I met a cat with no teeth

Point(s) of fact...

Cats do not need teeth to eat, not even to eat hard food. I know of several that have HAD to have their teeth removed for medical reasons and eat dry food just as well as those with teeth.

It is impossible to understand why a cat would attack things.. could be because of the declaw... but you never really know.. assumptions ought not to be made.

Declawing should be outlawed here in the States

As far as I read, Misstoviah was "amused" by the look of the cat, not by the act that created the look... big difference...


*smiles*
Ken

Why bother getting a pet at all???

Well, my kitty is down to about 4 or 5 teeth left in his mouth, and he does just fine. Yes- he is declawed, and no he didnt bite, but he had a bad vet who always said his teeth looked great. Come to find out- some of the teeth fell out and we had to get the others removed. I do feel bad for this cat, but it sounds like the owner was trying to help the situation. I understand that in many cases if you want to have a pet you must have them declawed. In my town, there are so many strays running everywhere- and there are limitations to what you can do to help the situation...I am aiming to keep my baby from being declawed, I have seen how it can hurt kitties...I just felt like I needed to put my 2 cents in..It may offend, but everyone sounded so upset with Misstovia.

I personally don't think there is ever a valid reason to declaw a cat. If your landlord says you have to have it done to keep a cat in your apartment, then find the cat a new home, or don't get one in the first place. Its not a simple procedure..its agonizing and totally unneccessary. The thing that gets me is the people who get this done to their cat and then whine about the resulting behavioral problems. If people did a little research before they decided to declaw, they could save themselves a lot of trouble, and their cats a lot of pain. I have read plenty of horror stories and its just not worth it, especially since its often done to supposedly 'save' a stupid piece of furniture.

Right on Mel!

Obviously Juicelyn didn't read my other posts. I specifically said I was not blaming misstoviah nor was I attacking her, I was merely trying to prove a point.

Geez, I guess selective reading has it's benefits.

Unfortunately, I had my cat before my place to live, and I had to move and live in a hotel for a month. I guess you are right, I couldve given my cat to the humane society...I didnt have any options. I had to find a place to live and fast and unfortunately, everyone that I had ever known who had a cat declawed didnt have problems until after mine. So you'll have to forgive me for not being a guru on animals. Fortunately, I am a wonderful pet owner. I take my cats to the vet, I give them all the medical attention (at any cost) and I don't let them get run over by cars. I try to take in strays so that they have a roof over their head.

Regarding Misstovia, it appeared to me that she felt she was being attacked, so perhaps I wasn't the only one who read that. Sorry for offending you all. I see where my opinion is not quite accepted.

It invokes so much passion for those who understand that declawing is a really hard thing for a kitty to undergo. It has in the past caused a lot of flames, and some hard feelings and each person is either on one side of the line or the other. There never seems to be any give or take in one direction when the two sides meet and angers flare and things are said in the heat of the moment. But, it has also sometimes manages to stop a person's desire to have their cat declawed because of opinions and testimony given to what it really does to the animal and so these types of posts do sometimes serve their purpose when it comes down to it.

No one on here considers themselves a cat guru, and we all make mistakes with our animal. The hope is that other people reading these type of threads that might be considering getting their cat declawed will see that there are other options available, whether it be natural wood or rope scratching posts or aversion training, or simply keeping the nails clipped short. Some of the hostility shown in the past is against the person who comes on here and basically says that their couch is worth more to them than their cats comfort, so they are going to declaw the cat. So cat owners get up in arms over the subject no matter how many times it is brought up, and some of the heat carries over to the new poster who is wondering why all the anger is suddenly directed at her. Why? Because some of us just fervently wish that people would educate themselves about the subject before deciding on it as a means to an end.

Here is a website devoted specifically on the subject of declawing so maybe you will be able to understand the uproar this subject causes here. If you have a sensitive stomach, you may want to steel yourself to see the photographs of an actual declaw in progress.Educate don't Amputate

Everyone, thanks for your comments. I hope that I wasn't misunderstood. I think that it is so sad that the poor kitty had all of his teeth removed for behavior. I also want to say that I appreciate all that you have taught me about declawing, I will not declaw again!

I just think that there are good/bad ways to educate and inform. Most people respond to positive communication rather than negative.

I am learning to be a better pet owner everyday. I appreciate learning things to make me a better owner. Please know that. I will only learn if there is information out there.

Thank you again for your informative website. These forums are an excellent place to share, I just hope it can be done in a positive manner. Thanks

I honestly felt some of the people who replied didn't see that the person said to me that she had tried other alternatives before removing his teeth. Her degree of trying? I don't know. I completely disagreed on some people's desire for euthanization rather than being toothless! That was a shock!

Some cat owners are quick to get their cat's claws removed and some try behavior modification. I am looking into ways to stop Emma from climbing up the back of my sectional couch to lay down instead of just hopping onto the seat like I'd like her to. Otherwise, she doesn't scratch up anything else!

I think I'll be more carful posting such a obviously touchy subject.

And lastly, I'm glad that the cat is alive and obviously happy, lisp and all.

Hey! I let this thread get my goat too! Then I decided that people will just have to accept different opinions. That is the principle that Americans live by and I know that others do too. I just wanted to say that I hope to see your opinion in other threads. I'm sure that the responses were not intended to flame us or upset us. I feel it is very valuable By the way, checked out your wedding website- I wish we wouldve had something like that! If you need any pre-wedding advice, let me know. Bottom line- ELOPE :laughing2 :laughing2 :laughing2

This is where I think ( A personal opinion), that some folks get to bent about the issue of declawing...

It is clearly one thing to know exactly what declawing is, know the serious effects it can have on cats, and still do it anyway..
People like that ought to have their own fingers cut off at the 1st knuckle.

But then there are loads of folks who simply just don't know, and think that declawing is taking the nail, not realizing what it really is. Hell, I didn't know the difference until I "got" informed from my own wife.

See, sometimes I think that we all, and yes I include myself in this, tend to forget that we were once uneducated pet owners at somepoint... perhaps not all, but a good percentage anyway. And then what do we do?? We start slamming people for being the same way we were... uneducated about the issue. And I know that im gonna get some dislike mail cuz of this but, c'mon, we can color it anyway we want, but people to get right out flamed under the "well I really wasn't doing that" statement.

I know for a fact that there are members of this site that have had their cat declawed, cuz they didn't know any better at the time, and yet, at times, they are one of the first ones to berat someone publicly (in subtle ways... sometimes not so subtle) for even discussing the issue.

I don't know, sometimes I think we need to look closer in the mirror of the past before we get on our high horses...me included..

*smiles*

Ken

but i can honestly say that i felt sick reading this...how absolutely disgusting that this can happen...removing teeth? the vet should be put away for that.

What would have you done?
If you wanted your cat to live, you tried all possible remedies.

What I would have done is give it to the SPCA or a no-kill shelter. They would surely find a better home for him with someone who has more patience with him. There are other alternatives to putting him to sleep.

Fortunetly I think that most vets don't just take teeth out simply at the owners request, although I'm sure therer may be a few out there that do. Teeth are removed ussually because of a desease of the gums (I forget the name), and for cats that are classified as "Rage Cats".
Those are Cats for what ever reason go into fits of rage and attack everyone in sight. Have been a foster home for feral cats, I know that you can clip nails so that they don't hurt, but a cat bite is painfull, not to mention very messy, what with the blood everywhere.
I'm certainly not saying that ferals should have their teeth removed, only that you can gaurd against deep scratches, but if a cat is going to bite, there's not much you can do.. now amplify a mad cat about 10 fold and it might come close to a rage cat episode.
So then you have a choice, you place the cat for it to become someone else's problem, you put the cat down, or you have the teeth removed.

Personally, Id rather have the cat alive..

Ken

I have to agree with most of the others. It is a terrible thing to take away his defense. I am sure with as unusual as the action is that it was a difficult decision for the owner.

You know, my kitty is a biter. He was feral and thinks he's playing. I think. But it does hurt. Sometimes he does it while you are sleeping, usually your nose. Occasionally the eylelid, which is really unpleasant. He also likes to bite toes, when sleeping or walking. He also scratches the heck out of me.

He still has his teeth and claws. It's not that big of a deal.

I am sorry to offend you, but this just seems horrible to me. And what kind of vet would do this? What does he eat? I would imagine not being able to eat any crunchy foods could lead to gum disease. I bet he still tries to bite her; I would.

He apparently did some damage to her face at one time. He eats soft food and is no longer a biter.