Is it better to leave a cat's claws alone?

Question

We adopted Snowball a week ago.He is 9 weeks old,and my first cat ever.I have heard that de-clawing is basically amputation.What is your opinion of this common procedure?By the way--at 5 months I will have him neutered,but I am not ever going to have him de-clawed,even though he is an indoor kitty.

Answer 1

Declawing is mutilation plain and simple. Cats often resort to biting because declawing is removing their primary defense. Also the pain the kitty endures wich never goes away is horrible. Look at all these sites and spread the word. Educate dont Amputate.

Answer 2

There are several things that a cat needs to be happy with a human. Food of course is the first, then a scratching post or a scratching pad. A cat must have a place to scratch for two reasons, 1) relieve frustration, and 2) remove the dead sheath of the claw as new cells grow. The best and cheapest is the back of a piece of carpeting or a rubber tile. Scratching posts are great, but they are more expensive. Since the cat is young you can train him to use the scratch pad. Just rub his paws on the tile in a scratching motion. If he reaches for anything else, quickly take him to the scratching post or tile. The cat will learn very quickly. All of mine have. It would help, especially if you have several rooms in your home, to have scratch pads in various places so that they are available when he gets the urge. Cats like humans come with certain things. Humans have fingers and cats have claws. Declawing a cat would be like snipping off the first joint of evry finger. Basically, you are leaving the cat a cripple. If a human were to have his fingers lopped of for stealing, let's say, it would be considered inhuman and cruel. To lop off the 'fingers' of a cat would be equally cruel and inhuman. Cats are smart and will learn. It takes a little time but we as humans have a duty to take the time to teach them.
Incidentally, declawing is banned in most countries as cruel an inhumane. Why it's still permitted in the US, boggles the mind.

Answer 3

i cant believe this can be common somewhere, i believe it is illegal here. Is it really legal in your country? now matter that u do it painlessly in narcosis, the fact is that the sharp retractable claws are important functional part of the cat. a cat will never feel complete without them. Some people also clip the claws to make them blunt - then the cat knows and remembers well that the person handicapped the cat physically. I would compared to somebody panlessly, with all medical attention possible SMASHED ALL YOUR TEETH. It is very good of u that u state that u will never do it and that u opened it for discussion so that the uninformed see. People who want a declawed cat do not want a cat - they can always get a bunny

Answer 4

I have lived with cats when I was younger & we never declawed them. I currently have a cat, she's not declawed. I don't believe in it. Although she's an indoor cat, you NEVER know if or when she could escape from a door left open for a few seconds or longer. A friend of our family had an indoor cat and he accidentally escape out the door. He ran off and ended up getting chased by a dog. He tried to run up a tree, but was unable to do it fast enough because he didn't have those front claws of his! The dog killed him. Poor thing. I vowed never to have my cats claws taken out. It's also a painful procedure for the cat if they are physcially removed. The less painful, more expensive way is to have them lasered out. It's up to you, but I would keep what I said in mind. You just never know.

Answer 5

If you've already decided not to have him de-clawed, then it sounds like you're looking for validation, which others have offered here. When I got my cat, she came spayed/neutered and front-declawed, and she doesn't seem to mind it one bit. In fact, she still seems to think she has claws, as she paws on furniture like she was scratching it. She's entirely an indoor cat, so the claws aren't necessary for defense.

Answer 6

Years ago I had my cat's claws removed, but was regretful when I saw how drastic it was. She returned from the vet with obviously painful paws. Afterwards she forgave me, but I never forgave myself for putting her through that experience.
I read in the Orlando Sentinel about a family Soft Paws (claw covers) with their cat. They are recommended only for indoor cats and last about six weeks. The family said, that their cat "doesn't seem to mind them at all. He can still scratch, but the damage has stopped."
If you don't want your furniture destroyed by chronic clawing and don't want to give away your cat, this looks like a win-win for the person and the animal sharing a home.
You can find the product at Amazon.com. Just put in Soft Paws and search.

Answer 7

If you can leave the claws, by all means try to. And get him stuff to scratch on besides the furniture: I used to have a cat who LOVED those little pieces of carpet that are sometimes used in cars.

However, he was the only cat I had that wouldn't scratch furniture. The rest I had to declaw in the front to save my couch. I got that done when I took them in for neutering and spaying.

Answer 8

depends, if the cat is an indoor or outdoor cat.

If the cat has the tendency to go outside then yest it iscruel to de-claw all four paws...he/she will be defenseless


However if it is strictly, and I do mean strictly indoor cat, then its okay to declaw the two front paws. the hind paws are generally for grooming and self care. This prevents Snowball from ruining the furniture and uphosltery

Answer 9

Kudos to you!!! I would never declaw my babies. It's mutilation, it's barbaric, it's inhumane and its selfish! Paws come with claws. Cats need their claws for defense, to climb, to stretch their spines, to hunt, to clean themselves. I compare declawing a cat to a human losing their thumbs. You'd feel pretty helpless and frustrated. It might even make you bitter and irritable. Declawed cats often develop behavioral problems, not to mention physical ones.

You kitten is nice and young. Get him used to having his paws touched. Learn the proper way to trim his claws and start him early so he doesn't mind it later on. Provide him with a place where he can scratch, stretch and sharpen his claws freely. A nice tall scratching post with perches is best. Cats love them and they prefer to scratch on a nice sisal rope scratching post than your sofa anyway. I've had 18 cats in my lifetime, all with claws and no furniture damage whatsoever.

Best wishes for you and your new kitty. I wish you both a long and happy life together.

Answer 10

It's nice to have a cat that is de-clawed, but it is cruel.

You're right, basically it is amputation---they don't just take off the claw, they actually amputate part of the toe, from what I understand.

And, it's just not natural---cats are born with claws. De-clawing is just for our convenience and comfort.

Don't do it!