60% of Americans OK with declawing - agree?

No, it's unnatural and cruel. So's 'docking' a dog's tail or ears.

 

Pets I wouldn't; people are another matter altogether and there are many whose declawing would make the world instantly more livable.

 

Not to mention docking their tails.

 

Don't the claws just grow back?

 

Would your fingernails grow back if your fingertips were cut off at the first knuckle? No.

Our cats get their claws clipped frequently -- essentially a fingernail clipping -- most recently about 30 minutes ago. This isn't a declawing.

 

No, don't declaw your cat. We adopted a cat that the previous owners declawed. It really messed up her personality.

 

No, they take off more than just the claw. Part of the toe is removed too.

 

I love to watch the cashiers with the 4 inch big claws (fingernails) clicking about the register!

 

Over 35 years of marriage, we've had three cats and never declawed any. To prevent destructive scratching, we used double-side tape until the little boogers figured out how to use their scratching posts. Takes time for them to learn this, however. Currently, we're "litter-free" and loving it!

 

Haha, but seriously, don't hurt the kitties .... 60%. That's a lot!

 

If you are using a good vet that knows what they are doing and has the right equipment, it is far less tramatic on the animal. Use a vet that does not know what they are doing, or uses regular nail clippers to just cut them off, and you will have some serious problems.

 

All of my cats are declawed. It has not had any effect on their health or happiness. Have never had any behavior problems. They still scratch things, they just dont have any claws.

We have one of these, and they love it. They use it all the time.

Corrugated Cardboard Cat Scratcher Kitty's Own Couch For Sale

Chuck, what was the policy of the rescue agency you worked for? Every one I have ever come in contact with has a policy of no declawing. They make you sign something stating you will not declaw. My opinion is that if it gets them a loving forever home, as opposed to being euthanised, it is OK if done correctly.

 

Our shelter kitty was already declawed when we got her. I'm pretty certain I couldn't take a cat in for the proceedure. She is the sweetest, most lovable kitty in the whole wide world.

What I find equally if not more barbaric is circumcision, but that's for another thread of course.

 

Circumcision...what the...just how big are them cat things!

 

When cats are declawed, it is, in essence, an amputation of their "fingertips".

Consider the "phantom pain" that amputees report. Now, consider the number of nerves in fingertips. Even if cats only have half the number of nerves in their paws, that is a huge number of pain signals that they have to deal with, with no relief. Pain that makes no sense to them. It is no wonder that a large percentage of them "go insane"... some people have, even with the "intellect" to understand the amputation.

If you cannot or will not deal with a whole cat, you certainly do not need to have a cat.

On the other hand, I have adopted cats that were declawed. A previously declawed cat that needs a home may be the perfect pet. I would hate to see any sort of "market" for declawed cats causing shelters/rescues to have any cats declawed, however.

Our kitty gets her claws trimmed on a regular basis.

 

Man, before this I never really knew what was involved in a declawing process... If asked, I probably would have said sure, why not - if only because it's so common place you just sort of assume it doesn't hurt the cat... bad assumption, clearly. Fortunately, I'm a dog person, and will most likely never own a cat. Regardless, I'd now say no to declawing, knowing whats involved.

For debarking, however, I knew what was involved, and would have said no way from the start. I feel the same way about all the elective surgeries they do on dogs, especially docking tails... that's just so sad...