Declawing

gloriajh · Sep 27, 2006

Originally Posted by gaia33

... who can't deal with cat claws doesn't need a cat.
... No good EVER comes to a cat because of it. It is done SOLELY for the convenience, selfishness and laziness of the owner, and personally, I think people who would do this shouldn't have cats, because their priority is NOT the health of the cat. This same type of person cuts the voice boxes out of dogs.

After re-reading this thread (and gaia33's post), it appears that I am one of those that perhaps these "words" were directed to, and I feel a (gentle) response is necessary.

Moderator: (AbbysMom) I appreciated your post, thank you. I read the thread of the link that you provided. It's a good thread, and I hope everyone takes the time to read it. I also hope that I have stayed within the guidelines of the forum with this post, it isn't my desire or intention to be demeaning to anyone. However, I do feel a response is necessary.
But, if this post in out of line, please don't bother contacting me, just delete it if you feel it's inappropriate. Thanks!

When I posted my contribution on this thread, my intention was to share my personal experiences in response to the member's initial question.

I believe that my experience is as valid as anyone elses experience or contribution. I also respect our members and the contributions they provide.

As for the judging of those of us who chose to de-claw as being "for our convenience", "selfish", and "lazy", -- well, from my personal experience - that conclusion is harsh, generally misguided, and just plain wrong.

And then the worse accusation about those that declaw as being the same type of person that "cuts voice boxes out of dogs" - well, that statement is just "over the top"!

Let me add - I dearly love my cats - they are spoiled, happy, painfree, well-adjusted, and loving furbabies. My experience has been positive with none of the problems people have attributed to the declawed cats as having. I'm not denying some problems exist, it's just that it's not been my experience with declawed cats.

Let me end by saying that I do appreciate the anti-declawing group's passion, their passion is absolutely understandable.

Hoping this was a kind (and gentle) enough response,
Gloria

callista · Sep 28, 2006

One of the cats at my local shelter was declawed; the paperwork said "owner surrender"... she was using the litter box fine but seemed pretty defensive about having her feet or belly touched, and had problems with other cats. Here's her picture and the comments I put in my notes when I was visiting her:

She's three years old, spayed, and front declawed. She's a big cat--at least twelve pounds--and, when it comes to humans, all love. She loves to be petted, and will wind around you and push her head under your hand. She doesn't like having her belly or paws touched. She doesn't do well with other cats--she was probably raised as an only cat--and will hiss upon seeing one. Other than that, she's pretty easygoing, though I think perhaps her declawing affected her temperament--she's more defensive than she needs to be. She loves having "conversations"--meow at her, and she meows back!

laureen227 · Sep 28, 2006

she sounds like my Chip! he's also front declawed, doesn't like his belly touched [or his nether regions]. i'm getting him used to letting me brush/comb him there, tho - he's quite fluffy & needs it. i've had him for 6 months, & he's becoming much more trusting of me. he allows me to touch his feet, no problem.

Pixel, my other declaw, also allows me to touch her feet, & loves belly rubs. but i raised her from kittenhood, & she knows i can be trusted.

both of them use the litterbox unless it's really dirty or they're ill.

arlyn · Sep 28, 2006

The one cat I had declawed (the others came to me that way) was done as a medical necessity after all other solutions were exhausted.
He was a biter, but he was a biter before the declaw, and he did have litterbox issues, but they were all due to chronic UTI's and crystals.

When he wasn't suffering from urinary tract problems, he used the box beautifully, unless someone ticked him off, then he would pee an on item belonging to the offender only.
He was affectionate, but only on his own terms, he was this way before the surgery.
He did not like having his feet touched, but he was this way before the surgery.

He did develop arthritis in his front legs though at a very young age, this was due to the surgery, declawing alters the way a cat is supposed to walk.
Cats normally walk on the tips of their toes, after a declaw, they do not have the tips of toes any longer.

All of the major issues I have witnessed that are caused by declawing, were due to bad declaw surgeries, declaws performed on adult cats, or a combination of the two.

gaia33 · Sep 28, 2006

In the following countries, a person who has their cat declawed would be arrested for abuse and their vet would lose his/her license. I stand by every word I wrote. Just because it's legal in the USA doesn't make it right.

How can anyone research the possibilities that could happen, then do it anyway? I can understand someone not knowing and going by what their vet tells them (who by the way does it for money), but how can someone research it and then still do it? Sorry, but I don't understand that kind of thinking at all.

And actually, "devoicing" a dog doesn't cause nearly the problems of declawing, but it's done for the same reason: the owner's convenience. I have never read ONE single good reason--outside of medical--for removing the first joint of a cat's paw. Not one.

England
Scotland
Wales
Italy
France
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Norway
Sweden
Netherlands
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Denmark
Finland
Slovenia
Portugal
Belgium
Spain
Brazil
Australia
New Zealand

epona · Sep 28, 2006

I think actually in the UK it's not technically illegal, because we haven't adopted the EU law in this regard (the UK seems to be able to opt out of some EU legislation).

However the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons states that declawing for cosmetic reasons is unethical and abusive, and would disbar any vet that performed a declaw. So illegal or not, you still couldn't get a cat declawed. (excepting cases where there is a clear clinical need, ie. tumour or trauma to the foot making amputation necessary)

lunchbox · Sep 28, 2006

Don't know if this has been mentioned or not. Just thought I'd chime in.

DO NOT declaw your cats!

How would you like your fingernails removed AT THE BONE and then have to walk on them afterwards?

There are other means of keeping your furniture and drapes safe from kitty's claws other than having them removed like malodorous sprays, double-sided sticky tape and so on!

laureen227 · Sep 28, 2006

Originally Posted by lunchbox

Don't know if this has been mentioned or not. Just thought I'd chime in.

DO NOT declaw your cats!

How would you like your fingernails removed AT THE BONE and then have to walk on them afterwards?

There are other means of keeping your furniture and drapes safe from kitty's claws other than having them removed like malodorous sprays, double-sided sticky tape and so on!

please read all the posts - then you'll know if things have been mentioned.

white cat lover · Sep 28, 2006

Originally Posted by GloriaJH

I]
When I posted my contribution on this thread, my intention was to share my [/color]personal experiences in response to the member's initial question.

I believe that my experience is as valid as anyone elses experience or contribution. I also respect our members and the contributions they provide.

As for the judging of those of us who chose to de-claw as being "for our convenience", "selfish", and "lazy", -- well, from my personal experience - that conclusion is harsh, generally misguided, and just plain wrong.

Gloria

I think that you experince is as valid as anyone else's as well. Honestly, I think your first post in this thread was well put. You sound like the type of person that will keep your kitties should they ever have any issues that were caused by the declaw. It is sad that so many people do not. It is a decision you made & it is not up to us to judge you for it.

I have known people who declawed(I believe there is at least one member here) their cats that they got from the shelter(or elsewhere) as they could not have them in their apartment if they had their claws. Better to declaw them than to leave them at the shelter risking euthanasia.

As for grouping people who declaw as selfish...sadly I've been guilty of that, too(snap judgement).

This thread got very off topic. The intention was only to find out what possible behavioral changes could occur after a cat was declawed. Please read the original post & all posts before posting. It makes for a much....friendlier...thread.

nanci · Sep 28, 2006

I'm totally against declawing a cat as many of you are. But, if the question is does it change behaviour, I can tell you that my daughter's friend had both her cats declawed. She stated "there happy, I'm happy". She wanted to prorect her leather furniture was the reason she gave. Why she adopted cats in the first place baffled me but to move on; both her cats urinate inappropriatly and have been for over a year now. She's about to turn them into a shelter and you can guess how long they will last there!

So, did the declawing cause this behaviour; I would bet money on it. Oh, I might add that one of her cats is so skittish that he hides constantly and seldom comes out other than to eat.

deni · Sep 28, 2006

I personally have never believed in the practice of declawing cats, mainly for the reasons detailed in this thread. No animal should be required to undergo unneccesary surgery. Why do you suppose the practice of docking dogs tails and dew claws is no longer allowed as standard practice.

I truely believe that the number of negative resonses so far received far outweigh any positive responses for very good reasons, and would ask anyone considering it to think very seriously about the consequences.

2dogmom · Sep 28, 2006

Actually docking and cropping is still allowed in the US. I got flamed recently on a dog board for suggesting that docking and cropping solely for cosmetic reasons was not right. Hard to argue with the "show crowd".

gloriajh · Sep 28, 2006

Originally Posted by white cat lover

I think that you experince is as valid as anyone else's as well. Honestly, I think your first post in this thread was well put. You sound like the type of person that will keep your kitties should they ever have any issues that were caused by the declaw. It is sad that so many people do not. It is a decision you made & it is not up to us to judge you for it.

I have known people who declawed(I believe there is at least one member here) their cats that they got from the shelter(or elsewhere) as they could not have them in their apartment if they had their claws. Better to declaw them than to leave them at the shelter risking euthanasia.

As for grouping people who declaw as selfish...sadly I've been guilty of that, too(snap judgement).

This thread got very off topic. The intention was only to find out what possible behavioral changes could occur after a cat was declawed. Please read the original post & all posts before posting. It makes for a much....friendlier...thread.

You are a good example of what makes TCS forum great.

FYI, re: giving up my cats because of behavioral problems due to declawing - you're right - they're an important part of our family, and there is no way I could or would give up on them and send them away.
Gloria

gizmocat · Sep 28, 2006

to return to the original thread:

I've owned Gizmo for nearly a year now and she is the most even-tempered, sweet, intelligent cat I have ever seen. She has only missed her catbox once, and that was shortly after I got her, and the mess was still in the bathroom. She has had no issues with the declaw since I got her.
Knowing her, and cats, now the way I do (and did not know a year ago), I'd not declaw her if she'd come with the claws attached. But the decision to remove them was made for me and for her years ago.

None of my furniture is damaged; the cat is happy, and I'm happy.

tagsmom899301 · Sep 30, 2006

The first cat I ever owned as a child, my mother had declawed. We had Tonya in our lives until she died at the age of 14. Back then I don't think people knew as much about the bad consequences of declawing. My Mom wanted the cat declawed because Tonya was very sick and on a lot of medicine. After one attempt at medicating her left me covered in scratches (I was 8) my Mom said the claws had to go. Her surgery went ok (and was performed at the same time as her spaying) and we had to use newspaper for her littler box.
As to behavior afterwards Tonya never bit unless you did something to warrent it. However she did have litterbox issues in that she was very picky about the litter we used. She also did get arthritis in her front paws (I know now that it was probably due to the declawing). Other than that Tonya got on very well. She was still able to climb the tree out back (we had a leash attached to a wash line so she could run outside) and she was always nice enough to leave mice presents for me from the pantry (one of the many reasons my Mom adored her!).
Tonya did get out of the house once but luckily she did not get in any fights. She was nice enough to leave a present that time too.
Since your co-worker knows how you feel about the declawing I wouldn't berate her too much only because everyone is right she might not come to you. Better she comes to you and you could tell her that hey unfortunately some of those behaviors could be due to her choice in having the kitten declawed. Hopefully the kitten will do well.

delilah_blue · Oct 10, 2006

I had my Delilah declawed as a kitten. All the cats I had growing up were declawed - it was what everyone I knew did, to the point that I considered it to be as routine as spaying. When I asked my vet how old Delilah needed to be before she could be spayed and declawed, the vet never questioned me or cautioned me against it. Honestly it was only after I started lurking on these forums that I'd ever truly thought about what it means to declaw a cat.
Delilah has never had any behavioral issues - never bitten, and never not used her box. She doesn't particularly like her feet handled, but she'll allow it if I insist. I guess I'm lucky in that respect. Looking at her now, though, I think her gait is slightly different from clawed kitties.

When I brought my kitten Blue in to the vet (different vet) for her first checkup, he asked me if I was planning on declawing her. I told him I wasn't sure what to think about it anymore, and he proceeded to describe what the procedure entails and the risks involved. He told me he strongly encourages all his clients to avoid declawing, to trim kitties' nails, use SoftPaws, etc. But he also told me that ultimately, he does still occasionally declaw cats, because he feels that declawing is a better option than a cat losing its home and being euthanized in a shelter.

I have learned so much from these forums. I truly would've never considered trimming a cat's claws before I came here, but now I'm doing it with my kittens regularly and with a little patience, it's easier than I ever imagined it would be. Thanks to all of you here who take the time to educate us ignorant folk!

yosemite · Oct 11, 2006

My heart swells with gratitude when I see how many people have been better informed about the horrible act of de-clawing by coming to this site. I only pray that someday it will be illegal worldwide except for extenuating circumstances affecting the kitty's health of course. It takes but a couple minutes to clip kitty's nails and so much more humane.

I do believe de-clawed cats have issues (wouldn't you if someone cut off part of all your fingers!) and some of them end up in shelters because the owner did not take responsibility for what they did.

I have a SIL who wants a kitty like Bijou when her kitty George goes over the bridge. She de-clawed George and I will not help her get any of Bijou's brothers or sisters until she solemnly vows to me that she will never de-claw the kitty.

missinthesouth · Oct 17, 2006

A year ago, I was dead set on declawing my cat (future cat). Then I came on here on a whim and did some research and decided that though I couldn't get a cat declawed, but I still didn't want a cat with claws.

Then I spent some more time on TCS and learned about Soft Claws, scratching posts and the other things that made it easier to own a cat with claws. So, with some hesitation, we aggreed to look at cats with claws, still 100% sure I wanted a declawed cat.

We fell in love with Carl (who has claws) and that was that. I am still amazed at how easy it is to have a cat with claws! I had no idea, seriously I thought that having a cat with claws meant no leather furniture, no nice furniture period, and arms full of scratches.

We have very nice leather and apolstered furniture. We live in a rental with carpets and window treatments. We have not had a single problem with scratches. We trim his claws, keep Soft Paws on the front, and he has a scratching post which he rarely even uses. He jumps on the couch, sleeps on the top of the apolstered arm chair, and never scratches any of it.

I think that some people declaw their cats b/c they genuinely think that a cat with claws means destroyed furniture and headaches for both the cat and the owner. I thought that. Now I know how easy it is to own a cat with claws. I am a TCS convert.

Bashing those who declaw their cats does nothing more than insure that that person never comes on TCS again. And that would be sad, b/c the knowledge and caring on this BB is amazing!

breal76 · Oct 17, 2006

All of my cats have their claws, and my furniture is fine, so is my carpet. I am happy and so are they. Imagine that!

I believe one posed the comparison on removing a voice box from a dog, to declawing. This is not a fair comparison. HOWEVER, the question should be asked, do you detooth a dog for chewing?

Cat's can be trained, to think that they can not is just silly. I have plenty, and have had plenty. I have never had a destructive scratcher because they have an outlet to do so that isn't my stuff. However I do not have a huge attatchment to material things. So even if they were destructive, I made a choice by getting a cat. I know they have claws. So there ya go.

Since I work at a shelter and see cats on a daily basis I can say that declawed cats are the most feared. They ARE biters. Usually being the most aggresive cat I have ever seen in my life. To the point where some are down right scary. Because of that only a small percentage get placed up for adoption.

That percentage gets even smaller when you factor in why they are being surrendered. 80-90% of all the declawed cats we get in for owner surrenders are being dumped because they do not use the litter box. Therefore they will not be placed up for adoption. No one is going to want a cat that pees in the house for the same reason it is being given up on. They can't be turned into "outdoor" cats either. Now that their claws are gone.

So why take the risk?
Patrons will asked me if they should declaw and my answer is always "If you think scratching your furniture is a problem, what are you going to do when they start peeing on it?"
With the alternatives in this day and age ESPECIALLY with soft paws, trimming the nails, there is really no reason to declaw a cat anymore.

If that is what you perfer then go to a shelter, track one down and adopt one if it's that important to you.

That is my opinion only.

Declawing

FERAl born “Pepper”

TCS Member

Darksome Duo!

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Darksome Duo!

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

FERAl born “Pepper”

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member