All in favor of declawing cats...

[Flying Squirrel]

[B Calm]

1. Oh hell NO!

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. There was a petition I signed recently against tail docking and ear mutilation in dogs.

One of the barbaric practices the AKC still thinks is a good idea, ick.

[BlueJazz]

3. Mine wears gloves.

(ok, for 2.63 seconds)

[temporary311]

19. Kitten Mittens?

[img][/img]

[BlueJazz]

23. They're sorta' like that but I think he got revenge by pooping in my headphones.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

34. LOL! I love that show. n/t

[TwilightGardener]

66. LOL, I love Charlie. "MEEE-OW!"

[postulater]

4. Nope.

[Autumn Colors]

5. Hell no!!!!

In fact, I believe there's been some progress here in Connecticut towards legislation to make declawing illegal here.

[Warpy]

8. It's getting really hard to find a vet who will do it

and that's progress, already.

[Judi Lynn]

12. Thanks for the good news. It's needed. n/t

[catrose]

59. Great!

But not impossible, because I have 2 year old declawed foster cat. She was turned into the shey, probably by her owner, as a "feral stray." Right.

[DesertFlower]

6. never. it's mutilation.

[Warpy]

7. Please consider a great alternative

http://www.amazon.com/Soft-Claws-Cats-System-Medium/dp/B00074W45I/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1455068795&sr=1-3&keywords=soft+paws+for+cats

They come in a lot of colors so you can give Kitty a furniture preserving manicure and keep him looking spiffy.

[herding cats]

16. Those are great!

I used them when we had a dominance issue between a foster and my kitty. It kept the bloodshed to a minimum!

Loved this review at Amazon.

4.0 out of 5 starsSafety first
ByDave Son January 22, 2016
Size: MediumVerified Purchase
I'd have gone 5 stars if they didn't have to be manipulated by pinching them to make them open up enough to slide of the claw, but that's a minor inconvenience compared to wrestling a pissed off cat that doesn't have any caps over her razor sharp claws. These are hard to use wearing all the protective equipment (hockey mask, leather coat and gloves, shin guards). I'm type O+ if you're a donor. However, once on, they work great. The constant scratching no longer shreds the upholstery. Can I get these for her teeth? If she ever learns how to open the shower slider, I'll have no place safe to sleep. They look great. Since she started sporting the bright red tips on her webcam, the subscriptions have taken off. Those bright red claws really pop out on video. She does have a hard time with the keyboard, but that's not because of the Soft Claws. I'm hoping Soft Claws 2.0 has some sort of adhesive built in to the tip. I get the crazy glue stuck all over my fingers, and of course, the black cat hair then sticks to the glue - which means I've got patchy black fur stuck to my hands for days (including the palms . . . I know . . . weird, right?) Seriously, this is a wonderful product. If they made these for my little sister in the 70's, I'd have had a normal childhood. Thanks for reading, but my therapist is pounding on the bathroom door. I gotta let him out.

[Laffy Kat]

31. I use those on my kitteh.

The only thing is, I have to take her to the vet to have them applied. It costs $25 but they stay on about six weeks or so. When your kitteh is as mean as mine is (she attacks people) you have to do what you have to do. I'd NEVER get her declawed, however.

[mythology]

42. We used something like that on my last cat

She wouldn't stop clawing and obviously we weren't going to have her declawed.

It helped that the things she was most likely to need to defend herself were dust bunnies and her own shadow. She was adorable, but obnoxiously timid.

[grasswire]

56. what cat is going to allow this??

My newish kitty has the biggest, sharpest claws I have ever seen. She doesn't use them on furniture, but she does scratch the wall !! in one place, and I can't hold her without a towel over my shoulder.

I can't imagine her allowing me to trim her claws and then adhere these things.

[Warpy]

58. Most vets will do it

and it doesn't cost that much.

HRH would have let me, she was a peach and knew even the vet was trying to help. She had "easy kitty" in big block letters on her chart. It was quite a difference from the hissing, spitting ball of hairy rage they took out of the cage at the Humane Association.

[JonathanRackham]

9. Militant cats says.

Last edited Tue Feb 9, 2016, 10:28 PM - Edit history (2)

http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Cat+gives+the+finger+_d7d8b8_1558.jpeg

[demtenjeep]

10. oh no

its like cutting off the ends of fingers

that is so cruel

[Crunchy Frog]

11. Not any worse than circumcising little boys, to be perfectly honest.

[KamaAina]

24. Can circumcised boys go outside?

Declawed* kittehs cannot, because the operation leaves them defenseless.

[Crunchy Frog]

25. Not an issue if it's an indoor cat.

Which they should be anyway. They can be devastating to local wildlife.

I'm not advocating it BTW. Just saying I don't think it's any worse than something that I also think is bad.

[NickB79]

35. Really, no cats should be outside, clawed or declawed

Cats allowed outside are exposed to far too many hazards, and themselves create far too many hazards for other wildlife.

[catrose]

60. Every declawed cat I've met has been insane

Maybe from the terror of being vulnerable, often from pain, either from muscular damage or from bones & claws trying to grow back.

Circumcision is bad, but not exactly in the same category.

[Mariana]

61. My cat was declawed in the front feet when I got him.

He's the sweetest, friendliest, most affectionate kitty I've ever had. I don't believe he's in pain now, but he sure remembers the pain. He'll put up with just about anything being done to him, except he won't allow his front feet to be handled at all.

[catrose]

70. I'm glad to hear a success story!

As a rescuer, I get the ones dumped at the shelter because (1) they bite (2) they pee on everything (3) they're crazy mean. And, no, you can't touch their feet. My vet says he has to sedate pretty much all declawed cats just to examine them. They know the vet means bad news.

Even the sanest, probably-not-in-pain declawed guy is very afraid of other cats, which I can understand. Good wishes to you and yours!

[tammywammy]

13. Great pic!

Great way to show why declawing is awful.

[Orrex]

14. All in favor of spaying/neutering your cats, show us your genitals!

[kwassa]

15. I'm so glad you're here.

Tossing these little bombs.

[Orrex]

20. From each according to his ability.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

17. ! nt

[REP]

43. Perhaps you're unfamiliar with how a spaying works

Looking at a cat's snatch won't tell you if she's had been sterilized, though many will have belly tattoos to indicate that they have been spayed, which for cats is a hysterectomy.

Likewise, I've been sterilized twice yet my external genitalia shows no signs of this.

Male cats are given an orchidectomy but retain their scrotums. Head size is actually a more reliable indicator; an intact tom will have a massive head compared to a neutered one.

Brought to you by the Society for Taking Things Very Literally.

[Orrex]

45. Well no shit. Actually, I think you don't understand.

I understand that spaying and neutering are elective surgical modifications that we've declared to be ok because they suit our purposes. It's an aesthetic choice based on human convenience, dressed up in pleasant do-gooder language.

So get off your high horse and don't presume to educate me about the subject, thanks.

[REP]

49. Oh sorry, didn't mean to step on your gonads there.

Can't tell if you're serious or not, though; sterilization isn't an aesthetic choice nor can sterilization be determined from examining external genitalia so I'm inclined to think you're taking the piss, especially since I gave no "do gooder" rationalization for the procedure in animals or humans.

Or maybe you meant to reply to someone else entirely.

[Orrex]

50. You didn't step on anything. You're simply wrong.

Since your have trouble with the written word, let me state clearly that I am being serious.

sterilization isn't an aesthetic choice

Really? Tell me how it's not. Tell me what motivates the average pet owner to subject the animal to elective mutilation, and explain to me how it's not an aesthetic choice.

You might foolishly be inclined to recite some slogan about spaying/neutering feral cats, but that's irrelevant here, unless you're aware of a campaign to round up and declaw feral cats.

nor can sterilization be determined from examining external genitalia

That strikes me as close to 100% irrelevant. Why is it so important for you to be able to ogle your animal's genitals? Is that how you like to spend your evenings?

especially since I gave no "do gooder" rationalization for the procedure in animals or humans.

Really? What's your rationalization for subjecting animals to this elective mutilation, then? Further, unless you were forcibly subjected to sterilization by someone else's choice against your will, your experience is not relevant here.

[REP]

51. I see. You ARE taking the piss.

That strikes me as close to 100% irrelevant. Why is it so important for you to be able to ogle your animal's genitals? Is that how you like to spend your evenings?

Perhaps I should be asking you that. I would, but I have a hot date with another ELIZA.

[Arugula Latte]

18. Good poster ... but hard to see.

[Vinca]

21. I've always viewed it as animal abuse.

If your furniture is that important to you, don't have cats.

[gollygee]

22. My kitty has her claws

We do suffer for it occasionally, but claws are part of a kitty.

[LiberalArkie]

26. I am in favor if they would grown back after giving them a bath. I get tired of full body armor just

for a bath.

[Flying Squirrel]

27. Fortunately

Most cats do not require a bath ever. Only time I've ever had to do it was when I picked up a stray that was covered in fleas.

Oh, have you heard of those plastic claw caps? I haven't tried them, I just trim the nails when they get too sharp, but it might be an ideal solution at bathtime if your cat will let you put them on.

[LiberalArkie]

28. Someone needs to make a cat washing machine, although just getting the cat in the carrier was about

as bad as a bath. I needed a large funnel and plunger to pour him in the carrier. On of the aides showed me to grab the cat by the skin on the back of the neck and the just don;t do anything at all. 14 years and I now find out after loosing 3 of the 4 last year.

[Flying Squirrel]

29. Luring them in works better :)

Or you could take the top off maybe

[LiberalArkie]

30. Yea that is what the aide showed me take the top off and grab the scruff of the neck and

the cat has no idea what is happening and is totally peaceful. I had a male that I think was more bobcat than house cat and that method worked great.

[Quackers]

32. Cats everywhere hate you now.

[LiberalArkie]

37. None of mine had any aversion to water as long it was their decision. When they saw my dog come

inside soaking wet, they all dashed outside to play in the rain. I think it was just to get back at me for something as they would come back in and jump on me and my bed, leaving me and everything with wet fur everywhere. They would then just sit back and look at me and purr. And I think grinning, nor sure but they enjoyed it every time.

[Mnpaul]

40. I agree

I only had to wash my cat a couple of times. After that he figured out keeping clean = no bath. I trim my cats nails too. The first couple of times I had to use a large towel to wrap him up. After that, he just sits there and I do it with no restraint.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

33. I had cats growing up.

None of our cats were declawed. I think it is important for cats to have their claws so they can climb trees and hunt. Seems mean to take that way from them. It is a big part of being a cat. I don't have any cats now because my husband is allergic, but I would love to have cats if he wasn't.

[joeybee12]

36. One of my rescue cats had been declawed...

Can you stand it? Declaw and then abandon?

[Archae]

38. I know, my late tuxedo cat Lucky was declawed and abandoned.

I brought her home and she lived with me for 15 years.

[joeybee12]

39. Lucky sure was lucky!

I bet that's why you named her that!

[Archae]

41. Mostly because I stopped a dog attack on her.

Hit the leader of this pack on the head hard, with a big branch.

The dogs ran off, it was checking her for injuries (she had none,) I saw she was declawed.

As is I trim my cats' claws myself, with a fingernail clipper.
Not easy, they both complain, bite my hand and try to squirm away.
But they get a catnip treat after.

[joeybee12]

63. Poor thing.

Around here (Vegas) you do see some wild dogs (dogs that were abandoned and have been out on their own for a while) and I've heard some horror stories...Glad Lucky had a good life.

[Archae]

64. Mostly it's not wild dogs here in WI...

It's coyotes that attack pets.

[Little Tich]

44. Declawing is barbaric and should be illegal everywhere. n/t

[Spider Jerusalem]

46. I live in the UK; declawing cats is illegal, here. (So are tail docking and ear cropping in dogs.)

[Le Taz Hot]

47. If you want to declaw your cat, please,

find a good home for your animal and buy goldfish.

[bluedigger]

48. My dog is all for it.

Cleo and Tigger have some "issues" they're working through.

[brewens]

52. Never considered it. My furniture shows it. I probably will never buy anything new.

The cat I have now seems to mostly attack her scratching post and cat tree. That's good. My old buddy I lost a couple years ago was hell on the furniture though. Never once touched my tower speaker covers. The girl I have now will if I let her. They stay facing the wall until I wheel them out to use.

[HassleCat]

53. Difficult decision

If they have their claws, they will murder squirrels, bird, rabbits, etc. If they don't have their claws, they can't defend themselves, and they need to stay indoors, which is not much fun for them. Our cat was not declawed, but he was a murdering bastard, only staying indoors the last two years of his life.

[Arugula Latte]

68. One nice compromise is to build a catio (if you have the space & resources of course).

It let's the kitties hang outside in fresh air and keeps them safe from cars and dogs and keeps birds safe from them.

[Zorra]

55. Never want to cause pain to, or maim, any being. nt

[applegrove]

57. Nope. Lost more than one couch to claws but I'd never declaw

my kitties.

[phleshdef]

62. I've taught my cats well as far as what they are allowed to scratch.

Putting catnip on the cat trees helps too.

[Mariana]

69. I had a cat that loved to claw a $3 floor mat.

I went out and bought half a dozen of them and put them in various places around the house. Problem solved. He clawed those and left the furniture alone. I mounted one on a wall so he could stretch and claw, but he never used that one, he preferred the ones on the floor.

[TexasBushwhacker]

74. Yeah, mine loves to claw the sisal door mat n/t

[kwolf68]

65. Ahh hell no

Just leave enough things to scratch on around the house and all should be fine. Have had almost no trouble. A few times my former calico tried to work a sofa, but I shewed her off and she later found the post. I'd NEVER EVER remove their claws. If I want a cat, I want the entire cat. If I can't handle one with claws, then I shouldn't have a cat.

[NaturalHigh]

67. Nope.

I wouldn't even declaw our latest little degenerate who has made an art of clawing on our new furniture.

[xmas74]

71. I've never done it

but there have been times I've thought about it recently. A stray kitten showed up on my porch over the summer during the nasty bout of storms. He strolled in the house and made himself at home. I adore him but he likes to instigate fights with the dog. The dog gets mad and barks at him. When the dog barks my older cat wakes up and attacks the dog, clawing him up and drawing blood.

We've never had a problem with the cat and dog fighting until this kitten came along. He loves to stir the pot and I'm tired of cleaning up blood. Will I declaw them? Probably not but it's been a recent thought.

[Flying Squirrel]

72. Have you tried the plastic caps

That cover claws? I haven't needed to try them but they may be worth a shot in your case. You could also station yourself by the dog with a spray bottle of water for a day and spray the kitten whenever he comes near the dog.

[xmas74]

73. I've tried the caps.

They were so-so. What I need is a week off to work on behavior modification.

[TexasBushwhacker]

75. That is a GREAT sign. And here is an IKEA sofa

for cat lovers.



Unfortunately it was an April Fools joke.

[ProfessorGAC]

76. A Big No, Here!

Since we've always had 3 or 4 at a time, and we've been married nearly 36 years, we've had 10 different cats. None of the declawed.

Also, none of them have gone outside. Our house does not look like a war zone, either.