Thread: declaw or not declaw?

Mutilation for the sake of a bit of furniture??? I think you have answered your own question ..... It's illegal here in the UK and still shocks me that it seems to be an option in such a civilised society! Please, please don't go down that road or you might end up with a very stressed, unhappy cat with all sorts of unknown problems!

Originally Posted by oliviarussian

Mutilation for the sake of a bit of furniture??? I think you have answered your own question ..... It's illegal here in the UK and still shocks me that it seems to be an option in such a civilised society! Please, please don't go down that road or you might end up with a very stressed, unhappy cat with all sorts of unknown problems!

Thank you for your input, I have done some additional research and have decided against declawing. I agree there is no reason to mutilate my perfect little kitten. I am going to try the softnails, they look easy to use and the colors are pretty! Thank you for your input.

Originally Posted by oliviarussian

Mutilation for the sake of a bit of furniture??? I think you have answered your own question ..... It's illegal here in the UK and still shocks me that it seems to be an option in such a civilised society! Please, please don't go down that road or you might end up with a very stressed, unhappy cat with all sorts of unknown problems!

I think a lot of people don't know exactly what's involved - I think it is good to ask the question - we usually think that it's like nails, without nails you would not look pretty and it may be a bit impractical for scratching your ear, but once they are removed, cleanly, under the right conditions you kind of know you wouldn't suffer and never have to have a manicure - bonus! Though I never tried.

Of course claws aren't the same, but people don't know that. Can't know everything. If you don't know, it's good to ask.

One of my relatives in the US did it, had her cat declawed. I haven't had the heart to tell her what she's done yet, because... well it's done, and she is sure she's done the right thing... she has a really good heart and as far as she's concerned she did her cat a service (some quack convinced her the cat would be less prone to infections - sigh...)

Well done Donnad for deciding not to put Miss Ginger through the other nasty indignity,over here it is illegal but even before it wasn't odd people would ask the vet if he would declaw but it was always a resounding no unless on medical grounds & sometimes that does have to happen but normally only one & at worst two nails & as Alekto says a lot of people don't realise the whole implications of what has to be done,it is the same with tail docking of dogs,also "mostly" illegal over here although more seem to be slipping through the net again,l am lucky with that too because ever since this boss took over we have been a non docking practice,doesn't mean we don't see the dogs which some people thought we just don't do it but when I first started working for the other vet I was involved with docking of one litter & I asked never to have to be there again & he did allow that it was against my better feelings seeing pups "mutilated",again I don't think a lot of the pet buyers even gave a thought to how that part of the anatomy was lost to the animal.
Good luck Miss Ginger when you go to have your op & just think mum will be worrying a lot more than you as no doubt you will be getting lots of cuddles from the nurses....that's one thing I am going to miss a lot when I leave all the extra furry cuddles I can pinch....xxxx

Originally Posted by jckkerrison

Well done Donnad for deciding not to put Miss Ginger through the other nasty indignity,over here it is illegal but even before it wasn't odd people would ask the vet if he would declaw but it was always a resounding no unless on medical grounds & sometimes that does have to happen but normally only one & at worst two nails & as Alekto says a lot of people don't realise the whole implications of what has to be done,it is the same with tail docking of dogs,also "mostly" illegal over here although more seem to be slipping through the net again,l am lucky with that too because ever since this boss took over we have been a non docking practice,doesn't mean we don't see the dogs which some people thought we just don't do it but when I first started working for the other vet I was involved with docking of one litter & I asked never to have to be there again & he did allow that it was against my better feelings seeing pups "mutilated",again I don't think a lot of the pet buyers even gave a thought to how that part of the anatomy was lost to the animal.
Good luck Miss Ginger when you go to have your op & just think mum will be worrying a lot more than you as no doubt you will be getting lots of cuddles from the nurses....that's one thing I am going to miss a lot when I leave all the extra furry cuddles I can pinch....xxxx

Yes, I am afraid your right about that, I will be worried like crazy. I can not stand to watch her get her shots, she was so sore last month when she did. I hate the thought of taking her back for the booster and her rabies shot, even though I know it is for the best. It is very sad to hear about puppies getting their tails docked. Someone in the AKC or whatever needs to bring a stop to unnecessary mutilation. Miss Ginger gets her share of cuddles at the vet and I love how much they care about the animals, she gets better treatment than I do at the doctors office Thank you for your input!

Just wanted to say that it's important to give an indoor cat alternatives to scratching the furniture. It feels good to scratch, and they like to mark their scent through scratching. I've read that it's good to have a scratching post near where the cat sleeps, since they like to have a stretch and a scratch upon awakening. We have a couple scratching posts in the house, and haven't had any problems, thankfully. In the first few months, whenever Ollie started to claw the furniture, I'd tell him "no", then go and run my nails along the post, and he'd switch. Good luck!

Originally Posted by inexcelsis

Just wanted to say that it's important to give an indoor cat alternatives to scratching the furniture. It feels good to scratch, and they like to mark their scent through scratching. I've read that it's good to have a scratching post near where the cat sleeps, since they like to have a stretch and a scratch upon awakening. We have a couple scratching posts in the house, and haven't had any problems, thankfully. In the first few months, whenever Ollie started to claw the furniture, I'd tell him "no", then go and run my nails along the post, and he'd switch. Good luck!

Ginger has a 7 foot cat tower with plenty of scratching places, she loves to sleep in the nest on top. She is not scratching now but she is a baby and loves to scratch and bite me in play, although she never bites the hubby! I just trimmed her nails in the front, they are so tiny! Thank you for the advice, can not have too many scratching posts.

pff Neevie never uses the "official" ones - it doesn't make her feel naughty enough, you know, like in the Malteaser add - apparently, official scratching posts are only for scaredycats...

when she scratches the sofa she looks at me and could I swear I can hear her blow raspberries at me.... it's like "ner-ner-nerner-ner! I'm doing it and I ain't afraid of you and catch me if you can! Mouahahaha!" you know, tail up, triangle face, whiskers in front.... sigh...

on the bright side, those sofas are so old, and they were given to us when we got Neevie JUST for this kind of occurences... Doesn't even hurt! (but don't tell her that, it makes her too happy)