I used to trim my cat’s claws. He didn’t mind as long as I caught him in a mellow mood. It helped some but oh, the damage he did to the apartment, which I’m having to pay off in installments…the claw covers would never have worked. He’d have had them off in two minutes. If THAT long.
There are different ways of declawing these days; one involves lasers, and only the claws are taken off, or so I’ve heard. It probably costs a bit but I’m sure there are people who will still object. And isn’t there a procedure where they just cut the tendon, so that the claws are still there but can’t be extended?
I’m of the opinion that declawing should be the last thing to consider, but if things have gotten to that point, go ahead. I would never declaw an indoor/outdoor cat…but that alone is a whole other debate, I realize.
At least declawing has a practical side to it, unlike the really painful and pointless procedures of docking dogs’ tails and cropping their ears.
My cat is declawed. She is not in pain. She “scratches” anywhere she damn well pleases and with gusto, including on her humans.
The whole “maiming and mutilating” bullshit comes from the rumor that some vets do the procedure with fingernail clippers. Or from the rare occasion when an infection occurs.
No matter what I would question the vet about technique before I had it done, but there is absolutely no reason not to declaw an indoor cat that is destroying property or attacking people/pets.
PETA folks, as all extremists, should be taken with a grain of salt.
The other day Daddy’s Little Angel (aka Insanity Girl) decided to demonstrate her jumping prowess. She’s a two and a half year old human. She decided to show me that she could jump over kitty. He’s an eight or so year old cat. He was asleep when she made the decision.
She made the jump, but she didn’t stick the landing. She was just fine until gravity kicked in and dumped her on her butt. Gravity dropped her right where kitty had been sleeping. Kitty would have been pretty much squashed (Babygirl weighs in at about 40 lbs) had he still been there.
He wasn’t there. He’d gotten the hell out of Dodge as soon as he sensed that something was moving fast around him.
Cats live in a strange and violent world. They seem to expect to be attacked every waking moment, and if you’re a critter that’s smaller than them they’d be glad to show you why this is a good way to live (or not). Sometimes they’re right. I don’t doubt that they can get used to the absence of the claws, the same way one of my previous cats got used to the absence of a tail or my current one did the absence of his naughty bits, but I do urge you to explore the alternatives.
Yes, I’d be willing to take the cats in, if that were an option. No, I’m not a PETA member, nor do I agree with their methods or their policies. And, thanks for providing all those facts and links to back convince me I’m wrong.
It’s nice to see I’m not the only one, here, who doesn’t think declawing is the only option.
My cat is declawed, and I don’t think she is aware of it. She was declawed very early, so never had a chance to use claws. I don’t think she knows what she is missing, and in fact has a scratching post that she uses. My apartment complex required it, which I didn’t find out until after I had moved in. (first apartment of my own and I didn’t think to ask.)
Look at your other options, but if it comes down to it, then use your best judgement. Do your own research, talk to your vet, talk to people who have had cats declawed.
I will warn you, I have heard from others that cats declawed at later ages become biters. I really don’t know if this is true.
These are not pro or anti declawing, just informative.
As to indoor/outdoor cats, I have seen declawed cats go outside and frankly terrorize and control the entire neighborhood, including bigger toms, and dogs. Of course, it depends on the cat.
Cats are extremely resilient creatures. We had a cat that got it’s foot caught in a trap. The choices were amputate or put him down. We went with amputate, and never regretted it. Tripod (which is what we called him afterwards) was still the same happy cat he always had been. He adjusted to a missing leg. Your cats will most likely adjust to no claws, if you end up declawing.
Since you can’t/won’t read, here are some pictures. If you have the courage of your convictions. Otherwise, feel free to continue wallowing in bull$hit and denial.
You know, I came into MPSIMS with this because I felt pretty bad about declawing my cats, and perhaps looking for a little advice on how to fix the stairs. I didn’t realize it was going to turn into a ridiculous semi-flame fest. Otherwise I would have put it in the Pit.
If I recall correctly, this is the MUNDANE POINTLESS THINGS I MUST SHARE forum. I understand now that this is a “hot topic” and maybe I should never have brought it up. Thanks a lot, to those of you who offered IN A POLITE WAY your alternative methods. I will definitely look into them.
I’m now going to ask a mod to close this thread, before it gets any worse.