed. I didn't know what it involved. I DID ask! You know what they told me? "It's just a minor procedure where they remove the nail bed. It's no big deal."
Trent does not have any behavioral problems, thank goodness, but we did almost lose him because of it. His feet got infected and he stopped eating and drinking. A kitten of 6 months, it didn't take long before we had to take him to ER, get him re-hydrated and get meds. I have no doubt that if I hadn't stayed home with him and made him come out of hiding every hour to eat and drink and potty he wouldn't be here. I still almost cry every time I see his paws, and I hate myself for doing that to my little love.

I think that a lot of vets see declawing as a way to make more money, not only off of the procedure itself but off the possible complications. I know they got a pretty penny from me.
I think it would be fantastic if they were required to show what declawing really is. Had they told me that, given me a pamphlet, educated me in ANY way instead of dismissing it as a "simple procedure" I wouldn't have done it.
 

russian blue

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 30, 2002
Messages
5,017
Purraise
4
Location
Where emerald eyes are smiling
This is from an information package I received from the animal clinic where I had Nakita spayed. Here is a sample of what is written. Again, no stress is placed on the owner to work with the cat. Instead, declawing is the way to go.

What is the effect of declawing on the cat?

Many authors have written of dire behavioral and surgical complications of declawing, but these reports are based on myths and anecdotes. Some 10 scientific studies have examined the consequences of declawing on the pet and on the pet-owner relationship. These studies show that declawing does not alter the cat's behavior. In fact, cats may continue to scratch furniture after declawing, but cause no damage. Except for a few days of post-surgical discomfort (which can be controlled with medicine), quite surprisingly the only owner concerns have been that some cats were reluctant to use the litter box when litter was replaced with paper strips.

When owners of declawed cats are asked to assess the effects of declawing on the cat-owner relationship, declawing met or surpassed their expectations, and over 70% indicated an improvement in their relationship with their cat. Declawing allows people to keep their cat and stop household damage.


Isn't that just great? I believe there should be full pics and details of the declawing procedure listed with this package. Pictures always catch people's attention. With this 'polyanna' description of the procedure the vet will always come out the winner to a lay person.

 

carrie640

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Dec 14, 2001
Messages
1,040
Purraise
203
Location
Michigan
HA! Those things are SOOOO CUTE! Looks like blue nail polish!!! Does it hurt them in anyway to have these things glued???
 

angelzoo

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
1,535
Purraise
2
Location
Maryland, USA
Bendy: LOL "The Cat Lady" you have no clue how many people have called me that. It's cute, but it gets annoying, it's like 'yes, yes, I'm the animal nut I know!"

About the tread, this place is about 99 times better (civil) then acme. Acme was a HORRIBLE place, but with a wealth of information.
I think you will probably like it here, as I have heard some of the things people have said about me, you and almost everyone else over there. This place is a lot kinder, and level headed.
 

carrie640

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Dec 14, 2001
Messages
1,040
Purraise
203
Location
Michigan
I want to use them on Ashley! But, she has no claws


DISCLAIMER: She was LIKE this when I got her!!!
 

misha

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 4, 2003
Messages
137
Purraise
1
Location
Sydney, Australia
They don't seem to hurt. As somebody else said, I think they would just feel like false nails do on us.

I ordered some neon pink ones from my vet for my boys, the vet (who is male) was absolutely mortified that I was going to put pink soft paws on the boys. I think I have a pic of Nick in them somewhere....let me have a hunt around for it. LOL.

I started using them on the cats as adults, and I only really had one cat who didn't like them. He'd chew at them until they fell off. LOL.

Ok, the Nick ones you could hardly see, here's my Burmese boy Suni. Not the best photo in the world...

http://www.cat-world.com/~Photos/SuniCubby2.jpg

Julia.
 

misha

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 4, 2003
Messages
137
Purraise
1
Location
Sydney, Australia
Vikki, oh...I didn't know that. Always like an excuse to show off my cats.

You're right, the do fall off...takes a bit of adjustment. At first, my cat's claws were too short (I cut them as short as I can get), and they didn't adhere well. You only need to snip off the very end of the nail before applying the Soft Paws.

They generally last up to 6 weeks, but odd ones will come off (like I imagine false nails would), you just re-apply as they come off.

If any of you have wooden floors it's like having a mini horse clomping around in them. LOL.

Julia.
 

carrie640

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Dec 14, 2001
Messages
1,040
Purraise
203
Location
Michigan
:tounge2: I know they are for use to help deter the clawing, but if Ashley had claws, they would be so cute to use!
 

misha

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 4, 2003
Messages
137
Purraise
1
Location
Sydney, Australia
Actually, whenever we had visitors come around they thought that we had put the Soft Paws on as some kind of kitty fashion statement. LOL.

You can get them in clear, but that's not as much fun.

Julia.
 

kiwideus

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 4, 2002
Messages
13,901
Purraise
12
Location
Aotearoa
The kitty claws makes them look as if they have nailpolish on. SOOOOO CUTE!
 

misha

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 4, 2003
Messages
137
Purraise
1
Location
Sydney, Australia
I just remembered this photo. I wonder if Suni is trying to display his manliness because his horrible mum put pink Soft Paws on him?

Julia.
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
Just a warning about soft paws. They are a great product but if you cat is inside/outside then please don't use them. They are dangerous for a cat outside because if something scares or chases your cat she will not be able to climb a tree to stay safe, with the caps on she would slip right off the tree.
 

misha

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 4, 2003
Messages
137
Purraise
1
Location
Sydney, Australia
Yes, that's true. My crew go outside in an enclosure only...so they're ok.

Also, if they're permitted to free roam, they're somewhat vulnerable because they can't defend themselves with their claws.

Julia.
 

tamme

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 2, 2002
Messages
2,201
Purraise
1
Location
Calgary, Alberta. Canada
Thank-you Vikki for that link. I saw this in a magazine ad but forgot about it when I got home. Now I can show hubby! What a great idea! and what a great alternative.
 
Top