do you think that declawing a cat is right?

I was a vet tech for a long time and they put them to sleep during the procedure and if you look at your fingers its exactly like cutting them off at the first knuckle with a dog nail cutter. thats how its done then supper glue the skin back together. nice huh? I would never do it.

look at your fingers, now immagine that they've cut off your finger at the last joint - that's what declawing does to the cat you can train a cat to not scratch The ONLY cat I've ever declawed sent the roomie and myself to the hospital at different times and the former roomie was on blood thinners.

I think it is really cruel. You can get those little shields that slip over their claws and prevent them from doing damage. The shileds have to be changed from time to time but they are a much more humane solution than declawing.

It is not just ripping out the nails, it is amputation of the first joint. It, as has been said, causes a great deal of pain and can lead to litter box issues and biting. Cats can be trained not to scratch. Get a scratching post and bring your cat to it every time he scratches somewhere he's not supposed to. England outlaws declawing as inhumane. It is. My cats are indoor only and I would never rip off their toes.

I think its really cruel. Do you know they cut part of the toe off? Its like going to get your nails manicured and they cut your finger tips off. How can something like that not hurt? Some cats no longer cover their waste after undergoing that harsh treatment. As for your furniture. Hummmff. Do you think more about your furniture than your pet? You can try getting a water bottle to squirt the cat. Spray perfum on your furniture. Cat furniture that they can use. You just have to let your pet know. Tell them "stop it", or "no". Then show them where you want them to scratch. Actually take the cat with your possitive voice and show them the scratching post. A cat tree is a thing they would really love. Dont expect them to stop without giving them something they can use. They need it. What ever you do please please please do not declaw your cat. If you insist then you do not need the cat.

No I feel it is not right to declaw a cat. If they were ever to get lose outside they would have no way to defend themselfs. I did get my cat fixed but only because where I live I had too. I feel that is inhumane as well. They are animals and to me they have every right to be themselfs if they choose to be. I think that sometimes it might be a need but they are animals and they need there rights too. This is how I feel about it, nice discussion, happy mylotting to you.

I hate the practise! Vets in the UK wont do it but even if they did I'd never have a cat de-clawed. I spoke to a Vet friend about it once and he explained the procedure to me. It's not just de-clawing, it's amputation of the first joints of the 'fingers' and 'toes' and is only done so that human beings can benefit. It can cause many different problems for the poor cat. They can't climb or walk as they should and are far more likely to get arthritis which is very painful, they can't defend themselves if they are attacked by another cat or a dog and they can't groom themselves properly. Yes it might save you a few scratches or damage to furnishings but if you can be that cruel then you aren't the right person to own an animal. I've had dozens of cats and used to breed Siamese and none have been de-clawed. I've trained them all from kittens not to scratch either furniture or humans and provided them with scratching posts and bits of carpet that they use instead. I even had cats when my children were babies, I taught them to respect the cats and not to handle them roughly. I personally have never found it difficult and it's very rare that people here in the UK complain about problems with cats! I'm on blood-thinners and have to be careful of cuts and scratches, but I still wouldn't mutilate a cat. If I have to do something I know my cats wont like I make sure I'm protected.

I refuse to have my cats declawed now. I didn't always feel that way though. Years ago my cat Boots (now deceased) was declawed. He was in horrible pain, could barely walk and ended up with infection that almost killed him. The vet explained that a declaw on a cat would be like removing the tips of our fingers down to the first knuckle. I had no idea. I thought it was just the nail being removed. I now have 4 cats. Only one is declawed because it was done before I adopted him. And while I do get a bit frustrated at times with scratching on things I still won't have any of them declawed.

I would never consider declawing my cats even if they were inside cats. They have no way of defending themselves if you remove their claws. And you can't be sure they won't accidently get out. If you love your cats don't remove their claws.

I rescued my cat from an adoption agency. He was fully grown at the time and was already neutered and declawed. This is the first cat that I've ever had which was declawed. So he must have belonged to a family before and I don't know what happened that he was abandoned. I'm glad he's part of my family now and we love him dearly but I would not have declawed him. I think that it's similar to someone pulling out your nails. We don't let him outside at all because he would not be able to defend himself if approached by any other animal and I can't take that chance of something happening to him. If we had rescued him as a kitten we would not have opted for the surgery - only the neutering.

First off, declawing should be avoided at all costs. It is the amputation of the first joint of their toes and it is very painful. It requires a long recovery too. Most cats are sent home on pain meds if you have a good doctor. It is hard for your cat to walk on its paws for months and they may always be painful. There are other ways to keep cats from scratching and clawing. First learn to cut their nails. If you can't do this make a regular appointment with your vet or groomer to have them cut whenever they start to get to long. Invest in a scratching post, most pet stores and some grocery stores carry them. Rub them with dry catnip, this will attract them to the post. Declawing is a long and painful process, they can never be let out of the house, their paws may all ways be painful, it involves cutting off the first joint of their paws!!

i think it's wrong. declawing outweight the disadvantages of not declawing in my opinion. I read about that too, that cats hurt when they are declawed and i think the cats need them for protection too, u know, self defense if they ever get into fights with other cats.. im not sure if you can do without cats? right?? well just wanna share that my mom had to give up her cats when my kid came to live with her. and that's it..she had to choose. it wasn't a very easy decision of course. it's too much of a hard work and time consuming and just chaotic to have both at the same time, and we didnt (and we still don't) have a maid / helper then,

Absolutely not! I have owned cats and of course they are a joy, yet I do understand that their clawing on things can be a nuisance particularly for an indoor cat that is around children. However, your cat is your friend and like our human friends they do tend to have some imperfections. when you think about it, if "God forbid" your cat should get lost, he/she would be helpless, besides that as you read declawing is painful for them in more ways than one. As a fellow cat lover please research all the options before making a final decision.

Well your welcome for stopping by. Here is my opinion on the issue of declawing your cats. Any surgery, whether its to a human or to an animal, is going to hurt. No matter what pain meds they give you. If you want your cat to be an indoor cat, then declaw them. It isn't like they take out ALL of the claws. They just take the ones out of the front. Also, its done when they are kittens. If you have an adult cat that you want to declaw, i wouldn't recommend it. I mean, look at a baby boy (and depending on beliefs and what not) gets circumsised when hes a baby or little boy. He is then going to grow up not even remembering what was done to him. THe same thing goes for a kitten. I remember when my cat was little and we first brough him home. He wasn't walking around the house in pain. WHen the procedure is done, they usually keep them sedated to a point at the vets office before they allow them home. Yes you can train cats to not scratch, but training a cat is NOTHING like training a dog. It takes a lot of work and most of the time you have to use those stay off sprays that some companies make. They are smelly so the cat will stay away. If you ever want the cat to sit on your lap on the couch, and you have sprayed the couch with that stuff, chances are pretty good that he wont. Hope this helps!

Cats come to us a gift. They are our pets. Certainly they may claw things, it is their nature. But we can put plastic on furniture or keep them out of certain room. And, for god's sake get them a scratch board. I think it is inhumane to declaw a cat. You take its defenses away. They have little mits that can be put on them now too. Karma will get you if you declaw your cat!!!!

I don't think declawing a cat is a good thing. It would be like pulling your fingernails out - ouch!! A cat's claw is part of his anatomy. How would you like part of your anatomy taken off? I have a cat that spends time inside and outside and she has a scratching post in the house that she uses. I just would never consider declawing her. Best wishes!

A cat is special animal. It is not same like other animal. This animal have 7 soul. So why this animal hard to die although it is dying. And better to treat good to them cause this is so special.

No, I think it's cruel and unnecessary. Nobody forces you to get a cat and if you're so worried about your furniture or getting scratched, you shouldn't be getting one in the first place. Declawing is painful - you shouldn't surgically shape an animal to fit into your environment and lifestyle.

Hi, in my opinion, declawing a cat is absolutelly wrong, the action like this seems cruel and not compassionate. Cats are animals, they have their feeling, declawing a cat just like cutting the fingers of a man, it would hurt it a lot although the person who are doing this may not feels. someone says declawing a cat can prevent the kids and funitrues from being clawed, but some actions can be taken to aviod this expect declawing the cat. I think just keep the cat intact and healthy if somebody want to keep cats as pet would be suitable.

I think it is very cruel. I have 3 cats, none of them are declawed. They scratch on the furniture sometimes, but I could care less. I just want them to be healthy and happy! Cats rule!