Readers Respond: Tell Us What You Think About Declawing Cats

I am always a little surprised that many people have no idea what is involved with a declawing surgery. Do you think cats should be declawed? Have you had a cat that destructively clawed furniture? How did you deal with the situation? Are there cases where declawing should be allowed, or never as an elective procedure? Tell us what you think.

Please note: this is your own "mini article" on this topic - it is not the place for personal attacks or questions. Thank you. Share your opinion

changed mind

I was always totally against it. And still am against it....I would never do it. BUT....there are so many homeless cats that will be put to sleep. Sometimes people will not get a cat unless they can declaw it. So you decide....death or declaw? I will state again- I would NEVER do iot myself and do think it's wrong.

—Guest vancat

Unnecessary

Being in college, I've done some roomate hopping, and the last few years lived with 4 cats. 3 of them have been declawed, and the 4th, my own, is not. I can tell you that in 2 of the 3 I was around to witness behavorial changes. One, who was a rescue and probably has some underlying issues has been the worst hit. I feel the declawing was the tipping point, and he is now terrified to walk on any soft surface, thus making him afraid of furniture. He has been improving, but it's taken time and understanding. He used to vomit daily, and he still has no confidence. The other declaw went from the sweetest kitten to a biting, vindictive cat. He has high anxiety and often defecates outside his litter box usually on beds or favourite chairs. There has been talk of rehoming. My cat has claws, and doesn't use them. I can bathe him, play fight, ect. and come out with no scratches. He has never clawed anything other than his scratching posts. I feel that any cat CAN be trained.

—Guest C

Declawed Cats

I do not understand why people get so mad about this issue. I believe that whether or not you have your cat declawed is up to the owner. It is not my place to tell another cat owner what procedures they should or should not have on their pets. I have a cat that was declawed and neutered at 12 weeks. When I brought him home, I'll admit that I was worried how he'd heal. As soon as I put him on the floor, he was off running around like his crazy self, playing with everything, and having a great time like he always does. I changed the litter out with newspaper shavings and everything has been great. He stays inside and I have had no problems with lack of affection, biting, using the bathroom outside of the litterbox, or any of the other horrible things that people have said would happen "post-declawing." Just be sure that you find a reputable vet to ensure your cat's safety. Yes, declawing is an optional surgery, but remember that you have no place to tell an owner how to raise their cat.

—Guest Kori

declawing

I think declawing is cruel ! People that do this should not be cat owners. Vets should never do declawing.

—Guest chowiam

Barbaric!

I do not believe in declawing cats - ever! I teach my cats young to tolerate having feet and claws handled, and clip their claws myself. The trick is to do it quickly and keep talking to them the whole time.

—Guest Guest DianaG

It's not a cruelty

If it's an indoor cat, I don't see the problem. I've even had two indoor/outdoor cats that were declawed and both lived beyond 15 years. They can still get up a tree if they are fleeing from a predator.

—Guest Steph

Stop declawing, but also trimming

To declaw a cat is to crumble it. It is disgusting. To trim its claws is kinda the same thing, though not a mutilation. But, it is to deprive the cat of some its basic means of mobility and self-defence. A sound cat that thrives NEVER claws its humans.

—Guest Sheeta

I believe in declawing

My cat jacked up my arm with his claws and now I'm going to have a really deep scar for a long long time just because i gave him a bath. I'm getting both front and back paws declawed plus we have a blow up mattress and I don't want Kitty Cow popping it when we're not home. I'm 16 and I believe in declawing.

—Guest Stacy

DECLAWING CATS

I'm totally opposed to the practice and would rather chop off my the ends of my own fingers than have a kitty wake up and not know what the hell happened to its claws and wonder why those bandages were on his paws. There's not a piece of furniture - or anything - in the world - worth mutilating an animal. If you don't want them messing up your stuff, make sure it's not where they can get at it. Putting their claws into things is part of a kitty-cat's job, just like digging is part of a dog's.

—JENNYLEEWAX

I'm OK with it

I have 4 cats. 2 are declawed and 2 are not. The two that are declawed are two of the sweetest most loving cats I was ever encountered. Their behavior did not change, as I was told by many people, nor have that begun biting to make up for the missing claws. They still try to "scratch" furniture and people and don't even seem to notice what they are missing. They just seem to think they are getting away with something that they know they shouldn't be doing. Froyd was calm and loving before being declawed and is still calm and loving now, many years later. Marvin was a stray cat we found a couple of months ago that we decided to keep. He craved constant attention and was very mischievous before being declawed and is the same after. There was no need to get the other 2 declawed because Sammy doesn't scratch and Tator Tot has been using Soft Claws. I think declawing should be left up to the owner and their individuals situation. It worked for me and my cats are great.

—Guest Casey

BAN DECLAWING IN USA!

Since when did God step down from the throne and allow so many people to do his job as they saw fit? When people declaw a cat, they are taking away what God created them with and in a way saying that God made a mistake in a perfect creation. Why do people even have cats if their true love is their furniture and/or material things? Would any person want all of their fingers and toes amputated? Would they consider it humane if someone did that to them? Its repulsive and totally disgusting that people who declaw cats consider themselves to be part of the human race. Animals, children and the elderly are innocent souls who at times have no voice, have no choice, all because of inhumane people. Your pet should be a part of your family, is this what family does to its family members? Is this how they demonstrate their love? Cruelty will never be justified and will never be a humane act. Humanity is the opposite of cruelty. There is no viable excuse for this cruel inhumane act.

—Guest Heartprint

Declawing can be necessary

I do not believe in declawing a cat just for the sake of furniture, but I have had to have a cat declawed due to my husband's skin allergies. My cat has never seen the outside of our home unless he was in a carrier to visit his vet. There will always be irresponsible people who declaw for no good reason, but to ban it when there are valid reasons is wrong. I'd rather see a cat declawed and in a loving, protective home than to be put to sleep because no one wants it.

—MyBlu

An opinion against the grain.

I grew up with 2 declawed cats. They still "scratched" the furniture, used the litter boxes, played, loved, and lived happy, healthy lives. They were adored and gave much love back. Maybe some cats have behavioral problems after being declawed, but to say all of them do simply isn't true. I'm surprised some find it perfectly okay to sterilize an animal, but not okay to declaw when both procedures take away natural ability.

—Guest moi

Abandoned Declawed Cat

I volunteer at a no-kill shelter. We have received many abandoned cats that were declawed, some on both front and rear paws. There are no statistics that I know of that totals the number of abandoned declawed cats, but my experience tells me that declawing is no guarantee of a permanent human-cat bond. I agree with some of the posters who say that people who won't take the time to train their cats to a scratching post, provide proper scratching surfaces, and love their perfect stuffed sofas better than their cats should not own cats. Fewer abandoned declawed cats would be the result.

—Guest Guest cat mom

Declawing Cats

Only if the cat is injured & a Vet indicates it is necessary. They need them for self defense & climbing. The alternative is proper training & giving them a condo & or room for climbing.

—MaggieEgan.Kay