Declawing--Cruel or not! (paws, shelter, litterbox, bathroom)

[juniperbleu]

I'll be among the few (3, I think?) who dissent on this issue. My parents have had 2 cats, both of which were declawed. With the first, in particular, it had come down to declaw or give him to a shelter. Neither suffered any apparent mental issues and had no physical problems. One was even able to "beat up" our dog without any trouble. In terms of playing, there's no difference between them and my (clawed) cat. They both play the same way, "scratch" the furniture, and hop around. The first didn't care too much for his litter box (and never did, even before the surgery), but the second has never had a problem. A lot of the time it never really looked like they knew they didn't have claws. The first died at a good old age, and his only lifetime woe would have probably been the dog (the dog was also terrified of the cat). The second is treated like a queen, has an attitude to match, and only acts unhappy when my little cat invades her castle.

In terms of brutality, isn't spay/neuter pretty brutal? Sure, it's good for outdoor cats, but if they're indoor isn't it unecessary (yet still advised)? It's not exactly comfortable to get snipped/scooped, and I wouldn't imagine the surgery looking that pretty (at least, on the spay side). I don't think someone would like it if you said "people like you are having too many babies, time for a hysterectomy". Just a thought...

[luvmycat]

Originally Posted by juniperbleu

I'll be among the few (3, I think?) who dissent on this issue. My parents have had 2 cats, both of which were declawed. With the first, in particular, it had come down to declaw or give him to a shelter. Neither suffered any apparent mental issues and had no physical problems. One was even able to "beat up" our dog without any trouble. In terms of playing, there's no difference between them and my (clawed) cat. They both play the same way, "scratch" the furniture, and hop around. The first didn't care too much for his litter box (and never did, even before the surgery), but the second has never had a problem. A lot of the time it never really looked like they knew they didn't have claws. The first died at a good old age, and his only lifetime woe would have probably been the dog (the dog was also terrified of the cat). The second is treated like a queen, has an attitude to match, and only acts unhappy when my little cat invades her castle.

In terms of brutality, isn't spay/neuter pretty brutal? Sure, it's good for outdoor cats, but if they're indoor isn't it unecessary (yet still advised)? It's not exactly comfortable to get snipped/scooped, and I wouldn't imagine the surgery looking that pretty (at least, on the spay side). I don't think someone would like it if you said "people like you are having too many babies, time for a hysterectomy". Just a thought...

Actually, spaying/neutering is advised for cats & dogs regardless of whether they go outside because it reduces the risk of a lot of health issues, and female cats go through torture when they're in heat if you don't let them mate, so there are very good reasons for these procedures.

[gypsychic]

I have had dozens of cats in my lifetime, and have only ever declawed two of them - both times were at the ADVICE OF THE VETERINARIAN, the first because "Juju" had very long sharp claws and kept getting them hung on things, he tore his toe on a screen, vet said it was for his own good. Same thing with the second kitty. Neither one had litter box issues or any other issues, it seemed a non-event to them, and did not seem to suffer pain or discomfort that I could see.

That said, I will never do it to another cat because since those earlier declawings I have seen how bad it is to do it. Strangely, the vets I know do not claim it is particularly cruel, they say it's a personal choice. I still wouldn't do it again, though.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by juniperbleu

In terms of brutality, isn't spay/neuter pretty brutal? Sure, it's good for outdoor cats, but if they're indoor isn't it unecessary (yet still advised)? It's not exactly comfortable to get snipped/scooped, and I wouldn't imagine the surgery looking that pretty (at least, on the spay side). I don't think someone would like it if you said "people like you are having too many babies, time for a hysterectomy". Just a thought...

All cats should be neutered and spayed for HEALTH REASONS. Spaying and Neutering are not mutilations, they actually benefit both the outdoor AND indoor animals.
Read this!
Excerpt from link: Spaying before age 6 months results in a 91% reduction in risk. Spaying before age 1 year results in an 86% reduction in risk. Spaying before age 2 years leads to an 11% reduction in risk.


My hope is that America catches up to rest of the world on this issue and BANS animal mutilations! It is sad when we even have to discuss declawing a cat like it is normal. I'm also against vocal cord cutting of Dogs. I'm sure the pro-declaw people are for that also since it "gives them good homes".

dogs bark=cut their vocal cords
cats claw=amputate their toes

What a sick twisted Country that we could even consider doing these things to our pets for our own selfishness.

[juniperbleu]

Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee

All cats should be neutered and spayed for HEALTH REASONS. Spaying and Neutering are not mutilations, they actually benefit both the outdoor AND indoor animals.
Read this!
Excerpt from link: Spaying before age 6 months results in a 91% reduction in risk. Spaying before age 1 year results in an 86% reduction in risk. Spaying before age 2 years leads to an 11% reduction in risk.

But, just for the sake of argument, wouldn't it also be beneficial to my health to get a mammectomy or hysterectomy? What the article discusses as cancer risks also work for humans (and probably other mammals). Estrogen helps breast cancer cells grow, as well as endometrial cancer, so it would be in my best interest to undergo surgery and, possibly, hormone therapy so I don't have to worry about it. So, adding to what I said before, I don't think some people would like it if they were told "we don't need your kids, and there's a risk of cancer, so let's go".

(By the way, I'm really only bringing this up because of the repeated comparisons to amputating a person's fingertips. I figured it's worth comparing other procedures as well)

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by juniperbleu

But, just for the sake of argument, wouldn't it also be beneficial to my health to get a mammectomy or hysterectomy? What the article discusses as cancer risks also work for humans (and probably other mammals).

The article is dealing with a form of cancer (Mammary) that is almost entirely preventable by early spaying. That was my whole point, you can't compare spaying/neutering to declawing.

Spaying/Neutering is needed for health reasons first, then population control second.

Declawing serves no beneficial purpose at all TO THE CAT and has many physiological and physical risks involved. I also feel bad for all the mutilated abandoned outdoor cats who now can not defend themselves against predators or hunt efficiently for food.

[need4Trees]

Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee

The article is dealing with a form of cancer (Mammary) that is almost entirely preventable by early spaying. That was my whole point, you can't compare spaying/neutering to declawing.

Spaying/Neutering is needed for health reasons first, then population control second.

Declawing serves no beneficial purpose at all TO THE CAT and has many physiological and physical risks involved. I also feel bad for all the mutilated abandoned outdoor cats who now can not defend themselves against predators or hunt efficiently for food.

Completely agree! reps to you!
No benefit to kitty. Whatsoever. Not an option. for me anyway.
Some kittys may be "ok" after their claws are gone, but no matter how much a person may think that their kitty is ok they really may not be deep inside their soul. May "sound" funny but their desire to stratch is a hard-wired instinct, and thus not having them is not natural to say the least.
But if your kitty is one of the ones that really truly seems to be ok, well then that kitty is lucky because many are not.

[Chickrae]

Originally Posted by need4Trees

But if your kitty is one of the ones that really truly seems to be ok, well then that kitty is lucky because many are not.

Mine is ok and happy but then we got adopted him when he was already declawed.

[HsvMike]

Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee

Declawing serves no beneficial purpose at all TO THE CAT

Except for maybe finding a loving home.

[kittymama]

I have an older cat without claws who moved in with my 4 other kitties. I was worried that declawed kitty wouldn't be able to defend herself, but she has done fine. I do not believe in declawing. I think it is cruel. The only exception I would make would be like if I had a baby and the cat was vicious or something.