what is de-clawing???

Our site strong advocates against declawing. Here are a couple of links on the subject. One describes what declawing entails, along with alternatives, and the other suggests ways to curb scratching behavior.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...threadid=20568

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41954

I'm so envious that you are from a place that allows you to not even know that this cruel practice exists. I wish it were illegal here, if only our cats were so fortunate.

People who declaw cats often do it for their own convenience, without giving much thought to the cats well being (or thinking it doesn't actually do any harm, as is commonly thought). Instead of training their cats to scratch appropriate places, they'd rather just get rid of the claws so they don't have to deal with it. (Save their precious leather furniture). The procedure is often done at the time of the spay/neuter. When I was calling around to get the price quotes for my cats spay, I immediatley ruled out any clinic that offered the declaw as well, as if they were asking "would you like fries with that?". It's sick.

Soft paws are an excellent alternative. www.softclaws.com should give you all the info you need on them. I've never found them necessary with my cats, but I know many people who swear by them.

I can't imagine it would be too comfortable for the cats wearing those soft paws. However, if it's the only way a person will refrain from declawing, I guess I can live with the concept. I always say, if you don't want a few scratches on your furniture, don't get cats

The soft claws don't seem to bother Maui at all! Of course he isn't a big fan of getting them put on but the whole process is getting much easier as he gets more and more used to it.

I think of them along the same lines as women who get acrylic nails put on... once you get used to them the first time you hardly notice them.

Scratches on furniture (wood) are one thing. Shredded upholstery is another.
I asked to adopt a declawed cat. Gizmo was operated on probably when she was spayed, so it was a long time ago. She is a happy and well adjusted cat who is obviously hard-wired for scratching; she owns three scratching posts and uses them all!
I noted that she does not scratch on a certain weave of brocade but is attracted to another. If I have another cat, I would have to keep it away from the antique sofa, but it would be okay to let it on the newer one. I'll have to find out why some fabric doesn't attract the little paws.
that aside, I have no regrets whatever for adopting Gizmo. She's still got a very strong grip and I suspect she'd be an excellent mouser even without the claws.
She also rabbit-kicks the wooden furniture with her (clawed) hind legs. This does not bother me at all since the scratches can be filled in. I appreciate her condition most during our nightly 'shoulder kneading sessions' which are rather painful for me even without the claws. But it makes her happy.

Gizmo is bright enough to learn where not to scratch; she need not have been declawed at all, but the decision was not made by me.

I learned the hardest way possible that declawing is just wrong. Many years ago (about 15), I had a beautiful maine coon mix kitty that I had declawed. I was in my early 20s at the time and was clueless. I knew my cat was strickly indoors so I didn't see why it would be a problem to do this. I know different now. When I was moving to a new apartment, I had him stay with a friend for a few days. I told them that Zack, my kitty, was not allowed outside because he was declawed. Somehow, however, one of their kids let him out and Zack was killed by a dog because he had no means of defense and no way to climb up a tree or anything to get away. I was devastated and vowed that I would never ever again declaw a cat. It just isn't right, you are taking away their only defense if they should get outside somehow. This is only one of the reasons not to do it, but there are so many more. Take it from someone who knows.

Declawing is a very cruel and barbaric practice and sincerely hope no one on this board would have it done to their cats. It takes away all the cats' defences in the event of a fight etc.
People do it to protect their precious homes. So why have a cat in the first place if you feel like that? I'm sorry if this seems a stroppy posting but I make no apology as I feel very strongly about this issue. Declawing is mutilation and should be made illegal. We have had many cats in the house and are now down to 2 (others died of old age etc sadly and they are much missed). Yes, they strop the furniture but we have the sort of furniture that wont damage that easily. If anyone has that done to their cat, then shouldn't have one. I would say to them, would you like your nails pulled out so they didn't grow again?????

PS: If people are that houseproud then why get a cat at all?

Because I wanted the furniture AND the cat, that's why. I own antiques. Now that I know Gizmo's personality, I know she could be trained not to use the furniture as a scratching post.
I did not have her declawed. Someone else did that. I would not do it if I got the cat 'intact'. But I asked for a declawed cat for a reason.

in that case people shouldnt use soft paws either, for same reason

My brother's cat is declawed and still comes home with baby bunnies. They do not need claws to hunt and kill!

Anyhow, I think that some cats are really good about scratching their posts and for some, it is just about impossible to stop them from stratching furniture. When I was visiting my kitten (before I adopted him) at his foster home, I happen to glance at the side of their leather sofa and my jaw just dropped. It was almost enough to make me say "no thanks" and walk out. Shredded leather is not pretty.

Then having leather furniture is one of the things cat owners need to sacrifice. I can't imagine putting fancy furniture over my cats well being.

I highly doubt baby bunnies need a lot of skill or claws to "hunt" and kill. Adults on the other hand yes. Creeping up to the nest to nab one doesn't take a lot on the cat's part.

i dont have any fancy furniture but i still dont want it all fuzzed and shredded up. its nothing to do with being vain or prideful but no one wants to live in a dump.

It is not one or the other. I have a very nice home with very nice (which does not mean overly expensive) furniture and do not have my cats declawed. I've had no problems with them tearing up my furniture.

That is always a risk when you share your home with cats. In most instances it won't happen but we all need to accept that cats are cats, and when we bring them into our homes (and for most of us on here, confine them to our homes) we run the risk of them damaging our possessions. Anyone not prepared to accept that risk should get themselves a different pet.

now that is a statement i can live with. i just dont like it being implied that we are oh so "prideful" of our "precious" possessions if we dont APPRECIATE having clawed up furniture. some people are just a bit extreme in the way they express themselves i guess.

yes they are sedated and the claws are removed. softclaws are little plastic caps that you glue onto the cats claws.

Actually their toe's first joint is removed.... not just the claws.

It's pretty sick.

yes, otherwise the claws would just grow back

I learned what declawing actually involves not too long ago. I'm terribly ashamed to admit that I had my first two cats front declawed over 12 years ago when they were both sapyed and neutered because I didn't know any better. If I knew then what I know now I never would have had it done and I won't have another cat declawed. The claws are trimmed weekly and they have already been well trained by the person I adopted them from that they are to use the scratching posts.

Bryan

My brother is a vet in the US. He refuses to declaw, and his boss is fine with that. I think his boss, owner of the clinic, will do it. Bro tries to educate the patient's guardian.

The operation is not de-clawing, but de-jointing. Think, take off your finger or toe at the first knuckle. The pain post-op can make a cat refuse to use the litter box, then things really go downhill!

Soft Paws, while humane and painless to use, still will take away kitty's defenses in much the same way as de-jointing....They are a good alternative for folks that have a foolproof way to keep the cat indoors. I have one cat that was trained to them, but I don't put them on him now that I have him, for that reason...he used to try to get outside and there are mean critters out there in my backyard.

I have had very good luck re-directing the cats to their posts. When I find them stretching up on a piece of furniture, I gently say, no, take them down, then I go over to the sisal post and scratch my nails on it very noisily. Every time, they immediately imitate what I've done, and where I've done it. Make sure you have a scratchy place that is "human approved" in every room - even if it is just a corrigated cardboard scratcher, (about $2). That way, you can re-direct effectively. If you have to go to another room, the cat has long since forgotten what it is you are trying to teach her.
Cats are so cool! They won't be intimidated or forced, but when given a loving option, will usually cooperate! That's why we love them so much!

I agree with jaycee. And yes, it's possible to have nice furniture and a cat, but I note that Gizmo still 'sharpens' her paws on the victorian sofa. She does not do so on the Mission sofa, which has a different upholstery fabric that is not as attractive to her. So it's a simple matter of noting this and getting furniture that is covered in the right kind of fabric.
Gizzy's favorite scratching post is the wall-mounted one, by the way.

I agree with you. You will loose your anti-declaw message every time when you try to shame people for wanting to protect their furniture from destruction. I do not let my young children destroy my furniture and I will not let an animal do it either.

Our plan was always to declaw our kitten (mostly at my husband's insistance). However, I have been able to show him that I can manage our kitten's claws (nail trimmings and plenty of places to scratch) so my husband has agreed that it does not have to be done. I am greatly relieved.

The problem is that if rescues and shelters denied people adoptions if they plan to declaw, there will be a lot of cats sitting in cages. I don't like it one bit but I don't know a single (out of about 8) indoor cat in my area that has claws. There needs to be A LOT of education when these cats are adopted on how to manage claws. People just assume it HAS to done.

Then perhaps it would be best to have neither children nor cats.

I probably shouldn't post in this thread since this discussion makes me so angry I get a heartbeat. I will buy a bottle of champagne and some cat-milk and cheer with my cats the day US decides to join the civilized world on this point, and forbid their inhabitants to chop of their animals body-parts.

This thread is starting to get a bit personal. The original poster has asked what declawing is, as well as what softpaws are. Please stay on the topic without the personal comments.

Okay I'll give you guys a clue what fabric on the only fabric covered piece of furniture is? Mircofiber rocks I have one cat that sometimes scratches at the corner of the couch and it doesn't show.

Jennifer Sweeeney.