Declawing a kitten...yay or nay

Yay or Nay to declawing

  • Yay

    Votes: 14 33.3%

  • Nay

    Votes: 28 66.7%
  • Total voters
    42
Jennilyn

Jennilyn

New member
So we just got a kitten yesterday and she's 4 months old so we definitely won't be doing anything for a few months, but I was just wondering how many of you get your cats declawed and who think it's bad to do so?

365day290.png
 
Congrats on the kitty! Very Very CUTE!

I didn't vote because I think it really depends on the cat and situation. I've grown up with many cats and now have one of my own. My current kitty is an absolute sweety. She never uses her claws for anything other than killing mice. So I would never declaw her. But growing up we had one cat that was literally destroying the walls of the house we were renting. We clipped his nails, provided acceptible things to scratch, but there was no distracting him from the walls. The landlord flipped when he saw it and we had to make the choice of either declawing him or getting rid of him. Cats are overunning shelters and trying to re-home is almost virtually impossible unless you have a rare breed. So yes, I think there are certain situations where this is warranted, but it has be pretty extreme. Its very painful and its really a pain in the butt to care for them after they've been declawed. We had to soak our cats paws in water with epsom salt(yeah, that was FUN). If there is any chance that the cat will get outside or will be a indoor/outdoor cat then you should absolutely not declaw as they will be unable to defend themselves. Anyhow, that's just my experience. Bottom line, I do not declaw unless the cat is super destructive.
 
My parents let me get a kitten when I was a kid, as long as I agreed to get her de-clawed. They had a bunch of woodwork in their house that was getting ruined by the 2 or 3 cats we already had at that time. So I agreed and we got her de-clawed at the same time as she got spayed so it'd be easier on her. Now that I'm in my own house that isn't getting destroyed, with my own kids who aren't getting scratched, I'm grateful they had her de-clawed. If I ever get another cat, I'll get it de-clawed as well.
 
I'm in the never declaw except in extreme cases. While we have a cat who was declawed before we adopted her (and I have to admit, it is nice to be able to pick her up and never worry about getting scratched, etc.), the chance that they would get out and not be able to defend themselves by fight or getting up a tree is enough for us to never do it.

You can post train a cat by spraying liquid catnip or spreading catnip over a scratching post or mat and encourage the cat to scratch in a specific area. Part of the scratching is also a stretch, not just the manicure, so having a post or a hanging mat is a really good idea.
 
I'm with Darcy on this one. I think only extreme cases would call for it. Especially if they are outdoor cats, it leaves them virtually defensely. I've got a pretty long-haired DIVA of a cat, who doesn't like to be picked up, and most times, not even touched, and I didn't declaw. She doesn't use them on me, but just swats with no claws extended. A good scratch post and bitter apple spray works great for most cats.
 
I'm with the never never!! Totally against it!

I have four cats in my house right now...3 are mine and are all adults, and my son just moved back home for awhile and brought his kitten with him. Her claws are very sharp, but she immediately took to the cat scratch post/bed that we have here.
 
Never. Never. Never. Never. Never. Declawing is inhumane. Essentially, you're having the last section of their "toes" removed. Claws aren't like fingernails.

Jessica recommended a great product in the Soft Paws. LOVE them. They're truly fabulous!!
 
Another vote for the never never camp. :)

We have two with all of their claws and have no problems with them. We have several scratching posts that do the trick. I've heard great things about softpaws too. We actually had to sign agreements to never declaw when we purchased them.
 
never never never...that is the cruelest thing you could ever do to a cat on many levels. If scratching or clawing is an issue then go with the soft paws. Sorry not trying to sound like a hag, but that is something I am truly passionate about.
 
sorry but I voted yes....I adopted 2 kittens form the humane society and they were declawed and they have been the best cats ever....and they go outdoors {only their front claws are missing} so they have no trroubples defending themsleves, getting up trees and yesterday one of them killed a bird {yuck}....I have had kittens since and they have destroyed my son's wooden bunk bed...bud I also agree that it depends on the cat and the situation~
 
Never ever!

Declawing, cutting vocal cords, clipping wings, just to make the owner's life easier? If you want to get a pet, make sure you think about possible consequenses and if you can live with them, if not, don't get a pet.
 
Nathalie said:
Declawing, cutting vocal cords, clipping wings, just to make the owner's life easier? If you want to get a pet, make sure you think about possible consequenses and if you can live with them, if not, don't get a pet.
Click to expand...

People cut their pets vocal chords so they can't be heard?! How horrible!!
 
Darcy Baldwin said:
I'm in the never declaw except in extreme cases. While we have a cat who was declawed before we adopted her (and I have to admit, it is nice to be able to pick her up and never worry about getting scratched, etc.), the chance that they would get out and not be able to defend themselves by fight or getting up a tree is enough for us to never do it.

You can post train a cat by spraying liquid catnip or spreading catnip over a scratching post or mat and encourage the cat to scratch in a specific area. Part of the scratching is also a stretch, not just the manicure, so having a post or a hanging mat is a really good idea.
Click to expand...

We did the same thing with the catnip and trained our cat to use a post. We never even considered declawing him. He is 13 now, and is too lazy to get out of his own way, never mind scratch anything. LOL
 
Nathalie said:
Never ever!

Declawing, cutting vocal cords, clipping wings, just to make the owner's life easier? If you want to get a pet, make sure you think about possible consequenses and if you can live with them, if not, don't get a pet.
Click to expand...

Oh no! Cutting vocal cords? This makes me sick to my stomach.
 
No way - I'd never do that. I think it's actually illegal where I live, but I wouldn't have done it either way. Our cat has all his claws, and he doesn't scratch the floors or anything (my kids do the floor scratching in this house). He has two scratching posts, and most of the time he uses those. Sometimes he will use the mat underneath the coffee table, but that started because my dad came around and tought him to do it. He has never scratched the sofa or door frames or anything like that.
 
I am totally against it too. I have done the soft paws they are fine as long as the cat keeps them on and it gets tiresome after awhile of gluing the damn things on my cats really don't like to keep them on. I do have a few things in my house that I wish they would have no clawed like the wooden trim around my upstairs hallway door and my leather couches! Yes can you believe they have clawed my leather couches!!?!? Anyway even with that being said I would still never declaw them I really do feel its cruel and I am sure if I was more diligent about showing them where they can scratch it would be better. Also with it being a kitten you have more training time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2026 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top