People who declaw their cats disgust me?

Question

I'm appalled by the number of Americans who actually think it isn't selfish to declaw their cats in order to protect their (dead) furniture. What is wrong with you people!!! Shame on you for considering such a barbaric practice

Felines are NOT objects to be physically altered to fit our lifestyle, that's a disgusting practice. Treat your felines with respect and accept them for who (that's right I said who, not it) they are.


This link will answer your questions about whether it's "ok" to have indoor cats declawed, I think you'll find that there are very good reasons not to do so.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20071015191249AApzic8

Answer 1

these people really don't like their cats at all. Usually when you see this it is some upper middle class or rich family that has a stupid $2000.00 cat and furniture that is twice or three times that amount. They are just using the cat for eve candy to show off their wealth and God forbid the cats screw up their 4k couch.

The don't care for the animals themselves because the fact is....cats are animals, animals get lost and get into scuffles with other animals and dogs. So congrats, if your cat gets loose it has its good looks and a meow to get by on. Gese its like sending an underage scan tally clad female into east LA without a weapon or a phone

Answer 2

First of all, I am very sorry that you're put in this horrible situation. Declawing a cat is an extremely inhumane procedure and it DOES affect a cat's personality. I'm pretty sure it's why your other cat is so angry and doesn't like to be petted. When a cat is declawed, they don't simply cut off the claws; they actually amputate the toes. And if they get out of the house and are attacked (their claws are their primary means of self defense), they're essentially helpless. And they can't run up trees to escape their attackers. (There are articles on the Internet that talk about declawing). I suggest that if it's a case of either having the kitten declawed or giving it up, that you take it to a nearby no-kill animal shelter (like maybe the SPCA or the Humane Society) and explain the situation and why you can't keep the kitten. That way, at least it will have a chance to be adopted by a family who WON'T demand that he be declawed. I know you love your kitten and this is a very heartbreaking decision. However, in this case, giving it up would be the kinder thing to do.

Answer 3

I have 3 cats.. Jabba, who was adopted already front declawed, Tippy who my husband and I had declawed and Solo who isn't declawed and I would never consider declawing.
Tippy was declawed because she is an extremely timid cat. She is scared of her own shadow. She is scared to death of people and well everything. Her nails grew really fast, had to cut them every week. Well after holding her and having them cut, which she was scared of and hated. She would hide for the rest of the week. Would only come out when we were asleep or gone and that was to eat and use the potty. And she was back to hidding. About the time she decided it was safe to come out, we would have to cut them again. I didn't actually want to declaw her, I didn't think it was right, however, it really was for her own good. I hated that she was always hidding and always scared and when we trimmed her nails we were just tramatizing her even more. So we had her declawed and since then, she doesn't hide for weeks at a time, yeah she hides when people come over, but she is always out otherwise. She is so much sweeter now and just an all around better cat. If I didn't think it would do her good, I would have never done it to her.
My furniture was never an issue with having her done. It could all be rebought and nothing a scratching post wouldn't cure.
Yeah, I don't think it should be done, but sometimes it just has to be done. and as for disgust, there are far worse things that an animal owner could do to their cat than declaw them. How about starve them, neglect them, abuse them??? now that is disgust...

Answer 4

I truly agree with you. No cat should be declawed.

I've had relatives do it because they were indoor cats and clawed the furniture--well so what!, cats can be trained with persistence. It's the owners fault they can't put a little constant effort into their cats training. Cat's learn very fast about clawing, I know so.

It's like declawing our fingernails as humans.

Great question and article for everyone to read. Thank you

Answer 5

I personally would not declaw a cat, but if someone were able to give one of the millions of cats that are put down every year because there are not enough homes for them with the condition that they are declawed, then I would say go for it.

I am much more outraged that people don't neuter their cats than I am about de clawing.

Answer 6

I totally agree with you. Cats were born with claws, they should die with them too. How many stories have you heard of families who couldn't keep their declawed pet anymore + the cat sneaks outside or gets let out by its new owners ? How will it defend itself ? My cats were all indoor cats just for the record. There are ways to discourage a cat from messing up the furniture. More humane ones. There are even some ppl who get their rabbits declawed. To do this, one digit of each toe is also removed !!!
Instead of solving/dealing with the problem, the other side is the one that pays. In this case the cat. The owners need to be trained + more involved in their pets behavior. If not then they just shouldn't get a pet.

Answer 7

Well, sometimes there are reasons that it has to be done. My grandparents have littermates, 4 of them. They are semi-feral, but have adapted to them very well and live a great life.

My grandfather went on dialysis a few years ago, and the cats kneeding on his leg, claws digging into him when he was petting them....ANY claw contact caused infections on his skin and the doctor said either declaw the cats, or they had to go.
Where are 4 semi-feral cats going to go??? No shelter would have taken them. They would have ahd major stress being rehomed if we could have found one before there was another infection.
They were declawed and are fine!!

I do not think in general it is a good choice, but there are times when it needs to be look at as an option!!!

Answer 8

I'm impressed! I feel the same as you. I have 3 cats and they all have their claws. The best way to describe declawing in a human perspective is to imagine the first digits of your fingers cut off. Also the best fix for either opinion with this matter is known as "Soft Claws". You can get them on-line or at pet stores. They are vet approved and come in a variety of colors. Basically they just fit over the claw and come off as the claw sheds. Cats can still stretch them and itch themselves and it keeps from their claws getting stuck on stuff. I wouldn't suggest this for an outside cat though because they need their claws for defense. Cats rule!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

I think that your statment is to byus some reason like if a cat as an infection in a nail and getting it removed actualy saves his paw is okay. And i think that your taking away apoint of a parent or an owners repsonisblity towards there cats. what they think is for the best not what you think.
Basicaly each to there own.
NOw its true cats you can train like mine to respect your furniture and thats fine then your right you really dont need that extra step, but for thoughs who dont have the time to be that active then thers resoultion.
And you can say your same argument over any thing to do with feelings respect them for who they are, okay so male cats before spayed comes with a smell that sprays on your furniture and stinks like that for weeks . Are you saying it's okay with that stench and not spay a cat when you know it will never use it anyways?
Do you also relize that "alterations" so to speak towards an animal dosent mind is as much as you do?
think about it really whos complaining you or them? Now you can tell when a cat's not happy its obvious alot fo hissing and alot of meowing but its short lived as for you for some reason out lasting that cats complaint? why when its not your problem.
Do you really expect to win an agrument that takes a way from an owners free right of what they think is best? If so try it on parenting and childeren and i say with that good freaken luck...

Answer 10

I FULLY AGREE WITH YOU.

there is not one sensible reason to getting a cat declawed.

why should a cat live a life of pain because the owner is worried about their furniture! my furniture looks completely fine! and i have 6 cats. If you buy your cats scratching posts they will scratch that and not the furniture!