Declaw or Not?

A few days ago my cat almost scratched my eye itself! His claw made its mark on my nose and right on my eye lid. Now I am being forced to have him declawed. Do you think this is a good idea or not? I DO NOT like this at all!

Don't declaw him, it is cruel. My cat was declawed by his old owners and sometimes he tries to scratch the wood, but he realizes his claws are gone. Please don't do it!

its painful for them and it can scar them emotionally... I adopted a shelter cat she was declawed by a previous owner she got out of the house one day and couldn't protect herself because she had no nails.. she died. true story.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/site...2010/02/03/alternatives-to-cat-declawing.aspx read this it lists all kinds of other things you can do instead of declawing

Why did your cat scratch you? Is this a regular occurrence? If you can tell us more I'm sure we'll be able to offer advice.

Declawing is not the best option if there are behavioral issues because it will likely create more. A declawed cat uses its next defense - biting. They also feel unsafe and insecure in their home. Litter box aversion is also common. It is likely to create a lot of other issues.

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Before you consider declawing, which for good reason is illegal in a great many countries, please read the above articles and think about humane alternatives like nail caps (Soft Paws) or keeping her claws clipped.

I think we need to hear about his normal day to day cat life before giving an opinion.

Though I'm pretty sure the majority will tell you do not declaw.  

It's painful, can cause more problems in the long run (infection, bitting, back problems) and even behavior problems.

If he scratched at you theres normally something that triggered it.  If you can avoid this trigger theres is no reason to fear getting scratched.  Lets start from there.

Well I kind of got a little too close to his face.  I think he thought I was trying to block him from the door and did not like it.  But he isn't a cuddly type.

Ok, this sounds like he lashed out in fright and future incidents would be easily preventable by being more cautious about his boundaries. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

I don't worry that much about him doing it much. But I live with other people who still want him declawed.

That seems like a drastic action in this case. Please explore other options first.

If you can't convince them with the cruel to the cat angle, remind them that cats who are declawed often start biting because they feel defenseless, which is something I'm sure no one wants.

Declawing you cat will cause more problems. Lots of Declawed cats wont use the litter box as it hurts them, because they can not scratch to defend themself they will turn to biting and maybe more agressive because they are in pain. They also end up walking on their wrists because it is to painful to walk normally. Declawing is in fact a amputation of the first knuckle in a cats paw and most if all cats that have this end up with nail regrowth that is stuck on the inside of the toe making it horribly painful. In fact there are places that are doing operations to undo the effects of this amputation. I would also like to state that most places in the USA (if you live there) have banned declawing as it has been found to be cruel! It is flat out banned in the UK,EU, australia and other places as well as they find it cruel! Either cut your cats nails every 2-3 weeks,get plastic soft paws nail caps or  rehome the cat with someone who is willing to work with him. There is a documentary by a group call paw project I highly suggest you look into them and read the info they have and all they have been doing. To declaw your cat for being a cat is cruel and honestly most cat owners understand they can or will get scratched at some point and normally when it happens it falls down to what was the human doing at the time.

The people who live with me think that my kitty will maybe hurt others. Like a little kid.

I think Soft Paws would be worth a try! You apply them once a month and the cat can't scratch anything (or one) enough to cause damage, but the cat can still function normally.

catsrworld said:

The people who live with me think that my kitty will maybe hurt others. Like a little kid.

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That is no excuse to be cruel and declaw your cat! and little kids should be watched around any cats anyway and taught to respect and not hurt the cat! I'll give you a exsample some cruel unfeeling uneducated fool on another site complained that her child would be mean to the cat and went on to say the kid would kick it,slap it,toss it, yank it's ears and tail etc then she complained the cat scratched her little brat and said she was going to declaw the cat because it was a bad kitty and basically that it deserved to be cruelly treated by having it declawed!

If you really love your cat you will either cut it's nails every 2-3 weeks,try soft paws nail caps or rehome him with someone who will take time with him.

The sad part is most people who use excuses like these will go on to mutilate their cats by having them declawed and soon after the cat will be either thrown out,abandoned, put to sleep,or turned over to a shelter because the cat is agressive and in pain due to the human putting their own skin, furniture etc above the well being of their cat.

I hope you don't do this to your cat as it is cruel and in my eyes its a form of tourture on a helpless animal. If you do  declaw the cat then don't be suprised when any of the problems I and may of the others here have told you could/ will happen after declawing happens because you forced declawing onto your cat and your cat must suffer and pay the price for just being a cat!

catsrworld said:

The people who live with me think that my kitty will maybe hurt others. Like a little kid.

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You obviously don't agree that this is the best option as you don't think it's likely to happen again. Please advocate for your cat - it only has you. This may seem like the easier solution but there is a lot at risk.

catsrworld said:

 
Well I kind of got a little too close to his face.  I think he thought I was trying to block him from the door and did not like it.  But he isn't a cuddly type.

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I agree with others, please don't declaw your cat. Maybe stay away from his face so he can't scratch your face.

If cats were this dangerous they'd be banned everywhere. Please fight to not declaw. The risk to humans is minimal.

Besides, declawed cats still have teeth, and the ability to rabbit kick with their rear claws.

I declawed my cat (long story short, I regret it tremendously)(it was not done because I worried about me or my furniture but that he'd pull down an open flamed gas heater my old slumlord installed as my only heating source), and I hate the way he gets frustrated when he can't put his excess energy into playing with normal cat toys. He also has become a nipper and rabbit kicker at times, which in my opinion does me more damage than his front claws ever did! He's also limped a few times and falls off of furniture easily. [emoji]128532[/emoji]

misterwhiskers said:

If cats were this dangerous they'd be banned everywhere. Please fight to not declaw. The risk to humans is minimal.

Besides, declawed cats still have teeth, and the ability to rabbit kick with their rear claws.

I declawed my cat (long story short, I regret it tremendously)(it was not done because I worried about me or my furniture but that he'd pull down an open flamed gas heater my old slumlord installed as my only heating source), and I hate the way he gets frustrated when he can't put his excess energy into playing with normal cat toys. He also has become a nipper and rabbit kicker at times, which in my opinion does me more damage than his front claws ever did! He's also limped a few times and falls off of furniture easily. [emoji]128532[/emoji]

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Have you looked into places that could maybe do reconstructive paw surgery one your cat? I heard this is done both for big cats and domestic cats you could look into the paw project on facebook and get some info if you might want to do this and if you still have the cat. I would like to note that this should not be used as a excuse to get a cat declawed i.e oh I'm going to declaw my cat and I can get reconstructive paw surgery done later on. Declawing should be banned everywhere!