Declawing a cat and circumcising a person?

Question

I'd like to hear peoples opinions on this.

Declawing a cat when it is young for an indoor life is no different or more cruel than circumcising a male baby. I was circumcized, and have absolutely no recollection of it whatsoever and am glad I was. The cats are fully anesthetized and will feel nothing. It is fine to do it to a youngster.
(oh and if anyone here wants to say that circumcision happens immediately after birth... I have a friend that was circumsized when he was 20).

Additionally, many apartment complexes and rentals do not allow cats that have not been declawed. So not declawing your cat may limit your rental opportunities in the future.

basically, I'm saying it is not mean or cruel to have a cat declawed.

It is NOT illegal in the civilized world for a landlord not to allow a cat wiht claws. It isn't a form of discrimination and is a legal clause for a rental agreement.

It IS illegal to let a cat roam outdoors here, however (in most major cities and townships), so ALL cats should be indoor cats.

A responsible cat owner NEVER lets their cat outdoors.

I'm sure I felt pain when I was circumsized.. but it isn't something that did severe damage to me in the long run.

Ok.. so the castration comment.. you suggest neutering a cat is mean and nasty?... I think not having a cat fixed is the true sign of an irresponsible pet owner.

Answer 1

If you make the decision to declaw your cat, then you are making the decision to make them an INOOR ONLY cat ( which cats should be anyhow ). It is not cruel or inhumane to declaw your cat, it is no more painful for the cat then getting it fixed, yet people don't go yelling that getting them fixed is inhumane.

Many people will tell you that you can train a cat to not scratch, and that just isn't true... that is like saying you can train a cat to not pee. Its a natural thing for cats, even after they are declawed they will still scratch your furniture, their scratching posts and anything else they would normally scratch. It's just now they do not have the nails to do damage. Also, you do not declaw the back paws which are what a cat uses in most defensive situations or to climb. A cat doesn't do most of his scratching with back paws so there is no reason to take them out.

Many adult cats end up in shelters because the owners are tired of the cat scratching furniture or children. Declawing would be a much better alternative than to send the cat off to a shelter and have it killed when no one adopts it.

I do not know if I would compare it to a circumcision, but declawing your cat is not like cutting off thier toes, or fingers or anything like that. The cat still has full functionality of thier paw and they live thier normal lives.

I have a cat and he was declawed at the same time he was fixed. He is a very happy and healthy cat, still can hunt any mice that might make its unfortunate way into my house and he has a very good, spoiled life 12 years later.

Answer 2

Hi!
You are gathering opinions on declawing a cat and circumcising a boy?
I'm a girl, so you may already not respect my opinion (should women have an opinion on circumcision?) but here it is...
My first child was a boy. I was opposed to getting him "snipped" but his dad wanted it - so that they would look the same if it ever came up? (explain that!)
I insisted on a local anesthesic because it seemed barbaric to me to do something to an infant that an adult man would not suffer without anesthetic. The doctor who circumcised my son was annoyed by my insistance but gave my son a local anyway. I was glad afterwards. More people should be aware that you can INSIST on the doctor using a local for this minor surgery. I don't believe that crap about how a baby doesn't feel it or remember it. Would an adult man allow his foreskin to be removed and the edges sutured without one???
As for the kitties, the standard de-claw is the surgical removal of the last digit of each toe. I used to work in a veterinary clinic. If they do not remove the entire nailbed (i.e. the entire tip of the toe) the nail can grow back and the vet will have to operate again. Imagine the tips of each of your fingers removed from the tip to the first knuckle - that's the human equivalent. Since there is very little meat/tissue left, the vet cannot cover the amputated ends with it. They usually use surgical glue and just "pinch" the skin together and glue it shut. What is left is a cat who has excruciatingly tender, amputated bones covered with nothing but skin to protect them. Most vets do not go into all the gory details because most people would change their minds. Some cats never fully recover from this surgery, especially if it's done poorly.
Anyway! Several years ago my vet learned a new procedure where he snips the muscles going to the toes (called a tendonectomy) so that they are more like a dog's nails. Cats can flex their nails and extend and detract them - dogs cannot. After the newer surgery the cats are unable to flex and extend them - removing the need (and ability) to scratch on everything in reach.
My veterinarian no longer does the old de-claw (he always thought it was inhumane), he only offers the tendonectomy to his clients.
Personally, I've been around vet clinics, animal shelters, rescue organizations, etc. enough that I have my own opinion. It's this - If someone is going to give away or abandon their cat JUST because it is NOT de-clawed - I say "de-claw it". Find a good vet, ask all the right questions - how do you perform the surgery, what is the recovery period, what kind of special care will my cat require after the surgery? Also ask if a tendonectomy is available. It costs a little more but you'll sleep better at night knowing you did everything you could to prevent your cat from suffering needlessly. If you insist on de-clawing your cat you should also be committed to that cat for the rest of it's life afterwards - NEVER put it outside unescorted. If it still has it's hind claws, it can climb a small tree to get away from another animal but if you remove ALL of them, he/she cannot climb a tree, or fight back.
Love your kids, Love your pets.
T

Answer 3

Declawing a cat may allow it to continue to live in a situation like you mention. You know, they don't just remove the claws, they cut the end joints off the fingers. They seem to get along ok though. Cats don't make watches or fine jewelry, etc
Once a cat is declawed though it is an inside cat for the rest of it's life. Be responsible.

Answer 4

1. Most circumcision is done right after birth. Your friend obviously made the choice to have it done.
2. Circumcision is a simple quick operation. Declawing is ripping the joints out of the cats paw. How can you compare a little skin being removed to having half your fingers cut off? Do you realize that it's not just the claw they remove??
3. If you honestly think declawing a cat is OK because you MIGHT limit rental opportunities for yourself, then don't get a cat.

Answer 5

some people think it is cruel, i personally have 5 well adjusted indoor cats with no claws and they are happy and so am I. They will never have the opportunity to get out to get run over, they have a small back yard that is fenced and they cannot jump over the fence. they roll around and play in the sun and then come back inside and lay all over my furniture without scratching it to pieces. I also believe in neutering and spaying. Walk into any animal shelter and see how many pets are unwanted and it will break your heart. When I see all these people on this site talking about their cat or dog getting pregnant I want to scream.

Answer 6

I would like to add if you can find a vet who will do the surgery with Lazer. It is so much quicker to heal and a lot less pain and bleeding. Also make sure and pick a vet who does this surgery often. The worst thing that can happen is they can screw up and not get the entire nail and they leave a portion inside that starts to regrow. It then becomes like a very large ingrown toenail. I have seen a cat who had 8 toes done wrong. It must have been the most painful thing possible.

Answer 7

I'm not savvy enough to comment on the cats declawing but do have some insight on circumsism. The medical reason behind circumsism is usually to PREVENT yeast infections in the female. Jewish people do not allow circumsism for religious reasons and that is fine with me. I too had a friend in his twenties that was cirxumsism and he found it to be very uncomfortable and embarrasing. I do believe you are correct regarding babies and no anesthesizing. Goood Luck to you.

Answer 8

I've never heard that comparison, but I like it. The thing that gets me about the declaw debate is people liken it to removing the tip of your finger, when it is nothing like that. Firstly, cats paws do have analogous bone structure to our own hands and feet, but their metatarsals (palm of your hand) is still a part of their leg, the paw is the bones we have in our fingers. They walk on the two middle sections of what is our fingers and the distal, tip, is tucked up and this is what the claw is attached to. It does not have the same nervous nor circulatory provisions as the tips of our fingers. The next argument is "its so painful" but as you pointed out, if it is done young, not so much. This is true with any type of surgery. The next argument its unnatural, well, what do you think of having them fixed? Ask any guy "ok, you can loose your balls or your finger tips" the vast majority will instantly say "DON"T TAKE MY BALLS!" Few people think that is cruel to do to a cat. I often hear people talk about how vicious declawed cats are. I have two, and everyone talks about how sweet they are. Same for my neighbour's declawed 3. What the hell are people doing to make the cat "have to defend itself?" One of my dogs torments my cats, and their defences go in this order, both of them, hiss, smack, grab, bite. Like any other cat. I did not train them this way, both were given to me, one lady couldn't keep the coat of the Persian, the other one, his owner died.

You are right, the excuses against declawing are weak.

In no part of Canada is it illegal to declaw a cat. I work with animals, in Canada, where I was born and live.

edit, I have to agree with the person below. Attempting to train a cat is silly, it is part of his nature. You're training the animal against his nature which usually does not work. What's worse, telling the cat to not have cat behaviours, or letting the cat do what is natural in a way that can't harm nor destroy?

Answer 9

UM...what does having a weenie chopped up..and declawing a
cat have in common ? NOTHING. The only reason a cat gets
buzzed, is cause it will scratch the heck outta ya while having it
done. And babies DO feel pain while being circumsized..I saw
my baby get his done, I had to leave the room, he was
screaming so much from the pain..there was blood everywhere
A cat doesn't feel pain getting it's claws cut. It's like cutting our
tonails. geeez....

Answer 10

But if you declaw a cat they have no way of protecting themselves. Also...depending where you live...Its illegal for a landlord to only allow a declawed cat in the building. Declawing cats is very cruel and causes them intense pain...I wouldn't compare it to circumcision...I would compare it to having your fingernails and toe nails ripped off. In parts of Canada, declawing cats is illegal and considered as animal cruelty.