How many of you believe that declawing a cat is "inhumane"?

Question

I have 3 babies who all have their claws. My DH wants to get the newest one declawed because he has ripped parts of the carpet to shreds, and is absolutely a misreable beast when you try to cut his nails.

I am totally against it because I have heard that it it involves more than just taking the claw out, and it can be very painful.

By the way, all my babies are indoor only cats. All adopted from shelters, and the last one was found as a stray who we took in. That's enough though, three's a crowd!!!

Wow, so many good answers, and such a controversial subject. I'm putting this one to vote. (By the way, I'm still going to fight my DH on declawing him...no way would I do that.) But I think I'd like to see the community pick the best answer. So what if I don't get as many points.

Thanks again for your responses!!

Answer 1

cats survive fine without front claws. it is painful for a few days, but they bounce back quick. use shredded newspaper in the litter box for a few days.

People worry cats will be unprotected without claws, but they learn to wrap their front paws around their opponent/obstacle and rip at it with their back claws.... Actually much more damage is caused this way...

Answer 2

As I was growing up we always had cats. None of them were declawed. When I moved out on my own I got a kitten from the shelter. He would scratch on furniture but it was nothing too bad. When he was about 1yr old he went up to my 3 year old son and scratched him pretty bad on the face. My husband wanted to get the cat declawed. After talking to my vet who was a big supporter of declawing cats I decided to have my cat declawed. There was no problems he didn't even bleed afterwards. He is 9 years old now and I have not seen any problems with him. If anything I notice he bites (when playing) alot more than other cats I have
had.

I think it has to be a case by case basis.

Answer 3

It is very inhumane to declaw a cat. Even if they are indoor cats, there is always the possibility they can get outside. Then they would be defenseless. And many shelters ask potential owners to sign a statement promising to never declaw. To save your furniture and carpet, get a good scratching post covered with sisal or carpet. And some kitties like corrugated cardboard scratch pads. All of these are available at pet stores. I feel your pain (literally!) about clipping your baby's nails. I had a kitty that it took two people (one to hold and one to clip) to get the job done. Both of us ended up lacerated. This baby didn't care for scratching posts. But he was unusual. Most kitties really like them, especially the kind they can climb. Good Luck!

Answer 4

Well. that's like asking "how many of you believe de-nailing a human is inhumane?"

I'm against it. I understand the logic of declawing a cat, for safety reasons, of course, but I believe that people and animals should be left as they were born, unless the claws were harming the cat they belonged to themselves. The only time that declawing is acceptable, maybe, is if the cat got into an accident, where keeping the claws would be more painful than removing them.

Answer 5

Of my three cats, one is declawed in the front. I got him declawed and fixed at the same time. For both operations my vet used laser surgery and it is less harmful for them.

I do think it is inhumane as if he ever gets out in the wild he will not be able to defend himself. But he is an indoor cat. My other cats haven’t ruined anything and they have their front claws. Trying to cut them is a *****.

For my little guy, it was decided to get him declawed at the same times as fixed opposed to later if need be.

If your new one is ruining stuff and he is an indoor cat, it may be wise to get it done. Ask about laser surgery. I live in Canada so they must have that in the US too. They kept him overnight and he just slept a lot the next few days.

Answer 6

Don't do it. I mean, c'mon, I do think it is cruel. If the one is shredding carpet, buy a cat scratcher and put cat nip on it and trust me, the cats will love it and take it for a shredding.

Pullleeeeeezzz do not declaw the cat. If it gets out of the house, it will be defenseless against another cat AND visit the website below to learn more about what parts of a cat's paw are removed to declaw it.

Answer 7

I have 4 and all are front declawed.

As for what declawing is, it is removing the front bone/claw from the paw. The cat is put under for the entire procedure. Is it painful? Initially, yes, but not for long. Cats are usually fine within 24 hours and they are given pain meds at the vet to lower pain.

If your cat is destroying the house and won't let you cut his nails, you're in for a lot of vet nail trim bills or other problems. Indoor cats need their nails trimmed otherwise they can get painful and hurt himself and the other cats while playing. If they are indoor cats, they don't need claws for hunting (although mine still have no problem killing the mice that get in, even without front claws.)

Ultimately it's your decision. It's a debate whether or not it's cruel, even in the veterinary world. Although as a former kennel worker and owner of 4 cats, I can say I've never seen a cat have long term pain or problems from it, nor does it effect their lifestyles (as long as they live indoors).

Answer 8

This has become more and more controversial over the past few years. First let me say that I live with two cats, both of whom are declawed. They both got the surgery at the same time they were spayed and at a young age. Neither of them have exhibited any problems as a result of being declawed. They also, much to my dismay, love to go outside. One is quite proficient at climbing trees and enjoys her vantage point from a favorite branch. The other isn't interested in climbing trees but has brought home many a mole as a gift to me. (btw--both are door dashers and I do my best to cheat them out of the outdoor experience for their own safety, however other family members aren't quite as adept at it as I am).
Anyway, I have since seen the surgery done and it looks quite brutal. I equate it to a human having their fingers chopped off at the first knuckle. After years working in a shelter I have also seen cats come in with severely infected paws because of lack of proper post-surgery care.
Another colleague who is well-versed in working with rescued and shelter cats and kittens swears that declawing is one of the reasons cats stop using the litter box. She believes that even a few years after the surgery that cats experience if not pain, then extreme discomfort when dragging their paws through cat litter to bury their work. She says this because consistently, 9 out of 10 cats that have been surrendered at her shelter, by their owners, for not using the litter box are declawed cats.
There is another woman I know with just as much experience who believes that cats that are declawed are quicker to be adopted (which is true) and more likely to be kept inside, away from potential danger. She also says that they are less likely to be abandoned or surrendered by their owners and those adopted are more likely to be permanent adoptions.
So, to be honest, I like living with declawed cats. If however, I were to get another cat I'm uncertain that I would have it done again.
There are options to having a cat declawed that are quite successful. See the following websites for more info:

Answer 9

Instead of getting them declawed which will be very painful and will make them helpless if they get loose outside, you can get them Soft Claws. They are latex claw covers for cat so they can't scratch. You glue them onto their claws and they stay on for a couple of months and then you need to replace them. Also they come in a lot of colors so it will look like your cat has its nails painted. They are perfectly safe and the cat cat still retract its claws. I don't really know the website for it, but just google soft claws and you should find it.

Answer 10

I work at an animal hospital, and have watched a cat be declawed, really it really looks like they just take the claw out. my cat rippes up furniture so we are going to get her declawed as well. It does look painful for the cat, but if the cat hates having his claws clipped it may be the best option. Try just getting the front declawed, they shouldnt rip stuff up without the front ones.

Answer 11

Not only is it inhumane...it removes thier ability to defend theirselves! It is major surgery and can have complications. I've seen mangled declaws that required the leg to amputated because it got infected.

Get a claw tower or someother sort of clawing device. I have a tom that shreds the towers....I go through 1 a year at least....but the carpets are safer. Also when you catch your cat clawing the carpet..squirt it with a squirt bottle full of water....after awhile they usually quit. make sure it is on stream and not spray....