Declawing Alternatives

[DebADooo]

The subject of declawing has come up before on this board. (Personally, I'm dead-set against it).

I wanted to make the following links available to board members. This product provides an inexpensive, non-toxic and humane alternative to declawing.

http://www.softpaws.com/

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For facts about declawing:
http://www.declawing.com/htmls/declawing.htm

[Traci]

Appreciate your efforts.....and agree. However, part of the article in the second link is not accurate or entirely true, re: behavioral and psychological changes. The author is making statements that are not entirely accurate, many de-clawed cats do not exhibit behavioral changes, nor do they resort to biting behavior as a means of protection or compensation for the loss of claws. As for perching on high objects and refrigerators, the author really went out on a limb with that one. I won't dissect the entire article, just wanted to point out some inconsistencies and inaccurate information.

[drgnldy]

I'm with you, Debadoo! I will never have a cat declawed, even if every piece of furniture I own is in shreds! Thanks for the link!

[slvrwhispr]

I had to get my Cody declawed (front only) per my wench of a landlord... she was going to make me get rid of him otherwise... so I shelled out a little extra money to go the laser route. I still would have preferred not having it done, but I can attest to the fact that there were no behavioral changes in Cody after the procedure. Sometimes, I don't even think he notices. But he was young, and he's pretty easy-going. It depends on the animal. I'd never have it done on my own, but if it has to be done, it's not the end of the world.

[Squrrrl]

I'm on the fence about it.

Everyone I know has cats that are declawed but everything I read says its cruel....

[Michelle, Mitzi, etc.]

I am strongly against declawing. Our cat Charlie was declawed by his previous owner because he was an aggressive, dominant male who attacked other male cats and dogs. Declawing did not end this. He is still aggressive to other males. Even though he was declawed, his previous owner still let him outside (a big motive for us taking him in) and he would still attack other males (I actually saw him do it.) As for behavior, Charlie has an on again/off again spraying problem which returns whenever there is some sort of change. Feliway stops the problem for a short time but I have resorted to confining him to the basement and 1 other room. I feel bad about this, but I have a baby now and Charlie just recently sprayed some of the baby's toys. I would advise anyone thinking about declawing not to do it. According to his former owner, Charlie never sprayed when he owned him (although I wonder if he did and his owner just didn't realize it because Charlie was outside about 90-95% of the day.)

Please don't think that Charlie is a terror. Charlie is very sweet and affectionate to his "people", he gets along well with Mitzi and tolerates Otis the dog. We love Charlie and we are not going to give up on him. Ideally, Charlie should be in a household where he is the only pet because he wants all the attention, but that's not about to happen. I just recently ordered a Feliway plug-in dispenser (like a plug-in room deodorizer) which lasts about 3 months at a time and I'm hoping that it will help with this recent round of spraying. If not, there is always behavior therapy although I'm hoping it won't come to that.

[bertie]

I'm new to this forum but I can honestly say that I am dead against declawing. It takes away what is part of being a cat. They can't defend themselves against attackers, they can't scartch themselves when they itch, they can't escape up trees and up fences when they are in danger. It's really cruel and unneccesary. I mean how would we react if someone demanded that we have our finger nails pulled out because we kept scatching other people. Cats scratch thats life, that what they do and even though it does make the furniture unslightly, it really hurts when they scratch you and it hurts other cats when they scratch them, its just one of those things you put up with as a loving cat owner. I would never degrade and humiliate my moggies by having them declawed. I'm sorry if this offends anyone but I do feel strongly about this!

[jason]

I'm new to this forum but I can honestly say that I am dead against declawing. It takes away what is part of being a cat. They can't defend themselves against attackers, they can't scartch themselves when they itch, they can't escape up trees and up fences when they are in danger. It's really cruel and unneccesary.

you cant possibly make accusations like that and expect it to cover the masses as a whole. the majority of those on this board (me included) do not accept full responsibility of cats without making them indoor only. no need to defend, no need to run up a tree. they can certainly scratch with their back claws.

your comments on being cruel are of opinion; unneccessary can be at best situational. perhaps for you, it is completly unneccesary.

I mean how would we react if someone demanded that we have our finger nails pulled out because we kept scatching other people. Cats scratch thats life, that what they do and even though it does make the furniture unslightly, it really hurts when they scratch you and it hurts other cats when they scratch them, its just one of those things you put up with as a loving cat owner.

if a person kept scratching others, there would be legal implications. declawing is a serious topic, your adolescent tone only further invalidates your arguement (which you could have one, if you would just tone down your verbage).

I would never degrade and humiliate my moggies by having them declawed. I'm sorry if this offends anyone but I do feel strongly about this!

nothing wrong with having strong feelings, but your heavy use of finger pointing leaves much to be assumed about your take on people in general and/or your inability to imagine a world in which not all situations are ideal or similar to yours.

perhaps, for you, passion overtook sensibility on this issue.

ok, finally my two cents:

i personally cannot imagine a situation in which the rear claws should ever be removed, unless of course there are health related issues that would be resolved with the removal of them (cant even imagine that one, although almost anything is possible).

there are many cats that are spared the short and rough outdoor life in suburban neighborhoods by loving people who choose to have their front claws removed.

many reasons exist, a couple were mentioned here (with tones of course). also, from my experience the removal of the front claws were needed to keep my cats indoors. many of my screens were systematically removed and my cats were often exposed to the dangers i was trying to shelter them from.

there are simply many reasons to justify both sides. for front claw removal, i personally believe its a matter of situational need.

the personalities of both my kitties were completely unaffected by their front claw removal.

bertie (and to everyone else chimming in), if you care to continue expressing your viewpoint on this board then tone it down, otherwise i wont allow it here.

[Traci]

Kudos, Jason.....excellent post, thank you!

[Tina B and crew]

declawing for the sake of declawing is cruel...however, as my vet so nicely put it for me once when I asked her opinion on the subject (she doesn't do declaws BTW)...I would much rather see a cat declawed and be able to stay in a happy healthy home than be tossed out, yelled at or given away because it claws the furniture. That said I think a cat "owner" owes it to the cat to try everything in their power to handly scratching problems without declawing and use declawing as a last measure and only as a last measure. I personally have nevered had a declawed cat and never will declaw a cat...so far my furniture has stayed intact. I do my best not to jump to quick judgement on those who choose that path as long as they have tried other alternatives first.