Declawing Cats-why humans can be monsters

[ClockworkCat9]

Seriously, don't even dare tell me it's ok and I'm overeacting unless you have *read the page* and *looked at the pictures in the link*. I really feel sick now. It's like watching someone have their fingers chopped off, and you know it's real, too.

I've seen loads of threads up here about cat declawing, I always thought it was cruel, but if anyone who's actually seen this has it done I think they are truely sick. sad Seriously, would you cut your kid's fingers off 'cause they scratched at your furniture? There is such a thing as 'training'. Do it.

http://www.wcahs.org/declaw.htm

[Lemonwax]

Training? A cat? Riiiiiiight, next thing you know, Fluffy has destroyed your curtains and sofa because you left him alone too long rolleyes

[StelmariaonE7]

That is cruel. Sure, trimming the cat's nails make take a little more effort and time, but if they were willing to have a pet anyway they should've known there would be responsibilities.

[MissusFancyPants]

I didn't know many of the things on that page. My cat was declawed almost immediately after I got her, but not my choice and only her front claws. I begged and pleaded with my parents not to do it, but they didn't listen. I actually cited some of the very reasons on that list, that if she ever ran away she would need her claws, but to no avail. She never suffered any complications from it, physical or phycological, thankfully. Also a lot of the things on that list wouldn't apply to my cat unless she wandered off, not that that makes it okay. If I ever get another cat it will not be declawed. I'll go to the trouble of training it.

[iMystere]

Lemonwax

Training? A cat? Riiiiiiight, next thing you know, Fluffy has destroyed your curtains and sofa because you left him alone too long rolleyes

Animals, like any human, CAN be conditioned. Much like how they learn their names. Or how my dog knows what 'treat' 'outside' 'walk' etc etc means.

Have you ever seen scratching posts? Cats DO use those, you know (Unless they're a fiesty, bad little kitty).

Also, if you couldn't train cats then they'd all have to be outdoor cats, because they would never know to use the litter box. You think they learn that on their own? Feral cats don't have litter boxes, so they sure has heck don't learn that on their own.

[ClockworkCat9]

Lemonwax

Training? A cat? Riiiiiiight, next thing you know, Fluffy has destroyed your curtains and sofa because you left him alone too long rolleyes

New kittens/cats will misbehave at first, just treat them like a child, shout at them and tell them it's bad. Never hit them, but if they really won't stop you can use a squirt gun on them razz Not too often though, 'cause you don't want them to be scared of you, just respectful.

I have four cats and not one of them claws the furniture or climbs the curtains smile

If they really won't stop, trimming the nails isn't too difficult. Just be careful not to cut more than the very tip, because there's a vein through the part that is their toe. If that's 'too hard' then you need to work on your cat wrestling skills smile Or get a dog/rat/ferret or whatever 'cause cats are not for everyone razz

[iMystere]

ClockworkCat9

Lemonwax

Training? A cat? Riiiiiiight, next thing you know, Fluffy has destroyed your curtains and sofa because you left him alone too long rolleyes

New kittens/cats will misbehave at first, just treat them like a child, shout at them and tell them it's bad. Never hit them, but if they really won't stop you can use a squirt gun on them razz Not too often though, 'cause you don't want them to be scared of you, just respectful.

I have four cats and not one of them claws the furniture or climbs the curtains smile

If they really won't stop, trimming the nails isn't too difficult. Just be careful not to cut more than the very tip, because there's a vein through the part that is their toe. If that's 'too hard' then you need to work on your cat wrestling skills smile Or get a dog/rat/ferret or whatever 'cause cats are not for everyone razz

It's somewhat dangerous to do it on your own. I'd suggest having them do it at the vet. They don't charge extra. We do that for both our cat and dog.

[Knight-Krait]

Claws do not = Fingers.

Nails at best.

I don't see the issue, although my cat still has her claws.

[ClockworkCat9]

iMystere

Lemonwax

Training? A cat? Riiiiiiight, next thing you know, Fluffy has destroyed your curtains and sofa because you left him alone too long rolleyes

Animals, like any human, CAN be conditioned. Much like how they learn their names. Or how my dog knows what 'treat' 'outside' 'walk' etc etc means.

Have you ever seen scratching posts? Cats DO use those, you know (Unless they're a fiesty, bad little kitty).

Also, if you couldn't train cats then they'd all have to be outdoor cats, because they would never know to use the litter box. You think they learn that on their own? Feral cats don't have litter boxes, so they sure has heck don't learn that on their own.

LOL That's true... Just for the record, my cats don't decorate the floor, either. They were all fully box trained before they were weaned whee

Cats are smart animals, and they can learn. It's one of the reasons we can keep them in our homes. Would you want to keep a cow? No? Not even a little one? rofl

[ClockworkCat9]

Knight-Krait

Claws do not = Fingers.

Nails at best.

I don't see the issue, although my cat still has her claws.

*sigh* Did you read the link? Or look at the pics? Or at least google cat claw anatomy? Don't argue with a Biology student unless you've got your facts straight razz

I don't mean to be rude, but ignoring information then arguing against it with no evidence *really* annoys me burning_eyes I demand evidence. Now. Gimme.

[Knight-Krait]

ClockworkCat9

Knight-Krait

Claws do not = Fingers.

Nails at best.

I don't see the issue, although my cat still has her claws.

*sigh* Did you read the link? Or look at the pics? Or at least google cat claw anatomy? Don't argue with a Biology student unless you've got your facts straight razz

I don't mean to be rude, but ignoring information then arguing against it with no evidence *really* annoys me burning_eyes I demand evidence. Now. Gimme.

I don't need to demand evidence. It's been done for a while with cats. People snip p***s skin. I bet if we (for whatever reason) did that too an animal as opposed to human, someone would also complain.

Cats are not easily trained, and are not always bought at a young age. Cats love to claw on things through instinct, it won't stop it from scratching the rug and the like.

No I didn't look at your link, since I think the argument is silly.

[ClockworkCat9]

StelmariaonE7

That is cruel. Sure, trimming the cat's nails make take a little more effort and time, but if they were willing to have a pet anyway they should've known there would be responsibilities.

Thank you biggrin As you say, any pet has responsibilities that go with it. For example, you shouldn't keep a lone ferret, they are very social creatures and have been reported to suffer depression if left alone. crying

If females are left unspayed and are not mated, they can even die sad (I can back this all up btw. Having references is a *good* thing, it means you can prove that you are at least possibly right).

[ClockworkCat9]

MissusFancyPants

I didn't know many of the things on that page. My cat was declawed almost immediately after I got her, but not my choice and only her front claws. I begged and pleaded with my parents not to do it, but they didn't listen. I actually cited some of the very reasons on that list, that if she ever ran away she would need her claws, but to no avail. She never suffered any complications from it, physical or phycological, thankfully. Also a lot of the things on that list wouldn't apply to my cat unless she wandered off, not that that makes it okay. If I ever get another cat it will not be declawed. I'll go to the trouble of training it.

Thanks for listening smile From the sounds of it, what happened really wasn't your fault, and most people don't know the full extent of this issue. I learned a lot from a topic earlier last week about male circumscision, and that it was much worse than I had previously thought sad Some of the medical risks were truely shocking.

My real purpose in posting this here is to educate people, as I think everyone has a right to know these things before making an important and irreversible decision. I'm not just starting a flame war. sweatdrop

[Ability Versus Hope]

People involving themselves in an animal's life is intrusive. Ppl trust they're well informed yet they cannot even appropriately raise children- their own species.

[ClockworkCat9]

iMystere

ClockworkCat9

Lemonwax

Training? A cat? Riiiiiiight, next thing you know, Fluffy has destroyed your curtains and sofa because you left him alone too long rolleyes

New kittens/cats will misbehave at first, just treat them like a child, shout at them and tell them it's bad. Never hit them, but if they really won't stop you can use a squirt gun on them razz Not too often though, 'cause you don't want them to be scared of you, just respectful.

I have four cats and not one of them claws the furniture or climbs the curtains smile

If they really won't stop, trimming the nails isn't too difficult. Just be careful not to cut more than the very tip, because there's a vein through the part that is their toe. If that's 'too hard' then you need to work on your cat wrestling skills smile Or get a dog/rat/ferret or whatever 'cause cats are not for everyone razz

It's somewhat dangerous to do it on your own. I'd suggest having them do it at the vet. They don't charge extra. We do that for both our cat and dog.

Really? Cool biggrin I don't really trim my cat's claws because they only scratch when they playfight, but for many people who find it hard to do, that's very useful info smile Thanks heart