Isn't the anti-declawing of cats movement a little hypocritical?

Question

I'm trying to make the decision on this issue - declaw or not. People have been telling me not to declaw the cats because it involves a mutilation of the cat,s body (i.e. at least a portion of the last digit of the foot or toe). But the same people and groups that are up in arms about declawing are vigorously advocating that I have the cats spayed. Well, what is spaying if not a mutilation of the cat's body? The cat's ovaries and uterus are cut from its body and it's cervix is tied off. That's pretty mutilating. But the gain on the other end is you don't end up with a lot of unwanted kittens. The gain on the other end of the declawing is you don't end up with a ruined house and/or furniture. Seems like an arbitrary value judgment to say don't declaw but do spay. My cats never go out, so the self-defense issue is moot. Anyone care to chime in on this? I admit I'm leaning toward declaw based on the above reasons.

Answer 1

I'm an anti-declawer...and a pro-spayer. So...here are my reasonings on each.

Declawing does more harm than good. Yes, it saves your furniture. However the cat is losing much more than her claws. She is losing the opportunity to defend herself if she accidentally gets out. I know, you said that was moot, but it happens sometimes. She is also losing her traction. She's going to be in a lot of pain for a long time, and she is going to have to learn how to move and walk without her claws. She's going to have a difficult time scratching itches in certain areas.

There are other options to declawing. I am adding a link to a product called "Soft Paws" or "Soft Claws" to the source section. They are essentially little vinyl caps that you glue to your cat's claws to prevent damage to your furniture. You can also simply clip your cat's claws (as I do) every week or so, and that keeps them short enough that they don't feel the need to rip up your sofa. Simply keeping a good scratching post on hand is enough to prevent cats from damaging furniture.

As far as spaying goes...have you ever lived with an un-spayed cat? She gets very uncomfortable and unhappy when she goes into heat. The benefit of spaying for her isn't only the lack of kittens...it is the lack of that uncomfortable time. It sounds silly, but it's true. It also reduces her risk of all sorts of diseases. (Hard to get uterine cancer without a uterus!) There are many advantages to her health if she is spayed.

There is no other option for preventing litters of kittens. There is no kitty-birth control pill, and there aren't little kitty condoms.

People get "spayed" too. They have tubal ligations, vasectomies, hysterectomies. They TRIM their nails, however, when they get out of hand. They don't have surgery to remove from the first knuckle up.

Yes, you are right...both declawing and spaying are forms of mutilation. One is deemed necessary and one is deemed torturous. The main difference is that one benefits the cat, and the other benefits inanimate objects.

Answer 2

The fact that your cats are indoor is a moot point. You cannot say with all certainty that you'll be the owner of those cats til the day they die or that you can assure that they'll never ever get out of the house. Many many people have their cats declawed with the very same mentality and they end up on the streets or in a shelter and they are at a disadvantage. I volunteer at a shelter and possible 25% of the cats there are declawed. I bet none of their owners intended for them to wind up there - but they did. I have 4 cats with their claws and only one tries to claw the couch and I shoo him away. The couch is intact because I chose a fabric that would show damage less since I am a pet owner and must factor them into choices I make for the household. I have a cat tree and the others scratch on that with no problems. What would you do if you had a toddler on the house and where concerned about them sticking their finger in a light socket? Cut off their finger?

The difference between fixing a cat and declawing them is vast one. Fixing a cat not only keeps numbers down but it also reduces their chances of getting a reproductive cancer. Declawing a cat is for your benefit only. The surgery recovery time is far longer, far more painful for a declawing. It's just as unethical as "debarking" a dog, where their vocal cords are cut. Any vet who does these things should have their license revoked.

Answer 3

If you're going to think along those lines, then you may as well consider that the domestic cat was virtually created by man. That had it not been for man's 'self interest', then the cat would never have come to be what it is. That if man had not existed, the domestic cat breeds that we know and love today would not exist. The sphynx or the ragdoll did not occur naturally...all the breeds came to be because of selective breeding, because man identified qualities and deformities and then mix-and-matched. The cat was not naturally man's friend...it was brought into man's home because it got rid of rodents and other pests as a wild feline species. Now, after thousands of years, the domestic cat is what it is. Neutering and spaying improves the cat's health, so do some more real research before you go jumping on the animal-rights bandwagon and throwing words like 'hypocrisy' around just because it reinforces the feeling of self-righteousness to your otherwise meaningless day.

Answer 4

I would not recommened it unless it is laser surgery (which is more expensive but less painful) When vets. declaw they have to break all the knuckle bones in order to take the claw out. It is very harmful and painful for the cat. As for your cats never going outside, there is that 1 chance in 100 that they get out and then they wont be able to defend themselves.

Spaying/Neutering is completley different from declawing, its a 5-10 minute surgery that just snips something. No bones are broken and nothing will be mutilated. Declaw is a longer surgery with more anesthia and mutilation in the paws. Just think about it...Would you want all your fingers broke off?

Answer 5

I have a one-year old male cat who is not declawed. After adopting him from the local Humane Society, I decided that since he was already fixed, I would not put him under again to have him declawed. This was a hard choice because, like you, I was concerned about my home and property being destroyed, especially since I'm a renter. If you keep your cat's claws clipped, or even invest in "soft caps" which are little plastic covers that you glue onto their nails, then there isn't a need to declaw your cat. I even checked with the vet about the glue and was told that it was not harmful and that he recommended it as an alternative to declawing.
Before going to the expense and heart-ache of declawing your cat, try Soft Caps or try clipping him/her regularly. Also invest in a scratching post and teach your cat how to use it, so that he/she will not use furniture, bed, etc to scratch on.

Answer 6

Spaying a cat is not cruel, does not harm them and helps prevent unwanted kittens, where as declawing is very cruel, harms the cat a great deal and is usually done by people just worried about their furniture.
Another way you could maybe look at it is that women have hysterectomies all the time but they don't have part of their fingers chopped off.

Answer 7

It is not hypocritical at all. I will agree, though, that putting it as simply as "it's mutilation" trivializes the issue.

Cats have a natural need to scratch. Scratching vertical surfaces marks territory and provides a muscle workout for the shoulders and back. Declawing is done in an attempt to thwart this natural behavior and for the convenience of the person (at least in the vast majority of cases).

Yes, breeding is also a natural behavior. However, in non-domesticated animals, nature itself controls reproduction. Our pets live in a world of plenty and an unnatural environment. There are no controls to tell them that the time is not right for breeding. Spaying and neutering are done to control the number of births. This is a necessity in a time when millions are already killed because there are no homes for them. It is for the protection of life, not possessions.

Answer 8

I see what you're saying, but I don't think it's hypocritical. Look at it this way: Declawing keeps *a* cat from causing damage to an non-living, replaceable item and spaying/neutering keeps *many* cats from being 'damaged' (ie dumped, neglected, abused, inbred, etc) Also, declawing benefits the owner and spaying/neutering benefits us all. Besides, there's a difference between removing an unnecessary organ and removing bone. Is your cat scratching already or do you want to prevent it?

Answer 9

Personally I could live without my ovaries and other female organs but I'd have a hell of a time living with my fingertips gone!!!!

Some info on spaying..........

Spaying or Neutering Is Good for Your Pet

Spaying and neutering helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.
Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of health problems that can be very difficult or expensive to treat.
Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, particularly when your pet is spayed before her first estrous cycle.
Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate disease.

Spaying or Neutering Is Good for You

Spaying and neutering makes pets better, more affectionate companions.
Neutering cats makes them less likely to spray and mark territory.
Spaying a dog or cat eliminates her heat cycle. Estrus lasts an average of six to 12 days, often twice a year, in dogs and an average of six to seven days, three or more times a year, in cats. Females in heat can cry incessantly, show nervous behavior, and attract unwanted male animals.
Unsterilized animals often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than do those who have been spayed or neutered.
Spaying and neutering can make pets less likely to bite.
Neutering makes pets less likely to roam the neighborhood, run away, or get into fights.
Spaying and Neutering Are Good for the Community

Communities spend millions of dollars to control unwanted animals.
Irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem of dog bites and attacks.
Animal shelters are overburdened with surplus animals.
Stray pets and homeless animals get into trash containers, defecate in public areas or on private lawns, and frighten or anger people who have no understanding of their misery or needs.
Some stray animals also scare away or kill birds and wildlife.

An animal will heal from the surgery of spaying with no obvious signs or handicap. A declawed cat is mutilated for life as it paws are severed at what would be equivilent to your first knuckle.

Some info on declawing:

http://www.declawing.com/

If you read all that I have given you and still choose to declaw your cat then at least you have made an informed, educated decision based on the facts.

Answer 10

I don't particularly care for declawing. It is a matter of training. I have 3 cats and they all have claws. One is missing his front leg so it isn't a problem. The other 2 love the sissal rope & carpet scratch stand and the carpeted double-shelved stand with little hidey holes. These 2 have never clawed anything else - when 1 gets keyed up, he sometimes claws the carpet on the floor and gets a yell and a small spank.