Do you think getting a cat declawed is borderline animal cruelty?

1. 61

   Alt_Writer21posted 13 years ago

   Do you think getting a cat declawed is borderline animal cruelty?

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2. 60

   Sarineposted 13 years ago

   yes.  and it sorts of kills their instinct to hunt, which can leave them totally bored.

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3. 81

   wychicposted 13 years ago

   My entire opinion on the subject is here:
   
   http://hubpages.com/hub/Declawing-Cats- … -Necessary
   
   I believe that there are some instances in which it is unavoidable, but it can have some serious repercussions for the cat in terms of muscle tone, defense capabilities, etc.

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4. 52

   karenmacposted 13 years ago

   yes i think it is a cruel thing to do to a cat as they need their claws to hunt, it's a natural instinct for cats to pray on mice and birds and if you declaw them they wouldn't be able to hold onto their pray

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5. 59

   Tirzah Laughsposted 13 years ago

   Yes and no.  Is it something to do lightly like a haircut? Absolutely not.
   
   Declawing a cat is basically clipping off the tips of their fingers/toes so the nail can't grow back.  If you do it, do when they are very young and use the laser.  The surgical version when they are older can mentally send them off the rocker.
   
   Some cats who get declawed, bite more often because they have no claws to defend themselves.
   
   Some cats who are declawed, develop overly sensitive feet and will not pee on litter that is rough to the paws.  This is why some newly declawed cats pee outside their boxes.  Their feet hurt.
   
   Some declawed cats seem to do a personality shift after declawing (usually later in life declaws).
   
   If declawed, your cat can NEVER go outside again.  They have lost most of their defenses.
   
   Other declawed cats do fine and have no issues.
   
   Sometimes declawing is the only alternative for a destructive cat that doesn't respond well to retraining.  If your cat is killing a new sofa a month, it might be the only alternative since adult cats are much likely to be rehomed than kittens.
   
   However if you must declaw, laser only, lots of pain killers, the younger the better.
   
   It's a last chance solution for your cat and it may cause more problems than it solves.

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6. 61

   Puppyluvposted 13 years ago

   If it's unavoidable, don't do it.  There are scratching posts and even rubber tips you can put on the cat's claws to keep them from ruining furniture.  I personally don't have my cats declawed because I've worked at a veterinary hospital most of my life and I know how painful it is for them.  If it's going to be done, it's better to do it when they're very young.  It's not as painful or traumatic. The less the cat weighs, the less pressure there is on their feet after the surgery.   Tirzah is right, it would be like us having the tips of our fingers cut off. People that say it's not painful should try having the tips of their fingers cut off and not taking any pain medicine afterwards.  It's not just the nail that's removed.

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7. 57

   consentinoposted 12 years ago

   I think de-clawing a cat is cruelty.  They can get a horrible infection.  Get a scratching or cat tree for them to scratch on.
   
   
   
   
   www.petsareagift.com

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8. 71

   Ciel Clarkposted 12 years ago

   It is not borderline, it is definitely animal cruelty.  It is amputation up to the first joint, not just removing the claws.  Imagine a human whose fingernails were removed,  And then think, not just fingernails, but getting the first joint of each finger cut off. 
   
   I have had cats all my life and am sick at the thought of declawing/amputation..  Most of my cats were easily trained to scratch posts, but if I were that bothered by any damage I would give up my joy in having a cat companion rather than mutilating one to save my home decor.

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9. 84

   Lucky Catsposted 12 years ago

   I don't agree w/declawing.  I think it is cruel and, potentially, life threatening to the cat.  Some have developed severe infections shortly after this procedure.  Think of having the last joint removed from your fingers; this is similar to what happens to cats.  It IS painful for quite a while afterwards.  We build indoor tri-pod cat scratch posts which stand 2-3 feet high with a base at the top.  We use 2x4's as the three 'legs' of the scratching post.  We don't paint or varnish the wood; just leave it natural.  Our cats love to scratch on this and they ALL use it.  We've placed it on a non skid mat so that the splinters fall to a surface which can be vacuumed or swept and doesn't slide around when they are boisterous.  This item can be made at home, is very inexpensive and saves furniture.  If you need to tempt your cats to use it; introduce it by placing catnip around the base and on the top of it...this will attract your cat(s) and they'll take it from there.  NO to declawing; this is not natural and "bad science."

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