My childhood cat was declawed because back then "declaw and spay" was the norm. She did have issues with inappropriate peeing and she would lash out and threaten to bite.
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Declawing experiences
- Thread starter IndyJones
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My mother in law has a declawed cat that came to her that way when someone no longer wanted it and threw it outside on the street. She is a biter, my mother in law can not use regular litter as the cat will not scratch in it so she uses shredded newspapers.
The poor cat sits and holds her paws up and meows. Holds them straight out one at a time and cries, which tells me she is in pain. My mother in law took her to the vet and the vet has given her daily pain meds to give to the poor thing. She tries to play and can't because where she would grab a string or something to play with she can't and just lays down frustrated. I have watched her try to jump up on her cat tree and where my cats would dig their claws in and pull themselves up poor Maggie just slides down the tree unless she can grab with her back legs to hold on but then we still have to help push her up because she can't grab with the front claws to pull herself up. I watch her spare with the other cats and they pick on her more because they know she can't fight back.
I just don't understand why anyone would want to do this to an animal. I don't see people pulling dogs teeth because they chew things up or they break the skin biting while playing but it is perfectly alright to declaw a cat to save a piece of furniture or because people get scratched. I am sorry but when you take on ownership of a cat you should be prepared for them to possible scratch up furniture or you. With proper training and plenty of appropriate things for them to scratch they wont bother your furniture. I have 8 cats none are declawed. My furniture looks like the day I bought it.
The poor cat sits and holds her paws up and meows. Holds them straight out one at a time and cries, which tells me she is in pain. My mother in law took her to the vet and the vet has given her daily pain meds to give to the poor thing. She tries to play and can't because where she would grab a string or something to play with she can't and just lays down frustrated. I have watched her try to jump up on her cat tree and where my cats would dig their claws in and pull themselves up poor Maggie just slides down the tree unless she can grab with her back legs to hold on but then we still have to help push her up because she can't grab with the front claws to pull herself up. I watch her spare with the other cats and they pick on her more because they know she can't fight back.
I just don't understand why anyone would want to do this to an animal. I don't see people pulling dogs teeth because they chew things up or they break the skin biting while playing but it is perfectly alright to declaw a cat to save a piece of furniture or because people get scratched. I am sorry but when you take on ownership of a cat you should be prepared for them to possible scratch up furniture or you. With proper training and plenty of appropriate things for them to scratch they wont bother your furniture. I have 8 cats none are declawed. My furniture looks like the day I bought it.
Declawing is always wrong there is no getting around the fact that you are taking away something important to your cats well being. Hopefully it will become illegal and the debate dropped once and for all. If your cat is scratching on a certain type of rug provide it with a rug scratcher of similar type. Rubbing a bit of catnip on it or some catnip mist can help encourage. Placing the scratcher where the cat is scratching the carpet is a good way to start training. I would hate to think that any of the cat lovers here would condone declawing.
It always upsets me seeing posts like these. When you take a look around the cat health forum you will find many posts of worried cat owners with very sick kitties. And they are just trying to do everything in their power to keep their cat comfortable and help them to hold on just a little longer. And then theres these posts where someone wants to take a perfectly healthy creature and cause it harm. It's just heartbreaking. I'm sorry, this is probably the exact answer you didn't want. But try to think of it that way. Look at some of the posts about really sick cats and then try to appreciate the healthy cat you have, and understand why going through with a procedure that has so much potential to cause harm is just ridiculus.
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Alright I already have the information I need. Please lock the thread.
You aren't going to have much luck on any board devoted to cats. Declawing is always wrong. Always.
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I hope you haven't been overwhelmed with responses. Have you made a decision?
I think everyone here has been more than civil about animal abuse.
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Would it help your mom to understand another point of view by having her look at the links that Mani provided?
http://www.thecatsite.com/t/333888/declawing-experiences#post_4198675
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Many moons ago, we had 6 cats. Declawing was the norm. All 6 were declawed and I never saw any issues. Nobody bit that didn't bite before, everyone went to the litter box. My eldest lived to be 21. She loved to "scratch" the corner of the couch and did it every day. It didn't seem to concern her she didn't have claws. Not saying I would do it now, just saying with these 6 cats, we never had an issue.
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