Question of Day Jan. 24

I know this is a sensitive subject but I think it should be brought up now and then to hear people’s opinions on this matter, I am talking about declawing. Most of the time the answer is to protect their furniture, do you think that is a good enough reason?

I myself would never declaw because I just don’t believe in it but that is my choice. I don’t know just how much the cat suffers after this surgery or for how long and if there are any side effects as he grows older. My main concern for a declawed cat is that he has no self defense if an indoor cat somehow gets outside.

My questions to you are this: is it better to adopt and declaw or not to adopt at all? Is the cat better off getting a home and being declawed or possibly facing euthanasia by staying in the shelter? What do you think??

Should declawing become illegal. I know many vets will not declaw for their own reasons.. Finally should people who do declaw not be allowed to adopt any more cats? Please tell your honest opinions on this very sensitive subject.

I think declawing is cruel and unneccessary. I work at a shelter, we do not recommend declawing because we have had it happen when people adopt then the cat won't use the litter box. It can also cause behavioral issues. Putting them through all that pain when they have had a hard life is selfish.

If you want to keep your pretty furniture you have no business owning a cat, period. In my book, there is no right reason to declaw unless it's a medical issue but more times often than not it isn't. It's pretty rare to have to declaw a cat. It's more of an ego thing. Saying oh I don't want the cat to kill my furniture is ridiculous. Furniture is replaceable, cats claws are not. So if you want to keep your furniture nice do NOT get a cat unless the cat you adopt is already declawed (came in that way) .. I wouldn't adopt a declawed cat for their safety as I have dogs.

Yikes! What a heavy Question of the day...

I would not declaw.Period.

Originally Posted by LaRussa

I know this is a sensitive subject but I think it should be brought up now and then to hear peopleâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s opinions on this matte, I am talking about declawing. Most of the time the answer is to protect their furniture, do you think that is a good enough reason?

I myself would never declaw because I just donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t believe in it but that is my choice. I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t know just how much the cat suffers after this surgery or for how long and if there are any side effects as he grows older. My main concern for a declawed cat is that he has no self defense if an indoor cat somehow gets outside.

My questions to you are this: is it better to adopt and declaw or not to adopt at all? Is the cat better off getting a home and being declawed or possibly facing euthanasia by staying in the shelter? What do you think??

Should declawing become illegal. I know many vets will not declaw for their own reasons.. Finally should people who do declaw not be allowed to adopt any more cats? Please tell your honest opinions on this very sensitive subject.

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I am completely against declawing, unless there are very specific and serious health issues with the owner. For example if the owner is on blood thinners. Otherwise, no way. I don't care how nice your new furniture/carpet/etc. is. If you have a cat that's just part of the deal.

Now whether a cat should be adopted knowing they will be declawed or euthanized....that's a hard one. But there are already declawed cats out there that need homes. Honestly, I don't know what to say about that.

At the clinic where I work when we adopt out kittens/cats it is in the contract that you will NOT declaw your cat.

I don't necessarily think declawing should be illegal. I have worked with vets that will not perform declaws because of their own beliefs. At the clinic where I work we do perform declaws, though nobody working there declaws their own cats (we do have a clinic cat that is declawed, but that was far before we got him.) Our view is we know that we do a very good job on declaws causing the cat as little pain and discomfort as possible. We would much rather know that it will get done well rather than refusing to and have the client simply go somewhere else for the surgery.

I think a very very large part of it is lack of client education. Most people don't even know the basics of the surgery or the risks and complications that could arise. We will not declaw without informing the client of exactly what happens and trying frequent nail trims/soft paws first. People simply do not have the proper knowledge to make such a large decision for their cat. After walking the client step by step through the surgery and recovery, about half of them opt against it. We aren't trying to scare them away from it, just give them the tools to make the decision properly. I think if all veterinary clinics took this approach there would be far fewer declaws.

Thank you so much for your informative answer to my question. It really makes you sit and think especially those who have had their cats declawed for no good reason. Some would do it again. We all have our own opinions and choices. I just wish there was an easier and less painful way to stop cat scratching.

I am very much against declawing, even though my guys have shredded the corners of a few of my chairs. Hubby's bachelor sofa (from Ashley Furniture) seems to have withstood the clawing, however--and the it's the oldest piece of furniture in the house--about 8 years old. It must be the fabric--a heavy microsuede. It's also the most comfortable sofa I've ever used--even to sleep on. It only has a minor, almost inperceptible amount of pilling on one corner--you'd most likely not notice it. The next uphostered furniture in my house will be a similar fabric, due to the clawing. Also, you can wash the seat covers--which, with pets, is great (I wash them periodically, even though there are no pet messes on them, just to be clean-freakish).

Aha! They still sell it (DH told me that the salesman said it was their best-seller back then):

www.ashleyfurniture.com

Series Name: Big Bomber - Canyon
Item Name: Sofa
Model #: 1410038
Dimensions: 86"W x 38"D x 37"H
Weight: 112 lbs

I would definitely not declaw for the sake of my furniture or anything like that.

I did have to consider it for a medical reason, though, with Freya. Since she's polydactyl and has in unformed toe on one of her front paws, she has a claw between two toes that could cause a problem. It hasn't yet (and probably never will) but until we were sure of that we did have to think about having that one claw removed. Unless it's really a matter of the cat's health, I see absolutely not reason to even consider declawing them.

I NEVER declaw my cats.... even that means may should to change my furniture year after year....

the Question is great, Hope all members understand and make own opinion and answer with all respect to EACH others...

I personally am 100% against declawing. Growing up our house cats were all declawed. The first was done when I was 5 (so I had no say) the second when I was a Jr. in HS. She was my cat 100% and it was a total lack of education on my part. I didn't know there were alternatives to declawing, in our area it is 'just what you do' when the animal gets altered, it gets declawed. It caused so much heartache on both myself and her & my entire family. She started having problems with the litter box and it just escalated my first year in collage. I came home for a break and she had urinated in my room, that was it for my mother and Gidget had to become a barn cat, which scared me even more because I knew she couldn't defend herself with her front claws.

I was cat-less all through out my college years and this summer after I graduated I knew that I wanted another house cat. I began researching and knew there had to be an alternative to declawing, that's when I found pawsneedclaws and a few other anti-declawing websites. I found softclaws and we haven't looked back since. I'm now one of the biggest anti-declaw advocates in my area. I really think that it is an education problem and the more we educate about training and alternatives the better and the less people will declaw unless medically necessary, and even then I have a hard time coming up with a reason. The only one I really can think of (and am possibly dealing with) are some problems with polydactyl cats toes that may make it medically necessary.

I'm against de-clawing full stop. I'm not so keen on the idea, it would be like me living without my fingers! Couldn't do it

Originally Posted by railNtrailcwgrl

I personally am 100% against declawing. Growing up our house cats were all declawed. The first was done when I was 5 (so I had no say) the second when I was a Jr. in HS. She was my cat 100% and it was a total lack of education on my part. I didn't know there were alternatives to declawing, in our area it is 'just what you do' when the animal gets altered, it gets declawed. It caused so much heartache on both myself and her & my entire family. She started having problems with the litter box and it just escalated my first year in collage. I came home for a break and she had urinated in my room, that was it for my mother and Gidget had to become a barn cat, which scared me even more because I knew she couldn't defend herself with her front claws.

I was cat-less all through out my college years and this summer after I graduated I knew that I wanted another house cat. I began researching and knew there had to be an alternative to declawing, that's when I found pawsneedclaws and a few other anti-declawing websites. I found softclaws and we haven't looked back since. I'm now one of the biggest anti-declaw advocates in my area. I really think that it is an education problem and the more we educate about training and alternatives the better and the less people will declaw unless medically necessary, and even then I have a hard time coming up with a reason. The only one I really can think of (and am possibly dealing with) are some problems with polydactyl cats toes that may make it medically necessary.

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I think you hit the nail on the head, it is lack of education that has some people believing that declawing is the only way to go. There are some who have gone to college and beyond but yet are naive in this most serious matter about their cats. Again we all make choices but some are really wrong.

I think before getting your cats declawed, there should be a video about the whole procedure shown by a vet, maybe then opinions may change for the better for our cats.

I have never had a cat declawed, and don't know why I ever would. I have a friend with a diabetic husband; his dr. recommended their cats be declawed because of the diabetes. My DH is also diabetic, and his dr. has never mentioned it. If it came down to a health concern for my DH, I suppose I'd have to rethink my position.

Having said that, I would never put my cats thru declawing for the sake of a chair. My DD's bf's Mom has cats; the older ones are declawed, the kitten is going to be declawed soon because, as she puts it, "I like my furniture". What a dumb thing to say. (I knew there was a reason I didn't care for her)

I would rather replace my chair every few years than risk a life-time of pain for my babies. To me, it's a no-brainer.

My furniture is replaceable. There is NOTHING worth putting my cats through unnecessary pain. There are so many different alternatives out there now, from just plain trimming, to Soft Paws, to cat furniture, to spray deterants, etc.

This is a tough question. I am very much against declawing and I think it should be illegal. I wish people in the US had the same mentality as other countries do where it is illegal. But, this just isn't the case. Many people I know think it's just part of the whole "vetting" process, getting their cat checked up, vaccinated, neutered and declawed before bringing it home. It is sad...but that's public perception where I live. I think if it's a shelter that euthanizes animals- well, obviously they should adopt the cat even to someone who will declaw rather than killing it. In most cases, people who declaw give their cats just as much love and care as those of us who don't, so I think it's a necessary evil at this point. However, I think shelters need to at least encourage people who are adopting a cat not to declaw it, have a very serious talk with them and make it known that declawing is painful, in a sense it disables the cat and there are many alternatives, and they should go into the alternatives such as soft paws..Many people who would otherwise declaw would change their mind if simply they are told what declawing does in more detail.

If I was adopting a cat and wanted one declawed then I was adopt a declawed cat. Simple solution that others should follow if they're so set on it.


I like my cats with their paws intact. It's natural and how their bodies evolved for proper movement.
Other reason... I'm cheap I hate spending money on useless things and declawing is just that. A useless procedure that does not help the cat and often leads so some health or behavioral problem later in life - which will cost even more to deal with and make both I and the cat unhappy.

I've never had any cat that ruined any furniture or carpets (can't say the same for dogs) and in my experience the people in the home are far more destructive. You can teach a cat not to scratch things, but you can't teach a guy not to plop down heavily.

sensative is right! I've seen some pretty angry posts about it. In the past the procedure was very wrong IMO, now they have better ways of doing it that isn't so harmful and cruel to the cat. That makes me thankful because people will always see it as an option to saving their furniture.

There are alternatives out there that make it rough for a cat to destroy stuff with their claws. That IMO is much better, but it takes time, and the cats need to be able to sit still while the (i forget what they are called) are applied.

I know there are more, but I don't know them all.

IMO... if a person is that worried about their furniture, they shouldn't have a cat (No offense to anyone who doens't agree with me, you aren't bad people, just my opinion) Or if they really want a cat, they may find an already declawed one at a shelter. It's like kids, kids ruin stuff. Kids are hard on furniture, car interriors, etc. Kids are destructive, but, I don't see anyone declawing their kids (I know they don't ruin stuff with their claws, they use everthing else, my lilbro chopped up the sides of one of our old wooden couches with my mom's knives when he was in grade school). How do people deal with their children destroying stuff?? They work with them, teach them, etc. Kids have a larger capacity for understanding, but cats can be trained.

I use second hand furniture, so... My computer chairs are tore up, I get on shade every day for clawing what she isn't supposed to. She has beautiful white claws that make her look so evil when she extends them (she has black paws so they are really visiable). I don't like being scratched. I don't like when she sticks them in me, she does at times, jumping on my lap, or flying off (back ones HURT), or if she decides to use me to help her stretch. I raise my voice at her, and put my hands on her paws and tell her NO CLAWS!! Every day... She has 2 carpeted poles I made for her using carpet fragments and carpet roll tubes in the basement, as well as one of those cardboard scratcher things. She uses all three. Upstairs she has a footstool (Ottoman) with all her and my nieces toys inside. We bought that for us, but the cats liked it so well, and tore it up so we designated that cat furniture. She's got a savy tabby furniture thingy, with carpet and ropes around the tubes, and she uses that. We have a piece of carpet kinda rolled up under the dining table, she uses that. (lol just now she clawed one of our computer chairs and I looked at her, she made a noise and stopped and looked at me, lol) She also has one of those ones that you hang from a door knob, she plays with that, and uses that.

Deep in my heart and being, I feel the Creator gave these babies claws for a reason, and I don't feel it is my place to take them away. Nature is nature, I have an animal living in my house and she will do what nature tells her. I am fine with that. I invited her into my life, and I respect her body how it was made. (this is how I see it, nobody has to agree with me, and I mean no offence to anyone who doesn't. We don't all have to agree, we just have to respect each other's opinions. ) She is indoor only, and IF she ever got out, I am glad she has those claws for her own defence. The likelyhood of her needing them for that is small.

I also read (not sure how true) But having the front claws helps them to fully stretch their arm, and back muscles, without they cant stretch completely. Cats have claws (by nature) cat's need to claw things (by nature). If I was worried about that, I would choose a different animal. OR I would choose to not have one.

Sorry so long... again...



Thank you
Be Safe.

PS... we did have a declawd cat, her name was patra (my lilbro's female Orange(yellow) tabby) She had a problem with peeing outside the box. I didn't know declaws could cause that. She was a wonderful cat, but with her urinating issues (she'd been to the vets, and no infections, we tried different boxes, we tried different kinds of litter, etc... nothing helped.) when we all moved out nobody wanted her (except my bro who loved her so much, he gets misty eyed thinking of her, but he had no place of his own to go, and he was staying with family members)(breaks my heart to think about it. I had 3 cats at the time, and didn't want 4 especially with one being a PEEcat). She did get addopted to a home with an old lady. She did much much better as an only cat, with all the attention of the lady! Her Pee problems were gone.

As for being illegal... I'm not sure, people will do what people will do. Would people NOT get their cats declawed if it were illegal? Would there be back street declaw places if it were illegal? Women get dangerous abortions where it is illegal (I know not the same thing.. but...) I don't know if that is even something that would happen, but....

The vet I always used before I moved wasn't one to mention declawing to people. When I got my first kitten (Mystyc now going to be 12 this summer) I took her in to be fixed(broke lol), and the vet (one working under my vet)brought up declawing because my hands were tore up pretty bad from her claws. She's a calico and pretty aggressive in play. I was offended that he would even use that word in conjunction with my little baby calico. I told him that she's a cat, she came with claws, and scratches are a part of having a cat. He said it would be fine, she would already be sedated, and it would take just a few more minutes. I was NOT at all educated about declawing, at that time I didn't know how cruel it was. I declined. Mystyc is one of the worst clawers I've ever had, but... She's the way nature intended (minus the ability to reproduce). I was 23 at the time, and I am so glad that deep inside my being that the thought of declawing offended me. I was raised to respect nature and the creators creations (I'm Northern Cheyenne and Lakota).

The shelter here in Sheridan, doesn't want their cats to be declawed or be outside/indoor cats. They make you sign a contract that says they can come in at any time and take your cat away if... they are declawed, not cared for, or indoor outdoor kitties. Made me feel like my shade ISN"T my shade, but, those were easy rules for me to follow. Sorry I made it longer

I am opposed to declawing for anything other than the direct health or benefit of the cat.

One of my bridge boys had a dew claw removed because he had caught it on something and nearly ripped it off. It was on the vets advice that it was done.

At the time I was clueless about delawing as we never had it done or knew any one who had.

All of the excuses about the heath of the person who adopts the cat are unacceptable. If it is a risk to your health don't adopt a cat.

Also, the idea that is should be overlooked if it means the cat may be PTS because it is un-adoptable is total garbage.

Would it be better to cause great pain to the cat, then have it come back to the shelter because of behavior problems and then in the end be PTS?

I met a woman who claimed to love cats. She adopted adult cats and because of what she said were health concerns had them declawed on all four paws. When confronted about this she would declare what a good person she was because she was saving a cat from homelessness or death.

At the time that I started to become friends with her she was in the process of doing it again. I tried to talk her out of it but she refused to see the stupidity in her thinking. I no longer associate with her because of this.

However, for the sake of argument, I must admit that there are some instances where the cat does not appear to have suffered any lasting problems because of it. This still does not make it right.

I still believe that as long as people make stupid excuses to justify the barbaric practice it will continue.

it is illegal here but I WOULD NOT DECLAW at all!!!!!!!!!! if medically it needed to be done then yes other wise no

ive all ready said in one post today i wouldnt cut a persons fingers doen to the knuckles so they couldnt scratch their nose properly so why would i stop a cat from being able to scratch themselves

furniture is replaceable a cats personailty and themselves is not

Originally Posted by -_aj_-

i wouldnt cut a persons fingers doen to the knuckles so they couldnt scratch their nose properly so why would i stop a cat from being able to scratch themselves

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Great point!! I never thought of that angle!
Be safe.

Originally Posted by MyRage

Great point!! I never thought of that angle!
Be safe.

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i was watching a topic earlier and i realised i have got my false nails on and its nothing really i was readin my mams magazine at the same time and there was a little girl who lost both of her hands and part of her arms to meningitis and thought how lucky we are to have fingers so why should we rip it away from a pet that has no problem

i siad to blaine earlier have you seen how they declaw cats (blaine is 6 ft 2 ish give or take 15 stone of muscle) and he nearly threw up right then and there which to be honest we are all the same, he thought of his little girl and boy getting that done and nearly cried

it takes me all my time to clip their claws just incase

ohhh i hate this topic it should just be banned everywhere