declawing a cat [Archive]

IwuvBunBuns72

10-20-04, 05:28 PM 10-20-04

My parents are wanting to declaw my kitten, but a couple months ago i heard on animal planet you should never declaw a cat because they need it for self defense. Is it good to get them declawed?
Also i recently fount out by a different vet that my kitten is a boy and have renamed it Bi

Soleil

10-20-04, 06:22 PM 10-20-04

First off, congrats on the cat!! 'Bi' is lucky to be in your home!

Second, DO NOT DECLAW YOUR CAT!!! Not only do cats need them for self defense (even inside cats get out sometimes!), but declawing is extremely cruel. The procedure literally takes of the first joint of their paws... It would be like you getting the first joint of EVERY finger sawed of. The cats are not able to walk on their feet afterwards due to the pain and bandages... Also, the care for the cat afterwards is extensive- restricting the cats movements, using alternative litter (if clay is used), having to deal with 'bad' litter box behaviour (some cats reject a change in litter)...
If your parents are worried about scratching the furniture- get a scratching post. You can use a spray bottle of water to squirt the cat when he tries to use the couch as a sharpening tool. You can also clip the nails (like you would a dog), or even purchase 'claw covers'.
Alot of vet's will charge an 'arm and a leg' to do this procedure as it is unneccesary and considered inhumane. One vet in our city charges $700/foot!!
Declawing should be considered a last resort- and if you reach that point then perhaps a cat is not the animal for you.
http://www.cfainc.org/health/declawing.html
http://www.felinesinc.org/adopt/declaw.html
It's your decision to make, but I HOPE that you will NOT DECLAW YOUR CAT!!

S.

IwuvBunBuns72

10-20-04, 06:59 PM 10-20-04

I wasnt going to i just wanted to have a second opinion to mine...his name is acually B I N X S like the cat in hocus pocus. The forum wont let me write his name together

tltrull

10-20-04, 07:21 PM 10-20-04

Yeah definitely dont, I did it once and could never do it again, I was stupid!!

Reilly122602

10-20-04, 09:09 PM 10-20-04

argh.. this is just going to start another huge fight.

IwuvBunBuns72

10-20-04, 10:12 PM 10-20-04

what do you mean this is going to start a fight? I just asked about declawing a cat. I was not going to do it. So what is the problem?

Reilly122602

10-20-04, 10:24 PM 10-20-04

Sorry, I wasn't directing that towards you. I am just saying I have seen this topic so many places, it ends up as a 200 replies fight. Everyone will have a different opinion.

erk75

10-21-04, 01:14 AM 10-21-04

what I see is everybody agrees in not declawing cats.
I think it's very cruel to declaw a cat, it's just like clipping a bird's wings: selfish & cruel. if someone doesn't want their sofa ripped out, they should get some other pets instead of cats. cats like to climb and keep fit by that activity, if they're not allowed to, they will grow fat, bored and miserable.

Tamizan

10-21-04, 08:32 AM 10-21-04

capping is more expesive, but a better idea

stephanie0122

10-21-04, 10:43 AM 10-21-04

If your cat is going to be going outside then i strongly recomment that you do not declaw your kitten. It is true that they need their claws for self defence as well as declawing is a very painful experience for the cat.
IF your parents are worried about things like the furniture getting scrated there are a number of things you can do about that. Let me know if you are interested.
Ultimately it is your decision and the cat will recover and live a normal life after the surgery. This procedure will not lead to any behaviour changes in your cat.
I myself am against this...i would not declaw my cats...however i undersatnd why this is some peoples only option.

IwuvBunBuns72

10-21-04, 03:23 PM 10-21-04

The kitten is just in my room for now and hasnt did any scratching damage so far. Just on my matress when he climbs up to sleep with me. I did not mean to start a bad topic i was just wondering since this is my first kitten and my parents said for me to declaw it, which i knew not to and said no because i am against that also. I have chose for my cat to not be an outside cat because a few years ago down the street two boys beat a cat with a stick until it died. I would love to hear any suggestions on not letting the cat ruin furniture.

brandy pup

10-22-04, 12:28 PM 10-22-04

Decalwing is a horrible practice that is banned in over 20 countries becuase it is cruel.

http://www.brandypup.com/Cats/declawing.html