why are cats declawed

That quote came from this page:

http://www.declawing.com/htmls/trimming.htm

I admit that I probably trim them at an angle and the recommendation is to not do this.

Katie

Originally Posted by TNR1

Spotz...thanks for the link! I didn't realize that I was trimming my cats nails the wrong way and causing them to split:

Many people hold the clippers at right angles to the nail, thus cutting across the nail. This tends to make the nail more subject to splitting or fraying. It is better to hold the clippers in a vertical position--that is, up and down, so that the claw is trimmed from bottom to top instead of across the nail. This position help prevent splitting.

Katie

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You're Welcome...

Indeed that site has a lot of great information on the alternatives to declawing, but the information it has on the procedure itself is very heavily biased.

I would caution anyone looking for info on the site to form their own opinion based on facts; the information used against declawing on the site, is heavily debatable in regards to behavior, while most of the pictures of bad side effects are captioned as being caused by an improper procedure. The author fails to mention that these examples are rarities, and that when done properly it is just as rare for there to be a negative effect from declawing.

Spotz

As for vets who push the procedure on people...
I have a friend whose vet tells every new cat owner who walks in his door that if they get a cat's front-paws declawed, HE'LL THROW IN THE BACK CLAWS FOR FREE!!!! What a way to make a sale - it's a two for one deal! My friends mom went with it because she said they'd save money in the long run if the cat started to scratch the furniture later. What an idiot. (My vet and all of his girls have NEVER once asked me if I wanted them declawed. If someone asks about it, he'll sit them down and try to help them without having to do surgery.)

We get in at least 7 declawed cats a week at my shelter. People don't want their cat anymore and drop them off to be put to sleep. We always keep the declawed ones (as long as they are healthy and pass the temperment testing) because they go fast. I can't tell you how many 4-paw declaws I've seen dropped off. (Thank you, you stupid local vet.)

Heck, we had two cats in our shelter for eight months, and didn't discover they were declawed until they were adopted. (Lack of communication, that was.) So the declawed cats are there, though no one might have noticed it, though.

The only thing I have to say to people who really insist on getting their cat declawed is to go to a very good vet who knows what they are doing and have very satisfied customers and cats that haven't had any complications. Our last cat was butchered by a reduced-cost animal charity. They sent her home with the actual claws wrapped up in the bandaging tape, no lie! It's not something that I like to see done to a cat, but it's still the owner's choice, and I want to see those owners make an informed choice.

I agree. The only thing I have to say about declawing is I would rather see someone give a cat a great safe home and if they decided to declaw the cat in the front and keep them indoors at all times... okay, I can accept that. I would rather see that than the cat out on the street with no home and not neutered.

I remember the last thread on declawing - I think it was to do with landlords making it a condition of letting - and I can recall getting really steamed up about it. How dare they?? etc. etc.
In the cool light of day, I realised that although I live in a country where declawing is illegal, many landlords in this country refuse to allow pets at all when letting their property. I began to wonder whether it's more enlightened to allow no pets, or only to allow mutilated pets? I can't make up my mind on that one.
My personal choice would be for a cat au naturel, I am against cutting off toes to preserve my furniture, but if it came down to having cats and being homeless, or having a home but no cats, well, I'd be stumped there.

Sue

Until recently I didn't know there was such a thing as declawing, as it's illegal in Ireland. My instinct is against it, because I feel that if you love cats you should love them for what they are and what nature intended them to be. I don't really see how anyone could believe that it's a "necessity", as some people have said their vets claim. Surely claws are a necessity for a cat.

Originally Posted by efioa

Until recently I didn't know there was such a thing as declawing, as it's illegal in Ireland. My instinct is against it, because I feel that if you love cats you should love them for what they are and what nature intended them to be. I don't really see how anyone could believe that it's a "necessity", as some people have said their vets claim. Surely claws are a necessity for a cat.

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But thats part of the point. They are NOT a "necessity for a cat". Thus they can be safely removed and the cat is no worse off (if done properly of course).

We still have not had Buddy declawed, of course cost is a HUGE factor but partially because of reading threads here, learning to cope with his claws, trimming them and becoming informed on what is involved and alteratives. We did have KC declawed many many years ago, but of course we have learned a lot more since then.

Another reason not to get Buddy declawed.. KC needs a teeth cleaning.. thats as much money or more then a front declaw and even that is on hold at the moment, so there is no way I could even begin to consider having Buddy done -- IF I even would. Granted.. our landlord DOES think our cat's are declawed.. *duck*. Shhhh!

Originally Posted by J. Otte

I agree. The only thing I have to say about declawing is I would rather see someone give a cat a great safe home and if they decided to declaw the cat in the front and keep them indoors at all times... okay, I can accept that. I would rather see that than the cat out on the street with no home and not neutered.

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I completely agree. Whether or not we think its stupid, many places that we rent here in the states will not allow a cat with claws in the building. Its wrong, injust, inhumane, whatever...it just is. How am I supposed to deal with that? I cant afford to buy a house right now, but I am quite capable of giving a cat a loving home. Fortunately, I have never had to make the call on declawing a cat-growing up all of the household cats were declawed, and when we adopted Adelaide she had been declawed by her previous owners (and then abandoned outside to make do on her own ). Berylayn lives in the same complex as I do and had to beg, plead, and grovel for her Ebony. Not everyone will be as lucky as Beryl, but even if she had had to get her declawed, I still think that Eb would be better off in the wonderful home she has made for her than in the shelter where her chances of finding a home would get smaller and smaller as she got older.
Why is it better to euthanize than to declaw? The cats I had growing up both lived quite long and happy lives (16 & 18) and Addie has never shown any signs of having issue with her paws at all. Thankfully in all those cases a vet did a good job at the right time in their lives and they made full recoveries. I would never ever have a cat declawed to save my furnature, or even my skin, but I think that with the right amount of research into the subject and vets in your area, it can be done safely.

I am against clawing by default but circumstances might arise where it has to grudgingly be done. The clinic offered declawing at a reduced price and I had a wad of cash ready to pay her bills but I declined anyway. So that is obviously my personal preference.

I am committed to Nano but during her life expectancy I'll probably start a family and live in a couple of different parts of the country or even a different country. I don't know what the future may bring. If I live in the rural country, maybe I will convert her to being an outdoor cat. If I live in a rent controlled New York City apartment, I might need to get her declawed. I'm a committed pet owner who will always make the best decision for Nano, but I can't make sweeping statements without risking being a hypocrite. I just have to adjust as circumstances evolve.

And me being her owner is in Nano's best interest because I am her last chance. About 750 cats and dogs are euthanised each month in my town. How many cats do they keep up for adoption? A dozen cute kittens or committed lapcats. And the adoption rate is so slow that some of these highly likeable cats might go months before being adopted.

She is even unadoptable through the local private rescue groups. They bravely take on the senior cats, the three legged cats, the younger "special needs" cats...but still. I looked through their entire portfolio and couldn't find a single animal with even 25% of the baggage Nano carries.

So yeah, it'd take a whole lot more than just damaged furniture or minor inconvenience...but I am not gonna say "never" just because I can't make that promise. I can only say that I will do everything I can to keep Nano with me, and as long as she is with me she stays alive.

And let's keep it straight -- declawing is not a good idea, but save the real contempt for people who let animals breed out of control. I wonder how many of the nearly five million cats and dogs euthanized each year in the United States ever saw a vet in their lifetime? So let's not beat up non-experts who witlessly accept a vet's suggestion...at least they were taking their pet to a vet. Better than most pet owners out there, right?

If anyone is interested, the last time I was in Petsmart here was their display case:

ten cats -- all altered and current on shots, all with negative status

Of those, the two oldest were a 2.5 year old tabby and another estimated at a year and a half. Three were declawed -- one front paws only. Four were labeled "special needs" which included the three declawed cats and the infamous three legged cat. (One of the declawed cats was also deaf.) Two of the declawed cats were also labeled as a pair that needed to be adopted together.

But anyway, declawed cats are available for adoption through the private rescue groups.

And I always wonder in the back of my mind. If these cats were declawed to stop a behavior problem, why are they in the shelter in the first place? Declawed cats can have behavior issues. Not all of them, but certainly some of them.

we [US of A] are lazy, & i think declawing should be BANNED!!! banned all across the world!!! it makes me sick!!!

Originally Posted by hissy

And I always wonder in the back of my mind. If these cats were declawed to stop a behavior problem, why are they in the shelter in the first place? Declawed cats can have behavior issues. Not all of them, but certainly some of them.

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Hey Hissy...I know that when we get declawed cats...oftentimes they are turned in for the same reason we get clawed cats...allergies, moving, doesn't get along with new or existing pets, too many pets etc. We DO get declawed cats with "litterbox issues"...but have found that 9 times out of 10...in their new home, they show no issues. Not sure if that is the case in other rescues/shelters.

Katie

Originally Posted by Nano

If anyone is interested, the last time I was in Petsmart here was their display case:

ten cats -- all altered and current on shots, all with negative status

Of those, the two oldest were a 2.5 year old tabby and another estimated at a year and a half. Three were declawed -- one front paws only. Four were labeled "special needs" which included the three declawed cats and the infamous three legged cat. (One of the declawed cats was also deaf.) Two of the declawed cats were also labeled as a pair that needed to be adopted together.

But anyway, declawed cats are available for adoption through the private rescue groups.

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Sorry, just to clarify since this is an international message board -- the pet store invites the local private rescue groups to showcase the various animals available for adoption. So at any given time there are cats from 2-3 different rescue groups on display. The groups rotate them periodically trying to get exposure so cats will be adopted. So the cats on display are a sample of the cats the groups are fostering until they find a new home.

Don't know if that makes it any clearer or not!

Katie, we normally don't get declawed cats for behavioral reasons, either. If there's one thing we learned, it doesn't matter if the cat is fixed or declawed, the owner will still dump it, and apart from kitten season, most dumps are a year old. (Can't imagine someone spending 400 or 500 dollars on a declaw and spay, just to dump it at a shelter to be euthanized a few months later.)

We have been seeing a lot of older (3 years and older) declaws dumped due to elderly owners passing away. Two cat who were about 9 year old were dumped after their owner passed away, and the family realized that they weren't doing so well after 6 months outside. *insert strong language here*

Our cat has her claws.

If you arn't renting it is a matter of whether you like your cat or furnature more.

We just have one piece of furnature she goes after but she leaves the rest of the furnature alowne.

_________________
Lotto
http://www.flalottomagic.net/cgi-loc...gi?welcome-344
MagicZ4941

Originally Posted by LottomagicZ4941

Our cat has her claws.

If you arn't renting it is a matter of whether you like your cat or furnature more.

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It's more then just that. It's about is the cat's going to be indoors or outdoors. and it's the owner's choice. If the cat suddenly goes after everything in the house with the claws, then you might want to look into it. if not then don't whatever it's your choice. If I get a $10,000 living room set, I want it to last. If kitty desides to use the living room set as a scratching post, rather then the scratching post you got them, then yeah get them declawed or whatever. Part of it comes from the whole home value thing. If you plan to move you want your home to be sell able. You don't want to be investing thousands of dollars relpacing the carpets, floorboards, whatever. Use your head people and do what you feel is needed.

Originally Posted by eburgess

It's more then just that. It's about is the cat's going to be indoors or outdoors. and it's the owner's choice. If the cat suddenly goes after everything in the house with the claws, then you might want to look into it. if not then don't whatever it's your choice. If I get a $10,000 living room set, I want it to last. If kitty desides to use the living room set as a scratching post, rather then the scratching post you got them, then yeah get them declawed or whatever. Part of it comes from the whole home value thing. If you plan to move you want your home to be sell able. You don't want to be investing thousands of dollars relpacing the carpets, floorboards, whatever. Use your head people and do what you feel is needed.

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And in the scenario you just presented...you made your choice. You choose the furniture. Fine, it is still legal in the US to declaw whenever the owner finds it more convenient.

But it is also the owner's choice NOT to get their cat declawed under any circumstance.
Me personally - I value my pets' lives and quality of life as I view it above the resale value or damage deposit. They are indoor only, and I still won't ever do a declaw again. It doesn't matter whether or not they are indoor or outdoor to ME.

This is a sadistic practice this is not generally done in Britain. Personally, if my furniture gets ripped to shreds (it's usually at the back where no one can see anyway) it just comes with having cats. I'm now down to 2 cats (from 11) - British shorthairs: the others having died of old age. They are very good and only strop their claws on a carpet (an old one!). Declawing is inhumane and leaves the cat without defence if it gets attacked by another one. I dont know why people have cats if they're going to disfigure them. But that's just my opinion. I suppose it's different if a cat's going to be imprisoned in a flat all of its life and never let out. (We have a cat proof garden they can go in if they want to when we are around). How would people like their nails ripped off? Same thing.

Originally Posted by Spitfire

This is a sadistic practice...How would people like their nails ripped off? Same thing.

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Such gross distortions of reality do get tiresome after a while, especially when it's always the same basic distortion. Worse yet when the distortion is basically a lie.[No..I am not calling anyone an intentional liar, merely stating fact]

Sadism...hmmm...a quick check of the dictionary reveals the blatant error with the usage of the term in such a capacity. Declawing is not done to provide sexual gratification, from causing physical or emotional pain/abuse on a cat. Nor is is done to simply derive pleasure from cruelty. Declawing definately does not fit the definition of "Extreme Cruelty".
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sadism
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sadistic

As I [and others] have covered in the past, human anatomy is vastly different than feline anatomy. Declawing does not involve "ripping the nail off", nor is it comparable to removing a finger at the last knuckle. It is a medically valid surgical procedure, which while highly optional, is no crueler than Spay/Neuter or any other similarly Medically Valid Surgical Procedure.

Declawing causes no more disfigurement than does neutering, conversely, neutering actually has more cosmetic effect than does declawing. In the relaxed state the claws are fully retracted and not normally visible, removing them surgically cannot make them any less visible in such a situation. For the term Disfigurement to be valid, there must be a significant cosmetic change. With declawing, there is no such change.

Spotz