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declaw, or not to declaw? Anonymous
what are your opinions about declawing your cat?
>> Anonymous
Is fine.
>> Anonymous
Before you make the decision to declaw your cat, there are some important facts you should know. Declawing is not like a manicure. It is serious surgery. Your cat's claw is not a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. So closely adhered that to remove the claw, the last bone of your the cat's claw has to be removed. Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat's "toes". When you envision that, it becomes clear why declawing is not a humane act. It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period. And remember that during the time of recuperation from the surgery your cat would still have to use its feet to walk, jump, and scratch in its litter box regardless of the pain it is experiencing. Wheelchairs and bedpans are not an option for a cat.
>> Anonymous
No cat lover would doubt that cats--whose senses are much keener than ours--suffer pain. They may, however, hide it better. Not only are they proud, they instinctively know that they are at risk when in a weakened position, and by nature will attempt to hide it. But make no mistake. This is not a surgery to be taken lightly.

Your cat's body is perfectly designed to give it the grace, agility and beauty that is unique to felines. Its claws are an important part of this design. Amputating the important part of their anatomy that contains the claws drastically alters the conformation of their feet. The cat is also deprived of its primary means of defense, leaving it prey to predators if it ever escapes to the outdoors.

I have also had people tell me that their cat's personality changed after being declawed. Although, the medical community does not recognize this as potential side effect.
>> Anonymous
Okay, so now you realize that declawing is too drastic a solution, but you're still concerned about keeping your household furnishings intact. Is there an acceptable solution? Happily, the answer is yes. A big, joyful, humane YES! Actually there are several. The following website "Cat Scratching Solutions" provides many solutions as well as and insight into the psychology of why cats scratch. You can teach your cat to use a scratching post (sisal posts are by far the best). You can trim the front claws. You can also employ aversion methods. One of the best solutions I've found is Soft Paws®.

Soft Paws are lightweight vinyl nail caps that you glue on the cat's front claws. They're great for households with small children and are extremely useful for people who are away from home all day and can't exercise the watchfulness necessary to train a cat to use a scratching post. Soft Paws® are easy to apply and last about four to six weeks. They come in clear or colors--which are really fun. Now that's a kitty manicure! The colored caps look spiffy on Tabby or Tom and have the added advantage of being more visible when one finally comes off. Then you simply replace it.


from http://www.declawing.com/
>> Anonymous
This site has a kind of PETA-esque obsessive tone but the pictures are interesting.

http://community-2.webtv.net/stopdeclaw/declawpics/

Not something I'd want to put any animal that I liked through.

I'm finding some interesting comments about litterbox use problems and biting (which makes sense, claws are gone so teeth are the only defense).

http://community-2.webtv.net/stopdeclaw/complications/

Kinda nasty. Glad I've never declawed any of my cats.
>> Anonymous
there are these weird pads that you can put on their claws, I just forgot what they were called.
I read about it on SA, I'm sure you can google it
>> Anonymous
Jesus, come on - the name in itself is already sickening. Don't do this, please.
>> Anonymous
:!!!ransom:
>> Anonymous
One of my cats came to me already declawed. I've noticed that when he and my other cat (who still has her claws) play, he gets extremely upset and starts biting me for no apparent reason. Since he's usually so mellow, I can only believe that it's because he's been declawed - much of what I've read says that it changes a cat's personality, as you've taken away something so fundamentally important to them.

So I don't think I'll ever get a cat declawed. I'd be afraid that they'd have deep-seated psychological issues for the rest of their life, too.
>> Anonymous
>>49541
unless it(the declawing) happened really early, I guess
>> Anonymous
Absolutely not. I would never subject either of my cats to this. Cats are not difficult to train to stop clawing things you don't want them to.
>> Anonymous
I wouldn't have it done unless the choice were 'declaw the cat' or 'euthanize it'. If I did have to do it, I would never, ever do it to an adult, only to a young kitten. (To try and limit the psychological scarring as best I could.)
>> Anonymous
I found it extremely easy to train my two cats to sharpen their claws on the scratching post instead of on the sofa. Just spray them with water when they're naughty. Works like a charm.

The downside is that even when not intentionally clawing furniture, they sometimes scratch the surface they're sitting on (for example when waking up). I haven't found a good solution for this, but keeping their claws cut pretty short keeps damage to a minimum.
>> Anonymous
My parent's cats were declawed and now one of their cats is a psychological mess. Before being declawed she was a sweetie, afterwards she became very antisocial/mean and has a fit if anything goes near her paws. I'd never do this.
>> That Gomez
Say your cat gets out of the house, since I'm assuming that the whole declawing surgery is to keep him inside. but say he does sneak out the door. He's in a whole new world of large, scary things that want to eat him. Yes, he will have his back claws, but when will he use them? There's a good chance he could never. He can't defend himself. He can't hide.

By declawing your cat, there's a good chance that he could die because of it.

This comes from someone whose had several cats foxed, unable to defend themselves. Trust me. Cats last longer with claws.

If you want to protect your furniture, there are alternatives that you can purchase that will be cheaper than a declawing surgery.
>> Anonymous
Here's a slightly off topic question. My cat chooses to live outside so he can be free and do what he wants or whatever. He'll still come inside when it gets cold or when he's hungry but mainly he'll just be out and about doing his own thing. This leads to a problem though, he inevitably ends up getting in a number of fights which leads to battle scars. He takes care of himself very well and he's quite a big cat but sometimes he'll come home and have a large bloodstain on his paw and be missing one of his claws. Question is this, do they grow back? It's obviously very painful and i dont really wanna bother him by messing around with his feet after this just to check. I still take some time to apply a little bit of neosporin though, or some other non toxic anti bacterial to the area to kill off some of the germs.
>> Anonymous
Placing the well being of your furniture of that of a living creature is nuts. If you're just trying to protect your family from scratches, well, they're just scratches. It's not worth mutilating your cat over something that will heal in a week.
>> Anonymous
Meh, I declawed all my cats myself. All I used was a pair of small hand shears. Nothing to it. Just wrap you cat in a towel or blanket so it can't get away and stuff.

I had priced it and the vet was like, "$100 for each cat." I was like, "fuck that" and did it myself.
>> Female.
I trim my cat's claws bi-monthly.
Did it since they were kittens, they just sit there because they know a treat is instore for sitting still.
I tried the plastic caps you glue onto them, but Soda, my youngest yanked an entire nail out and bled everywhere so I stopped using them. Calico the old one also kept getting the caps caught in the carpet.
>> Anonymous
I support the animalfags on this. Don't buy a fucking cat if you don't want claws.

Don't get a fucking dog if you don't want it barking.

Don't get any goddamn animal if you aren't ready to cope with -everything-. It doesn't matter if you keep it as food or fun, they're no fucking accessories. Claws or no fucking cat at all.
>> Anonymous
I would never do it to my cats. crippling them even more than they've already been at the shelter? no.
>> Anonymous
The only people who would consider declawing a cat are the same sort of worthless individuals that consider a pet as a decoration or an object.
>> Anonymous
coming from someone who worked at a vet...declawing should be an option as a LAST RESORT. try getting scratching posts and a water bottle. most cats are naturally attracted to the posts. if they start scratching something that you don't want scratched squirt them with a little water....if they still don't learn after a while, ask for LASER declaw and only the front paws. the laser is more accurate and less painful. they do have meds you can put your cat on for a month to help them recover if you want.
>> Female.
>>49574
why not suggest trimming?
AS is only the sharp pointy tip, they'll scratch anyways to resharpen but it does keep the damage minimal.

My eldest cat doesn't like vertical scratching posts, she won't use them period, and never claws chairs, or beds or anything, it's always a horizontal surface, so I got her a flat round scratching disc and she's learned to use that.

My youngest, Soda, likes vertical, and tends to do it to my bed. e_e But he also lkes to chew on our couch, much like a dog does.

But trimming is more humane then declawing, I couldn't stand to put my cats through that, and the only reason I trim, is when I play with them they get a bit to rough and gouge me to hell.

There's a safe way to trim, and a right area to trim the nail at, it doesn't harm them at all, if you do it right, and it doesn't psychologically scar them either.
>> Anonymous
Declawing is for retards.
>> Anonymous
I live on a farm. Declawing my cat would be counterproductive. but I'm sure every rodent hare and squirrel-sized or smaller would thank me. He spends as much time inside as out, but his scratching post prevents him from tearing up the rug.

It sure was damn hard work, finding a log, wrapping carpet around it rough side out, and nailing it to a plywood board. Took nearly half an hour and didn't cost a dime.

Not only is keeping your cat's claws intact humane, it's also economical.
>> Anonymous
OP is troll. Surprisingly civil thread considering!
>> Anonymous
Summarizing for the record:

>>Claws or no fucking cat at all.

I'd just like to second that, thank you.
>> Anonymous
Declawing? LOL USA. Hey if you're an emo kid you don't need to cut yourself anymore. Just go play with a still clawed cat FTW.
>> Anonymous
>>49555
Eesh, that's not cool. Anyways though, unless it actually rips out the nail bed so to speak it should grow back in time.


Anyways.
I used to get all my cats declawed (well, my parents did anyways). All the cats we had seemed to have no issues with the surgery and it prevented a lot of stress on them later. Instead of getting yelled at for clawing furniture or suffering claw trimming, they had 2 or 3 days of hell then back to 'normal'.
The key was we thought to do it while they were young, before they really got a chance to get 'used to' claws so to speak. They would grow up not knowing or caring if they had them...and it seemed to work just fine. We never had any problems.
The one cat we had who went insane did so some time after the procedure. (oh and btw we left the back claws in in case they got out)

...then we found out just recently that they didn't use anesthetic on cats during declawing...
I guess it only was common sense to use as humans that cat or person, they'd get some anesthetic.
Guess not.

Needless to say I haven't had my cats declawed. The cat I had who just died a month ago was a scratcher so I trimmed her claws once or twice a week. It seemed to prevent major damage. She wasn't keen on the scratching post though...

>> Anonymous
I have a farm cat and we never bothered to declaw her and we've never had any problems with her at all, scratching-wise. Sometimes she terrorized us when we were kids XD but we understood that she was an animal and if she scratched us, it was probably our own fault (Mum and Dad held no sympathy XD). I guess maybe because she's outdoors a lot (she's a half-in, half-out kind of cat), she's never taken to scratching anything really XD She never took to the scratching post but she doesn't scratch the furniture either. We've never had to replace upholstery because of her or anything.
>> Female.
>>49599
I give the softclaws a HUGE no!
Why? The cats STILL scratch and when they do the plastic covers get caught in anything fiber like, also the cats tend to YANK them off, which like it did for my cat Soda, caused the entire nail to come with and bleed like a mother.
I could understand it for Dogs, but cat's, noo it really irritates them, the cuticle, the feet, AND the cat.
>> Anonymous
>>49599...then we found out just recently that they didn't use anesthetic on cats during declawing...

I was a vet tech a long, long time ago, and we used anaesthetic on the cats before declawing. Seriously, how the heck do you keep a cat still when you're basically removing the tips of their paws.

The surgery itself is quick, but I am not a big fan of declawing. If you want to save your furniture from being scratched up, get a goldfish.
>> Anonymous
Goldfish bowl = Cat TV ?
>> Female.
>>49628
MY old cat doesn't care about fish.
My young on, keeps trying to get them through the glass.
>> tits od gtfo Anonymous
>>49640
rly?
>> Anonymous
i agress with scratching post and water bottle.

if you're a diy kind of person, you can mount a vertical maze with sisal on your wall. keeps them occupied and then they have their own high place to climb to, instead of your human furniture.

If all else fails, have a vet or a groomer show you how to trim your cats' nails. they should also be able to show you how to hold your cat so that it doesn't freak out and bite the shit out of your hands.
>> Anonymous
don't declaw. Its horrible for the cat
>> arwen
imagine having the top section of each of your fingers removed.

that's declawing.

declawing also tends to turn cats into biters.
>> Declawing Leach
Declawing your cat is awful. They actually remove part of their toes, not just the claws, and they can have phantom pain for the rest of their lives, not to mention they more easily fall off of things because they can't hold on.
>> Anonymous
>>49900
Also, they can't hunt pests properly if declawed. And a cat that can't hunt is just meat waiting to be cooked.
>> Anonymous
Good heavens, I hope I never meet any of you cat people IRL.

To be fair, you should keep in mind that an 'equally painful and humiliating' procedure is spaying and neutering, considered a societal standard for the good of pet populations. Spaying and neutering also permanantly changes a pet's personality, and well-being, but it's done everyday at the behest of the same folks detracting declawing.

Just sayin.
>> Anonymous
Only do it if the cat does excessive clawing.
Like my uncle had this apeshit cat who would claw your legs as soon as you walked in the door. As soon as he was declawed he became really sweet.
>> Anonymous
I've an old cat that I've had since I was small. When I was a kid, she was declawed... She chewed off the scabs and stitches and so forth, and her paws became seriously infected...
Then the gangrene set in. She'snmissing most of the toes on one paw.
She has some nerve damage in her paws, but she has also learned to use her front paws like hands despite everything. No, really. She scoops up food and water with them, and eats that way. She's a very odd cat.
But I love her very much <3
She's nearing fiften now... whee!
>> Anonymous
Just a little bit of information. All vets do this procedure differently. Some don't use anesthetic some do, most will if you ask. It *is* your cat after all.

Now, while everyones saying that the cats go through a huge amount of pain and all this other whiney stuff, yes that's true. I've been through a worse surgery though and I handled it just fine so I'm pretty sure the cat can too. No, I couldn't have pain meds because I'm allergic lol. It was a field day let me tell ya.

Now, the soft cap things blow. A friend of mine glued them to his cats nails like you're supposed to. Cats HATE them. Hate with a passion. She tore them off within a week and ate them haha.

Now on to everyone saying that it changes your cats personality and all cats who're declawed are mean. That's complete BS. Don't listen to them. Some cats personalities might change, however out of the 13 cats I've lived with, which my parents got declawed, not one of them had any kind of a terrible personality or changed it's personality at all.

Your best bet though is to try and train your cat what to scratch and what not to. Most cats can be dealt with this way and it's not too hard. However if your cat doesn't respond you shouldn't feel badly for doing it. You're giving them a much better life then they would've had otherwise. If you give them to a shelter they won't last long. The shelter I worked at could get upwards of 40 cats a day.
>> Anonymous
Only if you really can't keep them from damaging things. Most cats will take to a scratching post and leave the sofa alone if someone's around to train them with a squirt bottle and rewards for using their post. If you're scared that it will scratch YOU, you have to learn how to interact with it in ways that don't piss it off. Cats demand respect.

Don't choose such a procedure unless it's absolutely necessary to do so in order to keep the animal, and if you do, it should be kept indoors, since it will not be able to defend itself outside. Cats DO get into fights and DO get chased by dogs and without claws it can't fight or climb to safety.

So yeah, there's the easy way and the loving way to keep your cat from damaging things with it's claws, we've never declawed any of our cats and we've never had trouble with them. Save yourself the money unless it becomes a last resort.
>> Anonymous
Ugh, half of you people against declawing act as if your cats go out and hunt for you. They're house pets, that spend the majority of their time in the house, with expensive furniture and kids. Not out prowling the alleys lookin' for fights with other cats.
>> That Gomez
>>50052
lies. My cats spend about 15-20 minutes inside during the day, and that's to eat and poop. She usually wanders in at about 12 to sleep and comes and goes during the night.
>> Anonymous
>>50052
Actually mine almost always returns with something he killed when he's out.
>> Anonymous
Personally, i think it's very cruel to declaw. There's something not right about taking something like that off a cat. Then again I am object to cropping dog ears or cutting tails.

If you're worried about them scratching up your funiture, put double sided tape on the spots where they go to sharpen and leave a scratching post out. It's worked for me for some of the toughest cats. They hate the tape on their paws and will stop scratching the spot all together even when the tape is taken off.
>> Anonymous
>>50107
>Then again I am object to cropping dog ears or cutting tails.

Both practices are illegal in many countries.
>> Anonymous
aye, my cat is a total fucking beotch..... that said, she lets me clip her nails no problem. you can do it with a pair of normal nail clippers too. and yes, declawing a cat involves lopping off the entire digit, or end of finger. cruel as hell, most vets suspect even cats clipped as kittens still suffer from fantom pains, just like human amputes and are now preaching against the practice
>> Anonymous
lol @ the analogy "You wouldn't get a dog if you didn't like barking"

DON'T YOU FUCKING RETARDS -TRAIN- YOUR DAMN DOGS? THEY DON'T BARK LIKE IDIOTS IF YOU TRAIN THEM
>> Anonymous
hay /an/ how would i go about detoothing my cat like the above post mentioned.

ive already got both of them declawed so they cant tear up my $5000 sofa or my fancy clothing, but they still bite a little bit, it doesnt hurt or anything but its sometimes annoying.

and i found him chewing my sheet once, then licked it and....ugh......i cant stand wet sheets.

so, if your like a vet or something, what would be the best way to approach this. Also i hope it doesnt cost alot, alot of people said they trim their own cats nails, could i like just trim and save money, or will they still bite and lick things.

sry if my english si not that good, not american.
>> Anonymous
what the fuck guys cmon tell me, the damn thing was licking my hand and then bit me a little bit just because i petted him.

ive got toe nail clippers here and thats probly the best thing anyhow, i think im just going to do it because im tired of this damn thing doing that, even if it doesnt hurt and he only does it maby once a day, its bullshit.

ive got like 5 mins b4 i gatta go and then i gatta lock him in his cage.
>> Anonymous
I gatta go so ill keep this short i guess, cuz u better post what i need to do next when i get back later.

I grabbed him (the biter not the other one) with a towel and got the toe nail clippers and started to clip the ends of the teeth, but he started freaking out.

I got the job done but now hes just being all crazy so i had to lock it in the bathroom.

I thought this was just an easy thing that everyone does n stuff, heck one guy said saved him money doing stuff on his own.

wtf
>> Anonymous
I have a declawed cat. She lives indoors. And that's the best she'll ever get.

However, there is not doubt, that I love cats. All my cats have been declawed, and if that means I get to keep them and rescue them from the pound. Even though I'm not a cat, I'm sure life comes before claws.

And this wasn't a decision made lightly, they had already utterly destoryed the furniture among further destructive habits. I'm only 15, and my mom was the one who decided and payed for it, but if it means I can rescue and love a cat, then I totally agree.

Clawing isn't the only reason, my cat chews furniture and wires. Therefor she stays only in my room. And again, some may think this is cruel. But it's this or death for a cat. In order to keep my cat, I've had to wrap all of my wires in tin foil to keep her from chewing them. The furniture corners are unprotectable short of a bitter apple spray, but it's too late for that too and I couldn't do it to the entire house. Not to mention wrap every wire in tin foil too.

And it's not that I'm happy with this arrangement, but if it means she can be safe, and indoors, then I see no other solution.

I know the surgery is hard on them, but now my cat and I can play more freely, I don't have to worry about her hurting me and therefor I don't have to punish her if she does. She's gotten over it completely.

In conclusion, when it comes to claws or life. Life wins.
>> Anonymous
>>>50237

I'm only 15
>> Anonymous
My friend's cat was declawed, I'm not sure how well she took it though, I do know that she's quite antisocial, and bites most people who try to pet her...
>> Anonymous
I had my cat's front claws removed the same time I had her fixed, and I've never had any problems at all. It is surgery though; they have to be kept in a cage to rest a few days after it's done. Please, for the sake of your cat, don't try to do it on your own...I mean, it's removing the whole claw, not just trimming it.
>> Anonymous
>>50376

What of it if I'm only 15?
>> Anonymous
>>50444

underage b7
>> Anonymous
>>50237

Training should come first and foremost. Grats on having to resort to such an extreme because you couldn't own up to the responsibility of owning an animal. Also, grats on being too young to legally browse 4chan.
>> Anonymous
>>49530

Well, those will give me nightmares.

Anyway, my parents got a cat declawed once. Her paws oozed shit for about 2 months, she stopped using the litterbox for about twice that period and used every opportunity possible to devestate people's ankles with her back claws.

It seems like a pretty bad idea.
>> Anonymous
Definitely wrong.

If you want it so it can't scratch your sofa/you that well, cut it's claws, trim the tips off with pocket toenail trimmers, but cut to the red, not even near there, you you'll have a bleeding cat and a bitchin' bill.
>> Anonymous
i was watching the show "dirty jobs" and that episode was at a grooming station for both dogs and cats. the workers said that they dont like to work with declawed cats because the cats are much more aggressive then cats with claws. personally i think declawing is unneccesary unless you have a new born baby in the house or your and OLD grandma/grandpa...or if youre diabetic. just get your cat groomed.
>> Anonymous
some people have mentioned sisal scratch posts, something any cat I've encountered seems to love are the corrugated cardboard scratch pads.
>> mentat
it's way wrong. the sisal posts are good, or do like i did and use some scrap 2x4's, plywood, and some carpet remnants and build them a 2-storey UTOPIA which we named New Catalonia. they love it. also +1 on the cardboard things, but they = daily vacuuming of paper shreds
>> Anonymous
1) dehead cat.
2) buy dog.
>> Anonymous
>>50584
Err, meant to say "but don't cut to the red", only th tips, or you'll have a bleeding cat and bitchin' bill.
>> Anonymous
Declawing your cat=MEGAFAIL

Claws are your cat's first and primary line of defense against predators. To remove your cat's claws is to leave it open and vulnerable to any outside threat. Your cat becomes aware of this very quickly. Some cats develop psychological problems, sometimes irreversable ones, because of this. It's as if someone took your hands away and expected you to live a normal life.

Declawing your cat also means you are taking away his calling card. In the wild, cats scratch to mark territory, sharpen their claws (both for hunting and the abovementioned reason), and to limber up their muscles. Scratching is also accompanied by scent marking through scent glands in their wrists, as the scratches act as a visual sign and keeps the scent around longer. To declaw your cat could possibly lead to other forms of marking, such as spraying.

Lastly, there are many risks involved with the declawing of cats. The rish of infection is extremely high, especially in households that have their cats outdoors or use a clumping type of litter. The fecal particles and the litter itself can become lodged in the sutures, which causes an infection and cost thousands of dollars to clear up. There is also the risk of a doctoral mistake, resulting in clubbed feet and lameness, which could lead to possible amputation and even more money down the drain.

If you absolutely MUST declaw your cat, then PLEASE keep your cat indoors and use a paper-based litter.

There are many alternatives to declawing your cat, including Soft Claws claw caps, scratching posts, and Sticky Paws furniture covers.

So please,DO NOT DECLAW YOUR CAT.
>> Anonymous
>>50701

dehead? What are you, 12?

Try a b, asshole.