Declawing Cats

[-_aj_-]

Originally Posted by strange_wings

FYI, most Americans don't know geography (including information about resources, culture, and governments) very well. Unless one studies it that tends to be an area largely skipped. Which probably doesn't surprise you much to learn.

Hahaha very very true

 

[ducman69]

Originally Posted by strange_wings

FYI, most Americans don't know geography (including information about resources, culture, and governments) very well. Unless one studies it that tends to be an area largely skipped. Which probably doesn't surprise you much to learn.

50 states of the US have their own laws as well, cmon now, they were just trying to make the list look longer rather than simply putting the UK as any normal person would have done, and sprinkling in non-verifiable subjective claims lumping in the "majority moral rejection". And regarding geography, well, some people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as in South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as.

And I lived in various states of the US, Germany, France, Spain, and Singapore, thank you very much. =p

 

[kailie]

Originally Posted by BreaMarie

My step-mom's cat was the most spoiled thing in the world and she took excellent care of her for all 19 years and 9 months of her life, but she would have chosen not to have a cat if she couldn't have declawed.
Even if someone thinks that she "didn't deserve to have a cat" since she values her possessions, what about what Alvie deserved? I have no doubt that she would've ended up in a cage for years at a shelter, or would've been put down, because she was an unpleasant, unfriendly little thing who had lots of (digestive) health problems. But my step-mom loved her dearly and gave her a great home. I'm sure that if Alvie could've chosen, she'd have picked living with my step-mom and getting declawed versus the alternative.

Have you ever thought that maybe she was "unpleasant and unfriendly" due to being declawed? In fact I can honestly say that I have never met a declawed cat who DIDN'T have behavioral problems of some sort. Take my Mom's cat, Oliver (who she adopted from a shelter by the way), for example. His previous owner had all 4 of his paws declawed. Now when Ollie wants to, he can be the sweetest thing, then for no apparent reason, he can just "snap". He bites, and very easily breaks skin, as that is his only means of defence.
Growing up, my grandparents had a cat they declawed named Minka. (They luckily know better now.) That cat would hiss if anyone so much as looked at her, and if you didn't see her and walked by her, she would beat the crap out of your leg, hissing, growling, etc.
Another of the many examples I have. There is a couple who fosters for one of the same organizations I do. They have 3 cats of their own, all of which were declawed. I went over to their house one day and met the cats. 2 of the 3 would nip/growl at the slightest provacation, and the third I never even saw because from what they said "She hides most of the day and is very skittish."

The point being you have no idea what Alvie went through when she was declawed, what behavioral changes may have occured or the pain she most inevitably went through. You also are simply guessing about what may have been. So really is there a way to say that declawing is better than what you perceive the alternative COULD have been? I'm sorry, but in my own personal opinion, I don't think so.

 

[mimosa]

Originally Posted by Ducman69

I don't have any specific statistics, its not a major point regardless (Japan is also the child pornography capital of the world), but here's a wiki if that means anything http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onychectomy
"Although common in North America, and Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, and China, declawing is increasingly becoming unpopular and considered an act of animal cruelty in certain other regions"

The whole point of Wikipedia is that anyone can edit the articles, which is why it isn't an airtight source of information to back-up your viewpoint in a discussion.

I'm from the Netherlands and the dutch seem to be managing cat ownership pretty well with declawing being illegal. It's just a matter of common sense; if you have a lot of fragile stuff do not get a cat or put your stuff away.
You are using all kinds of far-fetched arguments to justify such a barbaric practice while there are whole nations of cat owners who get along just fine without it. Where there is a will there is a way, and if someone does not have the will do they really love cats or are they just an accessory that should complement the furniture ? (and heaven forbid they scratch it

)

 

[otto]

Originally Posted by Ducman69

In the few countries that have banned declaws, cat adoption is not nearly as prevalent as in the United States, and the cats are rarely indoor.

My relatives in Germany for example find it odd that I don't let my cats out and to some extent even that I spend so much money on food, as the culture they are used to cats are supposed to go out and get most of their own food. How the heck can a declawed cat do that?

In a culture like that, of course they are opposed to declaws, as they are opposed to most body alteration.

You still have quite a few people in Germany and France for example that don't even believe in shaving their armpits, don't use antiperspirants, and find the idea of circumcisions outrageous.

If its not "natural" its not good.

It doesn't mean they are right or wrong, its just a different culture, and as long as they aren't forcing their personal beliefs and values on others, I don't have a problem with it.

At least TWENTY SIX civilized countries, and they all contain many many cat lovers and cat owners. I belong to a lot of forums and talk to people all over the world. They're first introductions to declaw issues are always met with shock that this kind of butchery is allowed.

Your comparisons, as usual, are specious.

 

[AbbysMom]

Since this thread is going around and around and starting to get a bit personal, I am now closing it.

Here is the official TCS stance on declawing -

3. This website considers declawing a drastic way to curb cat behavior. A painful ordeal for your kitty we would suggest that declawing never be considered for any behavioral issue. Health issues are entirely different. It is up to you as a responsible pet owner to explore all the different options available instead of declawing. Your cat is dependant on you to make wise choices for her, and not put her into any more stress or discomfort. Please be a responsible pet owner and research this subject thoroughly. Understand that if you are pro-declaw in your posts, you will encounter opposition. Please learn more about alternatives for declawing here in our forums as well as on our website itself. Declaw - More than Just a Manicure. Hopefully those of you with claw-related problems will find solutions by spending time in our Behavior Forum.

I personally had no idea how barbaric declawing was until I joined this site. My childhood cat was declawed in the normal assembly line "declaw and spay" procedure that is common around here. Looking back, she did have some behavioral issues that could have been caused by the declaw.

Back then my parents and I were not educated in the specifics of declawing. Many people here in the US are not. Sure, here on TCS we all are and most of us would never think of declawing. For the record, I don't think very highly of those that know what it entails and then still go out and have their cat declawed.

While this probably isn't the proper place to do so, I urge all of you to be gentle with a new member that joins and inquires about declawing or states they are having their cat declawed. We need to gently and in a positive manner educate others on what declawing really is. Having people scream at them will only make them run away as fast as they can. Remember, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.