WHAT'S ALL THIS about de-clawing?!!!???

Question

I HAVE READ MANY MENTIONS OF THIS BARBARIC PRACTICE IN YAHOO ANSWERS OVER THE LAST WEEK...
Some cat owners seem to find it completely normal... My God! How would you like to be scalped or have your nails removed!? Oh, under general anaesthetic, of course...

Answer 1

Ok I've read a couple of answers now saying "it doesn't hurt", "my cat doesn't feel it". What a load of bo**ocks! If you don't want a cat to claw your furniture, buy a hamster. Oh but wait, what if the hamster chews the settee, I know, lets get it's teeth ripped out!

De-clawing is a disgusting practice (seems to be more popular in the USA than here in the UK - I doubt many vets here would even carry out the procedure).

Have you ever torn a nail? Hurts doesn't it. Those who declaw their cats deserve to have their nails ripped out with pliers.

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Answer 2

It's a personal choice same as docking dogs tails. I personally don't agree with docking tails, it's senseless and only for looks. Some cats do need to be declawed in order to have a happy home. I had both of my cats declawed. My oldest cat we tried everything to stop her from attacking and destroying things but nothing worked. After my husband's third set of stitches, and I got pregnant, it was time. We knew we couldn't get rid of her because straight up from the Humane Society, she was not adoptable. (she was a rescue) Since having her declawed, she has become a very lovey lap cat and seems much happier. And by the way we had her for 4 years before coming to that decision! Our last cat was very into destroying so we made the same choice. However, since having him done, I'll NEVER do it again. The first cat was fine after surgery and didn't have any issues at all. This last time, the cat has problems with bleeding, they didn't close the wounds like they said they would, it was horrible. Had I know it could be like that, I wouldn't have done it. However, I still couldn't sit and judge someone else not just because I have done it but because it's not my place to judge someone else for declawing.

Answer 3

i wouldn't do it personally, but i had a cat growing up that my parents de-clawed, she seemed depressed for about 2 weeks over it, but she had a very happy and full life through the end. as long as you are not letting your cat outside, being declawed, i dont see where the problem is. of course, some organizations that host adoptions will not allow you to adopt their cats if you have plans to declaw. i dont blame them. i have 2 cats, and i have no intention of ever declawing them. i think it's a personal choice. yes, the cat will be sore afterwards, but it's like getting them fixed. i understand there are health benifits of getting it done, but that hurts them too, so do alot of things that we do. it's all for the common good of the cat. declaw the cat, so when it swipes at your newborn or something, you wont have to throw it out on the streets or it end up in a pound. just my 2 cents..

Answer 4

I am one of the owners that has declawed cat's and the reasons vary differently...no it is not because of a stupid thing like worrying about having the couches or carpeting tore up. We own 4 cat's and the first one we had to make that decision on which we didn't like was David, He was rough housing with the other cat's and they had wounds because of it. The other one, Tiger, was continuously scratching us...we didn't declaw her for a couple years but the morning I woke up from sleeping on the couch she literally bounded down the couch and landed on my face gouging it. The third one, Nemo was declawed because he is polydextorous, and with him having so many toes on one paw, his nails were digging into the pads of his feet causing more pain to him than a declaw ever would one of them got infected because of it. And our 4th one Gabby, was never declawed because she has never given us a reason to, she doesn't claw on any of us doesnt have any problem's. Some people declaw their cat's for many different reason's mainly for the wrong one's caring mostly about material thing's. But the only reason for declawing a cat should be a pressing reason one that stares you in the face every day, either you or other cat's are getting clawed up or the cat has issues with their claws that is a mess up of nature.

Answer 5

I know its awful! Cats scratch and climb and knead with their claws - any loving cat owner would know all this was natural behaviour. Its incrediably selfish to take a cats claws out. It reflects the persons attitude towards the cat - saying that it is an object to beautify their home rather than another living creature to admire respect and care for.
Humans are just full of abuse aren't they.

Answer 6

i had to have my toenails permanantly removed. It's not near as bad a surgery as declawing (declawing involves amputating part of kitties toes). I still have pain after 5 years. Almost all amputees will tell you they have occasional pain. Kitties are no different. It should be outlawed in the US as it is in most other countries. A person who would mutilate a pet for the sake of an expensive sofa should just keep sofas and not pets.

Answer 7

I know...

It is horrible...

I mean its like losing the tips of your FINGERS... all to save a little wear and tear on some sofa because people are too lazy to train thier cats properly...

I wish I would have known when I was a little kid, we had our cat declawed (back in the early 80s), and when I found out what they really did I felt so bad and guilty. I still do really.

Answer 8

Well I see where you coming from but some people do do it to there cats for a reason because they might have things they dont want ruined and maybe the cat is just a monkey and their tired of it i mean some people pay 100 etra just to make sure they cat wwont be in pain there really might be good reason i have a kitten that LOVES to climb currtins and no matter what u do shell still do it and she climbs up peoples legs also if i really have to only if it gets way out of hand then maybe but i would pay 100 Extra to make sure my baby girl isnt in pain well Um just wanted to tell u my opinon but i really do see where u are coming from okay well Bye

Answer 9

Keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of people and cats on Yahoo! Answers are American. As with a lot of things, it doesn't matter much that the rest of the world considers it shameful.

Answer 10

its really all a personal choice but i will tell you that many many many cats are still alive today because vets will allow declawing. there are alot of people out there that would euthanize if they could not declaw and dont jump on me about this im just telling as it is. for an older cat yes it is quite cruel but kittens dont even notice it. they are playing with toys and trying to run around the moment they wake up. remember, you can die or have serious health problems from a cat scratch, even a cat who didn't mean to scratch, many parents would be worried about this and its either declaw or a shelter-some times also known as a death sentence....