File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
So this is my cat. She's nearing a year old now. She's the runt of the litter and as a result never grew to be that big. I have parents that want to declaw her, even though she'll be moving in with me in two years once I graduate. I need help with ways to convince them that taking away the claws of a cat that is half the size of other cats is a bad idea. Thanks.
>> Anonymous
Tell your parents you will never love them again if they try to declaw the kitty.
>> Anonymous
Tried that with the first cat. Vet butchered her paw pads too and it's obvious he hurt her permanently.

They are talking about some using some new vet "so it will be fine." I'd stow away her in my dorm room...but that's not fair to her.
>> Anonymous
supposedly some cats hate you and become more aggressive after declawing. trim your cats nails...thats what i did. i trimmed my cats nails when she was really drowsy (after shes been in deep sleep) since she didnt like me touching her paws when shes fully alert.
>> Anonymous
Seriously, it's like chopping off your fingertips. Imagine how disfiguring that is.
And if it's an aggression problem, this WON'T help. They can still bite, and honestly that's worse.
>> Anonymous
She's playful, a little more aggressive to the other cats but she just want attention. At most they are upset over a little bit of scratched furniture. I've suggested scratching posts.

Also, has anyone hear hear anything on that nail filing thing for cats and dogs? I think that would work best, I'm hesitant to actually clip her claws because they are small.
>> Anonymous
Ask them how they would feel if you cut off the tips of their fingers and toes. Ask if they would like that. If scratching is a problem offer to buy claw caps. Also inform them that it is really common that cats get mean after being declawed because they feel defenseless, and are more likely to bite

http://www.pawproject.com/html/faqs.asp
for arguements against it.

http://www.softpaws.com/

http://www.safepetproducts.com/pilot.asp?pg=softpaws_info
>> Anonymous
"dirty jobs" once did a show on groomers and the groomer told mike rowe she would rather work with a clawed cat then a declawed cat. guess declawed cats are the equivalent of satans children.
>> Anonymous
You can always file the cat's nails. :S
>> Anonymous
>>293847

Thanks for the information. I'll compile what I can for an argument and see if it helps.

>>293848
Pretty much the result with our first cat. She went from playful, cuddly, and nice to a nightmare cat.
>> Anonymous
Most indoor cats manage to escape at least once in their life. This presents a problem anywhere since it's typically a day before it's realized or before they come back. Thus it will have to fend for itself in that time and needs claws to help it.

As someone already mentioned it can turn an otherwise loving cat into a very sour pussy who will likely start biting.

Otherwise ask your parents how they'd like to have their fingertips removed. Fingertips as in the last knuckle forward on each finger. I doubt they'd like it.

Lastly, is it scratching up anything? If so do you have a scratching post? If it's scratching things up, give it something else to and make it use it. If they have no cause then your parents are assholes and on par with people who dock and crop dogs.
>> Anonymous
>>293852Pretty much the result with our first cat. She went from playful, cuddly, and nice to a nightmare cat.
>>293847
Me again.
Remind them of that. Declawing a cat is effectivly torture. Also, 15% of cats who have been declawed refuse to use the litterbox after the mutilation.

From the ASPCA
"Declawing
The term “declaw” is a misnomer, and implies that just the claws are removed. This is untrue—declawing actually involves amputation of the end of the cat’s toes. Cats suffer significant pain recovering from declawing. An alternative surgery—called tenectomy—severs the tendons in the toes so the cat is unable to extend the nails to scratch. There appears to be less pain associated with recovery from this surgery. Owners who opt for this surgery must clip the cat’s nails regularly because the cat is unable to maintain them himself.

The ASPCA highly discourages either form of surgery. Indeed, declawing and tenectomy are illegal in some European countries."

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_scratching

http://maxshouse.com/Truth%20About%20Declawing.htm

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/declaw.html
>> Anonymous
i had my cat laser declawed when she was around 16 weeks old. she was perfectly fine. no change in personality whatsoever. she's friendly, cuddly, attention-craving, and sleeps on me every single night. Animals can lose limbs and adapt, claws don't get missed.
>> Anonymous
>>293873
Sure, not all cats are effected. But the point remains that a large portion of them ARE effected (about 1/3). And there is about a 50% chance of pretty bad complications that could require additional surgery. You got lucky. A lot of people do not. Some people have had to euthenize their cats because of how bad the behavorial problems got.
>> Anonymous
>>293856

Just the back of their already falling apart couch...really she's fine most the time.

I'll be getting her the post if they won't. Just don't the money at the moment because I have to pay for books this semester >.<
>> Anonymous
"Complications
Declawing is not without complication. The rate of complication is relatively high compared with other so-called routine procedures. Complications of this amputation can be excruciating pain, damage to the radial nerve, hemorrhage, bone chips that prevent healing, painful regrowth of deformed claw inside of the paw which is not visible to the eye, and chronic back and joint pain as shoulder, leg and back muscles weaken. "

Yeah I'm going to show them http://maxshouse.com/Truth%20About%20Declawing.htm

Thanks anon, I think this should be enough to have my mother on my side and that's all I'll need.
>> Anonymous
Get nail caps. I got soft paws for my kitten and it does the trick. He still has clawing behavior, but with the caps it does about as much damage as rubbing the couch, drapes, etc with your fingers.
You might have to replace a few every so often since she is a smaller sized cat though.
>> Anonymous
you should show her some PETA videos...then you and her can give up meat like the impressionable sheep that you are.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
If you don't have a scratching post, there's 90% of the problem. Cat's NEED something to scratch, and unless you provide them something, they'll use whatever they can find.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3261+10345+10290&pcatid=10290

Best scratching post ever.

Also, +1 on trimming her nails. You might need some help to hold her, but it's really not that hard.

Good luck, op. :)
>> Anonymous
>>293885
Glad I could help. I hope she changes he r mind, keep us updated. I would really like to know how it goes.
>> Anonymous
>>293895
lol k? Nah love meat, sorry.

>>293900
Earlier than expected update. Mother is fine with not declawing since the cat is in fact mine. That's one parent down.
>> Anonymous
>>293979
Hopefully your dad will listen to reason.
>> Anonymous
Ask your parent how would they like to have their nails removed for no good reason.
>> Anonymous
>>293895
What does Peta have to do with not mutilating a cat for no reason?
>> Anonymous
>>293877

15% 1/3 50%

Where the hell are you getting these figures?

I work for a veterinarian and many cats come through here to get declawed. We see them on an almost monthly basis and there are very rarely any problems. More like 10% of the time.

I've never met a socialized cat who has been declawed and is angry and doesn't have other problems. Out of hundreds of cases I've only heard of one cat refusing to use the litter box.

I think it depends largely on your vet how well or how poorly the animal fares post-op.

I don't agree with declawing, but that's not my decision to make.
>> Anonymous
>>294329
From professionals (Veteranarians, not people who "work for a vet") who have done studies on it involving hundreds of cats, thousands of cats over the course of multiple studies. Also, I've had it happen. Our cat was a very, very sweet and affectionate cat. We got her declawed and she turned into a vicious monster, litterally, over night. If you got within 3 or 4 feet of her she would attack you. We finally had to put her down a little more than a year after the surgery because she bit my niece and she had to get 13 stitches. For 3 years the cat was a lovable, cuddling, affectionate feline who's only problem was scratching at shit. Decalwed her and she went batshit crazy within 24 hours. There were no complications post-op. After bringing her to 4 other vets over the course of a year they all said that her paws looked fine and the surgery was perfect.

I wish I had further researched declawing and its possible side effects before I got the surgery instead of just listening to the vet telling me how much of a "routine" surgery it was. I would never, ever do it again for any reason. Soft paws all the way.
>> Anonymous
>>294336

You're supposed to get cats declawed, if at all, when they're young, so they adjust.

Not when they're 3 years old.
>> Anonymous
>>294338
And OP's cat is almost a year old now.

I've also heard plenty of horror stories about the same thing happening to young cats. Only they just gave the cat to a shelter. My fiance's mom for instance, had her kitten declawed. And while she is no vicious, she became reclusive and hides all the time. She does not play at all, and wont use the litter box, we think it hurts her paws. So they use towels in the litter box instead (which they change daily). This is after I told them what happened to my cat, bitch should have listened.
>> Anonymous
>>294341
Forgot to add that her kitten was 4 and a half months old when she got her declawed.
>> Anonymous
>>294341

I've never declawed either of my cats, but my mother used to breed Persians (inb4 SPAYNEUTERORURAFAGGET). There was never a single problem with her declawed cats. Not most of the others I know.

We see the same cats on a regular basis.

I'm going to stand by my assumption it's based on the vet performing the procedure.

I am NOT advocating declawing. It should never be done. I just haven't seen anywhere near the numbers you have and this is a big city, with lots of cat owners, and we have lots of patients.
>> Anonymous
yeah, no shit. all these statistics about complications and whatnot are bullshit. Complication rate is probably somewhere around 1-2% for a shitty vet, and 0.1-0.5% for a good vet.
>> Anonymous
I had my cat declawed without any trouble, and she was prob 6 or 7 years old when I got her.
>> Anonymous
You don't take away any cat's claws. What the fuck is wrong with people.
>> Anonymous
Meh, as long as the cat is declawed by a vet who isn't retarded it'll be fine. If you're worried about the pain get some kitty painkillers.

To everyone saying "How'd you like it if someone took off the tips of your fingers?" I say, I'd fully expect it if I was running around like an asshat stabbing people with my fingertips.

Finally, if they cat does not reside in the residence with you the cat does not belong to you. You're saying that the cat will move in with you in two years? Do you know how much that will fuck with the cat? That's even worse than declawing because cats hate change with a passion. They like everything to be the same, all the time, or they get freaked out and stressed out. So if you're so passionate about not declawing the cat you should be just as passionate about not removing her from her home.
>> Anonymous
Just fucking cut it's claws. Jesus Christ, it's a cat
>> Anonymous
>>294924
I don't know about that. I finally got a bigger terrarium for my cat and he loved it. I had him in a 2.5Gallon terrarium and put some sawdust in the bottom. I just moved him into a 10Gal now and I had enough room left over to fit a little peice of wood in there for him to scratch up. He seems much happier now. Don't listen to that anon I'm sure he'll love his new home too.
>> Anonymous
>>294924
I've never had a problem with moving cats. Ever. And I've had many cats over the years. I've also never had a problem with the cats hating change.
>> Anonymous
>>294951

ROFL

I lol'd good and hard. Well played, anon.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
1. You should have been training the cat at an early age to use the scratching post exclusively.

2. You can get get vinyl covers for claws.
>> Anonymous
How goes it OP?
>>294924I'd fully expect it if I was running around like an asshat stabbing people with my fingertips.

Except that if you had read what OP said, the cat is NOT scratching people. Just scratching the back of a raggy old couch, op suggested getting a scratching post and his parents said no.


>>294924Finally, if they cat does not reside in the residence with you the cat does not belong to you.

Bull shit. If you own an animal, and it is in the care of other people, it is still yours. Proof of this? If those people abuse the animal, YOU get in trouble along with them because you did not leave them with some one capable. And I've never in my entire life seen of, or heard of a cat spazzing because of moving. Happens ALL the time when people adopt cats from shelters. Its fine.
>> Anonymous
>>294961
who the hell paints there cat's claws?
>> Anonymous
>>295534
No one. Those are plastic covers for the claws (called soft paws) so they cannot scratch stuff up. Humane alternative to declawing.
>> Anonymous
Don't those claw covers make their claws always stay extended? Everyime I see a picture of those, they just look like they haven't retracted.
Or maybe I'm just used to my cat having tufts between her toes so we can't see her claws.
>> Anonymous
>>296140
Cats claws do not fully go into the foot, they always stick out a bit. It just looks like they are extended because the caps are bigger and longer than the actual nail. It is just easier to notice the brightly colored caps rather than white/transparent nails.
>> Anonymous
>>294961
Okay no joke my cat looks EXACTLY like this picture except I never color his claws
>> Anonymous
>>296570
The claws are not colored, they are covered with soft paws claw caps.
>> Anonymous
>>293833
So, did you convince your dad op?