Declawing

siberiancats

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So we are to be getting another cat, & my parents want to declaw our next. I do not agree with declawing at all. Basically IMO there's nothing good about declawing beside them scratching things but they can be trained not to do it.


I realize I live with my parents,& since I do, I need to live by there rules. But what I can to to prevent them-or convince them to not to declaw our next cat?
 

gravekandi

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You can convince them to get nail caps put on instead. Its much more humane, you could also offer to trim them regularly. Or both! Do your best to convince them, perhaps show them articles of what declawing does to cats. Tell them that if it were to happen to a human its basically chopping off their fingers from the first knuckle, it gets rid of the nail put its painful and unnecessary, not to mention it creates a lot of unneeded problems in the kitty.
 
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cprcheetah

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You have been given some excellent links, here is another one: http://www.pawproject.org/faqs/

This is Alvin, he was declawed on his front feet, his owners didn't monitor his bandages at home and it moved and got to tight and cut off circulation to his paw, he had to have his paw/toes amputated, he can't walk on his leg, and holds it up all the time, his owners then ABANDONED him because he wasn't 'perfect'.  He became a clinic cat at the vet I worked for, and my dad (retired vet now) has him at his home now.  He is a love bug, but this is what declawing can do.  You can see how he holds up his paw in the second picture.  He doesn't walk on it either always limping.


 

petcrazy76

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Are you getting a kitten or a little older cat? If you're not getting a kitten and they insist on declawing, maybe you can convince them to rescue a cat that is already declawed. My sister just adopted a sweet cat that had been at the shelter for over a year. When we went to visit the shelter I noticed there were a lot of cats that were already declawed. I don't know if it's the same in your area but they need loving families too. That would keep another kitty from going through that procedure.

(Just had to add, this is my 300th post! Woot!) :D
 

catwoman707

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Aww Alvin, how precious you are :) Poor punkin boy....so glad he has a good life now.

Petcrazy76, yes, this is what I teach my fosters who work our adoptions to recommend when someone mentions declawing, or asks if we have one.

I have them refer to the shelter, where so many, just an unbelievable number of cats end up and get killed. Very often they will get a declawed cat in.

There are so many problems with declawing, and LaraLove, I agree and only wish it would become more widespread illegal to declaw.

Just some of the problems-

The surgery gets botched and the cat has super sensitive paws forever.

A small bit of nailbed is left behind, will regrow and cause awful pain as the small nail will grow through the cats pad of his paw, requiring surgery again.

The cat gets funny about his loyalties of using his litterbox faithfully, it may hurt his paws, I don't know, but pretty common.

And a huge problem and one I have heard over and over, is how a cat feels defenseless and becomes a biter!
 
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siberiancats

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I'm going to revive this thread because the litter has been born(yay!).

There is one thing that worries me, our current cat has no way of protecting herself from the new cat. Even though s/he will be much smaller than Jazzy.

I've tried to tell my dad it isn't a good idea. But, he doesn't want his furniture to be ruined. Which just makes me angry. Our current vet doesn't allow declawing, & I'm happy they don't support it. My dad is going to another vet to get her declawed.

I'll seriously try everything in my power to not get our new kitten declawed.
 

thehistorian

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Declawing is a disgusting and inhumane practice. Sadly some people are simply ignorant about what declawing is and thus do it blindly. My opinion is thus: if someone wants to get a cat, but cannot tolerate his or her precious furniture being scratched up, then he or she should not get a cat. No one who intends to declaw a cat should be sold or given a cat. A cat does not deserve to suffer the surgery and the long term side effects because some selfish jerk HAD to have a cat and expensive nice furniture. Declawing needs to be banned.

Siberian Cats, have your dad watch the following documentary: The Paws Project. It is a great documentary about declawing and why it is just plain wrong. It is available on Netflix.
 

AbbysMom

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I'm going to revive this thread because the litter has been born(yay!).

There is one thing that worries me, our current cat has no way of protecting herself from the new cat. Even though s/he will be much smaller than Jazzy.

I've tried to tell my dad it isn't a good idea. But, he doesn't want his furniture to be ruined. Which just makes me angry. Our current vet doesn't allow declawing, & I'm happy they don't support it. My dad is going to another vet to get her declawed.

I'll seriously try everything in my power to not get our new kitten declawed.
Are you getting this cat from a registered breeder? Most registered breeders have a "no declawing" clause in their contract.
 
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siberiancats

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Are you getting this cat from a registered breeder? Most registered breeders have a "no declawing" clause in their contract.
Yes, but unfortunately the last time we got a cat, they had the contract,& they still went along with it.
 

Willowy

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Can you contact the breeder? I imagine a breeder would be pretty cranky about people breaking their ccntract.
 

alyssam

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Declawing is a disgusting and inhumane practice. Sadly some people are simply ignorant about what declawing is and thus do it blindly. My opinion is thus: if someone wants to get a cat, but cannot tolerate his or her precious furniture being scratched up, then he or she should not get a cat. No one who intends to declaw a cat should be sold or given a cat. A cat does not deserve to suffer the surgery and the long term side effects because some selfish jerk HAD to have a cat and expensive nice furniture. Declawing needs to be banned.

Siberian Cats, have your dad watch the following documentary: The Paws Project. It is a great documentary about declawing and why it is just plain wrong. It is available on Netflix. ^^^
^^^^ This. Declawing is absolutely unnecessary. Get the proper scratching posts and play with your cat and they shouldn't scratch your furniture. Clipping your cat's nails is easier than most people think. If you are unsure how to do it properly see your vet and they will gladly teach you, or even do it for you as needed.

This is an article from the Humane Society of the United States on declawing: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/declawing.html
 
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siberiancats

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I'll buy some scratching posts, before the kitten even comes. Thankfully the vet is extremely close to my house, so I can drive & have the cats claws clipped when need(if my parents would prefer that).

Do you think I should tell this breeder that my parents want to declaw the kitten?
 

peaches08

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Yes, but unfortunately the last time we got a cat, they had the contract,& they still went along with it.
Are you saying that your parents intentionally went against the contract?  Is this the same breeder?
 

angelinacat

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I believe that I would be posting notices in the newspaper and as many other places that I could think of that, such and such breeder advocates declawing, if that truly is the case.  Of course, be prepared for lawsuits....
 
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siberiancats

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Are you saying that your parents intentionally went against the contract?  Is this the same breeder?
I'm sorry I wasn't clear enough, my fault.

Anyways, no they aren't from the same breeder. But, both have contracts about not declawing.

Yes, they purposely went against it, from what I remember. That was 5 years ago,& I had no knowledge on declawing. I do know.

Now, I know, even with contract, they'll still declaw the cat.
 

chloe92us

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If they ever have a genetic health problem with the cat, the breeder will never help them if they find out they have had the cat declawed. How much have you told your parents about declawing? Do they understand the surgical process? What is their reasoning for insisting on declawing? To be honest, I had a cat declawed about 15 years ago before I knew better. I have NEVER had a problem with any of my cats since (with claws) scratching on anything they weren't supposed to. I still deeply regret my decision to declaw Pebbles.
 
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siberiancats

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If they ever have a genetic health problem with the cat, the breeder will never help them if they find out they have had the cat declawed. How much have you told your parents about declawing? Do they understand the surgical process? What is their reasoning for insisting on declawing? To be honest, I had a cat declawed about 15 years ago before I knew better. I have NEVER had a problem with any of my cats since (with claws) scratching on anything they weren't supposed to. I still deeply regret my decision to declaw Pebbles.
The furniture. There also worried that my current cat won't be able to protect herself. They do seem, to be more worried about furniture.
 

peaches08

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Geez.  This is a real pickle.  Are they stubborn about this declawing thing?  Is there any way you can talk them into adopting an already declawed cat instead from a shelter? 
 
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siberiancats

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Geez.  This is a real pickle.  Are they stubborn about this declawing thing?  Is there any way you can talk them into adopting an already declawed cat instead from a shelter? 
I wish! I've always wanted to adopt. Unfortunately, my parents are allergic to cats,& siberians don't bother them that much.

This situation sucks. I feel like a horrible owner. I just feel terrible about getting the situation.
 
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