Is your cat declawed?

Question

Is it as cruel as people say?
Does the cat get mean afterwards??

Answer 1

I currently have two declawed cats and have had many cats in the past that were declawed, if they were indoor cats. I've also had outdoor cats and I definitely wouldn't declaw the outdoor cats.

As long as you use a good vet, declawing is absolutely fine! I worked with a vet and have seen it done. The cat is obviously asleep during the procedure and when it wakes up it is perfectly normal. We would give them pain meds for the first little while just in case, but they are always running around perfectly normally after not much longer.

The only thing to make sure to do after bringing home a cat from a declawing procedure is to NOT use normal litter. You can either shred up newspaper or buy crystal litter. I would just shred up newspaper. Most cats have no problem using the newpaper in their litter box and after the first week or two, you can switch back to regular litter. You just want to make sure that they are healed up so that the regular litter doesn't get into their paws.

After two weeks though, you have absolutely nothing to worry about and neither does your cat! :) Your cat has no idea anything happened to it and is back to playing around like normal.

It's definitely worth it in the long run to go through this one procedure than to torture the cat with claw clippings every few weeks... we all know cats don't tend to enjoy having their claws clipped. Same thing for bothering the cat with putting those claw covers on them.. It's just a hassle for the cat and yourself.

EDIT: Only declaw in the front, the back claws need to stay.

Answer 2

No, both my two indoor cats and my six outdoor cats have all their claws, nice and sharp like little daggers. :)

Actually declawing is illegal where I come from, and I'd never even heard about it until I met an american girl who had a declawed cat.

Yes, I do believe it is cruel and unnecessary. After an accident, one of my cats had to have the tip of his tail amputated and it took four years before he stopped displaying occasional behaviour as if he had phantom pains in his tail. Also all my cats use their claws much like fingers to climb, grasp, and hold onto toys, food etc. Besides, I've yet to see a scratching issue that could not be addressed with some effort and training.

I can't say if the cat gets mean afterward. I've only seen the one declawed cat and he was a perfect sweetheart. Logically, I can't see why a cat would get mean after a declawing, unless it gets more aggressive because it feels more insecure without part of its natural defense.

Answer 3

My cat is declawed. Front Claws only

My cat has no Personality problem
no bitting problem
can jump up and down from furniture
can use her litter box
can play with her toys with no problem
no behavior problem
Declawing a cat is not Cruel.
My cat was declawed when she was very young and she is a very happy cat and I give her a lot of attention and love and she gives it right back. She is Happy and loved.

My cat is not mean in any way and she will come over to me and sit in my lap and knead me and she will fall asleep in my lap purring and she will lick my hand while she is in my lap. Would you say that is a mean cat that has been declawed. I don't think so because I have given my cat alot of attention and love.

Answer 4

I assisted with hundreds of declaw operations when I worked as a vet tech. The operation is simple and not as horrible as some people try to make it. The cat suffers some pain the first day or two, but most are fine after just a couple of days. I never saw any serious complications in the two years I was there. I have two declawed cats in my house, the others are not. All climb the same toys and function in the same way (none are allowed outside). I have no intention of declawing any of the others, I have accepted that the cats live here too and am ok with claw marks on the side of the sofa. Not everyone feels this way though and I would rather see a cat declawed than abandoned. It is a personal decision that should be made with your vet and based on you and your cats needs and considerations.

Answer 5

Declawing is illegal where I live because it is classed as animal cruelty. The law actually refers to it as "unnecessary mutilation", and having seen photos of a declaw, I think it's very apt.

Even if it were an option, I would never consider having it done. Teaching cats to have good claw manners is a much more humane solution, and it costs nothing but your time and patience.

If literally millions of people around the world in countries where declawing is illegal, can manage to train their cats, why can't everyone?

I think there's already enough animal cruelty in the world without owners inflicting it on their pets.

Answer 6

No. I got both current cats at 3 mos. or so from the Humane Society. I had no real opinion on the subject, but when they told me it's better not to declaw, I said OK.

I just made sure that neither viewed hands or other body parts as toys and provided them with plenty of scratching pads of various types. If they ever scratched anything but those I let them know that wasn't allowed (no punishing, just a firm No).

Both girls are super delicate with their paws and no furniture has been harmed. Well, the bench that they sit on by the window has holes punched in it, but it's their furniture anyway so it doesn't matter. I covered some foam with a vinyl type material. None of my actual human furniture has been harmed!

I can't speak much on the topic of declawing itself, but I agree with those who say it's cruel and unnecessary. Proper training should do the trick and it wasn't rocket science.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that my last cat came declawed in front only. Because she hadn't been trained she was even more destructive with those back claws than my current two are with all theirs intact!

Answer 7

If de-clawing is completely banned it would be a really bad thing because silly people will never be banned. Cats are cheap and easilly attainable animals. people don't always think about how it may claw the furniture or kids before they get one. If some people have no alternative like de-clawing the cat goes straight to a shelter or is just left somewhere to fend for it's self. If de-clawing is done at the same time as the cat is spayed or neutered It really isn't very hard on the cat. especially since now it is usuallly only the front claws that are done. If you have a good vet most cats will be running and trying to climb the same day and in no obvious discomfort. It boggles my mind that most people would amputae a cat's leg if for some reason it need be over putting it down because hey, the cat will get used to it and eventually not even know it's leg is missing but oh heaven forbid taking out a few nails, the cat will be so unhappy and it will not have a good life. Give me a break. Just be responsible and keep kitty indoors if you de-claw it. Also, living in a small town very few people spay their cats. There are so many free kittens. De-clawing is not done here unless the cat it spayed at the same time. It is saving countless kittens from being born. And yes, my cat was just spayed and declawed. No obvious pain and she was back to her normal self within a day. We took her in as a rescue kitten but didn't want our furniture to suffer. Now we can all co-exist and kitty can live a good life.She would not even be alive had we not taken her in so loosing her front nails is a small price to pay. And it's only been two weeks but she has ot gone mean. i have noticed no change whatsoever.

Answer 8

I think it is extremely cruel and would NEVER do that to any of my four cats. I also don't like the fact that you keep your cat locked in a cage all day but thats another matter entirely. A co-worker of mine had her three year old cat declawed last week and the cat died on Monday night due to complications of the surgery. It is a very serious surgery to put a cat through and your cat could die as a result. This is a true, sad, story and reality.

Answer 9

Nope i have 3 cats none are which declawed. I find it very cruel. I have lots of scratching post and a fairly big cat tree they love to scratch up. They dont touch my furniture at all.

Answer 10

I have 2 cats. I would never ever declaw them. It is completely stupid and cruel to do something like that. And selfish, because you are thinking about YOU and not your cat. The cat has claws. And he needs them. That's the way cats are. If people are not willing to accept a cat as it is and if it bothers them that much, then they better not have a cat at all.

Answer 11

one is declawed (front only) and the other one isnt. They have ways of reducing the pain involved, the cat is asleep during the procedure and should be given pain meds afterward. I am sure there is some pain, as with any surgery. My cat wasn't mean afterwards.