To ban or not to ban? More people believing declawing is animal abuse

[Warpy]

13. More and more vets are refusing to do it.

I have to admit that the only time I'd ever do it as a vet is if the alternative would be to have the cat put down because the owner was having a hissy fit over destroyed antiques.

I was around cats during my own childhood and always sported a scratch or two, it was no big deal. My mother always crabbed about the (secondhand) furniture, so the cats and I spent most of our time outdoors.

I've tolerated scratch marks on furniture and my looms because I didn't want to see the cat in pain. It's one of those things I would never do to an animal. However, I've seen cats post declawing and they seem perfectly fine, still going after the furniture as though their claws were still there.

So it would be a last resort, probably after a cat behaviorist was called in and all education of the owner had been attempted. And I would do it very, very reluctantly and make sure the poor cat had plenty of pain medication afterward. And I'd strongly suggest the antiques owners get a little fussy dog the next time.