Declaw your cats?  

Erin you've picked a sensitive subject here, so be prepared

We don't declaw in the UK as it's illegal

Nope, wouldn't even think of it

I did on Trent. I have regretted it since the day I brought him home. His paws got infected and we almost lost him. The vet recommended it, LIED to me about what it was, and then botched the job. It's unecessary, and when done incorrectly it is just plain inhumane.

Also, please note TCS's view from the Rules:

I think if someone welcomes a cat into their house, then they should be willing to cope with all aspects of the cats behaviour. Yes, cats can be taught manners, but chances are they will still stick a claw into their owner or the sofa at some stage. If the thought of a scratch on the nice sofa or on their hands really makes them want to get kitty de-clawed - then I dont think that person should get a cat in the first place.

It's also illegal in Sweden, so is tail-docking and ear clipping of dogs.

I would never declaw unless it was medically necessary.
That said, I have a mixed house, all came to me as they are.
3 front declaws, 1 full declaw, and two fully armed.

Cats have claws, something that you have to accept as being a part of who they are.

No way Jose. Not unless he had to have it done for medical reasons, such as an infection.

I rent too, and even though they ask for your cats to be declawed, they have never checked. There was one place I know of that wanted vet references and even a pic of each animal....no way jose(I can prove she is spayed and UTD on shots, but sorry, can't prove she is declawed because she isn't)....we chose to live elsewhere where they don't check. The manager liked us so much at this place, we don't even get charged any kind of monthly cat fee, even with brand new carpeting!!! She is also a cat lover who clips her kitty's nails.



Tread lightly Erin.....posts like this sometimes end up being VERY long and debated.

All I can say is "NO"! I would never declaw, if there is anyone here thinking about it please take a look at

http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declawpics.html

http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/

Please educate yourselves before considering declawing your cat!!

Also for a safe alternative check out Soft Paws http://www.softpaws.com/faqs.html

As far as I know it is illegal in the Philippines.

But even if it is not, I would never ever ever declaw my cats or any other cat for that matter.

No paw!
Mine are also fully armed. I'll never buy new furniture again!

I would never do it, it's part of who cats are. And you know? I have two six month old kitten-cats whose claws I clip every week and who have their own scratching post who I have not (after they were shown where it was appropriate) seen scratch anywhere except said post (nor have I seen evidence of such)? I do need to make them a new one as the present one is getting a bit on the small side!

i would never do it..

but i mean when i was way younger, my aunt, who is a cat lover, did have a black bengal cat and did have her declawed (i was like 7) luckily the cat was normal and fine..no infections or weird problems..infact she still has the cat with her in washington!! my friend, they had 2 cats, their most recent one is declawed.but is sometimes outside and inside (kind of dumb i know, outside w/o claws) but when she just got a kitten a few weeks ago she mentioned declawing her..and i went on the offense trying to convince her not to, there was some tension since her other cats had it done and had no problems..but i even tried looking at websites and explaining why she shouldnt..i told her i'd help her clip her cats nails (what i do with river)..they did have a bad experience with a cat goin crazy and ripping up their furniture..so thats why they did it to their other cat.i tell her to buy it a dang scratching post (which she has yet to do, lol) but river..hasnt ruined anything, he occasionally paws up on the couch, but i have a sheet over the couch and its not some 400 dollar couch..while my friend hasnt declawed her cat..i will admit i will have a hard time being in a good mood around her if she does declaw her kit..i know.if one MUST declaw. the younger the better because i guess later in years they have to actually remove some bone from the toe?? correct me if im wrong..i hope she doesnt. we havent talked about it since. and i realize its her cat. she'll do what she wants..but she said she'd look at every possibility..hopefully she wont..i was almost going to post an angry thread because i was just so saddened by it. but i never did. i wouldnt hate her if she declawed her cat..but my river has some beeeautiful nails!

Never.

Amber

I love my cats too much to hurt them like that. I'll clip every 2 weeks instead.

No. Mine are pretty good about scratching on their condos/scratching posts.
Scaredy did scratch at the wall paper because the litterbox was next to the wall and he was burying the "deed". But now I got covered litter boxes and don't have that problem anymore.
They are really good cats, and don't scratch at furniture.

I imagine it is. Most places I rented from didn't allow pets at all, claws or no claws.

All I can say is "NO"! I would never declaw

I just don't know how anyone could see declawings all the time and not see the negative side of it. I just saw how much it hurt my kitten to walk, to sit, to use the litterbox, to even just lay there and it broke my heart.

I know there are some vets who do the procedure properly and properly do pain management post-op, but I know there are a lot who don't. In fact, I would have to venture a guess that it is a minority of vets who do it the best way possible.

The rescue I volunteer with will not allow our cats to be declawed....we do recommend that if someone wants a declawed cat..they adopt one already declawed.

Katie

Never..Never...Never ....unless is was for something medical, that couldnt be fixed any other way...and even then I would get a second opinion...and then a third and then a fourth...ect......

For gosh sakes its and amputation....Its like solving your kids thumb sucking problem by cutting off the thumb....

In my opinion if your more worried about your couches then your cats happiness, then ummm it about time you reconcider owning a cat

I'm sorry for you and trent....did you at least get to smack the vet upside the head??

I wish! No, unfortunately I didn't. But we certainly never took either kitty back to that place!

Never. No way. If a potential landlord tells me I need to declaw them, I tell them that I'll take my business elsewhere, thank you. If a potential cat-sitter (i.e. my mother) wants them declawed (or tells me the cats will be let outside), I find another cat-sitter.

And I would never put my babies through that sort of unecessary pain and risk. Ever. I'm actually under contract not to! Granted, I doubt either shelter is coming to check anytime soon, but I feel morally obligated to hold up my end of the bargain.

What gets me, though, is the people who think that declawing is just something you do, a routine procedure that you just have done when you get a cat. Like iit's part of the experience. THAT annoys me. 'Would you like a declaw with that spay?' AAHHHH!!!

My cats have two sisal posts, one freestanding and one attached to the cat shelf (hehe...they took over an old shelving unit and made it their own...I have since removed the books and put cat toys and cushions in there for them! They always win!) and the don't bug my furniture or rugs. Not that my futon and IKEA particle board furniture is particularly intriguing anyway...Lola gets clipped weekly, Leo gets clipped when he's in a good enough mood to let me at his paws.

When I lived at home, "my" cat (was actually my mom's) was declawed. I don't know if my mom planned on having her declawed or if the vet talked her into it when she was getting spayed, but it was a horrible experience for both of us (my cat & me). The vet was referred to my mom from the pet shop she got the cat from (ugh) because when she had to have her dog put to sleep, the vet cried. The vet missed a piece of toe and it got infected so she had to go back to have it removed again. I don't remember much about that cat because I was young and was out playing most of the time, but I remember laying with her and bawling when she came home. The amount of pain she felt was virtually felt in the air. She was never the same. It still gives me a lump in my throat when I mention it. It's worse now after about 14 years because I realize what the procedure is and have my own cat. I could never imagine doing that to Cupid--even if it was a 'successful' operation. I'd rather die.

Exactly! There are a lot of people who think that.

I didn't because Limerick was scratching where he was supose to. But my boyfriend's cat are front decalwed and they are fine. My advise to anyone is to learn about it the deside for yourself. The key is to do your own homework BEFORE talking to the vet.

Does sweet trenty still have problems....I hope not hes a beautiful cat....