What !!!!! am i reading this right DECLAWING !!!?

Question

I can not belive what i have just read someone asked a question about a kitten and a few people answered get him declawed ? I have never in my life heard of this, ITS BARBARIC what the h**l? where in the world does this happen????? and why on earth is this alowed !!

Answer 1

Its done in the USA.were they think more of their couch than cutting off their cats claws. .like recomended,if you dont want furniture scratched,DONT GET A CAT!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

It is a totally senseless and unnecessary procedure. Not to mention a trifle barbaric. Give the animal a proper place to scratch and there are generally few problems. It's bad enough we have to rip their insides out to prove that we are responsible owners but declawing is going too far.

In my opinion you should not do anything to an animal that you would not willingly have done to yourself.

And yes; I have been fixed!

Answer 3

You've never heard of declawing before? It's a really common practice. It's not barbaric. The animal is given anesthetic so it won't feel what's going on. Afterwards, they don't know any difference. I have had two of my cats declawed and they suffered no ill effects afterwards. Calm down. If you care that much about animals, please care for the ones being beaten to death by animal abusers, not under the care of proper veterinarians.  

Answer 4

i don't agree with declawing

Answer 5

Hey pealover17...it is very barbaric...how would you feel if somebody chopped of your fingers!!!!!!????? If you don't want your stuff to get scratched by a cat then maybe you shouldn't have cats at all! Cats who get declawed suffer a great deal of pain afterwords!  

Answer 6

Surely this stops them being able to climb or scramble up things like trees & fences etc?? Seems like a weird thing to do - can't say I agree with it at all, but barbaric may be a little far!

Also, with reference to 'Oh My What To Do's comment on docking dogs tails; that is still done, though only (as far as I know) for medical reasons - my old Wolfhound kept splitting the end of his tail & had to have a couple of inches taken off because of the damage he did to it before...

Answer 7

This is very mean to do to your animals, but it is pretty common. Someone asked for a percentage? It is about 30% of all cat owners.

To do this to a cat, would be like ripping you finger nails off. then when they wake up, it is like they are having to "re-learn" how to walk. I had a friend, and her dad did this to his cat. That was be for he knew how hard it would be on her. He would never do this now though. He knows it is mean! My advice is to never declaw a cat, no matter how much you want to (if you want to, you are insane!)!

Answer 8

I'm guessing that like me your in the UK?It is illegal here and most other places in Europe which is good because it's totally sick and cruel and unnecessary.

It's seen as fairly normal in America sadly but then again they still crop dogs ears which was banned here 100 years ago so they are a bit behind on animal welfare.

Answer 9

Katie- allot of us agree with you- declawing is very cruel-  

Answer 10

It's really sad that it is so common in the US.  

I live in the US, in a big city, and have 6 indoor only cats -- all with claws.  It's not that tough to build some pretty nice cat trees and train cats not to scratch at least some stuff.  Plus if you avoid buying furniture in fabrics that are fun to scratch, like textured stuff, that helps a lot.  

They've never hurt each other and I've never had a serious scratch from any of them.

Two of the cats I had growing up were declawed, before my parents knew how horrible it was.  They were never very friendly as adults and I just thought that was how cats were.  But now all of mine, even one who was feral until he was 6 months old, are friendlier than those two. Since those two no one in my family has declawed a cat.  Pets are family and family is more important than furniture.  It's a disgusting practice and I don't understand how anyone can justify it.

Answer 11

I totally agree with you .

In America they declaw there "house" cats. The poor things are not allowed to roam about as is their nature, they are put on a wire with a lead so they can wonder up and down the garden. Declawing means they can not fight back if attacked by any other animal.

It a cruel thing to do to such wonderful animals

Answer 12

It's actually a very reasonable solution. If your kitten/cat scratches the couch and everything, then declawing is the answer. Ya know, some people love cats; they just don't want their furniture ruined, so they declaw their cat. Declawing isn't abuse, either.  

Answer 13

If your from England, that could be why you haven't heard of it. From what I understand it's outlawed there. Unfortunately in the US there are pet "owners" who care more about there furniture than they do about their beloved "Fluffykins". There is supposedly a new type of procedure that makes declawing less traumatizing for a cat than older types but most vets I have been to deplore this practice and refuse to even perform it. My only experience with a declawed was one my mother had. Her idiot husband insisted on having him declawed simply because the cat shredded the UNDERSIDE of a footstool. The cat responded to the surgery by making it his life's mission to make my stepfather miserable. Chewed up every pair of shoes he bought on a regular basis, bit him every chance he got, and when my mother finally threw him out the cat urinated and defecated on every piece of my stepfather's clothing he came in contact with while he was packing. The cat also lonce left a smelly lump in one of his suitcases before a business trip and my stepdad had to smell like poo during the whole conference! Cat's rule!!!  hee hee heeeeee

Answer 14

I know it is disgusting,if you love your animal you will not rip out its claws. That is like someone tearing off your fingernails.

I hate it and make my opinion of cat owners who do this very known. It is barbaric and it is cruel. Just because the animal is given anesthetic for the procedure do not mean it do not feel anything while it heals! Also claws are a cats only defense, they do not have much else to protect themselves and even if it is a house cat nothing says it can not escape you at some point. They use it to hunt and protect themselves!

If you have a problem with it scratching then train it NOT to, simple. Give it other options of things to scratch. They scratch to sharpen the claws. Give a scratch post or old chair that is just for the cat to sleep, scratch and climb over. Take some darn responsibility for your animal instead of mutilating it.

It is a fairly common practice in North America, one I have had nothing to do with and my feline friends are happy for that. They have no problem with scratching and only scratch objects they know I let them tear apart. One loves cardboard boxes the other has his own chair (a child size recliner I got off freecycle) that he has shredded the arms and legs of and sleeps on. So what if when someone comes into my family room they see a tiny recliner that has its stuffing comeing out of the arms the rest of my house is intact.

Answer 15

Unfortunately, your statement is a big reason why cats get declawed:

"Cats scrach its a fact if you dont want your furniture scrached DONT GET A CAT!!!! and for your infomation i do a lot for sick injured and abused animals"

Cats are now the number 1 pet in the USA and declawing is a legal surgery along with docking dog tails and cropping dog ears, until they are illegal, they are a normal part of veterinary services - not an opinion, just a statement.

When so many novice cat owners are out there, and experienced cat people say what you said, what shoudl they believe?  Well, it sounds like if you own a cat, expect your entire home to be destroyed...or else.  So why not declaw?  An expert just told them that having a cat with claws means destroying your home.  hmmmm...

People in rescue are often so critical of being asked about declawing that people are afraid to ask and ask the wrong people.  If they were not yelled at or intimidated, maybe they could become educated?  Instead of yelling at them, how about helping them?  

Cats don't scratch and destroy your home if you provide the right environment for the cat and choose the right cat for your environment.  I have clawed cats and I have nice furniture and floors, I don't have to live in a shredded cat paradise.

And yes, I rescued for many, many years.  But I don't agree with the way "cat people" often deliver information to new pet owners.

Answer 16

people like "LoveGrad08" who has answered a few answers up, make me so mad!!!! Argh!! Why why why would you mutilate your cat for the sake of a scratch an inanimate object?? Why?

Woopty-frickin-doo the cat doesn’t feel anything during the procedure but what about after when it has to try and walk? Or when it is using its litter try and has to cover its p**p up by scraping its painful feet over the litter material?

What about that irritating itch the cat wants to scratch, how is it going to do that?

Cats would be better off in the care of an animal shelter than the "care" of a person who even considers de-clawing to be an option

Answer 17

Its not barbaric, it would be done at the vets, if a cat is hit by a car it sticks out its claws and trys to grab the pavement wripping the claws out (far more painful), some cats are naturally indoor cats and it would stop them shredding furniture.

You need to read up on these things before making such sweeping statements!

ps I'm in the uk and up until recently you were allowed to have dogs tails docked (cut off!!) dogs like rottweilers and not for medical reasons (medical reasons is understandable, my neighbours cat recently had to have its tail removed because someone had broken it!)

pps I have two cats and neither of them have been declawed

Answer 18

I have heard of it, but never thankfully come across it.  Some people want a soft toy, not an animal, and put their homes and furniture before the cat's safety and comfort.  A loving owner should be able to cope by providing scratching posts etc, and if that fails, tough.

My cat has just been put to sleep at 16 with a brain tumour, and as part of his legacy, the inner edges of all my curtains are peppered with tiny holes where he loved to stretch. So what.

Rather have him still than all the curtains in the world!

Answer 19

Yes it's true I have to get my cat's declawed but they arent your usual scabby street cat though they are breed to hunt fox's and other cats and birds etc

But its clas are like my gillete - razor sharp

United Kingdom By The Way

Answer 20

Yes i agree, its sick and barbaric, people who suggest this shouldnt have cats/kittens if theyre so bothered about their precious furniture etc!!! a cat has claws, so let it be a cat!!  How would they feel if they had their fingernails taken off!!! It makes my blood boil!!!!

Answer 21

I worked at a vet's where they did declawing and it's absolutely disgusting. I had to help in the procedure and regretted it ever since. They slice their fingers open, pull the skin back, and cut the tips of them off (the BONES, people.) It would be like cutting our fingers off at the top joint to prevent our nails from growing any further. It's repulsive.

Answer 22

My Family Has Two Cats That Are Both Declawed And They Have Not Suffered From Any Problems Due To Their Surgery.  

We Don't Enjoy Expensive Furniture Ruined But At The Same Time Our Cats Are Part Of The Family So Giving Them Away Was Out Of The Question.

Our Cats Are Strictly Indoors Because They're Declawed And Don't Mind It At All. I Seriously Doubt That They The Know Difference. They Are Just Two Lazy And Happy Felines Who Sleep All Day.

Declawing Is A Very Common Procedure In The U.S. And Many Indoor Cats Happen To Be Declawed For Various Reasons.  They Are Under Anesthesia During The Procedure So They Don't Feel A Thing.

At Least My Cats Are In A Loving Home And Are Not Homeless Or In An Animal Shelter.

Answer 23

Yeah, awful isn't it?  I heard they scream even when they're under anasthesia.  My mom stole my kitten away when i was little and did it to my precious angel b/c she didn't want claw marks in the furniture.  It's abuse, plain and simple.  

Answer 24

It is illegal in most of Europe de jure and in the UK de facto. Only the US is big into this horrific animal torture. I think few, if any other countries practice the procedure.

(de jure means "in law" and de facto means "in fact" and by inference not by law.)

Answer 25

Read this article

http://www.declawing.com/

I agree 100% with you, and those on here who say it's fine, blah blah blah are totally deluded!!  An animal should be allowed to keep the things that God gave it.  My cat had claws, and yes I was scratched many times, but I would never have done something as inhumane as declaw her!!

Answer 26

I agree it's absolutely disgusting, luckily in the UK is illegal. Even with anesthetic it's actually a painful procedure that can and sometimes does go horribly wrong. Cats need their claws for climbing and if they are outside they need their claws for self defence. Your right though if you don't want scratching don't get a cat (scratching furniture is a problem that can be easily resolved if the owner is prepared to do some work). I know it happens quite a lot in America and Canada also. My aunt in Canada has a 2 rescue cats, one who was abandoned because a declawing op had gone wrong and he has a paw missing and the other rescue was declawed before she got him and he has problems climbing. If it wasn't cruel it would be legal in the UK. x x

Answer 27

I believe it's a fairly common practice in the US. I don't know what percentage - maybe someone can tell us.

Answer 28

Evidence also tells us that it is extremely painful for the cat.  The cat has to walk on open wounds - it doesn't know not to walk until it's healed.  Some evidence also suggests that many cats won't use the litter tray afterwards as it's uncomfortable for them.

Most people would not have their babies finger tips amputated - they would say that is cruel.  So why do it to an animal?

It's time that this was outlawed.

Answer 29

I was quite shocked at what Declawing meant myself! I asked about declawing my older cat after an incident and have discovered this is NOT like cutting their nails, as i was under the impression. Perhaps these people who suggested to the kitten owner she have it declawed were under the same illusion i was- that declawing simply meant to cut the claws- not remove the bones! thats awful!

Answer 30

i know! its like chopping off their fingers at the joint! i would never declaw my cat!

Answer 31

I, too, gather it's a fairly common practice in America. Presumably most of their cats are indoor cats, perhaps understandable in big cities.

However, if your cat ever goes outdoors, as most of ours do in this country, it will need its claws for climbing, hunting, defending itself and so on.

Personally I feel it's a barbaric practice, akin to taking someones fingernails off; I'd rather have the scratches and slashed furniture.