de-clawing kittie's

[chilly_cat]

i have recently heard that pple ACTUALLY de-claw their cats!!!! like how utterly cluel and in-humane can pple get?

just because there cat scratches the furniture there just to lazy to do anything about it to stop them, so they just go to get there cats claws ripped out!

if u actually love or care about ur cat why would u get them de-clawed? i don't know? its just behond me that pple can be so utterly evil! might aswell go and get ur fingers chopped off while ur gettin them de-clawed cuz its the same bloody thing!

the poor little cats are in quite a lot of unnecessary pain from the mutilation of the paws! just cuz there owners think something a long the lines of

"well there an inside cat so they don't realy need there claws and i won't have my favorite chair scrached"

well pple who do it obviously care more for their furniture than the happy well being of there cats..there pple don't even diserve to own cats let a lone any other pet, wat next? will they take there dog to get its teeth pulled out?

well sorry its so long but i'm a totall cat lover and i hate any form of unnecessary in-humane treatment towards cats!

[campbellking]

Unfortunately, it's very common practice in the U.S.A. where cats are often kept confined in an apartment. Don't know if it's legal over here.

[chilly_cat]

oh and yeh about that, here in Australia where i live its illegal to de-claw ur cat as with getting ur dogs tail cut off unecessarely or getting ur dogs ears clipped..

chilly_cat

[drgnrdr]

I was going to let this go but decided to comment instead, I know I am probably going to get the backlash and am ready for it.....I am not sure what you mean by "common" pratice, not everyone in the USA de-claws their cat. I know about 100 people in my general circle of friends and not one of them has declawed their cat, but about 95% of them keep their cat INDOORS, they love their cats to much to let them loose. Any time I hear of injury to a cat or lost or hit by car or whatever might befall a loose cat I just wished the owner had kept them in.

So I don't understand how people could let their cats roam outside. They get themselves into trouble with the neighbors when they destroy or potty and spray their personal property. They have to dodge cats,dogs and bad people. They could kill endangered animals, and other wildlife. And when they get into a fight they can get injured or contract diseases.

How can you say you LOVE your cat and then turn around and let them out,

So chilly_cat: it's a difficult thing to figure out, but humans can be so cruel and are so good at giving excuses and justifying their actions.

>>steps off soap box<<<

[Drusilla]

Hi chilly-cat. My daughters have just got a kitten and the little horror has taken to slashing at the underside of the settee and even though I find it annoying I wouldn't dream of de-clawing the little minx. I was surprised to read that some people would do such a thing.

I totally disagree with drgnrdr and actually think its cruel to keep a cat locked up and call such treatment, love.
They enjoy roaming about in the fresh air and I certainly won't be keeping our minx locked in a gilded cage like a stuffed toy, though I will ensure she is indoors whenever I go out (Work, shops etc) and when I go to bed.

[AliFlump]

My cat was 15 when he died in march, we let him in and out whenever he wanted.He came to no harm outside and we live opposite a bus yard and a skip hire company. Its a cats nature to hunt mice and voles etc, you'l never stop that.

I think its cruel to keep a cat inside all the time, cats have been tamed to be domestic pets from the wild so its in their nature to be outisde and roam around.

as for declawing them thats a terrible thing to do, thats why they need to go outside every so often so the ground grinds the claws down.

They dont have cat salons in the wild!!!

[ursula62]

Did you see the papers over Christmas? Someone told the RSPCA to take their cat away and rehome it because it no longer matched their new carpet!

[woofgang]

I live in the UK but lived in New Jersey for 2 years, this is about 10 years ago now. Our vetenarian then was completely against de clawing cats and cropping dogs ears and would not entertain it at his practice.

Our Weimaraners then (since deceased) were undocked and still had their dew claws which surprised and delighted him. Should explain that our current weimaraner is also undocked and has dew claws. I Don't think that he was a particularly unusual American vetenatrian in not wanting to make a living mutilating animals!!

[yummyumm]

Hi, my cat recently had a problem with in-growing claws(she is 16 years old) and when I looked for some info on the net I found this: www.softclaws.com

Whatever will people think of next...

[woofgang]

I wonder if anyone has ever managed to fit them without a general anaesthetic??

[maggie01]

I have never heard of it before, but I think it is cruel. Surely they need their claws when they are outside to climb. To get away from preditor etc. Claws help them to grip on to things. If people are more worried about their furniture than the cats then there is a simple answer. DON'T HAVE ONE!

[drgnrdr]

Okay: Cats don't "ground" down their claws..they are sheathed, they only are suppose to come out when they make them come out, they scratch on things to mark territory, stretch their legs, get rid of shedding claws (you may have seen these if your cat is indoors and scratches) to kep them in top condition.

I did not say lock your cat up in a cage...If your home is that small then by all means give them some room to stretch, take them out on a leash and figure eight harness.

Any cat declawed should be kept Indoors..PERIOD. AliFlump you had a lucky cat. I can print on here all the stories I have heard, and the last few days, since it's been nice, more cats are out and about I have people angry at them because of damage and they want to know if they can trap them or how to get rid of them, I try to divert them to a better aversive to stop them (cats) from coming to their house without hurting the cat.

Check out http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/inout-cats.pdf Now these are EXPERTS on cats and what they do, they have to deal with MILLIONS of cats.

We domesticated them and now have to take responsibility. See what I mean chilly_cat...

[undercovers]

that info is from the "dumb friends league"?!

sorry chilly if your question has been hijacked by the inside or outside debate - it really does tick you off doesn't it drgnrdr see previous debate (sort of) here http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals_and_Nature/Question154462.html

declawing is indeed a wicked thing to do to a cat but thats just my opinion - and yes it does happen in coutries outside UK more often but it just represents how different cultures have developed in relation to their pets - you can't say either camp is truely wrong because they are not doing things with an intention to hurt or cause suffering it is just the way things are done in their family, group, town etc.

[Drusilla]

The term 'gilded cage' drgnrdr is a British term that refers to keeping someone in wonderful conditions, but denying them freedom. It does not mean a small metal cage.

We in Britain do generally have much smaller homes than Americans, probably because we don't have the space in our cities to spread.

As for much of the cruelty you describe towards cats, I dont think it's anywhere near as bad in the UK. We occasionally hear of people who put poison down in their garden, but widespread trapping of cats is a no-no with us.

[campbellking]

I was basing my answer on when I lived near Detroit in 1997/1998, and in the apartment block where I lived, most cats were declawed.

Our three cats, Jess, Trumpton and Campbell spend most of the day outside. Campbell is often quite difficult to get in overnight in the summer months as she'd far rather be outside. Trumpton is quite clumsy, and has never caught a thing in his life (I've seen his efforts with a half-dead wasp), Jess thinks catching anything is below her, and only Campbell possesses any hunting skills, and she's not very good. They choose to go out, and I think for their general fitness and well-being it's the best thing for them

[Supernick]

While we're at it, lets keep our children in the house at all times away from all possible dangers. In fact we can all stay inside and none of us will ever make anyone else angry or put ourselves in danger.

Okay, I'm being sarcastic, but danger is part of life and not something we should wrap ourselves (or our cats) in cotton wool for. Cats may be domesticated, but retain many of their wild impulses and instincts. Our cat wanders arund outside and comes and goes as he pleases. Essentially he's got a choice as to where he wants to be so I let him. If a neighbour gets cross with him, I have no problems with them shouting or squirting him with a water pistol or whatever they do. He'll learn and get over it. Obviously I don't want them hurting him, but he's free to go where he chooses and as far as I'm concerned enjoys himself. I'm sure that he brings pleasure to other neighbours as well as he's a very sociable chap, and I know he sleeps in at least one neighbour's living room from time to time. Tragedies happen sometimes and they can happen anywhere at any time. Perhaps he'll be run over one day. Perhaps I'll leave the room for a second one day and he'll pull the iron onto himself. You can be careful, but why lock them up if they want to explore?

[Supernick]

sorry to hijack the postwith my last answer

De-clawing - completely outrageous. Might as well chop children's hands off to stop them scribbling on the walls.

[Robert G]

Pet cats living in humans' furnished homes should be provided with a good-sized vertical or near vertical scratching post - a tree trunk or branch about 1 metre high and complete with bark.

Pet dogs should have one, too, complete with miaow. Sorry, but I couldn't resist that!

[drgnrdr]

To undercovers: yes they are named that: When our organization was founded in 1910, it was named after a London, England, animal shelter called Our Dumb Friends League. In those days, the term "dumb" was often used to refer to those who were unable to speak.

Although the term "dumb" is not generally used with that meaning today, we've kept our name, because it has significant recognition among Colorado residents.

And my first post was addressed at chilly_cat question : >quote<" like how utterly cluel and inhumane can pple get?"<unquote'<
I was informing chilly_cat. Everyone else addressed my comments. And I had to address any misconception or misunderstanding. And this time I am addressing your question and clearing anything up that needed it.

Now back to your regularly scheduled program...declaw cats....yes/no?

[chilly_cat]

thnx pplz for all ur answers! i'm happy that u all agree that this is cruel and unesessery!

and with keeping ur cat indoors well i let mine out but they can come in wen ever they want..it may be true that inside cats live longer but wouldn't it be better to live a shorter happier life full of exitment and freedom? or a long boring unstimulating traped life? i would prefer my cats to live a shorter happier life than a longer misurable life..

but anywayz thnx u all so much! hopefully this kind of cruelty will be out lawed everywere!

[Eels]

I think any responsible owner judges for themselves on the basis of their own circumstancs whether it's right for cats to venture out.

I live in a rural area with quiet roads, my cats are fully vaccinated and do not wear collars, so I deem it perfectly safe for them to go out. They obviously benefit from this, as they freely exhibit natural behaviours such as stalking and killing prey - something they cannot do indoors.

If I lived in a city centre, my cats were unvaccinated and I was concerned about their safety I might think differently. Then again, I might not have cats.

To tar all cat owners as irresponsible simply because they have made a considered choice to allow their pets access to their natural environment is really ridiculous and patronising.

As for that vile American habit of declawing, descenting and de-anything else that allows an animal to exhibit normal natural behaviour, disgusting.