What do think of declawing cats? Do you think its ok or not?

Question

I put this in the culture section becasue if you ever read anything about it, you would know, you wouldnt wonder why. I think its the MOST barbaric, horrif crime against humanity we do to animals.
that, and peirecing little girls ears when they scream and cry and SCREAM NO! but mothers do it anyway, becaues the MOTHERS want it, not the little girl!
THATS criminal {THATS child abuse.} I saw it last night, in the mall. I want THAT woman to get 3-5 for child abuse as her dauighter, age 1 1/2, sat and screamed! NO! and cried that she didnt wantherr ears peaireced! it was disgusting, oh and by the way, the mother and her sister were laughing...

Answer 1

I think it is cruel and inhumane. I don't care if the cat is an indoor cat. You can always get a special nail clipper to clip them down, or a file to smooth them.
The process that they use to declaw a cat would be like surgically removing to your first knuckle. On all five fingers on each hand. They have to put the cat under for this. Let's not forget issues like self-defense, you leave a pet totally vulnerable. I would never subject any animal to this barbaric treatment

Answer 2

When it comes to declawing cats, There can be reasons both for or against. Declawing a cat merely to spare your furniture is NOT a valid reason. If your furniture is that important to you, find a new home for your cat, and don't EVER have kids!!!

I would never say to anyone "you CAN'T do that to your pet/child" because, the simple fact is, it IS their pet/child, and they do have the choice to do anything they want to them, as long as they don't conflict with cruelty or abuse laws.

Declawing a cat is not necessarily cruelty to them, but it will remove any chance they have of defending themselves. My favourite vet in Newmarket, Ont. , for this reason will only declaw a cat's front paws. If an owner is persistent to declaw all four paws, she will tell them to find another vet. I am against declawing pets myself, and will do whatever I can to talk someone out of doing it, but there is nothing I can do to stop it.

As for your further comments to do with peircing a child's ears, I fully agree. This is cruelty to your children, even if you do it as an infant because (quote:)"they don't feel as much pain". This practice should be banned and any store who will willingly do this to a child should be closed. I feel that a child should not be allowed to have a piercing done, either until they reach a minimum age (say 12), or at least until they can legibly say "Yes, I would like my ears pierced." with ZERO prodding from the parent. The child should also be old enough and responsible enough to clean their own piercings and prevent infection themselves.

Now if only my ex could see this before she does this to MY daughter.....

Answer 3

I don't see a problem with declawing a cat. A cat scratch can be very dangerous even the tiniest ones. They are put under to remove the claws so they dont feel a thing. When they are awake they may experience discomfort (I"m sure) but it's only for a day or two. Ea. day it gets better.

I had to have my cat done because I had my mother move in with me because she was quite feeble. I had a cat, but she could be wild when she got to playing. Mom loved her but was in danger of having her thinned skin torn. In order to make it safe for her to handle I had her declawed.

Tho her feet looked sore, she didn't seem to notice. She was her maniac self when she got in the door. Because she has neverbeen out side I don't have to worry about her having to defend herself so I don't see a problem there. If there was a chance she wouldn't have been a total indoor cat I would never have had it done.

Answer 4

I used to be against it when I was younger. But then I grew up and realized that if your cat has the luxury of always having a nice warm bed in the house, never having to defend himself from other animals outside, always having food available and living twice as long as an outside cat, then the week or so of discomfort they feel after having their claws removed is worth it. All five of my cats have been declawed and they don't hate me for it. They never go outside and they look and feel a lot better than the hungry, skinny, sickly looking outside cats I see in the neighborhood or flattened in the street. Also, we can live comfortably together because they're not destroying my furniture. I think of it as a trade: everything they could possibly want for their entire lives in exchange for their claws.

Answer 5

There is no reason to ever declaw a cat. If you can't stand the idea of your precious furniture getting shredded, buy a scratching post or, better yet, don't get a cat.

I love The Blackest Cat so much I can't stand the idea of causing him needless pain or grief (it was bad enough watching him get implanted with his microchip.)

I agree with you completely.

ADDED: I can't believe some of you people. A percentage of you totally does not understand the fact that declawing involves the removal of a cat's toes at the first joint. It's not a manicure. It's brutal unneeded surgery.

Some of the rest of you have made references to "expensive drapes." I don't understand how you can compare the wellbeing of a piece of furniture to the wellbeing of a living, thinking, feeling creature.

Answer 6

If you have expensive furniture or draperies and you don't want them destroyed, it's ok to have your cat declawed. It's no different from clipping your nails.

If you have crappy furniture, let them keep their claws.

UPDATE: In response to an answerer who saw fit to e-mail me: It's not 'mutilation', that's just emotonally charged propagandistic talk and it means nothing. Declawing is a routine procedure that's been performed millions of times. My sofa cost me $1500. My leather chairs, $300 each. The decision was a no brainer. My furniture remains intact and my cat is happy and healthy without his claws.

The only exception I think would be if the cat stays outside. Outside cats needs their claws for defense. Inside cats have no use whatsoever for them other than to destroy property.

Answer 7

O.K, let's think of it this way! Why are baby boys circumsized when they are SUPPOSED to have a foreskin. I mean, they are born with it right?. So why should a cat be declawed. Surely, they would have been born without claws it that be the case. Declawing them is like taking away a part of it. How else are they going to destroy your favourite sleeper couch????

Answer 8

I was always against it but we have a chihauhau which that cat would have dissemboweled... so we got her Laser declawed which doesnt have the bleeding or ripping of the scalpel.. she was walking fine the same day and her personality hasnt changed one bit

Answer 9

No, it is cruel. If the cats get out, they cannot defend themselves. And, I have twin girls who don't have their ears pierced and probably won't until they can make the decision. Cats can't make the decision. I feel it is a cruel and mean thing to do to a cat.

Answer 10

I agree with you 100%!!! Declawing a cat is like castrating a man.