Is Declawing of a Cat Cruel?

Question

I know many people think so. But, my fiance has two cats that are both declawed. Once we live to together, wouldn't it be an unfair advantage for my cat to the be only one with claws? She insists that the laser surgery is much more humane than the old method.

Also, I can't seem to be able to train my cat to stop scratching the furniture and carpet. There are numerous scratching posts in my house and I've tried spraying her with water. Nothing has worked yet.

Let my start by thanking all of you for your responses. It goes without saying that this remains a VERY controversial topic.

In light of all of this controversy and because much of the damage to my carpet and furniture is already done, I've decided to defer on this until the time when I actually move in with my future wife. But since she (the cat) is over 6 years old, I doubt that I will ever actually go through with it (the declawing). So, "Lucky" has lucked out and will keep her claws for now. In the mean time, I have gotten her a cardboard scratching post sprinkled with catnip and trimmed her claws...

However, I must say that I'm not quite convinced of how this is perceived as being so barbaric. First of all, I want to clarify that it is my understanding that the LASER surgery does NOT remove the first bone or digit that everyone keeps referring to. Also, why is it that you never hear anyone complaining about about removing a pet's reproductive organs? That seems WAY more cruel to me. ;) Just kidding...

But seriously, most surgery removes or replaces some kind of tissue. It seems to me, (as long as the cat is strictly an indoor pet) that the laser surgery probably would not significantly limit the cat's livelihood, create health problems, lower her life expectancy, or cause undo pain. If it allows these pets to find good homes, where they are loved and cared for and can peacefully co-exist with their human masters, isn't that a good thing? At any rate, it doesn't seem quite as cruel as some of the comments that were posted here as responses...

Correction: Contrary to what I said earlier, the laser surgery actually does involve removal the last digit on the cat's paw. However, on the cat it is much smaller than for humans, and not weight bearing.

http://www.geocities.com/declawing/

Answer 1

I used to think so but I now look at it a new way. There are so many animals without homes that are being hit by cars or starving to death, if someone will give a cat a nice home but needs to have the cat declawed, isn't that better than the alternative?

Answer 2

I used to work at a vet clinic, and seeing a cat declawed was enough for me to never be tempted to subject my own pets to that. Just watching it made my fingers hurt.
When a cat is declawed, the first joint of each toe is removed. There's no way that can't be painful.
As for the scratching, keeping the claws trimmed can help minimize the damage, both to the furniture and your other cats. If you don't know how to do this, most vet clinics will do it for free (or a minimal charge), or will teach you how to do it yourself.
There is a product called Soft Paws that is basically a soft press-on nail for cats. They fall off eventually, but can be replaced.
You can try putting strips of double-sided tape on things you don't want the cats scratching. They don't like sticky things on their feet. Usually once they catch on they'll start avoiding the places you put the tape and you can stop using it.
Also, there are cat repellent sprays you can get at most pet stores

Answer 3

Your cat is given medications and knocked out during the procedure.. have you ever had your wisdom teeth pulled??? very similar, yes the paws will be sensitive and a little sore for a few days after the surgery, but if it was Inhumane and cruel- it would not be done in a Vets office. I hope your cat is still young, they dont recommend it on cats over 2-3 years old. Listen to your vet though- and get their advice, they went to school to do this..... the moron on here who said "its like someone chopping off your fingers" is obviously uneducated about the issue. If your cat is an inside only cat and is tearing up furniture- I would definitely say, make that appointment with your vet. Follow ALL the instructions they give you to avoid an infection, and good luck!

Answer 4

I think it is ok, but I would say to keep the back claws in in case they ever do get out. We did that with my old cat and also with our two new kittens. And they all are (were) very well aware that they have back claws!! LOL I think the only concern would be your cat's age. They will recover quicker as kittens than as cats.

As a side note-if you choose to do it-keep an eye on them with the pain pills!! LOL My husband and I were convinced that the pain pills were catnip condensed!! LOL Our kittens were feeling NO pain WHAT-SO-EVER!! LOL Talk about the stunts they were pulling!! The problem is that then their paws were hurting...well...no duh...it had nothing to do with the declawing...it had to do with that they decided jumping off of stands 4-feet high was a good idea! LOL When they started looking at my husband like he was their drug dealer, we had to lessen the dosage!

In terms of for scratching, try catnip on the scratching posts? Also, if they aren't of different fabrics, try that... when we got our girls, they said that if carpet scratching posts don't work, to try the rope ones-or vice versa.

Good luck!

Answer 5

1 - I don't think it would be an unfair advantage for your cat to be the only one with claws
2 - I understand declawing's purposes... but I still hate to personally see it with our cats. They just are so ginger and all they do is sleep afterward.
3 - The initial surgery doesn't hurt... it's just like a human surgery.
4 - You think about it, if your cats claws are driving you insane, go for it. Your cat will feel fine anywhere from 12 - 48 hours after coming home. A little bit of pain = no more scratching furniture/people

Answer 6

Declawing is not cruel. You cannot compare it to getting your fingers cut off, because claws should be compared nails. It is done under anaesthesia. Would you rather give up your pet to have it put down or take away it's claws? Declawing a cat is like removing the finger bone on the end of a hand. But remember, the cat's end bone is pretty small and probably not of much use anyways, without claws.

Answer 7

Declawing your cat is not cruel if you have only the front claws done, because this way, with the back ones intact, if anything should happen and your cat got outside, she/he would be able to protect themselves at least. My cat, she is totally declawed, can never go outside. My dad had her done when she was young. She still tries to scratch some of the furniture. I think it must be a built in cat thing, honestly. I can, however, turn around and tell her to knock it off and she stops, so????????

Answer 8

Think of it this way. I love cats and one of the reason is because they are low maintenance. I work 12 -14 hours shifts. I don't have to worry about taking them out to potty, and I can leave food and fresh water without them eating it all up before I get home, and I still have a pet to come home to and to love. I had my cat de-clawed and neutered. If I was not allowed to do that, not only would he tear up my property, but I probably wouldn't of gotten him in the first place. With him de-clawed when he scratches furniture or so forth, he's only doing it because it probably feels good on his paws and he's not hurting anything. So in other words my pet is one less cat out in the world, unloved, or that may have to be put to sleep.

Answer 9

My mother and I had three cats. She got her two cats declawed and I didn't get mine declawed. When she got her cats declawed they were both at least a couple of years old. Their personalities changed a little bit and they were mad at her for awhile. They would come to me and not her. I've read numerous things saying that it is not painful for cats to be declawed. But, if you declaw your cat you should not let them outside anymore because they won't be able to protect themselves as well. And if your cat has claws then he has an advantage over the other cats if he is a bully (like my cat). And try to keep up the water spraying because it just might work. I just have to shake any bottle with liquid in it at my cat and he stops doing what hes doing and runs. I don't even have to squirt him anymore.

Answer 10

I had two declawed cats before, they are deceased now but I always felt keeping the back claws was a good idea in case they ever did get outdoors, then they can protect themselves. I have a 3 week old kitten now and a momma cat and am asking the same question with them. I dont think I will go that route of getting them declawed. In your case, it all depends on the cats with claws if they will ever use them on the ones that dont have them.

Answer 11

We lived in a rented apartment and had our cat declawed when she was quite young. It was uncomfortable for her for a little while, but it hasn't hurt her at all, and except for her flying act, trying to get the bandages off, it really didn't seem to bother her that much. You only declaw the front paws. Before we declawed her she had the whole wallpaper clawed up (she was a climber). But having declawed her she is definitely a house cat and we don't let her outside for her own safety. That doesn't seem to bother her either. I give her window ledges for fresh air and places to watch the world go by.