Audiofuzzy

Declawing a cat is animal cruelty and should be banned.


Declawed cats tend to walk abnormally back on their heels rather than on their entire pads because of the chronic pain at the end of their severed fingers and toes. They often develop chronic arthritis and as the front toe pads shrink, chronic bone infections are common. So many cats find it painful to use the litter box, develop a conditioned aversion to using the box, and become un-housebroken. This is why many declawed cats are put up for adoption or are euthanized. They may also bite more, and become defensive when handled because their paws are hurting and infected.


Declawing (Onychectomy) of Cats


If you are worried about your furniture - DON'T get a cat.

Fuzzy

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Maria

I don't believe in declawin' a cat. It's abuse to declawin' a cat. I have my own dogs and I don't declaw them, no matter if it's different from a cat.

Liebling:-)))

There´re declaw debated thread at somewhere.

I personally do not support declaw on pets but I respect the pet owners when they are for declaw on their pets.

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*sniffing you*

Liebling:-)))

Declawing is already banned in many countries in the world.

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*sniffing you*

Opal

Yes, Hot Topics Debate links below -
http://www.alldeaf.com/our-pets/3393...-soft-paw.html

http://www.alldeaf.com/our-pets/3386...-cats-not.html

http://www.alldeaf.com/our-pets/3096...hing-sofa.html

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VanG

There are a lot of PRO and CON on this debate. But most of cats with declaw at my place rec'd laser to heal the wound ended up in healthy cats and live up to old age during my work with vet for 10 years. I don't see anything infectious or aggressive with declaw cats. But like I said there are pro and con.
I knew one of my client's families cat was bought into vet and had it declawed even it was against the animal adoption rules conditions. so it was bought into suit with court. Thanks God I was not summoned. So the Court agreed with families. The adoption gave the families wrong cat but families decided to keep the cat. Their cat scratched baby's face aggressive and no purpose. Parents really don't want to put the cat down because of the state's law. Law said if any animal(s) are endanger around people and caused injury to fatally permanently is to put them down unless something have to be done to reduce endangerment. So the court overthrew the adoption's suit out. Today, the baby's face and body still have few scars but the cat is still with them and is very sweet. I really don't know how the baby and cat got into fight but today baby is now 6 years old and is best buddy with this cat. So I must say this is PRO and CON.

Vet likes to keep declaw the cat for $$$$$$. So that must be bad!

Audiofuzzy is right, if you cherish your furnitures. I add, if you are allergy to dust or grass or whatever, and odor. Don't get cat at all. Scratch post might be helpful but some of cats don't use it.

VanG

Adoption conditions required no declaw cat at all. So if you want to declaw the cats then don't go to adoption. Just go to street and find kitten. There are a lot of homeless kitten on street.

Angel

I've read many many anti-declawing websites which list all the bad side effects from declawing.. I love ALL my indoor cats and not once have I noticed any true negative side effects from declawing them and when we arrived home after picking them up at the vet, all of them ran, jumps and plays like nothing ever happened to them, they didn't look nervous or off-balance at all... My cats seem pretty dang happy to me and I adore all of my cats and they're just like one of my children, I did tried the soft paws at first, they were drive themselves crazy trying to take them off with their teeth, so that when I made an decision to have them declaws instead, but they still have their back claws but not the front.... I respect the opinion if someone feels strongly against declawing, but *I* don't see declawing as being cruel or abuse...It was my decision to have it done, and they're my cats....There are many pro and cons in EVERYTHING, so it's up to you to make that decision alone...

Peace out..


Edit: Now they have Laser declaw...

Cheri

I agree with Angel in pretty much of what she stated. there's pros and cons on everything in life (general, pets, animals, plants, and etc.) Not everyone is gonna follow one particular path, if someone decide to get declaws for their cat, it's their business, because it's their cats, if someone decide not to get declaws because of cons then that's your opinion, but that doesn't mean we all must follow your opinion.

For one, I don't think declawing is animal cruelty, because not all cats are so much alike, while some cats experiences the bad out-coming after surgery doesn't mean this cat will experience the same outcome. It depends upon each cats just like it depends on each individuals.

If the decision is to be made by a particular person (the owner) it doesn't give anyone a right to say this particular owner has no business having cats in the first place if deciding on declaws. If you don't believe in declaws then don't get one for your cat.

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horselover61

I have 3 cats and in the past too and I never declawed them.

Angel

Thank you Cheri ...

LakeTahoe

I don't believe having cats get declawed. If cat accidentally escaped outside and had to protect her/himself. So I prefer leave it alone. If you want a cat, get a kitten and TRAIN the kitten not to touch the couch or anything...get a scratching post for the cat. My friend did called one of the vet and said that having cats get declawing is cruel so she dropped having her get declaw and trained her not to damage the furnitures. So far she did great!

So it is every owner's business what she/he want to do with her/his kittens/cats.

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Phillips

My Cat Cindie does have claws She always clawing on me when she has purred !! Ouch!

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GalaxyAngel

Not my business.. as long their respect wishes.. declaws or non-declaws cats..

I have two cats still have their claws.. mostly loved stayed outside nearby my sunroom. My cats already damaged my furniture one of them.. Sadly I've been trainned my cat to stop scratching on my furniture sofa.. Kept directly to scratch post but never used.. think it's bored their toy..

I'm glad my two cats are loved to stay outside which it's great.. doesn't want go inside my house.. I have no idea why two cats changed their behaviored and loving stay outside nearby my sunroom.

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rockdrummer

I'm sure there are humane ways to declaw a cat. You should only declaw the front and not the back claws. If you declaw the back claws then the cat will have no way to defend itself incase it gets outside and into a fight.

Reba

I've had several declawed (front only) indoor cats, and none of them got arthritis, infections, or any other side effects from the procedure. My last kitty died of old age.

Cheri

That's so true. My sister had her cat declawed from front only not the back.

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Kaitin

Fuzzy: AGREE! We need more threads about animals and less about CI maybe for agreeing.

JeepGirl

Both of my cats are declawed and its not illegal. I don't consider that as an abuse. I wondered... most of you have dogs and cats that have been FIXED (nuetered/spayed)???????

IF its a YES... why did you do it? because of the populations growing??? Because you don't want to get them pregnant and deal with fur babies? can be other reasons. Do you consider that as an abuse? No.. its for good reasons.

having cats declawed is the same thing. There are reasons to have it declawed. I don't see why ya'll consider it as abuse when millions have their animal spayed or nuetered and its not an abuse?

Most of the time, when cats are declawed are their purpose to keep it safe inside, more healthier as well. People like that really care and not consider it as an abuse. They don't just screw them and let them outside so they can get attacked by owls, coyotes, getting hit by a car, etc.

oh.. another thing... is... there are about a million pet owners that have never never taken their pets for boosters and rabies vaccines. what does that tell you? do you consider that abuse? I don't because alot of them don't believe in vaccines due to side effects and they keep them inside and assumed that's how they stay healthy. Yet, they do still get sick with any cause whether they're inside or outside pets.

Tell me how many of you do heartworm pills monthly for your cats and dogs??????? I'd tell you.. not many do and yet its very important to treat them with heartworm pills.


so why are ya'll just pointing at declaws as an abuse???

JeepGirl

well i don't agree.

JeepGirl

laser Declaw is a much better option to choose from.. less pain, less bleeding and quicker to heal.

Cheri

You've got a good point there, Rebelgirl.

I've seen more and more pet owners not getting the proper care for their animals which included vaccines there's many reasons why they're delaying on getting their pets vaccinations, one reason is that they can't afford it, nor don't have any money, or believes that it is not even necessary, when it is necessary because it protected some diseases by vaccinations. I believe pets should be vaccinated to protect them from many highly contagious and deadly diseases but on the other hands there are people out there who don't believe in vaccines just like Rebelgirl states cuz of side-effects.

My dog has received side-effects every time he has his vaccinations, but that only lasted for about a day or two. Does that means I'm abusing my own dog because I still highly recommended him to go see the vet to be on his currently vaccines? No, I did it to keep him away from future diseases, because he does go outdoor to do his business, and I do take my dog for a walk also. I want to protect him at all cost, that is one reason why I continuing taking him in for his vaccinations.

It's the same thing for those owners who decide on declaws, they have their reason and that reason you might won't agree, but that doesn't mean they do not love their cats, nor is abusing their cats.

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JeepGirl

exactly!

Kaitin

From The CatSite:

Like most well-intentioned people, they didn't understand the extent of declawing- it's not just a manicure. The entire claw, tendon, bone and ligament to the first knuckle of each joint is amputated. It is a major trauma, with long-lasting repercussions.

During the procedure, the cat's paw is extended. Large nail clippers, similar to pruning shears, crunch through the joint. Hemostats- clamping scissors- help tear the joint away from the paw. The bloody stump is cleaned, and an adhesive is squeezed into the gaping hole where the cat's toe had been. Pressure is applied to stop the bleeding and the paw is bandaged.

Examine your own hand, palm up. Look for the crease at your first knuckle. That's where the clippers crush down to amputate. Imagine having all ten of your fingertips chopped off. If they were your fingers and toes, there's no one on earth who could possibly tell you that "...soon you'll be good as new."

People who think declawing will solve one problem, are often surprised to learn this: Declawing often starts a chain reaction of medical and psychological disasters. Please don't declaw. The possible benefits rarely outweigh the probable negatives. These include:

* Increase in biting- Because their first defenses - claws- are gone, declawed cats often respond to stress, and even play, by biting.
* Litter box problems- Cats cover over their deposits. But when they feel pain in their paws, as Annie Bruce, cat behavior consultant and author of "Good Cats Wear Black" reports, declawed cats are far more likely to urinate outside the litter box than cats with claws. Dr. Kimberly Harrison in Colorado, collected data on cats with litter box problems that were not medically related- 90% were declawed cats.
* A declawed cat can NEVER safely go outdoors. Because he can't fight, a declawed cat will try to escape, usually by running up a tree, and they need front claws to do that. A declawed cat is an easy target for all kinds of predators.
* Scratching is a natural behavior. Declawing does not change the need to scratch.
* Personality change- Once subjected to this trauma, many cats have residual, 'phantom pain,' similar to what a human experiences after amputation. They may distrust the person responsible for such pain- you. Or drastic personality changes can occur- after declawing, that gentle tabby becomes a temperamental tiger.
* Medical studies have only started to document the long-term problems - debilitating arthritis, and pain in the knee and hip joints, because of structural changes from loss of that first knuckle.

Declawing has absolutely no health benefits to the cat. It's done for human convenience, not feline consideration. Many veterinarians recognize that declawing is inhumane, and won't perform the surgery. In Australia, England, Finland, Norway, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, and many other countries, where it is considered inhumane, declawing is illegal. Educate-don't mutilate.

I don't think people declaw to hurt their cats, but I think it hurts. It is not meant as abuse and is not like hitting a cat. But it is not humane. When I volunteered at the Humane Society they asked people not to declaw. Yes, better than killing the cat because of clawing, but still cruel. JMO.

Vaccines are separate.


From the Humane Society: Declawing cats: More than a manicure

Too often people believe that declawing is a simple surgery that removes a cat's nails, the equivalent of a person having her fingernails trimmed. Sadly, this is far from the truth. Declawing traditionally involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe and, if performed on a human being, it would be comparable to cutting off each finger at the last knuckle.

Declawing can leave cats with a painful healing process, long-term health issues, and numerous behavior problems. This is especially unfortunate because declawing is an owner-elected procedure and unnecessary for the vast majority of cats.

Angel

None of this ever happened to any of my indoor declawed cats...And my oldest is 10 years old, still a happy purring cat!



two up to RebelGirl and Cheri...exactly girls!!

ladycaissa

I am actually very much against declawing cats, but with my cat I had no choice. When my cat cuddles with me, he likes to dig behind my head. When he did this, he would leave scratch marks all over my scalp, neck and my ear. I gave him 6 months to learn not to do so. The final draw was when he got deep into my ear and manage to scratch the ear canal.

I choose to get his front claws declawed because he wouldn't learn and stop. To this day I am glad I did so because he still does dig. I no longer have claw marks all over my scalp, neck and ear.

He's had no health problems due to being declawed. Nor has my roommate's cat. They are both perfectly healthy cats.


So as for declawing cats. It's a personal choice. It's a choice that everyone should seriously sit down and debate on weither it's good for both the cat and you. Give the cat time to learn to stop a certain behavior you don't want them to do.

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Peachy Lady

I've had my cats declawed for many years. Yes, it hurt for a few days, then they're fine and have same sweet personalities as before they were declawed. All cats have different personalities so each one react differently after declaw surgery....but for my cats its been all good. Now that there is laser to declaw, why not use that from now on so the cats won't hurt as much? I would except that I don't have cats anymore in my house due to my allergy.

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Audiofuzzy