Just a question to start a discussion, if I may.

Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy

Outstanding citations, LDG. I'm definitely adding these to my library. Good stuff!

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I found that in previous discussions of this subject, people needed actual facts, not opinions. Well - the facts exist to support the anti-declaw opinions.

I wonder why, if the AVMA has such a clearly-worded statement, vets are still offering declaws with S/N as if they belong together like fries with a burger? *shakes head*

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Yup. It's a money maker. In fact, the vet lobby was so powerful in CA, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law that makes CA municipalities no longer able to pass anti-declaw laws as of Jan 2010. What I don't get is how THAT happened WITH the AVMA position!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy

The reasons for both S/N and declawing are quite different but are all heavily cited here, so I won't repeat them.

It's the affect on the cats that are most important to my mind. Declawed cats are no longer able to engage in activities that are integral parts of their daily routines, and this has definite mental-health implications. Cats have trouble indulging in those long delightful stretches when they can't anchor their claws, they have trouble marking their territories, digging, playing, etc., etc. These are instinctual, daily behaviors that require expression for the well-being of the cat.

Spays and neuters, on the other hand, don't deprive the cats of anything at all. In taking the different body parts, the instinct to use those parts goes, too, so the cats don't miss anything and aren't aware of any deprivation. There's no drive to do what they are no longer able to do.

While the reasons for the different surgeries are morally debatable, the after-effects are not.

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Agreed.

As others have said..please don't de-claw, it's horrible, tourture, mutilitation..every one else on here allready put up some good links and facts.

On the spay/neuter thing, I have often had that thought. Not is it more inhuman that a declw( it's not), but should it really be done?

Now, there is a definate problen of overpopulation in this country, so right there is a good enough reason..but one starts to wonder, if everyone is forced to spay and neuter, won't there be no cats left..execpt for purebreed? There is something to be said for the good old DSH.

That being said, I do think something should be done about the overpopulation...there is an option to get a vasectmoy/tubes tied instead of total castration/hystromecty...that may be a more humane approach if you are looking for one. It solves the overpopulation issues, but allows Mr/Miss Kitty to have a sex drive still.

For the record, my cat is spayed, NEVER declawed, and microchipped (not really sure how I feel about that, but it was a requirement of the Human Society for me to bring her home)

Originally Posted by LDG

...Yup. It's a money maker. In fact, the vet lobby was so powerful in CA, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law that makes CA municipalities no longer able to pass anti-declaw laws as of Jan 2010. What I don't get is how THAT happened WITH the AVMA position!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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He did? That's terrible. I hadn't really formed an opinion of him (seeing as how I live on the opposite coast), but now, wow. Unbelievable.

It's a sad day for the kitties of California.

It is not fair to have your cats claws ripped out, and subject it to a lifetime of possible extreme pain and not being able to do cat things (climbing, stretching properly, ETC). Not only that, but when a cat uses a scratching post, they are also stretching their muscles. It is cruel to take away natures main defense from a cat. What if he was to ever get out? Don't say it isn't possible because it is, and if he really wants, he will find a way out. He could get into fights with other cats and he could get seriously injured with no way to defend himself.

Spaying/neutering is necessary, and not cruel at all. IMO, it is more cruel to keep a cat intact, which will make the cat miserable as it will constantly be thinking about mating, which will drive him/her crazy. It is also cruel to allow cats to mate constantly, produce litters of kittens which nobody wants, which results in them being taken to shelters and killed if not adopted. Also think of the health problems intact cats could develop. And also the problems that can arise if a female is bred constantly. Save lives, and spay/neuter your cats.

If your cat has scratching problems, which you cannot break him of, try using Soft Paws as another member suggested. They are easy to use, and will prevent you cat from scratching you, your furniture, or your carpets. It is a much more humane alternative to declawing for sure. Plus it can help you avoid any problems that your cat could develop from a declaw procedure. I personally keep my cats claws trimmed very short, as short as I can get them without hurting them. That way if my male(who also has scratching problems) decides to try to scratch me, he won't do any damage to me because they are short and rounded off. My cats are much happier than they would be if I had gotten them declawed, and I don't have to live with the guilt of mutilating my babies.

Originally Posted by KiTTYL0VE4

It is not fair to have your cats claws ripped out, and subject it to a lifetime of possible extreme pain.

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My husband lost the tips of his fingers 12 years ago. Everytime a cold front comes in, what remains of his fingers hurt. He has ghost fingers where he feels like he has hold of something but he doesn't. I can't imagine intentionally inflicting this kind of pain on an animal just for my own convenience.

As far as spay/neuter, unless you are prepared to take care of every possible offspring that you cat may produce, you need to spay or neuter. My husband plans on getting "fixed". If he didn't , I would get fixed. Its population control. I don't see how allowing thousands of kittens to be born into the world where they will suffer from desease and starvation is in any way shape or form humane. I don't see where forcing a female cat to go through one heat cycle after another without letting her do what her instincts demand of her, is humane. I don't see where making an intact tom stay indoors and again keep him from what every instinct in his being demand he do, is humane.

If you take away the reproductive organs, the cat does not suffer in any way. They are running around acting normal quite quickly after surgery. The grow fat and happy, they spend their time playing and sunning themselves. And they are not creating mutiple generations of kittens that there would never be enough homes,food,shelter,etc. for.

If you take away their claws you take away that extreme stretch that they do. You take away their defence. Their ability to climb etc. Are their cats that do fine declawed? Yes, I had one. I got from the humane society that way and she ran around outside, dominated the other cats, climbed trees and caught mice. But there are an awful lot of cats that don't do well.

Well no one "needs" to neuter and spay and no one "needs" to declaw - its choices we make for the benefit of the cat or the benefit of the owner. In the case of spay/neuter we do it for the benefit of the cat; in the case of declawing its to the benefit of the owner.

Cats are born with claws for a purpose and to alter that is wrong. Declawing doesn't benefit a cat in any way - physical or mental and in most cases it causes a lot worse problems physicallly or mentally.

Spay/Neuter DOES have a benefit and is better for the cat in the long run. Early cancers are avoided and more important pyometra (females) and testicular cancer (males) can be prevented.

Originally Posted by Zuma-xo

Firstly, I would prefer this to not get personal. You may state your opinion, bring in any proof you may have, but do not attack me or anyone else on here. Please, lets me civil.

So, I was having a discussion today with a friend of mine who has a declawed cat...And then she shocked me. She asked me how spaying and neutering really helped a cat.

So that got me thinking, do we ever really NEED to spay or neuter a cat?... So in reality, how is a neuter or spay any less inhumane and selfish than declawing? Neither of them benefit the cat either way, so how is one a horrid thing that a person should be tarred and feathered, while the other is also a surgery that SHOULD be done?...

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Zuma, you've received three pages of opinions, facts and statistics in reply to your questions. I'm wondering what your thoughts are now. Do you still believe these surgeries are equitable in morality and in effect upon the cats involved? Or do you, like so many who replied, see the differences between them?

Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy

Zuma, you've received three pages of opinions, facts and statistics in reply to your questions. I'm wondering what your thoughts are now. Do you still believe these surgeries are equitable in morality and in effect upon the cats involved? Or do you, like so many who replied, see the differences between them?

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Sorry it took me awhile to reply, guys, I had a brown out in my area (4 DAYS! ACK!). Which was oh so lovely (not), the cats were stuck in the house with no air conditioning and I can say, I was uncomfortable, so they were by far worse than I was.

I never promoted declawing, in fact, I'm still not a huge 'lets run out and declaw every cat' kind of person. I neuter/spay my animals because I felt it was right (mostly because I was raised with Bob Barker on TV and it was drilled in my head haha). But I did think my friend had a valid point that, when looked at it from a different perspective, we are still putting our pets through a surgery and it's mostly for our gain and very little is thought of the cat. Yes, there are many benefits to spay/neutering your cat, but in the end, very few cats NEED it done.

I've met, I'd say around a dozen cats who've been declawed, and I've never seen one with the behavioural problems described. Maybe I'm lucky. But I think it's because more people come forward to complain about things than to compliment them (not just in the case of declawing, but in every day life, very few are going to call a fastfood restaurant to compliment the wonderful fry they just had, but they will if they have a complaint about it being cold, ya get what I'm saying? Of course people will complain if they put their beloved pet through surgery and it causes them issues, I far from blame them).

But in my mind, it's still a surgery and both are pretty major. It is still cutting into someone and the decision should not be taken lightly.



And, someone asked what we've done with Tom.
We made him a scratching post, he still takes it out on our arms, legs, ankles, faces, etc. He is getting better with not attacking Bug, but his attacking every human in the house is kind of making him 'disliked'. I love him to death, the 2 small children, the teenage boy, and my parents, not so much a fan. I recently got a butterfly stitch on my arm from where Tom decided that jumping from atop his scratching post and grabbing onto me was a 'grand ol' time' (ie. lying there when all of a sudden, a huge growl, and a pounce! Not really 'playing' more like, I'm a prey, I swear, he thinks he can eat everyone). We've done scans of his brain and certain glands in him that can cause behavioural problems, we've purchased him these Softpaws things which.. well, he chewed them off. We put more on and put a cone around his head thinking if he got used to them, he wouldn't do it anymore, he ran around the house smashing his head against the wall for an entire day, we went back to the vet and got him anti-anxiety meds, he refused to get off the floor but would snarl at us when we came past.
We brought him to the vet to get his shots (rabies, deworming, etc) and he refused to get out of his carrier and it took the vet and 2 assistants to get him out and hold him down so they could get the shots done because he flailed around like a maniac and bit and scratched everyone. We've checked his blood for a whole list of issues which could cause problems, everything came back normal (except elevated levels of testosterone which is why he is getting neutered so early). The testosterone levels were higher than that of a fullaged tomcat but he has no tumours that are visable in the 4 scans we've done on him (I'm officially broke... just off of his medical bills haha).
Now, we are at the point of neutering him at 3 1/2 months old and if this does not help him my vet suggested declawing (there is a risk that he could bite more though) or a series of medications which could help his behaviour. I have no idea what to do anymore and I love them both. My parents love Bug, he acts just like a normal cat, and besides the scratching furniture and curtains (which the soft paws helped for a little while but had to be removed because it stopped him from defending himself when Tom went on a rant and attacked him/humped him/whatever he chose to do).

I am not thinking declawing him for the betterment of my furniture. I have had ferrets as pets! Smell, scratching, and holes in everything no longer faze me in the least. But him being a total nut, is not helping and it was a suggestion made by the vet as one of the options we could do if the neutering does not help.


I appreciate everyone posting information and for not telling me I'm an idiot or a crazy person. I just had a discussion with a friend and thought it was worth sharing with a bunch of cat lovers.

Originally Posted by LDG

Yup. It's a money maker. In fact, the vet lobby was so powerful in CA, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law that makes CA municipalities no longer able to pass anti-declaw laws as of Jan 2010. What I don't get is how THAT happened WITH the AVMA position!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I am not a Gov. Schwarznegger person. The governator is not my favourite person in the world. He promised to lift the ban on ferrets if he was elected, and guess what? Liar, Liar, PANTS ON FIRE. Ack! If I ever met him, he'd get a piece of my mind, for sure.

Originally Posted by Zuma-xo

...I never promoted declawing, in fact, I'm still not a huge 'lets run out and declaw every cat' kind of person. ...Yes, there are many benefits to spay/neutering your cat, but in the end, very few cats NEED it done.

I've met, I'd say around a dozen cats who've been declawed, and I've never seen one with the behavioural problems described. Maybe I'm lucky. But I think it's because more people come forward to complain about things than to compliment them (not just in the case of declawing, but in every day life, very few are going to call a fastfood restaurant to compliment the wonderful fry they just had, but they will if they have a complaint about it being cold, ya get what I'm saying? Of course people will complain if they put their beloved pet through surgery and it causes them issues, I far from blame them).

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Compliment the results of toe amputations? *shocked* I've heard a lot of rationalizations in my time, but never one that compared surgically removing a cat's claws to getting a side-order of french fries.

Er.... I get the feeling you either didn't read all of the information that's been provided to you in this thread, or you had your mind already made up when you began it.

S/N and declawing are NOT equitable surgeries, morally or medically. They just... aren't.

I'm against de-clawing cats. I can't bring it to myself to allow cat to be completely defenseless like that. This is my personal opinion. I'm also against the health problem it causes/etc. The other thing is when a cat gets very old they will NEED their claws my 17-year-old cat is proof of that. She cannot jump as good anymore and uses her claws to climb up onto things now. Naturally I don't care that so it's all good.

The other thing is that I've worked with my cats and they know what they can scratch and what they can't. I've found the no-scratch sprays you can get actually did work for me. I just sprayed it all over the stuff I didn't want them to scratch and rubbed catnip all over the scratching posts/cheap furniture for about a year. They got the hint. Nobody is de-clawed in this house but nobody uses their claws unnecessarily either.

Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy

Compliment the results of toe amputations? *shocked* I've heard a lot of rationalizations in my time, but never one that compared surgically removing a cat's claws to getting a side-order of french fries.

Er.... I get the feeling you either didn't read all of the information that's been provided to you in this thread, or you had your mind already made up when you began it.

S/N and declawing are NOT equitable surgeries, morally or medically. They just... aren't.

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Sorry, I think you misread my post or I am horrid at wording it, either way, miscommunication was an issue (and I apologize if it was my wording it. Sometimes I think too fast and everything comes out in a jumble, I will admit). I was not saying someone should compliment anything or comparing it to an order of fries. What I was trying to get out is that someone will come forward when they have a negative experience with something, but they probably will not come forward and rave about it if they have had a good one. A person with their cat declawed will probably come forward to post on any site, talk to someone, or express distaste to friends, etc, if they have had a negative experience with it (behavioural changes, botched job, etc). However, someone is probably not going to go looking for someone to talk to if they have had no other noticable issues. I mean, why would you go looking to talk to someone about your cat's declawing procedure if you have no issues with it, there would be very little to discuss! Do I make more sense this time? Sorry, I just used the fast food thing as something to explain it with everyday life. Someone will come forward to complain about something, but very rarely will they look to say something positive. I was in no way saying it should be as easy or as simple as ordering fries, quite frankly, I was a little insulted at first to think you thought I was that crazy (LOL!) but then I reread my post and realized I must not have worded myself correctly.

Again, I do not agree with declawing. I far from want Tom to get it done and I am exhausting every other option before I get to that road. I seriously hope that the neutering will calm him noticably so I don't have to worry about it. But you know there is an issue when a vet who has been practicing for 25 years and NEVER does declawing (who actually yelled at my mom when she got Bug out of the carrier for even suggesting it, which was hilarious might I add because my mom looked very insulted and I was happy someone told her she was nuts XD), is offering it and is shocked at a kitten like him. Heck, I'm shocked by a kitten like him. People think ferrets are vicious? Meet Tom, I swear, he is going to be in the next Stephen King novel, haha!

It was brought up, I thought I'd discuss it. I am the kind of person who likes to put myself in other people's shoes, see things through someone else's eyes, before I make my final decision. You guys seemed like the best place because you have cats and you love them and have probably done the research. It's weird, but I like to think of things in other ways before I totally jump on board for something. I like to understand everything. Hense the asking for a discussion, it allows me to view something through someone elses eyes, have someone explain something that will better make me understand it. I have read the information posted, yes I have read the posts on this thread, and I have done my own research along the way. When the vet mentioned declawing, I ran out and did research on it. Heck, I have watched videos on declawing and neutering/spaying procedures (which might I add, both give me goosebumps, ick!). Mind you, I've done research on breeding dogs/cats/ferrets and I don't ever want to do any of those, but I wanted to know enough about it that I could carry on a conversation and to better understand what is involved (it's not as simple as one may think, breeding, I mean).

I understand what you are saying, and yes, looking at it from your point of view, I do understand how outrageous the whole declawing procedure would be. To me, I hate all forms of surgery and would prefer not to put any of my pets through anything of the sort, so to me, all surgery is icky and should not be done unless need be. I think both are surgeries, both are major (one may be more simple than the other, but both are cutting into someone and that is pretty major in my head), both have pros and cons to both the pet and the human. One may be more simple, one may have more downtime, but I think all surgeries are that, surgeries, and are pretty major (I would not want anyone cutting into me and thinking it's minor haha).

I do not promote getting your cat declawed unless, like what was stated before, a toe is injured, causing pain, etc (which was one of the first replies, if I remember correctly). I do not think it is a minor surgery, nor do I think it is morally correct to cause harm to someone or something if you do not need to.

Again, a discussion, I was not jumping on the declawing bandwagon and I am not saying it is morally correct. I do not think it has to be done in the vast majority of cases nor do I think it should be something to be taken lightly. I just thought I would share an outsiders point of view and see if we can discuss it and if I, and anyone else reading, or posting, could find some more information on what was discussed during it. I am sure we all read something here that shocked us, informed us, or brought our attention to something new. I now have a lot more links to go into my 'Cats' favourite folder for me to go back and reference to later and a future discussion, be it on here or somewhere else and I hope everyone else was just as educated as I was.

I am probably not going to get him declawed (and by probably, I am VERY much leaning towards the not, unless I have exhausted every other option I or my vet can think of). If I can find something else easier on him and myself that will help our relationship, then that is what I will do. I have never had a declawed cat before, I have never had a declawed dog or ferret either. But I have never had as many behavioural issues with one animal as I have had with Tom.

Have you thought about getting a behaviourist for your cat if neutering doesn't calm him down?

Originally Posted by Jupeycat

Have you thought about getting a behaviourist for your cat if neutering doesn't calm him down?

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I have looked into it however in my area, Cebu in the Philippines, there is nothing like that. There are in different islands, but not in Cebu, so sadly, it's not an option. If I can decrease it a little bit, I am moving back to Canada with the two cats this summer (I am literally moving out of my house because I want to keep these two haha) and I will be able to take him one at that point, but it has to lower to the point that he is not attacking everyone in the house.

So far, keeping him locked in my bedroom is helping but, I find that so cruel, to lock him in one room (he gets mad and I have to fight with him to get in and out of the room when the door opens haha). I can put up with his behavioural problems, I mean, I am annoyed with the bites and the scratches but I know that beneath it, he is an amazing little cat. My family is not thrilled though and it's making life a little difficult, I admit. We just need to scratch the surface. I have had ferrets with biting problems, I've even had one break the skin on my hand once that required a trip to the emerg. for stitches, but its usually stemming from something obvious (toy possession, food possesion, dominance, fear) but he just seems to think everything needs to be bitten, scratched, chewed on, eaten, humped (which only started recently though). And I already have had him break the skin (butterfly stitch once already, which is a good thing I suppose, it could always be worse). Its like everything is either prey or a mate. I have learned though, that a laser pointer is an amazing thing. I can 'play' with him, and he won't bite my hand or me unless I move it near me. I make sure to not point it in his face, of course, but he thinks it's marvellous.

Somewhat unfortunately, I am someone that has seen the issue from both sides. I have had 3 cats declawed, albeit for progressively (what I thought were) "better" reasons; the first time, I was just plain selfish; it was about furniture. There's not a day that goes by that I look at that cat (it was an ex-girlfriend's that moved in with me, and we're still friends) and feel like a complete ass. She's a bigger cat, and had a difficult time with the aftereffects, putting pressure on her paws and such.

The other 2 times, by then I had become a "cat person" and had done a bit of a 180, consumed with the desire to keep the existing members of my cat family safe when I would adopt a new kitty. I would hear of how I wouldn't want ot create a heirarchal situation by having some with claws and some without. My first cat was an already-declawed stray, so he set the tone for how things were going to be, according to my philosophy at the time.

But after reading more about the issue, and finding examples of mixed cat families that don't have problems, I decided that my latest, Oliver, was not going to be declawed. I was done juggling the, "Well, I think I did the right thing", with the, "But I still have a sick feeling in my stomach". He and two of my other boys, Tiko and Bayliss, wrestle like little madmen, and everyone's fine. I keep his nails clipped regularly, and watch his nail-assisted antics, like climbing up the scratching post, and up the baby gates in front of the picture window, almost to the ceiling! And then I think of how some of my others could be doing fun things like that too. And then I hate myself.

So, having been from that other side of the fence, yeah, it's a choice. I made my choices out of ignorance, and feel terrible about what I've done. But once you've been properly informed, ignorance isn't part of the equation anymore, is it.

That's my story.

Originally Posted by Zuma-xo

But I did think my friend had a valid point that, when looked at it from a different perspective, we are still putting our pets through a surgery and it's mostly for our gain and very little is thought of the cat. Yes, there are many benefits to spay/neutering your cat, but in the end, very few cats NEED it done.

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I'm so sorry you still feel this way. As Auntie Crazy pointed out, they are not comparable surgeries. Cats rarely experience any complications, let alone long term complications, from spay or neuter surgeries. Also, the only behavior benefits from spay/neuter surgeries are "positive" ones - resulting in happier cats that don't spray, aren't subject to the mating drive, aren't as territorial, and are at lower risk for various diseases, let alone communicable disease they could get from fighting over females, from mating, or from fighting over territory.

...and I know you're in the Philippines and I don't know how many homeless cats are there or are killed in shelters every year, but here in the U.S., you could stop into any one of the 4,000 - 6,000 shelters and witness one of the 3 - 4 million euthanizations (each YEAR) and ask one of those cats/kittens if spaying and neutering was necessary or not.

OK, I can sort of see your point. For the most part, neutering probably is also for the convenience of the human. I understand the cancer argument that if you remove those parts, the animal can't get cancer in them, but the same could probably be said for the tail, ears, any other body part. I do think the neutering process is less danger to the cat than declawing, less painful, causes less mental difficulty, and probably the two procedures shouldn't be compared to one another.

Having said these things, my two oldest cats are declawed. When I got them, it was pretty much before the declawing discussion began and I just assumed if you didn't want your furniture ruined, you got the cat declawed. I am embarrassed now about my ignorance and in the future, I would never have a cat declawed unless there was a real, compelling reason to. On the other hand, I firmly believe that you can't let your pet ruin everything you own; that's how pets become burdens, which isn't good for the human or the cat. My youngest cat, who is not declawed has hardly scratched on anything her whole life. My two older cats had no side effects with their declawing and really don't seem any the worse for wear.

Originally Posted by Bridget

OK, I can sort of see your point. For the most part, neutering probably is also for the convenience of the human.

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The health benefits are not only prevention of cancer. Cats transmit FIV, FeLV and FIP (among others) fighting over females and territory. Cats get wounded, get infections, lose teeth, eyes and suffer many and various injuries as a result of the need to mate. Seems to me like there are quite a few benefits to the cat - not to mention the cat population.

Originally Posted by Bridget

...On the other hand, I firmly believe that you can't let your pet ruin everything you own; that's how pets become burdens, which isn't good for the human or the cat...

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...or the pet owner should learn how to work with their pet properly in order to train it not to ruin everything. Alternatives such as Soft Claws are available now. If you can afford a declaw, you can afford Soft Claws.

Cats have claws. If we are not prepared to deal with that, we should not have a cat.

Originally Posted by LDG

I'm so sorry you still feel this way. As Auntie Crazy pointed out, they are not comparable surgeries. Cats rarely experience any complications, let alone long term complications, from spay or neuter surgeries. Also, the only behavior benefits from spay/neuter surgeries are "positive" ones - resulting in happier cats that don't spray, aren't subject to the mating drive, aren't as territorial, and are at lower risk for various diseases, let alone communicable disease they could get from fighting over females, from mating, or from fighting over territory.
(

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Spaying and neutering is a birth control method which prevents mammary tumours in cats, something that affects 25% of unspayed female cats. After spaying, this is reduced to 3.6% over a lifetime if she is spayed before her first heat. Pyometra is prevented because of the removal of the ovaries which makes the female lack oestrogen and progesterone. As well as uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and testicular cancer which affect 1% of cats and dogs (80% of female rabbits however, which I found interesting during my research, and I have known no one to spay a rabbit for some reason and they breed like mad).

Like with all surgeries there is a risk of infection or complications due to the aneshetics used. The risks are indeed low, but are raised with animals with certain health issues.

Cats are at a raised risk for obesity due to reduced metabolism, hormonal drive, and eating more due to altered eating behaviour after neutering/spaying. Obesity causes many health problems in cats. This is not to say don't get your cat spayed/neutered because it will get fat, it is just an after effect that /could/ happen and you have to be prepared to give a healthy diet and engage in play with your cat to help prevent it.

Both males and females have a raised risk of urinary tract infections compared to unaltered cats.

However, there are many tests either confirming or disproving beneficial behavioural changes. Depending on who you trust, you can pick one. Many have to do with pre-existing behavioural issues or the age at which the procedure is performed. Depending on which university to trust, the information is out there and is plenty.



Declawing is mainly done in the united states, I will agree. Of a survey, 34% of owners reported discomfort in their cat after surgery, 78% reported primarily tenderness. Recovery time took 3 days to 2 weeks. 0.4% of the cats had difficulty walking. Increased biting was reported in 4% of cats but overall, 96% of owners were happy with the results.

Citation for that study is: http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB...00/PR00016.htm in case you'd like to check it out. I thought it was interesting, am not sure if anyone else would.

Although behavior problems such as house soiling (not using the litter box) and biting after declawing have been widely reported anecdotally, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has stated that there is no scientific evidence to show that declawing leads to behavioral abnormalities.

citation again: http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/an.../declawing.asp they do say that it should be used as a last resort, but if you keep reading, they do say there is no evidence shown.

Recovery time from spaying/neutering is 5 days to 2 weeks (pretty much the same time is declawing, the recovery time is relatively the same).


See, I am not crazy out there for saying that not every cat who gets declawed is going to be a nutbar when it gets older. Just like not every cat who gets a spay/neuter will have a problem with the surgery. It is the case in certain felines, yes, but just like anything, it's a surgery, there are complications and there are risks to both, just like there are benefits.

I am not going to run out and get every cat I own declawed, nor am I really wanting to get Tom declawed, like I said, it's an option that was presented and I'd prefer to look for other options before I think of that one. But I think we are all jumping to the conclusion that declawing is a horrible thing and that most cats will come out messed up, when reality is, it's probably not going to happen. 25% of household cats in the US are declawed. I have no statistics on how many are spayed/neutered, I couldn't find any and I apologize for that :S

I am just saying, we are hating on something when in reality, it is a bases of what our own personal morals are. Do we believe it is nessessary? Do we believe it will benefit us?

Yes, removing a person's knuckles or fingers is a form of torture. But ever noticed that no doctor would perform a hysterectomy on a woman without medical reasoning? Very few are going to convince a doctor to do it because they do not want to have babies. There are too many risks involved to do that kind of surgery when there are other options available.

I do not agree with declawing because I believe there are other options that need to be exhausted before someone needs to do something that serious to their pet. But in the same sense, I could just as easily exhaust other options before neuter/spaying my cats and putting them through that surgery. It's how I feel and you shouldn't feel sorry for me for feeling that way because, it doesn't affect my cats. At the end of the day, neither are declawed, hopefully it will never come to the point that they need to be, and both are going to be neutered because I feel it is easier for me to put up with. I view both as equal surgeries, but my morals say one is a lot easier to sleep on than the other.