I'm thinking about getting my cat de-clawed, some people tell me it's hard on my cat others tell me not to....

Question

tolouse (my cat) uses his claws all the time. and he can get seriously vicious with them. my question is. is it mean (inhumane) to get a cat declawed. i realize that they use their claws like fingers and what not. but i have more scratches and "battle wounds" on my arms and legs then i've ever had with a pet before in my life! the shelter i adopted him from asked me not to. but it's only getting worse as he gets older.
i'm constantly going back and forth trying to decide what i should do. i know it hurts some cats and others, it doesn't really faze them. i don't know what to do.
i guess i'm really just asking, if you have a cat is he/she declawed, i so why. or if no why not?

Answer 1

just do it but you leave him defensless against a cruel world.

Answer 2

ok here is the truth and you may not like my answer ... i would never recommend gettin a cat declawed. Although it may be better for you it is cruel to the animal. I had a cat declawed once and I will never do it again. Some animals may be just fine after but from personal experience i wouldn't. My cat for one looked horrible and miserable afterwards. Then completely changed.... he became mean and viscious and didn't want anyone near him. Before we had this done he was very playful. NO im not saying all cats react the same but this is a risk you take..... however they make nail covers try dr foster and smith...... they are lil plastic coverings you put on cats nails that cause their claws not to hurt you but keep them from being declawed. I have not tried these so you may ask around about how cats react to them but that is always a different less painful alternative that will also take away your battle scars.

Answer 3

It is an amputation of the first joint of the toe. Similiar to if we had our first joint amputated the one right below our finger nails.

However I look at it as keeping some cats out of shelters as one of the top reasons people drop off their cat is due to furniture/property destruction. There isn't a huge demand for cats from shelters.

And I know all of the arguments against it such as the owner needs to train the cat to use a scratching post and the owner should have thought of this before they got a cat and on and on.

But the bottom line is pretty simple, few people want a cat that destroys their home and the shelters only let them live so long before euthanization.

If declawing will keep your cat in your home for the rest of it's life then I have no problem with it.

Most cats do well but a few don't having personality change or refusing to use the litterbox.

Do what you need to do as far as this goes.

Also, it's not any more wrong than dogs getting their tails amputated and ears cut to be erect all for vanity sake. At least you have a real reason for wanting this to be done, destruction and your personal safety and it isn't a cosmetic surgery.

Answer 4

I would not recommend declawing him at this time. If he is scratching you, his aggression will turn into biting instead. I tend to keep my cats' claws trimmed which can be difficult to do but the one I use a towel around her and my arm while I am holding her.
I have several climbing and scratching posts in my apartment. As a result, I don't even have scratch marks on my furniture.

If you have a vet explain to you what occurs during declawing, it may help you in your decision.
I will be honest, I used to do it as soon as I got a cat many years ago. When I was told later about how it is done, I will never do it again and found that these alternatives have worked with me so far (been a few years now)

good luck
Vic

Answer 5

Don't declaw, it's animal abuse. I live in a country where it is illegal and I can't understand a country like the US allows it, or any pet owner who knows what it does could even consider it.
It often hurts the cats, may be weeks or months before they can walk semi-normal again, but even if it heals soon there is a great risk of other problems. Many declawed cats start biting instead. Many declawed cats stop using the litterbox (because it hurts them to scrape in the litter). Many declawed cats who heal fine at first get problems when they get older because their entire gait changes, they'll get arthritis or other health problems.... or they'll get weird and painful growths where their nails used to be.

Answer 6

When you declaw a cat you will be adding more problems and issues. This cat has been through enough already and traumatizing and putting it through more unneccessary pain is not the answer. This cat needs lots of patience and TLC to overcome the stress. Try Feliway to help reduce the stress.
MOST declawed cats bite which is worse than scratching. Ask any doctor they will tell you that it could cause you to go through surgery, etc...

Answer 7

There is a reason declawing is illegal some places in the US and most places in Europe and Great Britain - it is cruel and inhumane. Yes, the cat suffers - declawing is the same as having a finger cut off, not just a nail. The alternative is to keep claws trimmed and/or use Softclaw covers. A cat can also learn not to use its claws in play. When this happens, yell loudly and stop playing, completely. Also, do not provoke the kind of play that encourages the use of claws. It will take time, but persistence works. Declawing is extremely painful to a cat and does leave them defenseless. They also need the use of their claws to help with balance and jumping/climbing. Please consider your options carefully and lovingly, for the benefit of both you and your cat. I have had cats declawed in the past, but after doing the research, will never do it again.

Answer 8

As a volunteer in shelters for many years I have seen many declawed cats surrendered because they become biters or do not use their litterboxes. Those are possible consequences that the vet does not alert you to when he does this surgery. Declawing also affects the cat's "gait" and puts a strain on the wrong muscles he needs to walk properly and can lead to arthritis in his joints.

It is something I would NEVER subject a cat to and since your cat is not a kitten I would definitely hesitate to do it.

Though declawing is not illegal in the US the national association of veterinarians (don't know the formal name) adopted guidelines for vets supporting thoroughly counseling the owner of the cat about the possible long-term consequences of declawing and about training options to help the cat improve his behavior.

Most shelters do not approve of having their "adoptees" declawed and if it is a serious problem for you and one which does not improve with training you should return the cat to the shelter where you adopted him.

Answer 9

I'm not a fan of declawing - I wouldn't want my fingernails taken out, even if you did it under anaesthetic!

I think you need to try to understand why your cat is scratching you.

Shelter cats have often been badly treated & it can take time to develop trust.

When you approach your cat, move quietly without any sudden or jerky movements, but try to make sure he knows you're coming. If you pet him while he sleeps, or sneek up on him, he's going to defend himself.

You also need to promote positive play. Playing with your cat is very important for developing your relationship & cats need to be entertained. Cats can get quite grumpy when they're bored. BUT, the minute he starts to get overexcited you need to stop playing. He'll soon get the message that he has to play nicely.

Make sure that Tolouse has a place he can call his own. A box under the stairs or a cushion in a quite place. He may be feeling threatened by lack of his own territory.

Neutering him may also calm him down a bit, but as he's a shelter cat, I expect he's already been done.

Best of luck.x

Answer 10

I sympathize with your decision process. I was in the same situation a few years ago with FOUR cats. They clawed and scratched everything including each other.
I know how the surgery is done and it gave me shivers to think that I would ever consider having it done. But a particularly nasty scratch from one of my cats that resulted in 'cat scratch fever' solved the problem for me.
After visiting the hospital for the appropriate and very expensive treatment, I called their vet.
I was amazed at their recovery. Except for a couple of sliding incidents, none of them seemed to notice that the claws had been removed. Within three days they were running and jumping as if nothing had happened. Go for it!
A few suggestions though. Ask your vet to administer a pain killer that they use which distracts the animal from the tender toes. It keeps them from licking and picking at their feet. Secondly get a supply of 'yesterday's news', it's a litter made from old newspaper and easier to clean than shredded paper. You only need enough for about a week, after that they can return to their old litter. Lastly, make certain that your cat is an indoor cat because no claws means no protection. Don't let him out. Also if you haven't had him neutered yet, this is a good time.

Answer 11

My cats are declawed for the simple reason my cat Moose thought my eye was a toy and they are inside cats. For some stupid reason, I thought they just removed the claw and it's housing (for lack of what the term is); when in actuality they amputate at the first knuckle of each little toe. OUCH!

If you can do it, or afford to have it done, keep his claws trimmed and buy those rubber caps that fit onto the claw.

Be aware that once they are declawed, they normally learn to bite and bite hard.