Declawing.Do you believe declawing cats?

I personally have to agree that the declawing process is somewhat inhumane. I also think to myself after reading all of these comments, does anyone know what other animals endure for people's satisfaction? Although it is not always necessary, most owners have their dog's dewclaws removed, some of which are at a much older age than recommended. This is a removal of an entire toe and not just a claw. How about this, has anyone seen a calf or horse cut? No anesthesia, nothing to numb the area, just slit and literally pull the cord out. Then just toss the balls aside and let the calf run off bleeding. Branding cows to show a person's ownership? How about removing the horns of a calf, sounds painless but it's not. I've seen blood shoot 20 feet from where that calf was standing. I live on a farm and I've seen much worse than this. Yes it is painful for a kitten to have those claws removed, but they are also under anesthesia and are given the required treatment to make the paws heal correctly. My vet even gave me a prescription medicine that had them healed within three days after the initial surgery. So after one day of being home with me, he was in no pain and had no sign that he had his claws removed. I guess my vet is just special in that he cared enough to do that for my cat. As far as making the cat more aggressive, I've never seen it and probably never will.

I think declawing cats should be against the law! It's so cruel! I can't imagine what it must feel like to have your fingernails removed. They need their claws for the reasons you've stated.

Declawing is a despicable, disgusting and inhumane practice. It is illegal here in Europe, and, in fact, in every other country in the world apart from the USA, and, I believe, Canada. In my view, people who have cats and then subject them to such pain just to protect themselves and their furniture from a few scratches are bacsically animal abusers. Cats are animals - they need their claws for a purpose - just as people need their nails and teeth. If you don't want a few scratches on your firniture, then don;t have a cat - have a ty instead that wonlt feel the pain of having its' nails ripped from it's paws for no good reason. One day I hope the so-called "civilised" USA wakes up to how barbaric this practice is, and follows Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand etc in banning it completely.

Apart from all of the aboved mentioned, getting a cat declawed results in the cat becoming a little more agressive in nature. Mainly because once you've taken away their main defensive messure, they'll sometimes have no choice but to switch to an offensive nature.

My old cat was declawed in the front, not by my choosing, but by her old owner's. At least she had her back claws and was able to climb up trees, etc, on the occasions when she was outside. I still felt really badly for her though, because declawing is basically severing the first joint in a cat's paw. Our other cat had all of her claws, and I don't remember her inflicting too much damage on the furniture, so declawing just seemed unnecessary and over the top, particularly when you remember that, really, it's just a couch. You can cover it with something. A cat's claws are never going to grow back.

I too was appalled at the practice of de-clawing which I hadn't even heard of until moving to America three years ago. I have had cats virtually all my life and have never ever had a cat scratching anything , if you gently chastise a cat when it is small when it claws something it shouldn't then it doesn't continue the habit. My sister-in-law has an indoor cat which is declawed and it is the most fat unfit pathetic animal I have ever seen _ it is almost as if its soul was pulled at the same time as its claws.If you don't want the natural habits and ways of an animal then choose a different animal or better still get a stuffed toy.

I think if you get a cat, you should be willing to accept the whole package. Cats have claws, and once in awhile, they are going to use them. If a person can't accept an occasional scratch on their arm or a less-than-perfect couch corner, then they should really think twice about inviting an animal into their family.

The surgery.... this comes with risks, and I always ask people if their vet advised them of all these things... Did the vet mention that the cat requires its claws for balance, to jump, to climb, and that "declawing" your cat then makes your cat susceptible to back problems, arthritis, joint problems and other foot problems that he would not otherwise face – because declawing results in a gradual weakening of the back, shoulder and leg muscles? Did the vet mention that cats walk on their toes, not the pads of their feet, and declawing forces them to walk in an unnatural way? That your cat walks toe first? Declawing cats causes the tendons in the toes to retract, which eventually results in the attendant joints "freezing." Did the vet mention that many declawed cats resort to biting as an alternative method of defense? That some declawed cats become very aggressive because their primary defense is taken away? That many declawed cats stop using the litterbox because it is so painful? Unfortunately, people don't bother doing any research into things like this and seek people who support their bad choices.