Has anybody had a good experience with Declawing a Cat?

Question

While growing up, all my cats were declawed. I recently purchased my own kittens and am planning on having them declawed shortly. I think that it is a good idea for an indoor cat and I am tired of reading everybody's complaints about the procedure. Specifically:
1. Certainly it can be no more humane to have an animal spayed/neutered than declawed. An animals instincts to procreate are certainly on par with the instinct to climb. Regardless of what others have written, I have never seen any difference in the post-op pain from a spay/neuter versus a declaw.
2. Is it better to constantly reprimand your pet and keep them from their natural instincts of playing with you, climbing on furniture, and attacking the curtains? Wouldn't it be better to let your cat act out their natural instincts on a daily basis, without the damage to yourself, your friends, or your possessions?

I have never had anything less than a blissfully happy cats - and not one has had front claws.

Answer 1

Most cat owners (not me) freak out when you mention declawing. I have five cats, none of which are declawed, but I don't have any problem with it. I have had cats declawed in the past, and as long as you wait until their feet are full grown it never caused any problems.

Answer 2

I de-clawed my three cats years ago, and I wouldn't do it again unless it was a last resort. With those three, it was, because I rent. They'd shredded my sofa, loveseat and mattress (all mine) which I wasn't happy about, but when they started shredding the carpet in my apartment (not mine) it had to stop!!!
Please understand that it's a very painful procedure. It is basically cutting off the "fingers" at the top knuckle, and they don't tend to give cats really good pain meds. They recover well, provided there's no infection, but it's horribly painful to them at the onset. If you can correct behavior without declawing, it's much better. They can/will learn not to hurt you when playing. They CAN be taught not to claw furniture (those three were the first I ever had that caused damage to furniture, and I'd had cats all my life.) You also have to be incredibly careful about NEVER EVER letting them out because they have no defense whatsoever anymore including escaping up a tree. It's definitely more human to have them spayed/neutered than declawed!! Having done both, the spay/neuter recovery is very fast, while declawing recovery is quite a while -- and they have to WALK on those injuries!!!!
Is it better to reprimand constantly -- YES! If they can be taught not to be destructive, and most can, it's certainly better to do that. You have to consider the animal before your own convenience - always!! Would you chop off a childs fingers for destroying a possession? Only in a last-resort situation should you consider this -- as in, you're about to be evicted or have to get rid of the animal if you don't. I have another "batch" of kitties now, and I'm not having a scratching problem. They scratch where they're supposed to (scratching post, cardboard scratcher, rope scratcher, etc.) and leave the furniture alone -- so they absolutely CAN be taught. If they are truly too destructive and EVERYTHING ELSE has failed -- only then consider it. (And plan to take some time off from work if you do, because they'll need a lot of carrying and waiting on hand and foot during recouperation!!!)

Answer 3

As long as yours is an indoor cat, then declawing it may not be a bad option - provided it is a last option. Some cats are more resistant to training than others. Our own cat has a congenital eye defect (which we didn't find out until she was nearly 2 years old!) which makes her skittish at times (thanks to her poor vision) but it mostly caused her to attack shadows which she must have thought were bugs or rodents. The scratched up ankles made it difficult to have houseguests!

I have a problem with your comparison between the "humane-ness" of declawing versus spaying/neutering. Declawing, which is illegal in certain countries (UK{?}, Australia, to name but a few...) is an act of convenience for humans whereas spaying/neutering prevents the tragedy of unwanted kittens/puppies, often born in the wild and sometimes at the cost of the mother's life.
The cat's instinct to mate is governed by the reproductive organs which secrete hormones; ovaries in females and testicles in males. Both of these organs are removed during spaying/neutering, thus, the instinct to mate is also removed. The cat's instinct to mark its territory by clawing at things (an adjunct to ye ol' spraying) remains.

So, while we have had only good experiences with declawing a cat, be advised that others see it as a form of abuse. Do what you think is best and be especially careful with the comparisons and analogies you make in defending your position.

Answer 4

Having a cat spayed or neutered is nothing like having a cat declawed. I have two declawed cats, and if I had it to do over, I would have never done it. My cats went through nothing but a pure hell with it, and I wouldn't subject any animal to that kind of torture ever again, and that is exactly what it is. They have to break the ends of each one of their toes off in order to declas. They bleed when you bring them home, and in some cases, it changes the personality of the cat so much so that the cat will grow to hate you because of it. And to add unsult to injury, sometimes the claws grow back incorrectly and they have to go throught he surgery all over again. One of my cats had that problem, and the claws grew back and became imbedded in his paw pad, and they had to cut his pad open to get the claw out. he went through hell. And he also was allergic to the news paper I had to put in his litterbox, because you cannot use your litter for at least two weeks after declawing. What if the kitten gets out of the door past you? What would you do if another wild animal or a dog got a hold of your cat while it snuck out of the house and it couldn't protect itself? How would you feel about that? It would cost you more in the end with vet bills and possibly losing your cat in the process. I strongly urge you to reconsider. This is cruel ith a capital C.

Answer 5

There have been a couple of questions posted in the last week regarding declawing cats, one of them mine. Elizabeth, you have courage to post considering the replies most honest questions get on the subject get from the anti declaw folks.

Declawing cats is a polarizing issue among cat owners plain and simple. What bothers me most is that the anti declawing groups use outdated studies, massaged statistics, and outright propaganda to prove their point. I will site a single example, it is often said it is illegal to declaw cats in California. California law AB185 signed into law in 2003 forbids the declawing of wild and exotic cats not domestic felines. For a time it WAS illegal to declaw domestic cats in West Hollywood, that law was overturned by the courts February 1, 2006 in a suit brought by the California Veterinary Association. In short it is perfectly legal to declaw your basic house cat in California.

It comes down to this Elizabeth, if you want to declaw your cats, do so. Since it is serious orthopedic surgery make sure you select a good vet with an aggressive pain control program in the post op period. I've had five declawed cats with no problems what so ever. We are going to do our best to see our next cat is not declawed, however, that is our cat, our decision. You have your kitty, make the best decision for your cat and your home.

Answer 6

A cat's neutering/spaying is more humane than declawing. A cat is more likely to use its toes than its genitals anyway. When you declaw a cat, you're not removing merely the claws; you are removing the final bone in each digit.

The reason it is so inhumane is because there are ways to accomplish the task of declawing without actually removing parts of the cats' paws. The best example of this would be Soft Paws; they are coverings for nails that are easily applied. They prevent the cat from scratching and doing damage to friends, furniture, etc., while not removing parts of the hands.

Answer 7

I would never have my cat declawed. Claws are extremely important to a cat. If your cat is clawing furniture and other things simply squirt them with water. Most will learn quickly not to do it. If you insist on declawing your cat NEVER EVER let it roam outside. It will have little chance to defend itself or escape from predators. Like if a dog attacks your cat several swipes at the dog's snout may be enough to discourage the dog but without claws your cat's gonna be a goner.

Answer 8

I had two cats declawed and at the time I thought it was a good idea because they were indoor cats, little did I know how painful it was for them. I learned by watching the animal planet. If I had know then what I know now I would have never had it done.

Answer 9

As long as it is done very young, at the same time of spaying / neturing, at about 5 & 1/5 months old, it is fine, they bounce right back in about a week or so. They don't even miss them at that age, and the tissue and joints are soft enough at that age. I had no problems when I did this at this age, of course I only had the fronts removed. Those folks that came up with that idea, put that cover over the nails have to realize the nails retract in so that has to cause pain on the cats tissue underneath. I do agree with you totally.

Answer 10

I agree. My mom has worked in the veterinary field for over 20 years and gets her cats declawed. Why should your furniture be ruined if the cat has no need for the claws (as would be true in an indoor situation)? No amount of scratching posts will deter cats from ruining furniture with their claws.