Do you know the risks of declawing cats?

Question

Even if I get a few negative posts, this will be worth it for the people who are willing to accept this information.

Declawing a cat is the equivalent of amputating our fingers at the knuckle. It can cause severe pain periodically and can also cause severe nerve damage throughout the cats life. There are many other options available to keep a cat from clawing things you don't want them to claw, declawing is just the lazy way out of it. The only time declawing is a viable option is when you have the choice between declawing the cat and abandoning the cat and ALL other options should be explored before then. Even then, you should have never gotten a cat in the first place, knowing the risks.

If you need any help to stop your cat from its destructive behavior...post a question...I'm sure you will find many solutions :)

http://www.declawing.com/htmls/declawing.htm

I'm glad so many people share my view on this. For the few negative responses you need to consider, just because 1 cat suffers behavioral problems from being declawed doesn't mean they all will...you can amputate the fingers of 10 different people and they will all react differently...some of them will learn to live with it while some of them will make a big deal out of it thier entire life. Same goes with declawed cats.

One last note, for the record, this post was not meant to attack people who adopt or own declawed cats...it is meant to raise awareness so people who read this can think twice before making the decision to declaw thier cat. Some people are under the impression that it is a completely harmless procedure and don't even think of attempting to do something as simple as buying a scratching post before having it done. It should not be taken lightly and should only be used in the most extreme circumstances.

Answer 1

Amen. Non of the accredited cat foundations like the Humane Society or Cat Fanciers Organization support declawing. It is only the ones too lazy to train their cats who do it. I've seen too many declawed kitties in the shelters because their stupid owner did this and then couldn't put up with the bad behavior resulting from it. There's a gorgeous girl who's been in our local shelter for a year because her owner declawed her and then found out he was allergic. It should be outlawed here just like it is in every other civilized country in the world. I'm with you on this.

I know what you mean about ignorant people. I was talking to my neighbor the other day about her tom cat who's been picking on my cats. She said she couldn't afford to have him neutered so she was just going to have him declawed to see if that worked. I had to tell her that to declaw a tom cat who goes outdoors would be murder. She had no idea. She's getting him neutered soon.

Answer 2

WELL SAID!!!!!

I have only ever had one cat that was declawed, and that was because she was like that when I adopted her from the Humane Society. I actually got her and her 6 kittens for under $40.00 at the time. She was such a sweetheart once she got over her fear of the new place. I found out later that she had been declawed at the rescue shelter that I had adopted her from. When I found this out, I called the local athorities and they in turn started an investigation. It turns out that the person(s) running the place felt that by declawing all of the cats that came into their care, that people who adopted them would have no choice but to keep the cats indoors. (If only that were true.) The shelter was closed down, and all of the animals were then taken to proper facilities where they were treated for all kinds of health and mental disorders. Some of them were so disturbed that they felt it was better for the animals to be humanely put down rather than to see them so stressed and turning mean.
Keep up the good work about letting people know how cruel declawing really is.

Answer 3

I have answered questions like this before. I have two cats who are declawed and one who isn't. My parents have one and my grandmother has one who are declawed(in the front only, indoor only). Not a one of those cats act like they are in any pain and are perfectly happy healthy cats. They run around and play. My two who are declawed still "claw" things, so obviously, thier feet don't hurt them. And my declawed girl is like a Siamese twin to me, constantly with me wherever I go, so I know she is happy and does not hate me. My declawed boy cat is also very loving and both of them have perfect balance. I agree that declawing should be a last resort, but just because someone has had a cat declawed, does NOT mean they are cruel. Or lazy. So you can really just shove it if you think I should have never gotten my cats because some are declawed, and I can bet you anything I have had more fun and loving cats than you EVER will. Also, anyone who is 13 years old has NO business accusing anybody of being cruel to animals, its probably a miracle if you can spell your own name. You don't know anything. If you want to come to my house and visit my cats, and see how they are, then you are more than welcome! Otherwise, keep quiet! I would also like to point out too, that of my 3 cats, my one WITH claws is the only one who has not using-the-litter-box issues. Go figure that one out. I am not condoning declawing, I am saying that it is not as terrible as a lot of people make it out to be. And I wonder how many people on here actually have cats and have seen this terrble, emotionally distraught behavior. And those who are just on a quest to be right.

Answer 4

Cats that have been declawed can use a litter box and jump up on furniture and jump down from furniture and do everything else like a cat that has not been declawed. And they don't have behavorial problems like people say they do.
My cat is declawed and she does everything there with NO PROBLEM and she is a very happy cat. She jumps up the furniture and jumps down she has no behavioral problems she has no problems using her litter box. She is an indoor cat and she is very content that she is indoors. I don't know where people are getting these ideas about a cat that has been declawed has problems with using their litter box and having behavioral problems and not being able to jump up on furniture. All that is not true. It depends on the Vet and how he does the surgery. I have a very Happy cat and she loves life.
Its was my decision and nobody elses. She is very loving cat and she loves to cuddle.

Answer 5

I absolutely agree!
Declawing is cruel and inhumane! Can you imagine some one taking dog nail clippers and cutting off the first knuckle of each of your fingers. The U.S. needs to catch up to the rest of the world and ban declawing. People that declaw because they don't want to deal with a cat having claws SHOULD NOT own cats!

Answer 6

I don't agree with declawing and would never think to have it done to either of my cats, even if they do scratch the couch every once in a while :)

Answer 7

I agree with you. There are alternitives. We use soft tips on our male tabby. I bought them on the internet. It only took a day or two for him to get use to them. They fall off as their nails grow and you just replace them. He still thinks he can scratch the furniture but it doesn't cause any damage. I also clip the nails of our other two cats. I started when they were kittens and they do not mind. It is pretty easy and doesn't take too long.

Answer 8

declawed cats often refuse to use their litter boxes.
declawed cats often become more nervous
their flight/fight response is heighted - meaning they will bite if they get a tiny bit afraid or run away from something that a non-declawed cat wouldnt

etc.

Answer 9

i wouldn't talk to my mom for a month when she had my cat hobo declawed. It is wrond to declaw a cat. I wouldn't like it if someone choped of the first digits of my fingers and/or toes just because they're sharp. you wouldn't like it, so why should they! It's sick and wrong. It should count as animal abuse if you ask me.

Answer 10

I would NEVER get my kitties declawed. You are right, there are several alternative options like those little caps they put on their claws.