Cat De-Clawing

I've had 3 cats and all 3 were declawed and they were happy, healthy and loving kitties.  They ate, played, loved, jumped etc.  I saw no problem with it.  I wouldn't have gotten rid of my kitty either.  And of course you need a place to live. I'm sure the kitty will be fine....all 3 of mine were. 

It's true that cat declawing is still fairly common in the US. And tail docking is still common on dogs. Most people would consider "de-barking" a dog to be pretty extreme, but it was once pretty common, too. Sometimes we're fairly slow about learning.

Ashley Marie said:

 Being  the crazy cat mom I am, I called the vet 3 hours after I dropped him off to see how he was doing. All is well everything went smoothly and now I have to call back tomorrow just to bother them and see how he is doing and make sure they put his blanket in the kennel with him.

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Ashley Marie said:

Have to call later today to check on my little man. Let everyone know how he is doing.

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How is he doing? :cross: When can he come home?

Ashley Marie said:

The tricky part is my landlord is my husbands grandmother, and i have tried my hardest to explain to her why it's inhumane but she is stuck in a different time era where everyone de-clawed there indoor cats.

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Ashley Marie said:

 The sad thing is, my landlord/in law has no tolerance for animal abuse, and is a big supporter of "Adopt Don't Shop"(Mainly because of me). I really think this matter is just a sad case like stated before of not being educated on the matter and knowing what really goes on. That with Anestassia in general there is a risk of something going wrong, the risk of improper healing or bleeding out, I tried so hard to explain this to her but like I said it was like talking to a wall the "All my cats where de-clawed and I never had a problem answer". It's just that old school mind set that "If the cat is a house cat then the claws must go".

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But "old school" people don't understand a number of things: cats walk on their toes, this is chopping off the end of the toe, not just "removing fingernails" kind of thing; or that it's considered so cruel, it's illegal in 23 countries around the world - and places in the U.S. (Norfolk, VA, several places in California). They also don't realize the number of products that currently exist to promote appropriate scratching OR alternatives, like soft paws. And I expect that dogs are not required to be declawed? I find this discrepancy often gives pause for thought. Just for your efforts in helping change her policy. :rub:

Dear Ashley 

Cat de-clawing is one of the worst things you can do to a cat. When you remove their claws you are taking away their ability to stretch their body because they use claws to pull there muscles 

please dont ever de claw another cat. im not saying this to be mean. alot of people dont know this so now you do.

about your manager, i wouldnt have moved there if he tryed telling me my cat had to be declawed.

Some cats do well despite being declawed but some do not and you never know before hand in which category your cat will be. It's truly playing russian roulette with your cat's future and happiness. It could end up like it did for Tisha, one of my former foster cats who is being returned to me this weekend. Tisha was a super sweet healthy little kitten when she was adopted at about 5 months old. We don't adopt to homes that would declaw and our adopters sign a contract agreeing not to do it but these adopters clearly decided to do it anyway. She were fine a for a few months after the amputation but after a while she stopped using the litter box and started going elsewhere. The adopters tried several different things but Tisha kept going all over the house. She also became a nervous and reclusive cat and started to hide during the day. Both of these issues are fairly common effects of declawing.

Tisha is now being returned to us because of her problems. I'm now going to have to deal with pee and poop on the floor and getting her adopted will be nearly impossible if we can't get this figured out. I find it so sad and frustrating that this has been done to her completely unnecessarily. She's now damaged for life. Instead of being a normal, spunky cat she is nervous and scared and I'm sure she's not happy. All of this could have been avoided had she not had one of her most important attributes chopped off.

What people don't seem to understand is how important claws are for a cat. It's a huge part of who they are and the claws fulfill many important functions. Claws are just as important to a cat as fingers are to us. Sure, we can live without fingers and maybe learn to be reasonably happy but it would definitely have a huge impact on our quality of life. Cats use their claws for so many things. They use them to climb, to hold things, to properly stretch their muscles which is extremely important, to get traction when they walk and run, to scratch stuff to leave their scent and relax themselves, and to defend themselves against possible dangers. When cats lose their claws it doesn't only affect practical, physical issues but it also deeply affect them emotionally and psychologically. Since they have lost their main ability to defend themselves they feel inadequate which can make them nervous and sometimes aggressive. Since they know that if it comes down to it they can't use their claws they lash out and bite to prevent themselves from ending up in a bad situation. It's sort of like if you would lose your arms. If something would happen you wouldn't have your arms and hands to protect yourself and you would quite likely be more nervous in certain situations and maybe even avoid them all together.

Claws also give cats a lot of joy. As you know cats love scratching. It's relaxing and calming for them and they find it to be pretty pleasant. Being able to scratch is extremely important for a cat's physical and emotional wellbeing and they do it a lot to get those desired effects. When they are declawed they are forever robbed of performing this crucial routine and it can have a serious impact on many cats. Not to mention that being able to hook their claws onto something and pulling back provides them with important exercise and stretching of their muscles.

Then there are the potential physical ramifications of declawing. As mentioned cats walk on their claws. When there are no claws they walk on their toe stumps which are often quite sensitive on declawed cats due to nerves going all the way to the front tip of their paws now. This can be extremely uncomfortable and many declawed cats avoid the litter box because of it since the sensation of the litter on their toe stumps is way too uncomfortable. While the toes heal after the amputation it's extremely painful for a cat to step on and dig in litter. It's even painful for them to walk since what they set down first when they take a step is their toes where the wounds are. Imagine having your heel cut off and then having to walk on it.

Amputations are always painful and cats have 10-20 of them at one time. You should see a cat waking up after having been declawed. It's a horrible sight. All animals who are waking up after surgery will be in some pain but the declaw cats seem to suffer more than most of them. They are in so much pain that they shake and you can see the pain in their faces. It's even more sad to see because you know that there is no reason to put them through all that suffering and it's only being done for the owner's selfish reasons and/or total ignorance.

Why would anyone choose to put their cat through all that pain and trauma? It's beyond me. Your cat may be fine but he could also become a nervous wreck who poops on the floor and bites left and right. Why take that risk. 70-80% of all cats turned into shelters for behavior problems are declawed. That should tel you something.

I would much rather move than to have my cats' toes cut off.

Chances are that your MIL doesn't really know what a declawing really is. A lot of people thinks it's like removing nails on a human. I believe that if people really knew the truth, and knew that they may end up with cat pee all over the house instead, they would change their minds. Just telling people that it's cruel and bad is not enough. You have to explain why its cruel and bad. Education goes a long way. Sadly it's too late for your cat. I really hope she'll be okay.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 My little boy comes home today, I actually think I have been bothering the receptionist because I have been calling so much "Did you feed him the food i gave you" "Is his blanket in with him because it smells like home" "Did you make sure to tape the corners of the cage so he does not get hurt"(When we adopted him his nose was so banged up from him trying to escape the shelter cage). I know what de clawing is, its the equivalent to removing your fingers to the first knuckle, It mutilation of an animal and as i said I am not a supporter of  this whatsoever but I also would never judge someone who does it in order to keep there beloved pet. To have to get rid of my Tito because of this would have broken my heart,he is such a good boy and such a joy and love to have around and it's not that easy to just move(TRUST ME I would have).

Poor kitty
 

The only experience i have with declawing is that Smokie came to me declawed *GRRRR* and lives in pain.

I would have tried other routes with the landlord, including offering to pay an extra deposit - plus educate them on what really IS involved in toe amputation

Other than that, without claws- the kitty will be more likely to bite. Cat bites are ten times worse than scratches, so make sure you disinfect any bites.

I tried to educate but it was a losing battle, For months I have been but finally it came to the ultimatum of do it or he has to go, which was sad but like I said my Landlord is my grandmother in law and right now we do not have the option of moving. My husband is the only one working and Until my child starts school in sep I will still be a stay at home mom like  i have been for the last 2yrs.

Stay at home moms rock!!

Thank you but I am more than ready to go back to work, My daughter is now 3 1/2 I worked 8 months out of that time (not very long) so now its time to go back to work when she goes to school, I am 26 so I amm a little to young not to be working lol. . Pick up my little Tito man today at 5, Cant wait to have him home with us again.

We picked up our little boy yesterday night from the vet, He is still his same old loving mush ball self, Still wants to eat and cuddle. The first thing he did when he got home was run to my daughter and sleep next to her while she was playing in her room. So glad to have him home the house felt empty without him.

Going to have a hard time throwing out this box.

This makes me so sad, that is all I have to say, I'm so sad this adorable kitty had to go through that awful procedure.

Momto4kitties said:

This makes me so sad, that is all I have to say, I'm so sad this adorable kitty had to go through that awful procedure.

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I know how you feel, hun....

Poor thing

Hope he is ok soon.

Did you get pain meds??

Every cat I have ever met that has been de-clawed had a serious attitude problem. Can't say that I blame them.

SalsaNChips said:

Every cat I have ever met that has been de-clawed had a serious attitude problem. Can't say that I blame them.

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And I've never come across a declawed cat that had a problem.  I've heard of them, I just haven't seen them. 

Mind you, I would never do it, I discourage it in the strongest terms, but a lot of what I hear other people saying about seems designed to hurt the cat owners, not help the cat.

I honestly think it's awful that people who supposedly care about you would force you to declaw your own cat. Terrible situation you are in.

Hope for continued healing for Tito, and no problems in the future

I am sorry you were forced to make this decision.  A person who is at home all the time can train them where it is okay to scratch.  I was able to do that when I could have inside cats,  I realize you are going back to work and also that you have a child  and might not have the time I did.  Therefore I realize you felt like you had no choice.  I hope your cat will recover well and never have a problem.  I have seen declawed cats who got along fine and I hope yours is one of them.  Be encouraged, rather than discouraged by some of the remarks that you hear.  Love your cat and your family.  The only advice I would offer here is be sure your cat doesn't get outside where it might not be able to protect itself.  You sound like a person who really loves your cat, and I am sure you will do everything to take good care of it under all circumstances.

This makes me so sad. After years of working at a vet clinic and seeing the pain cats are in when they wake up from a declaw makes me sick. It was more common in the 90's and even early 2000's where people would come in to have their cat fixed and would say "Just take the claws too". As if the claws were some disposable unnecessary part of a cat, like a dew claw on dogs. 

This is not an attack on you, but if I was faced with the same choice I would actually rather give up my cat and find him/her a new loving home that doesn't require him to be mutilated to stay. I could NEVER put my babies through that, they do not deserve the pain and to have their lives forever maimed just because I want to keep them. It, to me, is like the same decision process I go through when I had to put my best friend to sleep a week ago. I had to look at it like "Yes, I love having her here but I am being selfish making her suffer just so I can have her"

Interestingly enough my own landlords have a declaw rule, one they enforce on new tenants but not me since I have been here forever. Subsequently I am the only one in the building with cats, and this makes me quite happy...to know people will look elsewhere and not declaw their cats just for an apartment in a 'Luxury" building. Declawing is illegal in the UK and several other countries, rightly so as it is torture, the US is just a little behind.