I don't have cat's anymore, but I was reading an article today about how bad it is for cat's to be declawed. It explained the process that they go through to be declawed and what it limits them from doing..

I felt so bad because I know one of our cats was declawed in the front of his paws..

What are your takes on this? Is it really not as bad as they say it is, or do you think declawing is in-humane?

We adopted our in-laws siamese after they decided they didn't want him anymore and he had been declawed both front and back claws. He didn't have any trouble with his front feet but his back feet seemed to bother him and he couldn't stand for you to touch them. I personally think that it is cruel to declaw especially since there are alternatives like the soft-paws that you glue on the kitties nails. We used soft-paws on our kittens for about a year to keep them from shredding the whole house and after they got older we stopped using them, they only claw on their scratch post and never bother the furniture.
But there is always the question, is it better to declaw if the cat will have a wonderful loving home or to put it to sleep because no one wants it because it claws everything and everybody? This is a hard subject.

Time to get out my soap box..lol. How would you feel if they cut your fingers and toes off at the first joint and made you walk on them till they healed? Not to mention that you no longer have any way to defend yourself if you where to be left outside for some reason, which should never happen to a cat that has been declawed.

A cat can have it's nails trimmed same as a dog and you can buy, soft plastic covers if you really feel the need. But if you provide them with proper scratching surfaces and teach them ot to play rough you don't need to worry about the claws in the first place.

Putting away my soapbox now.

oh yeah, we do trim our cats claws just to keep them from being needle sharp, not much fun having your leg bleeding because the cat decided to take off in a flurry of claws.

I totally agree with Angie! Stupid me listened to other people when I got my Bubbie. She was the first cat I had ever touched let alone adopted. When she was spayed we had her declawed too because I was taking her down off the tops of curtains 50 times a day! We only had her front claws done and never let her out of the house, but I deeply regret what I did to her. I was ignorant of the procedure and never asked either. I took 3 days off work (which I do not regret to this day!) and held her in my arms the entire time!!! I will NEVER EVER do that to a living being again!

She gets around great and can still get on top of the fridge whenever she wants, she still wrestles with all the other kitties and sometimes even wins, but I still regret doing it.

I think it is about as in-humane as you can get. There are other was of dealing with the problem of scratching furniture etc. Believe me I have dealt with it, with lots of kittens and cats! It is the same as dealing with a destructive child, it just takes patience and persistence, (and a squirt bottle filled with water that shoots about 10 feet! :laugh: )

I agree doodlebug, I clip thier nails (all 8 of them, Olga won't let me touch her!) every 7-10 days.

LOL..Diana..don't you just love those squirt bottle...mine got to where all I had to dowas pick it up and they would squint and quit whatever they where doing.

ANGIE thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!! i feel the same way and said that to my best friend they cut their little toes off. That is just too mean if you ask me!!!!!! :soapbox:

I know Angie, all I have to do is pick up the bottle now and SHAZAM no cats!!! :laugh:

The babies haven't figured it out yet though. Ralphie thinks it is great fun ( what a :dunce: he is!) and Toby can't figure out where it is coming from!! :crackup:

sorry Question.Where is there an article about this procedure.Actually I have 2 cats.One (Tia)is 2(had her since a kitten)and the other(Fluffy) is about 4(had her for 6 months).They love to scratch my coach up.The spray bottle doesn't work any more.The 2 year(Tia) sits there like I dare you to do it.Honestly I have thought about declawing but I want information about it first and want to make an informed whats best for them decision.They are indoor cats only.Thank you

Try this http://www.declawing.com/ I did a search on aol and that was the first site I copy and pasted the main article but there are more links on the page.

Written by Veterinarian, Dr. Christianne Schelling

If you are considering declawing your cat, please read this. It will only take a moment, and it will give you valuable information to help you in your decision.

First, you should know that declawing is pretty much an American thing, it's something people do for their own convenience without realizing what actually happens to their beloved cat. In England declawing is termed "inhumane" and "unnecessary mutilation." I agree. In many European countries it is illegal. I applaud their attitude.

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.

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.

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. You can find Soft Paws® on the web by clicking here or call 1-800-989-2542.

You need to remember, though, that the caps and nail trimming should only be used on indoor cats who will not be vunerable to the dangers of the outdoors.

For a list of countries in which declawing is either illegal, or considered extremely inhumane and only performed only under extreme circumstances, or for medical reasons, CLICK HERE.

Not yet convinced? Click Here for "The Truth about Declawing - Technical Facts."

Questions or Comments? Like to add to this website? Please feel free to e-mail me.

Dr. Christianne Schelling Copyright 1998 All Rights Reserved

I had our cat Desi declawed when we got her 11 years ago, only on her front feet. I so regret it! At the time, if you were keeping a cat inside that's what you did, or at least that's what I was told. But when I picked her up, her little feet were just so pitiful and when it came time to remove the bandages, I just bawled! I would NEVER do it again, and would definitely try to talk someone out of it.

Thank you Voodidit for the article and Belinda for the information about your experience about declawing your cat.After your information and reading what is written i have decided not to declaw Fluffy or Tia.I will have to check about the Soft Paws as they are indoor only cats who refuse to use a scratching post.Thank You Very Much Again. :paw:

Coffee16, try the sisal post or they also make a board covered in sisal with a spring on top that has a pom pom attached. It gets their interest and they love it! You can lay it on the floor or hang it from a doorknob. They run around $5-$7 in Wal*Mart.

Sisal is like a really rough rope or hemp like product.

Yep..some cats prefer one type of scratching stuff over another, mine prefer carpet surface over the sisal, they have a teppe that is covered in carpet right now, but it is about wore out and needs to be replaced.

Well, if I could afford it I would get it done to my cat. He has destoyed all 6 of my dining room chairs, and one chair that was in my sons room. He has had 3 different scratching posts, all were different, and he wanted nothing to do with any of them. As for not being able to defend themselves, I would have to disagree with that one. I had two cats when I lived at home. Both had the front claws gone, and both use to bring all kinds of dead animals and leave them on the front porch. I also saw the one kick the crap out of a cat that had both sets of claws. Not all are helpless. Just my 2 cents.

i don't like the idea of declawing either!! seems like it would be sooooooo painful!! we would never do it to our cats. we have 1 indoor cat and 2 outdoor cats. the indoor one has scratched some of the trim around the doors, but we just deal with it.;)

My personal veiw on declawing depends on the cat and the situation...
I would much rather use the soft paws on kittens then I would to declaw a kitten.
However My DH before we ever meet and got married had his cat who is still living with us declawed only in the front so she would not end up tearing things up while he was out on the truck and so she would not end up getting hurt.
She copes fine without them.
However My cat who died was a much older cat who we took to the vet to get fixed and to declaw her totally because she was getting to old to be outside any longer.
I personally think that it would varies .

I've read alot and really do not like this option for so many reasons and there's safer way to handle any concerns.

I heard on tv recently that in CA a county passed where one could not declaw cats and hoping that this is just the beginning.

I checked out those soft paws, and they look kinda cool. They might be a nice alternative. My only problem would be putting them on. My cat hates to have his paws touched. He goes nuts when you try to give him medicine, I can only imagine if I tried to put those things on him.:chomp: I think that would be a two person job. Thanks for the info. I had never heard of such a thing before.

I think they may have to be put on by a vet, I'm not sure, I know I wouldn't want to try it..lol

I put soft paws on my kitties when they were kittens and kept them on for about a year. They really aren't too hard to put on, but I don't think a full grown older cat would be too cooperative, lol. You have to trim the claws before you put the pads on and the pads have to have glue inserted in them and then quickly slipped on the cat's claw. A vet will put them on but I don't know how much they charge. I was paying about $11 for a pack of them from a mail order place. And the one drawback I found with the soft paws was that sometimes my cats got hung up in strings on fabrics and loops in rugs, the pads make a ridge on the nails that can catch on strings, I had to free my cats several times from rugs and even a mini blind, so the soft paws do have a few drawbacks. And they do fall off, usually one at a time, so I had to constantly check paws to see if a new pad was needed. But the cats certainly can't claw up stuff with the pads on.

I think the soft paws helped my kitties learn that they couldn't claw up the furniture or anything because they never bother it, they tried for a while with the soft paws on but apparently weren't getting the shredded results they wanted and gave up, lol. Now they only scratch on their scratch post.

baronmom, you are right it is a two person job. Try and have a really quiet room to do it in, any noises will scare your kitty. Up on a counter top is easiest for you (you can disinfect it afterwards) Get the other person to hold your kitty, I suggest using a large bath towel, cover the entire cat including his head and one shoulder at a time. Only have 1 paw sticking out, the one you are working on. Have everthing open and ready to go. It may take a couple of trys, but in the long run is better for your kitty.

You can use the towel trick for giving meds too. I have to do this for a couple of mine.

Thanks for the advice. My cat is not a very cuddling kind of cat. He wants to be left alone, and as long as you feed him, he will come around every one in a while to get petted just a little. When he has had enough he will swat at your hand to say leave me alone now. Some days he is just down right cranky and will swat at you when you walk past. That is the main reason that I would want to get those soft paws. He has a habit of swatting the little one, and my middle son. They always have scratches on their legs in the summer. I will check into it for sure. I can see it now though it will be a war trying to get them on him.:yikes: :pdoff: :chomp: :fence: :paw:

Thanks everyone

I disagree about being able to defend themselves without claws. our cats have been decalwed for years. One got out, was cornered by two dogs and literally ripped in half. Would she have lived if she had her claws? i don't know, but she at least would have had more of a chance! Our cat has been an indoor kitty for ten years now.

I disagree. I grew up with many cats and all were declawed in the front. Never a problem with any of them. Our kitten is going in on Wednesday to have it done as well as neutered. We also have an 8yr old cat we adopted when he was 4 and he is declawed and never a problem. In fact I just checked his paws compared to the kittens and they look fine. My friend told me what to expect when we get him home. She never had a problem with her pet afterwards. Maybe the change in personality has more to do with the temper of the vet/traumatizing the pet. Not all Vets are patient people. From what I hear they give the cat/kitten an anasthesia for the declawing. No different from humans having surgery or an amputation if you ask me.