What are ya'll thoughts on declawing indoor cats?

i say no. If my cats were ever to get outside they would not be able to defend themselves. I just dont' agree wtih it but that's my opinion and I don't bash people who do it. It's just not for me or my kitties

Well as a vet assistant who assisted on many surgeries I do not agree with the procedure. In fact the vets I worked for didnt either. The procedure isnt the nicest (yes it is easy) but its basically cutting your index finger off at the joint. Pain meds wererequired after this procedure at the office I worked in. I also do not agree because if something happens and the cat gets out they cannot defend themselves

Now that being said I can understand why some do. I just never would personally. Like I said I have assisted on the surgery and the like and just dont agree with it. If you are for it and do do it then please maske sure your kitty never gets outside!

I dunno it kinda ranks up there with debarking. And that isnt a pretty procedure at all. I understand why people do it but I never could. ESPECIALLY after seeing it first hand

i say no. If my cats were ever to get outside they would not be able to defend themselves. I just dont' agree wtih it but that's my opinion and I don't bash people who do it. It's just not for me or my kitties
Ah, I have PROOF that is not true! Both my kitties are declawed.....and they have No problem defending themselves. They also have no problem hunting and bringing us little 'gifts' of Birds, Rabbits, Moles, Squirrels, etc.

Now, before I get mauled for letting my declawed kitties out into the world, they started off as Indoor cats - chewed thru the patio screen to escape for play..... They do have their back claws. They are able to defend themselves. :)

Ive worked for an animal optimologist, and I would rather see an enucleation (removal of eye) or a corneal ulcer surgery before having to see a declaw.

I agree with kristi, it is disgusting and the worst thing.

I don't agree with it. One of the reason, on top of having severe allergies why I will never have cats :D I wouldn't want a cat scratching up my stuff, but I wouldn't declaw them.

Ah, I have PROOF that is not true! Both my kitties are declawed.....and they have No problem defending themselves. They also have no problem hunting and bringing us little 'gifts' of Birds, Rabbits, Moles, Squirrels, etc.

Now, before I get mauled for letting my declawed kitties out into the world, they started off as Indoor cats - chewed thru the patio screen to escape for play..... They do have their back claws. They are able to defend themselves. :)

Sometimes they just want to go!!

I dont care that people let them out as long as they get the fel luk vac!

Sometimes they just want to go!!

I dont care that people let them out as long as they get the fel luk vac!
I love my kitties very much. They are updated on all their shots. :)

My cats are declawed. The only outdoors they see is our balcony. It was great to have it done.

I feel bad cause some people opt to not get the luk done and their animals get really sick.

Up here in Ma declawing cats is considered a form of mutalatian. Growing up how ever my family has always had there indoor cats declaw and in the south this is a common pactice. I just got a cat about a month ago and already he is trying to stick his little claws in the sofa even though he has a scratching post and all kinds of other toys, so declawing naturaly came to mind for me. Being as it's not accepted in the north I will be taking him down south to have it done. But I wa just wondering other peoples opions on it.

I thinks its awful. I could never do it. I buy my kitty soft paws. Hes had them on for so long he doesn't even try to claw at things, even when the soft paws fall off.

Try soft paws...

when my cat scratches my couch he gets sprayed with a water bottle.

I feel bad cause some people opt to not get the luk done and their animals get really sick.

Hehe I would also like to add. My kitty has all his Vacs. When I was little we had an outdoor cat that died of Fel Luk. It was so sad and heartbreaking. My view is if you can prevent it with a 12 dollar shot why take that chance by not have it. KWIM

Try soft paws...

yeah thjose work quite well if started early enough. Sometimes if not the cat can be resistant

Up here in Ma declawing cats is considered a form of mutalatian. Growing up how ever my family has always had there indoor cats declaw and in the south this is a common pactice. I just got a cat about a month ago and already he is trying to stick his little claws in the sofa even though he has a scratching post and all kinds of other toys, so declawing naturaly came to mind for me. Being as it's not accepted in the north I will be taking him down south to have it done. But I wa just wondering other peoples opions on it.

Declawing isnt a common practice, its actually becoming outdated..

You should google it and see if they show it online...

I think if the cat is strictly an indoor cat then its ok. But I don't think outdoor cats should be declawed

yeah thjose work quite well if started early enough. Sometimes if not the cat can be resistant

Weve had success at our clinic...With all age cats...The one time we didnt cause the owner was too over protective!

I ordered some of the soft paws, and tried them on my cats, and they didn't work. Declawing was the best option for us, and we paid a fortune to get it done.

I ordered some of the soft paws, and tried them on my cats, and they didn't work. Declawing was the best option for us, and we paid a fortune to get it done.

Because of what kristi and I said in the first few posts, thats why its super pricey.

I think it's cruelty, just because of the procedure itself, and also the aftermath of it. Some cats have nerve damage their whole lives afterward. I would never do that just to keep from having furniture scratched up. My thought is if you care so much about your furniture, don't get a cat. Or a dog. Or a rabbit. Or kids.

I think it's cruelty, just because of the procedure itself, and also the aftermath of it. Some cats have nerve damage their whole lives afterward. I would never do that just to keep from having furniture scratched up. My thought is if you care so much about your furniture, don't get a cat. Or a dog. Or a rabbit. Or kids.

Good point... I guess I'll go put my kids on ebay and maybe my dog while I'm at it. Maybe I'll make some money.

http://www.declawing.com/

http://www.pawproject.com/html/faqs.asp

Good point... I guess I'll go put my kids on ebay and maybe my dog while I'm at it. Maybe I'll make some money.

:lmao Can I list mine with yours? Then maybe I can get some furniture I actually like.

my sisters cats are declawed and it does not hurt them but she is also REALLY REALLY protective and they do not go outside, they are also scared of the outside

I had both of my cats declawed as kittens. The vet kept them there for a week afterwards and made sure they were good before he sent them home. I also had one spayed (the other was spayed when I got her). It was only $400 for all of that! I did have to get them the pain patch before the surgery. They have done very well. And when they would fight they could hurt each other without those claws!! But they do have their back claws. I don't agree with removing all the claws. If they do escape I wanted them to have something to help defend themselves. But they are too scared of outside anyway. Its just a matter of what you want to do. Its not the nicest procedure, but they were scratching up my lil one and I couldn't have that and I wasn't going to get rid of the kittehs because it would have broken my lil ones heart...

Because of what kristi and I said in the first few posts, thats why its super pricey.

It's also becuase we're in Italy and there is only one vet in the entire country that has been trained in the states and does the procedure as humanely as posisble

I have been seriously thinking about it for one of my kitties because he is overly aggressive and uses his claws on stuff other then the furniture- me, my friends, my other cat, etc. Part of it is just that he is playful & dumb also :lol I was really against it because my kitties are indoor/outdoor but then I met DB's cat who is declawed in the front and he has no problem defending himself against anything he might run into and he still hunts like crazy. My other cat will let me clip her claws with regular finger nail clippers so I don't worry about her but I really am going to have to do something about him and declawing seems a better option the abandonment. JMO

yeah thjose work quite well if started early enough. Sometimes if not the cat can be resistant

My kitty HATED it when we started putting them on. He was 5 or 6 months old. He'd try to bite us. We had wrap him in a towel. One of us would hold him and the other would put them on. Hes not so fond of having them put on now but hes alot calmer and I can do it by myself without smothering him in a towel. :giggle.

Totally against it. I have had cats my entire life and have never had to declaw them, I've always been able to teach them not to claw furniture. They've never hurt anybody. My friend's declawed cat get outside and try to escape a dog, it tried to climb a fence and didn't know it couldn't, the dog got it and mauled the cat.

Declawing cats is cruel.

I actually could care less about the furniture.....it was more about my daughter not getting scratched. She was 5 when we got the cats. I didn't want her getting scratched to shreds.......

I actually could care less about the furniture.....it was more about my daughter not getting scratched. She was 5 when we got the cats. I didn't want her getting scratched to shreds.......

Well that's a whole different circumstance. Most of the people I've ever met cite furniture damage as their reason, not kids getting scratched.

Before we got the cat we have now I was all for it. Every cat I had growing up was declawed. When they were taken in to be spayed/neutered they were also declawed. However, when we got this cat the shelter told John how it is done and he told me. So I will never have it done to this cat or any other cat we ever have. Plus, at the shelter we got her at, if they find out they adopted out a cat that wasn't declawed and the people had it declawed then those people can be fined $500. Dora has 2 scratch posts so she hardly ever messes with the couches. Once in a great while I'll catch her but she hasn't done any damage to the couches.

I also wanted to add that Dora has never scratched any of us. Even her hating to be picked up and held hasn't caused her to scratch any of us. I have to admit that was one of our worries when we decided we would not declaw her but she has proven to be very good with her claws. I've never even clipped them or put the soft claws on and don't see any need to with her.

I don't see the need to declaw.

What's the point of having a pet if you're only going to snip away at their nature in order for them to suit your needs?
They're creatures - not dolls.

I have had cats all my life= I am very allergic = AND they were all declawed-


yes it is surgey, yes it is painful, yes, they remove part of the "finger", but It was a choice we made for them- we tried the soft paws- they always chewed the off- we tried keeping the claws clipped short- and if you clip the cutical 1 time you pay hell when you need to clip again!!

so we pay to have them have surgery-

we pay for the pain meds after and they adjust and live life just fine-
and they always have kept the back claws-

my little girl does not hesitate to bring me little presents from time to time and is totally capable of being very cat like with the stalking and pouncing on her prey ( flies and flying things are her fav!! LOL but will bring me anything she can from the screen room or from in the house)

I see how people are for it but if you actually see the surgery, you would be sick!

That's true for any surgery, though :)

I'm more apt to just throw the cats out of the house if they're clawing and scratching too much.
We have kids - the youngest is 1 - and we have a few cats - some kittens and one adult ... it's up to the cats to learn how to behave (yes, it's possible for them to learn what to do and what not to do) and it's up to us to teach the kids how to be around the cats. Like - "don't poke, blow, pull or flick" etc etc :)

I am a strong opposer to having your cat declawed. We keep Bubs nails trimmed down and we use Soft Paws on him. I have seen what they do during a declaw surgery and I will never put my cat through that. But each to their own...

My cats are both done. I got it done when over 7 years ago when we lived in Maine and I asked the vet point blank if she was only doing it for the money. She told me she wouldn't be doing a procedure that she didn't 100% fully back. She put my mind at ease and made me feel a whole lot better about my choice. My cats came home the very next day and recovered so quickly it was like I never even had it done. They were done while still kittens so it was a lot easier for them to adjust.

I will probably piss a lot of people off but I think letting cats outdoors PERIOD is cruel! There are just too many thing that can kill a cat outside and I was told point blank by my vet that rabies is not always prevented if they get attacked by a rabid animal. I was also told of how many cats my vet saw that had drank antifreeze from under cars. Most people do not realize that if your cat gets into a fight with a rabid animal......your cat will need to be quarantined for quite a while. Why do you think certain countries (such as Hawaii) have such long quarantine periods....EVEN if the animal is vaccinated!Do some reading around! My vet in Maine told me that the average life span of an outdoor cat is almost half of an indoor cat.

My cats have never gotten out and are VERY afraid of the front door even opening.......I am very watchful and never go to bed with out making sure they are safe and snug indoors with me.

My cat is declawed but only her front are and like everyone else says she has no problems either at bringing home treats for mommy..lol I had her done when we were stationed up in WA and it wasn't that bad at all the vet in town was really good and price was right around $100 for it but of course this was 5 years ago. I do know how the surgery works and I don't regret doing it, esp since now I have Aaron. It was the best decission I made.

We thought about this for a long time when we got our kitten last Christmas. Alex was just one and a half and we didn't know how the cat would react to her or vice versa. We ended up NOT declawing because there are lots of outside cats in this neighborhood and we didn't want him to be defenseless. Plus, Alex needed to learn how to handle the kitten in a way that wouldn't make him want to scratch her eyes out. It has worked out well so far. Mr Kitty gets his nails clipped by me ever so often so he won't have razor sharp weapons but in our case, it was best. I have nieces who IF they had cats would have to have them declawed. There is no real threat from other outside cats where she and they have EB so the claws are a definite no way.

My cats growing up have always been declawed. If I ever get a cat(which is not likely due to dh's allergies)I would have that cat declawed too. I don't think I am inhumane or cruel for it. Like Chelle said..to each their own though, I would never tear another person apart over their decision to do it or not to do it(not saying anyone is doing that, just stating my opinion:yes:grin:)

to me it's cruel and abusive. look up how they do it it's actual amputation

hack your fingers off at the first joint...same thing as declawing cats. if you are worried about your furniture...you can get little silicone caps that glue onto their nails. they come in numerous colors, so it's kinda fun. my parents neighbor uses them quite effectively on her siameses.

I worked as a vet tech a few years ago and after assisting with one declawing I refused to help out with anymore of them. Declawing is bloody and painful and from what I had seen at the clinic, the cats were very traumatized afterwards. I'm not saying they didn't get over it and that they weren't fine after they went home, but while they were in our care, it was obvious they were in a great deal of distress and pain, even with giving them pain meds. The vet I worked with was fine with my decision to not assist and she made those appts for the days I didn't work.

I have two cats of my own and I would never have either of them declawed.

:lmao Can I list mine with yours? Then maybe I can get some furniture I actually like.

You sure can. Maybe we can do a wholesale lot and start the bidding at.99 cents with free shipping. I think it would work out nice.:lol

I don't agree with it...
My friend back home adopted a declawed cat and the poor baby could hardly walk. There wasn't a need to get our cats declawed they never do anything to our furniture anyways.
We considered it briefly when we didn't know what it was, when we asked our vet she said she rather not do it, and told us to just clip the cat's nails once every ten days.

I am, personally, against the procedure. I cannot justify amputating a portion of their paws for my convenience. Whether it is to prevent scratching of furniture or people there are other ways to approach the problem without resorting to amputation. Training (of the pet AND the people - a majority of the time cats are not scratching people, especially children, for no reason - many times they cat's warning signs PRIOR to resorting to scratching are being ignored by the human that ends up being scratched), use of soft paws, etc are all more preferable options, imo. Even the most guarded housecat has the chance of ending up outside - if that happens that cat NEEDS to have all possible defences available to them. The cat does not know that he/she no longer posseses claws - they will instinctually go to using their claws as a first line of defense and, if declawed, find themselves in a bad spot. Not only does declawing remove their ability to scratch in defense it also takes away their ability to climb and escape danger/attack. So, by declawing you actually take away two of their primary instinctual defenses.
It is telling, to me, that procedures such as declawing and cropping are becoming increasingly banned.

I don't see the need to declaw.

What's the point of having a pet if you're only going to snip away at their nature in order for them to suit your needs?
They're creatures - not dolls.

Well if you look at it that way then why spay and neuter? Nature gave animals the ablity to reproduce who are we to take that away. And before I get attacted I want to say I'm all for spaying and neutering but I just wanted to make a point to her.

It kills me when people keep talking about cats getting outdoors and getting in a fight. A cat can innocently walk through a puddle of anti-freeze lick it's paws and DIE.......QUICKLY! Also the majority of cats are actually killed by cars. I have seen SO many cats around here with collars on lying dead in the road and it breaks my heart. Cats may get into a fight, yes, but there are much worse and more COMMON things that can and do happen to beloved cats.

Here is ONE site among many for the argument of not letting cats outdoors. I am way more passionate about that, than I am over the treatment of declawed animals.

http://www.runway.net/b/moonmaid/in-or-out.html

I don't and won't do it. No "animal cruility" thing just that its a part of their body. Same reason I won't dock a dogs tail. Why put them in pain for no reason. You can train a cat not to destroy furniture

I think it is a personal decision..my mom's cat was declawed went outside and she could defend herself ..she had her back claws.

i agree w/ those who say cats can be trained not to claw. my grandma has 2 cats, both adoptees from the pound. she goes to fl every winter & leaves them at home. my uncle stops by her house daily to spend a few hours w/ them, & she's never come back to damaged furniture. they have a scratch pad that they use regularly, but not her furniture.

I am, personally, against the procedure. I cannot justify amputating a portion of their paws for my convenience. Whether it is to prevent scratching of furniture or people there are other ways to approach the problem without resorting to amputation. Training (of the pet AND the people - a majority of the time cats are not scratching people, especially children, for no reason - many times they cat's warning signs PRIOR to resorting to scratching are being ignored by the human that ends up being scratched), use of soft paws, etc are all more preferable options, imo. Even the most guarded housecat has the chance of ending up outside - if that happens that cat NEEDS to have all possible defences available to them. The cat does not know that he/she no longer posseses claws - they will instinctually go to using their claws as a first line of defense and, if declawed, find themselves in a bad spot. Not only does declawing remove their ability to scratch in defense it also takes away their ability to climb and escape danger/attack. So, by declawing you actually take away two of their primary instinctual defenses.
It is telling, to me, that procedures such as declawing and cropping are becoming increasingly banned.

I agree. I am teaching Breanna, Johnny, and eventually Evan to watch for signs the animals don't like what they are doing to them. Dora hates to be picked up but will let someone for just a couple minutes. After that she starts to wiggle. Then she'll growl. I'm not sure what is next for her since we have never seen what comes next for her. Rocky is really easy though. That dog has never even growled at any of us. I make sure the kids aren't poking and prodding at them.

When we got Rocky, from the same shelter we got Dora, they told us we weren't allowed to crop his ears. Just like if they found out if a cat had been declawed that they adopted out if a dog they adopted out had its ears cropped and they found out about it they could fine the people $500. It had never crossed our minds to have that done and never would.

hack your fingers off at the first joint...same thing as declawing cats. if you are worried about your furniture...you can get little silicone caps that glue onto their nails. they come in numerous colors, so it's kinda fun. my parents neighbor uses them quite effectively on her siameses.

:yes my friend has those for her cat and he doesn't really seem to care.... and he always has pretty nails :D

I wanted to post a few more thoughts about this-

we do not discuss spay/nueter this way--- why not? it is an elective surgery it removes part of their internal organs and makes it so that cannot reproduce- and it is done for the human benefit... more so than "over population" I got mine spayed because I didn't want to deal with the problems associated with it...

why is that considered humane and declawing not???

the minute they out law declawing will be the minute you see feline adoptions drop to almost nothing-

we only adopt we do not get them from breeders nor from the nice old lady down the street-
If I am legally unable to declaw than we will not adopt-
if I won't how many others in our country won't either?

I wanted to post a few more thoughts about this-

we do not discuss spay/nueter this way--- why not? it is an elective surgery it removes part of their internal organs and makes it so that cannot reproduce- and it is done for the human benefit... more so than "over population" I got mine spayed because I didn't want to deal with the problems associated with it...

why is that considered humane and declawing not???

the minute they out law declawing will be the minute you see feline adoptions drop to almost nothing-

we only adopt we do not get them from breeders nor from the nice old lady down the street-
If I am legally unable to declaw than we will not adopt-
if I won't how many others in our country won't either?

i can answer for me that the reason i got my male dog neutered was to help with his hyperactivity and in the event that he got out that he didn't hump and impregnate a female dog. spaying/neutering is elective but it is also not nearly as horrific and tragic in my eyes as chopping off part of the animals skeleton which is in fact what declawing is. why is it okay to take part of their skeleton off because you don't (general you) want to teach them to not scratch your stuff

I wanted to post a few more thoughts about this-

we do not discuss spay/nueter this way--- why not? it is an elective surgery it removes part of their internal organs and makes it so that cannot reproduce- and it is done for the human benefit... more so than "over population" I got mine spayed because I didn't want to deal with the problems associated with it...

why is that considered humane and declawing not???

the minute they out law declawing will be the minute you see feline adoptions drop to almost nothing-

we only adopt we do not get them from breeders nor from the nice old lady down the street-
If I am legally unable to declaw than we will not adopt-
if I won't how many others in our country won't either?

Let me tell you....Have you ever seen the surgery personally? do you want me to explain in detail how they rip out the bones (cause thats what nails are extensions of)...And I dont agree with you about the adoptions dropping, we can go weeks without seeing one cat thats been declawed.

No I don't agree with it. I think when there are alternates ( which there are... softpaws..) then you declaw

Well as a vet assistant who assisted on many surgeries I do not agree with the procedure. In fact the vets I worked for didnt either. The procedure isnt the nicest (yes it is easy) but its basically cutting your index finger off at the joint. Pain meds wererequired after this procedure at the office I worked in. I also do not agree because if something happens and the cat gets out they cannot defend themselves

Now that being said I can understand why some do. I just never would personally. Like I said I have assisted on the surgery and the like and just dont agree with it. If you are for it and do do it then please maske sure your kitty never gets outside!

I dunno it kinda ranks up there with debarking. And that isnt a pretty procedure at all. I understand why people do it but I never could. ESPECIALLY after seeing it first hand

The vet that we took our cats to did a different declaw procedure from the amputation. Basically, they removed the claws and scraped out the nail bed in a way that prevented the claws from ever growing back. The cats wouldn't have needed to be put under general anesthesia, just a local, and there were no incisions or amputation involved. If I had decided to declaw I would have definitely gone that route. Have you heard of that procedure before??

I think it's cruelty, just because of the procedure itself, and also the aftermath of it. Some cats have nerve damage their whole lives afterward. I would never do that just to keep from having furniture scratched up. My thought is if you care so much about your furniture, don't get a cat. Or a dog. Or a rabbit. Or kids.

I definitely took the fact that cats scratch furniture into account when I got my first cat, and it came down to the fact that I loved my cat more than my furniture and I knew I could train her not to scratch. Now I have four cats and all of them know what they can scratch and what they can't. Training them was not hard.

i agree w/ those who say cats can be trained not to claw. my grandma has 2 cats, both adoptees from the pound. she goes to fl every winter & leaves them at home. my uncle stops by her house daily to spend a few hours w/ them, & she's never come back to damaged furniture. they have a scratch pad that they use regularly, but not her furniture.

My cats have a small cat house with carpet and rope on it, and we have an ottoman that is old and covered with a slip cover that they know they are allowed to scratch. Otherwise, they keep away from the other furniture because we have trained them not to scratch it.

I personally don't think that declawing is ever necessary. There are SO many alternatives to declawing that are much easier, less expensive, and more humane than actually amputating part of every toe. It's like getting a kidney transplant just because you got a kidney infection, KWIM? I can see why it is illegal in so many countries now and I am surprised it isn't illegal here in the US. I don't think badly of anyone who does it because I do think that people who will pay that much money to get it done are doing what they deem to be in their families best interest. I just wish people wouldn't do it unless it was medically necessary.

I disagree with declawing... cats aren't the easiest to "train" (get them to use scratching posts, etc) but we've always managed with our cats.

I say no. I can't imagine doing that to a cat. It's their natural defense. I can't imagine a cat getting out of the house and getting lost and being out there w/no claws. :worried

Since we've been married we have one kitty named Sadie. She was 4 mos. old when we adopted her and from the very beginning if she started clawing at the capet we'd say "no" and (this may sound silly,) but "go do posty" (scratching post.) And she learned. She knows "no" also and it's almost like she's a dog in some ways! :hehe She's a sweetie and loves clawing her 2 posts we have for her. If we get another cat we'll do the same thing with her/him.

My cat is declawed all 4 in fact. He is NEVER allowed out.

My cat is declawed all 4 in fact. He is NEVER allowed out.

but that doesn't change the fact that he COULD get out, he could sneak out the door or something. not just your cat but cats in general. my grandma's cat fell out of the screen when the window was open once and luckily he was too petrified to streak off.

To me I think it's mean and cruel. But that is just me.

With our cats their claws get trimmed every week in the front only because they are indoor cats and like to sleep with Sylas at night so I dont want them too sharp around the baby.

I disagree with de-clawing cats. I have 2 of them, and I never even considered it. (And when I adopted them, the agency had me sign a contract that said I would never declaw them...it's pretty serious stuff). I trained my cats to stay off my furniture. I trim their claws regularly, and they are just fine.

Something I did not see listed (and if somebody mentioned it, I apologize for not giving credit)... declawing cats can actually affect how they use the litter box. Some cats that have been declawed actually stop digging, and poop or urinate on the floor.

If you are intent on doing it, I'd say speak to a few vets and find out exactly what is involved. But seriously, it isn't too hard to just go have their nails trimmed.

Just my humble opinion...

Off topic...

To me I think it's mean and cruel. But that is just me.

With our cats their claws get trimmed every week in the front only because they are indoor cats and like to sleep with Sylas at night so I dont want them too sharp around the baby.

Do you trim them yourself? If y ou do, how hard is it to do? I have been thinking about doing it to my cats.

:offtopic

I am thinking of getting my cats declawed. None of my past cats ever were, but they were indoor/outdoor. My husband's cat scratches PEOPLE... that is why I am considering it. I could care less about the couches, they're going to get ruined one way or another right? She has hurt my husband a few times, NOT on purpose of course - she's just a clumsy cat. But he has scars from her.

I worked at Veterinary Clinic where they declawed. There is another surgery that is much less harmful. In this one they only cut out the nail and leave the last digit. It is relatively new, and much less painful, invasive and traumatizing. The cats that had this procedure did a lot better then the ones who had the entire last digit taken. I will only take my cats to a vet who will do it this way.

I've tried the soft paws and the little brats rip them off within days of us putting them on.

my cat is declawed. the surgery didn't phase her one bit.
i dont think it is cruel at all. after the surgery she didn't have to take pain medicine and they said didn't need to play with the other cats (my room mate's cat) for a few days.
as soon as she got home she was running around like nothing ever happened.
they have update the way they are declawing cats- i dont think its as bad as it use to be.
ETA: i wanted to add my cat was declawed with a LASER.. its the new way

Well I wasn't going to declaw my cats but with the way they act and about to have a new baby come in the house I am getting them declawed. I know some people see it as a form of cruelty..but I have lived with cats my whole life and they have al been declawed...my cats are INSIDE cats they don't go outside..and frankly I am tired of my leather chair getting scratched

Ours is declawed in the front. I don't care if people think I'm cruel and inhumane for doing it, I did it and have been fine with that decision. Plus my cat still loves me long time.

I say no! I think its harmful and painful. It also can cause nerve damage. I think if you dont want your stuff clawed up I would use soft paws and train them not to claw at my furniture.

Every cat I have ever had has been declawed except for Pepe. cats CAN defend themselves when they are outside with their back claws. They can also get out of harms way by climbing with just their back claws. I do have one cat now who is not declawed only because in italy it is not allowed. He is good with not scratching us or our furniture. The only thing that sucks is that when the cats run on the hardwood floor, they scratch it.


To me it is a personal decision for what is best for your family. While it may be painful, the cats do not remeber it after a few days.

And I have never had one of my cats stop using the litter box correctly.

I am guessing that all who elect not to declaw their kitties because it is painful have not or will not circumcise their male children. If you read up on that procedure some physicians will use a local anaesthesia but it is not common.

Sorry for comparing the two, but my kitties were sedated during the declawing but poor son wasn't.

I'm wondering how many of the people who are against elective declawing are also against circumcision of baby boys? I think it's been pretty much proven that there is no medical need for circumcision, still it's done to more than half the baby boys born in the US. I have to wonder why some people are so against one but not against the other? They're both elective, they both remove a part of the body, they could both "technically" be called mutilation. I circumcised my boys so I'm not coming down on moms who did it at all, but I'm also not opposed to declawing a cat either. I guess I just fail to see how some elective surgeries are okay but some aren't.

I dunno, it just struck me as funny that someone said in a previous post that if you're concerned about furniture, you shouldn't have pets or kids :lol I guess if you have the desire to circumcise your boy so they can look like dad, you shouldn't have kids either :dunno

I am guessing that all who elect not to declaw their kitties because it is painful have not or will not circumcise their male children. If you read up on that procedure some physicians will use a local anaesthesia but it is not common.

Sorry for comparing the two, but my kitties were sedated during the declawing but poor son wasn't.

I didn't even see this before I posted. I should have just quoted you :lol

I'm wondering how many of the people who are against elective declawing are also against circumcision of baby boys? I think it's been pretty much proven that there is no medical need for circumcision, still it's done to more than half the baby boys born in the US. I have to wonder why some people are so against one but not against the other? They're both elective, they both remove a part of the body, they could both "technically" be called mutilation. I circumcised my boys so I'm not coming down on moms who did it at all, but I'm also not opposed to declawing a cat either. I guess I just fail to see how some elective surgeries are okay but some aren't.

I dunno, it just struck me as funny that someone said in a previous post that if you're concerned about furniture, you shouldn't have pets or kids :lol I guess if you have the desire to circumcise your boy so they can look like dad, you shouldn't have kids either :dunno

I posted my circumcised issue on the declaw part 2. Glad to know that I am not the only one who compared the two.

I am guessing that all who elect not to declaw their kitties because it is painful have not or will not circumcise their male children. If you read up on that procedure some physicians will use a local anaesthesia but it is not common.

Sorry for comparing the two, but my kitties were sedated during the declawing but poor son wasn't.

again, this is simply not true.

Nearly ALL peds use anesthetic. NOT using it is what is uncommon.

Either way, I declaw my cats and my son will be circumcised. End of story. (for me anyway :giggle)

I'm wondering how many of the people who are against elective declawing are also against circumcision of baby boys? I think it's been pretty much proven that there is no medical need for circumcision, still it's done to more than half the baby boys born in the US. I have to wonder why some people are so against one but not against the other? They're both elective, they both remove a part of the body, they could both "technically" be called mutilation. I circumcised my boys so I'm not coming down on moms who did it at all, but I'm also not opposed to declawing a cat either. I guess I just fail to see how some elective surgeries are okay but some aren't.

I dunno, it just struck me as funny that someone said in a previous post that if you're concerned about furniture, you shouldn't have pets or kids :lol I guess if you have the desire to circumcise your boy so they can look like dad, you shouldn't have kids either :dunno


Eh I can answer for me and only me

I elected to circumsize my son because thru research I did I felt the benefits were there. That it was "healthier" in some aspects with regards to less UTI's etc. (before I get jumped on PLEASE remember this is what I read and only MY own opinion..) Declawing doesnt benefit health. If it had some health benefits I would probably be more for it.

I posted my circumcised issue on the declaw part 2. Glad to know that I am not the only one who compared the two.

I'm wondering how many of the people who are against elective declawing are also against circumcision of baby boys? I think it's been pretty much proven that there is no medical need for circumcision, still it's done to more than half the baby boys born in the US. I have to wonder why some people are so against one but not against the other? They're both elective, they both remove a part of the body, they could both "technically" be called mutilation. I circumcised my boys so I'm not coming down on moms who did it at all, but I'm also not opposed to declawing a cat either. I guess I just fail to see how some elective surgeries are okay but some aren't.

I dunno, it just struck me as funny that someone said in a previous post that if you're concerned about furniture, you shouldn't have pets or kids :lol I guess if you have the desire to circumcise your boy so they can look like dad, you shouldn't have kids either :dunno

how funny. I was going to compare them, but I figured I would piss too many people off. :lmao I agree 100% though!

I am guessing that all who elect not to declaw their kitties because it is painful have not or will not circumcise their male children. If you read up on that procedure some physicians will use a local anaesthesia but it is not common.

Sorry for comparing the two, but my kitties were sedated during the declawing but poor son wasn't.

Like I already said, I would never declaw, and guess what... I would never circumcise. So, there ya go. I think they are both unnecessary.

I feel the same way about declawing, as I do about tail docking and ear cropping. I don't agree with any of these procedures. I will never have them done to any of my animals. My father has 5 cats, and none are declawed. They trained them to not claw at their furniture. And, they were all rescues.

ETA:and as for comparing to circumcision, my sons, if I have any, will not be circumcised. It's not necessary.

We are a hacking family. Our son is circumsized, our dog has his tail docked and his dew claws removed. :hehe

I should probably add that our dog had his tail docked and dew claws removed when we bought him from the breeder. ;)

My cats are declawed - front claws only.

I have an indoor cat, and he is NOT declawed. I actually signed a contract from his breeder saying I wouldnt.
But even if there were no contract i wouldnt. He was trained within 3 days not to scratch the furniture (unless there is no other option-I'd rather his scratch the couch than the carpet, and he knows that!). He is around babies and small children who chase him and I can say he has never pulled out the claws! It's not impossible to teach a cat to behave!

I dont understand why people declaw their cats. For the sake of the furniture? Um, then either train it (takes a week, even when youre gone most of the day!) or dont get a cat!!!

My aunt declawed her cat (in the south) and I thought it was cool at first. They'll still go through the motion of scratching, like an amputated person scratched his missing leg. Plus, I think cats who are declawed may spray more (whichis worse and harder to train out of).

We are a hacking family. Our son is circumsized, our dog has his tail docked and his dew claws removed. :hehe

I should probably add that our dog had his tail docked and few claws removed when we bought him from the breeder. ;)

Why was his tail docked?? Did the breeder do it/tell you why?

Why was his tail docked?? Did the breeder do it/tell you why?

The breed always has their tails docked.

I have an indoor cat, and he is NOT declawed. I actually signed a contract from his breeder saying I wouldnt.
But even if there were no contract i wouldnt. He was trained within 3 days not to scratch the furniture (unless there is no other option-I'd rather his scratch the couch than the carpet, and he knows that!). He is around babies and small children who chase him and I can say he has never pulled out the claws! It's not impossible to teach a cat to behave!

I dont understand why people declaw their cats. For the sake of the furniture? Um, then either train it (takes a week, even when youre gone most of the day!) or dont get a cat!!!

My aunt declawed her cat (in the south) and I thought it was cool at first. They'll still go through the motion of scratching, like an amputated person scratched his missing leg. Plus, I think cats who are declawed may spray more (whichis worse and harder to train out of).

My cats have been declawed since they were kittens - they have NEVER sprayed. They are also spayed and nuetered. Oh, and I got them from the pet rescue, NOT a breeder.

We are a hacking family. Our son is circumsized, our dog has his tail docked and his dew claws removed. :hehe

I should probably add that our dog had his tail docked and dew claws removed when we bought him from the breeder. ;)

:lol

I guess we are too. I don't have cats, but 2 out of my 3 dogs tails are docked, and my son is circumsized.

My cats have been declawed since they were kittens - they have NEVER sprayed. They are also spayed and nuetered. Oh, and I got them from the pet rescue, NOT a breeder.

Well, I was just speculating. The two cats I personally know who are declawed developed other "behavior problems."

I'm not sure why getting it from a breeder/rescue matters,
and I guess since it has been brought up spaying/neutering seems like a perfectly acceptable and humane procedure, so do vacs. I mean, I think cats should be able to have kittens, but there comes a point when you want some birthcontrol in your pets.

The breed always has their tails docked.

why? is there something wrong with their tails, or it's just the "look" of the breed?

why? is there something wrong with their tails, or it's just the "look" of the breed?

With my dogs, it was generally the breed standard to have their tails docked. Its becoming less common now with their breed, but it is still done because of their breed.

Wow this is an old thread.

Wow this is an old thread.

:confuzzle I didn't see it until today. I can't believe this is from August of last year though! :lol

why? is there something wrong with their tails, or it's just the "look" of the breed?

It's def. not the "look" as the show dogs have their tails. I'm sure it has to do with the fact that they are hunting dogs. I would love him with or without a tail but I think he's darn cute with his little nub!!! ;):D

Both my cats are DeClawed. They recoved fine. AND they were a bit older when i got them done(1 1/2 yrs old) The vet said it may take more time for them to heal then a kitten, but they did great. I would do it again with any cat i get. Worth it i think. BTW, i was vegan for 5 yrs. I know all about animal crulity, BELIEVE me. They're fine. I've seem the procedure, YES it is awful BUT they recover. The reason why i got them declawed was because they were injuring eachothers eyes. AND YES i did try those LAME ASS soft paws. My cats HATED them. They wouldn't even walk. Ugh.

LOL I saw it come up in the new posts and I was like when did I post that. I'm still for declawing my indoor cats. What can I say, I like gimpy animals...lol

I wanted to post a few more thoughts about this-

we do not discuss spay/nueter this way--- why not? it is an elective surgery it removes part of their internal organs and makes it so that cannot reproduce- and it is done for the human benefit... more so than "over population" I got mine spayed because I didn't want to deal with the problems associated with it...

why is that considered humane and declawing not???

the minute they out law declawing will be the minute you see feline adoptions drop to almost nothing-

we only adopt we do not get them from breeders nor from the nice old lady down the street-
If I am legally unable to declaw than we will not adopt-
if I won't how many others in our country won't either?

It's THAT important to you??? :wow
And I completely disagree that adoption would drop to zero. Are you kidding me?:lmao Where I am there is not one shelter who adopts a cat out without having the potential owner agree NOT to declaw, unless the cat comes to them already declawed. So legally, they are not allowed to be declawed. They still get adopted!

Off topic...

Do you trim them yourself? If you do, how hard is it to do? I have been thinking about doing it to my cats.

:offtopic

I trim him!! He's an indoor baby and scratches at his post, but I still need to trim every other week. I was nervous at first so I took him to the pet store and watched how she did it. Now I do it all by myself and for my other nervous friends! it's easy. If they get nervous talk to them a bit and give them a treat after. After the third trimming they will behave (unless you trimmed too short during one of those times) because they will know a treat is coming.

:confuzzle I didn't see it until today. I can't believe this is from August of last year though! :lol

Me neither! :lol oops

What I dont understand is WHY do people who let their cats outside declaw them? I mean, indoor cats dont really need to climb, and are faced with temptation to claw the furniture, but whats the point/mentality behind declawing a semi-outdoor cat?

My boyfriend's cat is very very old, and he needs his claws to get up on the couch to snugggle because his hind legs dont work well anymore. How do senior cats deal with being declawed? Just wondering.

What I dont understand is WHY do people who let their cats outside declaw them? I mean, indoor cats dont really need to climb, and are faced with temptation to claw the furniture, but whats the point/mentality behind declawing a semi-outdoor cat?

My boyfriend's cat is very very old, and he needs his claws to get up on the couch to snugggle because his hind legs dont work well anymore. How do senior cats deal with being declawed? Just wondering.

If you have your cat de-clawed I personally think it should NEVER be allowed outside!!!

If you have your cat de-clawed I personally think it should NEVER be allowed outside!!!

Me too! But some people say their cat still brings them treats. So they are obviously going out. And someone in the other thread said her neighbor lets her declawed cats out side and they all died from fights and stuff. So people do it.

*I* cant find any reason to do both at the same time(declaw and let outside), so I was just wondering the reasoning behind it for people who do do it.

I agree that declawed cats should never be allowed outdoors.

However statistically speaking a cat (ANY CAT claws or not) has it's lifespan cut almost in half from being allowed outdoors. Cars are the worst and when it comes to "cat vs car" claws are a moot factor:tired

I also STRONGLY believe that a declawed cat that gets out on a few ACCIDENTAL occasions has a better chance of living a MUCH longer lifespan of a clawed cat let out daily.

Some People seem to get SO hung up on the fact that a declawed cat "could" get into a fight if accidentally let out........yet they tend to forget that a car could smash ANY cat dead in seconds:tired

I guess I'm a horrible cat owner. Both my cats have declawed front paws and the both are indoor/outdoor cats. The declaw has NOT prohibited their ability to climb, hunt or defend themselves. They climb quite well. They hunt even better and they've both been in a couple scuffles that I'm sure the other cats have had their share of scratches inflicted. I have talked to my Vet about them going outside. She agrees that they have shown that they can take care of themselves and was actually quite amazed that they were such good hunters. They are both 7 years old and quite healthy. I understand the car issue - but where we live, the traffic is minor, so I don't really consider that an issue in my cats' case.

Me too! But some people say their cat still brings them treats. So they are obviously going out. And someone in the other thread said her neighbor lets her declawed cats out side and they all died from fights and stuff. So people do it.

*I* cant find any reason to do both at the same time(declaw and let outside), so I was just wondering the reasoning behind it for people who do do it.

I'm really not one that should post on cats being as though I can't stand them but I wouldn't let a cat w/out any claws outside.

we don't have a cat, but if by some miracle my husband convinced me to get one, it would be declawed. declawed and fixed. i would go into my reasons but so many other people have already stated them better than i could.

I guess I'm a horrible cat owner. Both my cats have declawed front paws and the both are indoor/outdoor cats. The declaw has NOT prohibited their ability to climb, hunt or defend themselves. They climb quite well. They hunt even better and they've both been in a couple scuffles that I'm sure the other cats have had their share of scratches inflicted. I have talked to my Vet about them going outside. She agrees that they have shown that they can take care of themselves and was actually quite amazed that they were such good hunters. They are both 7 years old and quite healthy. I understand the car issue - but where we live, the traffic is minor, so I don't really consider that an issue in my cats' case.

I wouldnt go off the bat and call you horrible, I was just wondering what initially lead you to do both.

When we first got the cats, my daughter was 5. I didn't want her getting scratched. They were kittens and recovered from the surgery quickly. I didn't let them outside at all. I did let them out on our screened in porch. One day, Scamp broke thru the screen.....Tori followed. They enjoy outside so much, I really can't take that away from them. They go to the door to go out, and scratch at the window to come in. Scamp even uses my dog's doggie door. They are very happy, healthy cats - and I love them like children.

Declawing is cruel and inhumane. I'd opt for soft claws (I think that's what they're called)

They come in all kinds of different colors.... so kitty can have pretty pink fingernails!!! :D

i just trim my cats nails, he knows the drill now so it doesn't take long at all. i wouldnt' ever declaw a cat of mine and i don't agree with it but i don't really have a problem with the people who do it :dunno

I tried many things before declawing my cat including trying to find him a loving home. He was scratching my 10 month old son in the face. After I felt I had run out of options I called and spoke with my vet about laser declawing. I did have it done just last week I would have preferred to not do it, but he is happy and I no longer have to worry about my son losing an eye. I wouldn't have done it the old school way.

My cat came to us declawed, I also have one that is not declawed. I prefer them declawed, It isn't any more inhumane than docking a dogs tail or ears.

Mine isnt declawed simply bc we dont want to put out the funds for it but if we could spare the extra chunk of change for it then yeah i would have her declawed. I really dont ever see her escaping outdoors as ive left our backdoor open while playing with ds in the backyard and she has not once ran outside or even stuck her head out far enough to sniff. Maybe mine is just weird haha.

NO WAY! I think it is cruel! If the cat gets out, they have no way to protect themselves! And I think it is expecially cruel to remove the back claws! How to the scratch an itch?

I think it's horrible. That's why they make soft claws. . . .

I think it is cruel and unnecessary. I would never never never have a cat declawed. There are other things you can do to remedy sharp claws to save furniture, scratches, etc. They have things you can put ON their claws that are super cheap and keeps them from being super sharp.

I dont think it is cruel for the fact of "not being able to defend themselves" but because of the actual procedure itself.

I cant imagine how painful it woudl be to have my fingers and toes cut off at the joints and I would never willingly subject an animal to that pain.


My feeling is this: If you can handle the fact that a cat might claw up your furniture on occasion or scratch you when playing, etc. then you shouldnt have cats. Find another pet.

It is Inhuman to declaw a cat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This one lady when I had my cat Frankie (he passed from Kidney dieases from the tainted food last year) told me I should get him declawed.... I flipped the F*** out on her when she said that then proceeded to tell me all hers were declawed.

I dispise it with a passion and think anyone that declaws their cats needs mental help!!!

My cat luna that we adopted 8 months ago doesn't have her front claws though. We don't know if she got declawed or if it was a birth thing. Our Vets believe it was from birth because her back claws dont go in.. But still... I HATE DECLAWING!!!!!!!

Well, add me to the cruel and inhumane group. I've got 2 cats who are declawed, but they NEVER go outside. When you get down to it, we did what was best for us, everyone has their own opinion and if it's different than mine, who cares? You don't have to live with my cats, I do. My cats actually get treated better than some people treat their own kids. We will never have human kids, so our cats are our babies. They still love mom and dad and want plenty of love.

As I said in the other thread I believe that it is inhumane. I didn't even know people did it until I came to the States since it is illegal in Germany and most other European countries. Same with docking and cropping dogs tails and ears

I dont mean this to be rude, but I am really amazed at all the people who defend the declawing by saying "but they never go outside" or "they can still defend themselves". It's like they just have NO regard for the fact that they are cutting their claws at the JOINTS ...cutting the tendons, everything. It would be like cutting all your toes off at the knuckle and then making you walk home from the doctors office once it was done.

I think it should be mandatory for anyone getting a cat declawed that they should have to be in the room and witness what happens, and see what happens when they wake up and cant walk and blood is squirting from thei rpaws as they try and take their first steps, etc. THEN say..."but it's all ok because they can STILL climb a tree if they need to.".

As I said in the other thread I believe that it is inhumane. I didn't even know people did it until I came to the States since it is illegal in Germany and most other European countries. Same with docking and cropping dogs tails and ears

Go Germany!

As I said in the other thread I believe that it is inhumane. I didn't even know people did it until I came to the States since it is illegal in Germany and most other European countries. Same with docking and cropping dogs tails and ears

That actually sounds really nice. some people were saying it's something about the breed that makes them crop tails and such. Is it the same for those breeds, or do people go elsewhere to get it done?

I'm not reading the last 13 pages...

IMO

Would you declaw your children because they scratched you?

Ah, I have PROOF that is not true! Both my kitties are declawed.....and they have No problem defending themselves. They also have no problem hunting and bringing us little 'gifts' of Birds, Rabbits, Moles, Squirrels, etc.

have you ever seen a declawed cat attempt to climb a tree? :no they can't do it. how do you propose they escape from a predator who's after them but unable to climb a tree? just... keep running?

my sisters cats are declawed and it does not hurt them but she is also REALLY REALLY protective and they do not go outside, they are also scared of the outside

yes, it DOES hurt them! and being scared of the outside is all the more reason to NOT declaw them.

I have been seriously thinking about it for one of my kitties because he is overly aggressive and uses his claws on stuff other then the furniture- me, my friends, my other cat, etc.

please don't. speak with your vet. there are such things as kitty tranquilizers (to an extent) and medicines. if it gets that bad, elect the help of a behavioralist. you're going to be spending a good amount on declawing, why not use it to benefit yourself AND the cat?

The vet that we took our cats to did a different declaw procedure from the amputation. Basically, they removed the claws and scraped out the nail bed in a way that prevented the claws from ever growing back. The cats wouldn't have needed to be put under general anesthesia, just a local, and there were no incisions or amputation involved. If I had decided to declaw I would have definitely gone that route. Have you heard of that procedure before??

removing the claws is literally yanking them out. it's a disgusting procedure to even think about, and like Kristie, i was a vet tech and assisted (once!) in a declaw. NEVER again, omg. yes, i am familiar with the procedure you're referring to, but the end result is still the same. there's also a laser declaw procedure, but i still don't advocate that.

and as for those comparing the alteration of cats to declawing: spaying/neutering is a GOOD THING. there are literally MILLIONS of homeless cats (and other animals, obviously) running around bc people are too stupid, irresponsible and lax when it comes to altering their pet. if everybody stopped breeding their cats ~bc they're cute~ and took notice of the rampant #s of homeless cats, it would do wonders for the homeless animal population in this country. there are proven health benefits to getting your dog/cat spayed/neutered. there are absolutely ZERO regarding declawing.

as someone mentioned, your kitty is not a doll in which you can choose which parts you want to keep and which parts you want to discard. cats have claws. if you don't want claws, i recommend either adopting a cat who's already been declawed or rethinking what type of animal you want.

not to mention, it's illegal in Great Britain, most of Europe, Germany and many other places.

I also want to mention that declawing a cat because they are aggresive and scrathcing people etc will do the exact opposite. "usually" they keep their aggresive tendincys and will start biting. I was bitten by many a cat at the clinic I worked at after declaws etc

as someone mentioned, your kitty is not a doll in which you can choose which parts you want to keep and which parts you want to discard. cats have claws. if you don't want claws, i recommend either adopting a cat who's already been declawed or rethinking what type of animal you want.

.

This is why I am looking to adopt a already declawed cat. I need it because of my kids but I refuse to do the actual procedure. So I figure I will give a home to an unwanted kitty

have you ever seen a declawed cat attempt to climb a tree? :no they can't do it. how do you propose they escape from a predator who's after them but unable to climb a tree? just... keep running?



yes, it DOES hurt them! and being scared of the outside is all the more reason to NOT declaw them.



please don't. speak with your vet. there are such things as kitty tranquilizers (to an extent) and medicines. if it gets that bad, elect the help of a behavioralist. you're going to be spending a good amount on declawing, why not use it to benefit yourself AND the cat?



removing the claws is literally yanking them out. it's a disgusting procedure to even think about, and like Kristie, i was a vet tech and assisted (once!) in a declaw. NEVER again, omg. yes, i am familiar with the procedure you're referring to, but the end result is still the same. there's also a laser declaw procedure, but i still don't advocate that.

and as for those comparing the alteration of cats to declawing: spaying/neutering is a GOOD THING. there are literally MILLIONS of homeless cats (and other animals, obviously) running around bc people are too stupid, irresponsible and lax when it comes to altering their pet. if everybody stopped breeding their cats ~bc they're cute~ and took notice of the rampant #s of homeless cats, it would do wonders for the homeless animal population in this country. there are proven health benefits to getting your dog/cat spayed/neutered. there are absolutely ZERO regarding declawing.

as someone mentioned, your kitty is not a doll in which you can choose which parts you want to keep and which parts you want to discard. cats have claws. if you don't want claws, i recommend either adopting a cat who's already been declawed or rethinking what type of animal you want.

not to mention, it's illegal in Great Britain, most of Europe, Germany and many other places.


People who adopt a declawed cat are still living (and actually seeking out the same benefits of) with the benefits of the procedure. They just don't have to do the dirty work........I'm not seeing much difference honestly in the compassion for the cat since you are seeking a cat with key missing parts.

So those people who seek out an already declawed cat get to have the benefits but none of the backlash:tired

That actually sounds really nice. some people were saying it's something about the breed that makes them crop tails and such. Is it the same for those breeds, or do people go elsewhere to get it done?

Doesn't matter what breed they are. Sure some people will find a vet who will dock a dog's tail and say it's for medical reasons but if he is found out he will have to pay fines and could possibly lose his practice etc. Same with the owner. And the dog will be taken away

This is why I am looking to adopt a already declawed cat. I need it because of my kids but I refuse to do the actual procedure. So I figure I will give a home to an unwanted kitty

Well, it's very good that you want to get a cat that has been abandoned, but I would like to point out that both kids and cats can be taught.
My nephew and niece moved in with us, and my cat had never been around kids. They are 5 and 1.5. at first the 5 year old was mean and the cat was cautious so he'd often put up his paw or hiss... even with the baby. He never pulled out his claws and it only took a week to teach the toddler, the kindergardner and the cat to treat each other nicely. He doesnt hiss and the kids know when to walk away. they say "bye bye Dylan!!" To let everyone know the cat needs "me time."

Good luck finding a new pet!

have you ever seen a declawed cat attempt to climb a tree? :no they can't do it. how do you propose they escape from a predator who's after them but unable to climb a tree? just... keep running?



Actually cats can still climb a tree if they are declawed. Max is declawed and he can climb as fast as pepe who is not declawed.
Max is only declawed in the front though,I dont think vets will not remove back claws anymore