Declawing question - attempt 2?

Question

My question is.....

Who out there does not see that an animal should not have surgery performed on it if it is not for their own benefit?

I don't need people coming back and telling me their declawed cat has lived a perfectly happy life after being declawed. I'm aware it happens. My question goes to the basic morality involved in altering an animal when there is NOTHING in it for them. Declawing is even less justifiable than tail docking and ear cropping - as least with these you can argue your saving them from problems with these later (I still don't agree with these procedures either though.

Please can I have some responses from people in favour of declawing - sticking to the moral side of the argument. I'm after making people think what it says about them to try to shape an animal for their convenience - especially when there's a fair chance the animal is not going to come out of the procedure unharmed.

Chalice

Thanks to all those who answered my previous question supporting my view, it gives me hope!

I really want to hear from pro-declawers though - I really want to get to the hub of their justification for it. Not 'my animal was declawed and is fine' but 'why I thought it was OK in the first place to declaw my cat....'

Actually JS B, that's pretty much the answer I WAS looking for! So this is the kind of justification people give - I'm seeing there point. BUT - it goes to show, people get pets for THEIR convenience instead of the animals. If you live in a property where there's a damage clause, you either pay the penalty or you don't have an animal, right? I've lived in such a place and I, er - paid for the damage!

As for people choosing declawing over death. Hm. Hm hm hmmmm. I don't know what it's like in America, but here it isn't hard to find a shelter with a 'non-destruct policy' - i.e. the Cats Protection League. I wonder if people say 'its declawing or death' because they're not prepared to rehome their animal - i.e. find a place where the cat can be happy, and keep its claws. I suppose you'd have to judge on a case by case basis - which never happens!

Jilly - have you read anything on this page? People will happily tell you what can and does go wrong with declawing. OK yours is fine - good. But many cats aren't.

Answer 1

I do NOT agree with declawing!!

However, these are some reasons people do it.

I own rental property, I charge a pet fee, as well as having a pet damage clause in the lease. ( They are required to pay for all damage caused by their pet.)
I need these because of the irresponsible pet owners, who refuse to train their cats to use the cat post, and not the carpet, walls, or woodwork. I won't even go into the potty training issue.

I have had tenants who declaw, because they can not afford the damage their cats do to the rental property, but they do want to have a pet. (Maybe even save them from a shelter)

Another reason I have been given is the furniture damage, caused to their own property.

Do I think this is the way it should be, NO. I have no other option, but to make pet owners responsible for their own pets.

I own 4 cats and 2 dogs. None of my cats are declawed, one of my dogs has his dew claws removed, and tail docked,(he came that way), the other doesn't.

Sorry if this wasn't what you were looking for :-(

Answer 2

I am for declawing because nothing is wrong with it and it does not hurt the cat. I did it because i was moving into someone elses house and I could not move in if my cat had her claws. I was in a place where the person said I could have the cat and I also was getting scratched really bad and I got her declawed because her scratches were really deep. I don't believe in spraying cats with water either and she would not use a scratching post.People have their own opinion about having their own cat declawed and the people that don't like to get their cat declawed don't have to get it done.
My cat is an indoor cat and she is a very happy cat and she runs around and she is just fine and she has no problems at all with her front paws.

Answer 3

I strongly agree with you declawing isn't right for the animal because not only are they taking the claws out they're taking off some of the toe. I also really dissagree with cropping and docking of the tail. Especially because those are just for looks. Docking originally started because work dogs would get distracted with their tails and their tails would get in the way, but now it's just for looks and it isn't right. Unfourtunetly to many people are for it and it will probably continue to go on for a long time.

Answer 4

While declawing my cat is also a moral question for me, my justification is that my cat was literally shredding the legs of my small children. It was either get rid of the cat (which I do not think pets are disposable) or declaw him. Other than the safety of the my family I cannot think of any other reason.

Answer 5

First of all, I love the title Simba for a cat. No, I would not be involved that a bandage is coming off. He's more commonly puzzling over what the ones matters on his paws are and he more commonly wishes them off. Just make certain that he is now not licking and chewing at the bandages earlier than you're taking him to the vet the following day. Getting suffering therapy and an Elizabethan collar (the cones that cross round their heads) is an excessively well thought to hinder Simba from licking his paws. Just make certain to maintain a watch on him for awhile to make certain his paws are k and now not getting inflamed. Also, although he is establishing to turn out to be playful once more, make certain that his undertaking degree is confined so he does not by accident harm himself or get some thing inflamed. I'm definite he'll have a fast and coffee suffering recuperation. You perceived to have performed your study and are educated. I'm definite Simba will nonetheless have a quality existence and be comfortable and healthful even with out his claws.

Answer 6

I'm not a cat lover, I'm allergic. If it's between death and declaw, I'd go with the declaw. People don't want a shredded home. Cats should not be left outside period. We have a tremendous problem with ferals where I live. People kill them.

Answer 7

I think this question has had a lot of answers and I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I just wanted to put my two cents in. I am a vet tech and would NEVER declaw my cat(s).

Answer 8

declawing is bad , and some people dont like it, soft claws is a better was from keeping your little friends from tearing up whatever catches there eyes. And they come in colors. go to there web site www.softclaws.com

Answer 9

Personally, I dont want my d@mn furniture scratched to shreds nor my kids scratched to shreds so therefore I just don't have a cat in my house!!!

But, if I did have a cat in my house I probably would have it declawed the cat became a problem and refused to scratch on it's designated post and started destroying my house and my kids - I'd rather do that than be forced to take it to the humane society where it'd probably end up dead..

Hmm...I wonder, does anyone here have a son they circumcised???

Answer 10

Declawing is horrible, they have claws for a reason so why remove them? That is their way of scratching themselves just as if we as humans itch we have fingernails...also it is their way of protecting themselves but in this instance people will argue that their cat is strictly indoors...I had a cat once that was strictly an indoor cat but he ran away, he wanted to be outdoors and if I would have declawed him, he would have no means of protection.