NWR: Declawing cats?

found this on the web...maybe it will help you in your decision....declawing

---

Posted by Mimacat

I would NEVER declaw my cats. First of all, anytime an animal is put out for surgery there is ALWAYS a health risk. Why put them through that unnecessarily? Second, God forbid the kitty gets out it has NO way to defend itself. I just think declawing is unnatural and wrong. Only one of my cats even bothers to use claws, so I dont see why its really even necessary, especially if you cut them regularly.

---

Ditto. I'm very strongly against declawing. If you get your kitty enough option to scratch (scratching pole, pad, etc) there really shouldn't be an issue, just trim their nails. We've never had a problem with our cat. I just think, like Mima, that's completely unecessarily, unfair and inhumane. God forbid your cat ever gets out, it's basically dead meat for lack of a better term.

---

Posted by Mimacat

Claudette says, just say no to declawing!

---

LOL

My best friend had her cats declawed and every now and then they shake their paws...she took them to the vet and the vet said it is phantom pains from being declawed. They become very sensitive to cold and warm floors and their paws can be deformed after surgery.....I know that a lot of vets won't even do it anymore.

I say don't do it because of the risk...just keep the kitties nails trimmed and get a good scratching post!

i absolutely hated getting my cat declawed--but my DH said he would NOT allow me to bring the cat with me when we got married (he hated cats when we first got together) -- especially cause my cat was very quick to use his claws ALL the time. he scratched and attacked at anyone and left me with many scratches--including a scratch to my DH's face.

his personality really did change --- but for us it changed for the better. he became much more cuddly with us and sweet. i know that its not a usual thing that happens...but he really did become a great cat. its an extremely hard decision for anyone. so i feel your pain.

question for people with cats:

how do u get them to stop jumping on the furniture. i have a kitten, she doesnt scratch the furniture, but she does jump & run on it which has left scratch marks all over my furniture, so I have been toying with the idea of declawing as well, but really dont want to do it. I have tried the spray bottle but that doesnt work...what else can i do? i definitely cannot purchase any new furniture because the same thing would happen so it would be a waste....any suggestions?

Thanks for all the input ladies!

It has helped me make my decision!!

---

Posted by kslmbuggie

question for people with cats:

how do u get them to stop jumping on the furniture. i have a kitten, she doesnt scratch the furniture, but she does jump & run on it which has left scratch marks all over my furniture, so I have been toying with the idea of declawing as well, but really dont want to do it. I have tried the spray bottle but that doesnt work...what else can i do? i definitely cannot purchase any new furniture because the same thing would happen so it would be a waste....any suggestions?

---

We would take my cat off of the furniture, or anywhere she wasn't supposed to be and tell her no. It sounds lame but after a few times she got the message. She didn't go on my parents bed, she didn't go on the kitchen table, and she'd stay off the counters in the kitchen. We never kept her off of the furniture!

PLease please please do not declaw your cats. I work in a rescue/ veterinarian office and you would not believe the horror stories. My vet refuses to do any declaw surgeries because he believes its the cruelest thing you can do to a cat, and he isnt even a cat lover. The other day we had a lady come in with her cat because the place that did the declaw surgery mangled the cats feet so badly that the claws were still intact and growing UNDER THE CATS SKIN. Leaving the cat in so much pain it could no longer walk. My vet agreed to fix the surgery but the woman was crying hysterically saying it was the worst decision she has ever made in her life and it will be her worst regret. I dont know why people get cats when they are just going to declaw them. Its like taking out a dogs canine teeth to stop them from chewing.

Cats use their claws to walk on, when they are declawed they have to learn how to walk again. Also since they walk so unnaturally they usually suffer horrible shoulder arthritis later in life. I have a 12 year old declawed cat i adopted, he was given up at 10 yrs old since he didnt like to use the litter box anymore. I found out it was because his feet had become so sensitive he didnt like the way litter felt on his feet anymore. After much trial and error I figured out what to use instead but not after he soaked my carpet in urine and no steam cleaner in the world could get the smell out so i had to replace the carpet and carpet pad.

If litter box declawing issues arent a problem for you, most declawed cats when threatened will bite. and bite to mean it. Cats mouths are extremely dirty and you stand the chance of contracting a life threatening blood infection with a deep cat bite. I have seen many bites so bad they needed emergency room treatment.

Do your research its not easy on the cat no matter what anyone tells you. If you love your cat, or cats in general do not even consider it. I can tell you more horror stories if youd like or look up the surgery on youtube.. its pretty gross.

And who ever said its an amputation was correct, imagine cutting your fingers off at the first knuckle right under the nail.. and then being forced to walk on them... Also something to think about, declawing is actually illegal in the following countries: United Kingdom, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Israel, Yugoslavia, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil.

Dont forget once you do it.. it can never be undone.

Truth about declawing

---

Posted by kslmbuggie

question for people with cats:

how do u get them to stop jumping on the furniture. i have a kitten, she doesnt scratch the furniture, but she does jump & run on it which has left scratch marks all over my furniture, so I have been toying with the idea of declawing as well, but really dont want to do it. I have tried the spray bottle but that doesnt work...what else can i do? i definitely cannot purchase any new furniture because the same thing would happen so it would be a waste....any suggestions?

---

Dont declaw, they sell mats if its your couch that have plastic spikes on them. Picture a plastic chair mat for carpet flipped upside down. Cats dont like to walk on these. Just keep them on your furniture for a while and the cat will probably stop attempting to go on the furniture. I have also heard cats hate tin foil. lay some of this out for a while.

There is a trick to a spray bottle, FM me if you would like me to further explain.

I would reccomend declawing ONLY if they will be indoor cats. If you plan to let them out, don't bother. When I declawed my cats, I remember no gauze or anything. She was running around and would leave little drops of blood for a few days but her running everywhere convinced me she wasn't in any pain. I only did the front claws. It really helped when she would try to scratch the couch. Also, her paws became her weapons because all she would do was swat.

---

Posted by KiTTeN0819

---

Posted by kslmbuggie

question for people with cats:

how do u get them to stop jumping on the furniture. i have a kitten, she doesnt scratch the furniture, but she does jump & run on it which has left scratch marks all over my furniture, so I have been toying with the idea of declawing as well, but really dont want to do it. I have tried the spray bottle but that doesnt work...what else can i do? i definitely cannot purchase any new furniture because the same thing would happen so it would be a waste....any suggestions?

---

Dont declaw, they sell mats if its your couch that have plastic spikes on them. Picture a plastic chair mat for carpet flipped upside down. Cats dont like to walk on these. Just keep them on your furniture for a while and the cat will probably stop attempting to go on the furniture. I have also heard cats hate tin foil. lay some of this out for a while.

There is a trick to a spray bottle, FM me if you would like me to further explain.

---

can you get the mat in any pet store? I'm going to try the foil 2nite & see what happens. We are good about keeping her off the furniture when we are home, but she probably has a field day when we are @ work.

---

Posted by kslmbuggie

---

Posted by KiTTeN0819

---

Posted by kslmbuggie

question for people with cats:

how do u get them to stop jumping on the furniture. i have a kitten, she doesnt scratch the furniture, but she does jump & run on it which has left scratch marks all over my furniture, so I have been toying with the idea of declawing as well, but really dont want to do it. I have tried the spray bottle but that doesnt work...what else can i do? i definitely cannot purchase any new furniture because the same thing would happen so it would be a waste....any suggestions?

---

Dont declaw, they sell mats if its your couch that have plastic spikes on them. Picture a plastic chair mat for carpet flipped upside down. Cats dont like to walk on these. Just keep them on your furniture for a while and the cat will probably stop attempting to go on the furniture. I have also heard cats hate tin foil. lay some of this out for a while.

There is a trick to a spray bottle, FM me if you would like me to further explain.

---

can you get the mat in any pet store? I'm going to try the foil 2nite & see what happens. We are good about keeping her off the furniture when we are home, but she probably has a field day when we are @ work.

---

I cant remember for the life of me who made them or what they were called darn it.. Maybe get a plastic carpet runner and cut it to fit. When you used the spray bottle did you yell while spraying? The trick is to not let the cat know its you so they associate the water with the scratching and not you. Just spray and go about your business like you never saw the cat. This way the cat will not do the act when your not there.

---

Posted by DrWho

Can anyone advise the OP as to the little caps they put on claws?

---

softpaws.com.
Please please look into this before thinking of declawing!
I think the fact that the procedure is ILLEGAL in so many countries says a lot! it is mutilating your animal and putting it through unnecessary pain and stress.

---

Posted by MrsHtobe

I know there is def 2 sides to this, and that is why I was struggling with it

FH and I will have to think really hard about it tonight :)

But aside from that - anyone use Wantagh Animal Hospital? We need to find Anna a veternarian regardless

---

we had layla declawed at WAH! Dr. Pudalov did her surgery and she is perfect and happy and doesnt miss her front claws one bit FM me if you need details!!