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Is it true that in America some cats are de-clawed?
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The Cat Fanciers' Association (the CFA, not to be confused with the CIA), the largest and oldest cat registry in the world, will not allow declawed cats to be judged in their competitions. However, the CFA continues to tolerate changes in breeding standards that have resulted in turning Persians (who used to have sweet, cat-like faces) into smush-faced fluffballs, and Siamese (who used to look like regular cats, but with pointed coloration) into wedge-headed, rail-thin, rat-like creatures. The CFA has yet to recognize the Munchkin breed, which they consider an unacceptable mutation. Their stance on declawing is commendable, as is their caution regarding new breeds with potential health problems, but they continue to be inconsistent about allowing breed standards that not only deviate from the original configuration of the breed, but which actually cause health problems (smush-faced Persians are continually sniffling and having to have their eyes wiped, and have to be spoon-fed). Anyway, the CFA is against declawing, so if you want to show Fluffy in the ring, do not declaw.
Rocky and I are both declawed--Meowma adopted us that way. She doesn't see any behavior problems in us either. We also don't have the 'weak muscles' we see all over this thread. But that's probably because we have a post to stretch and paw on anyway--we don't need claws to love doing that. We also still are able to kill bugs and things that get in the house, and BooBoo found a mousie in here over the winter..and had no problem making him into a snack. Meowma would not have the declawing done if she were to get a kitty that still had its stickers though, don't worry!
I was quite horrified when I realised what declawing actually was. For a long time, I though it was trimming nails with the clippers, because it is illegal in Australia to have a cat declawed.
Maybe we've just been lucky with our cats, but more damage has been done to our furniture through moving, and me spilling stuff, than has ever been done by the cats.
We look after foster kittens, and I almost consider the myriad of scratches I usually have as bit of a badge of honour.
On the other hand...there are some irresponsible owners who will take a cat to a shelter because it scratches the furniture. If declawing saves the life of that cat, it might be said to have its place (although one wouldn't want such a person to have a cat in the first place).
It's an awful and inhumane thing to do to a cat and I am completely against it!!!
Declawing is actually not common in the the area I live in. I know 6 people that have cats and none of their cats are declawed. And I think there are a few cities here in the U.S. where declawing is illegal, not sure which ones though.
Despite the fact that we are EXTREMELY against declawing, Leila makes a good point. Isn't it better to be declawed and in a home than on death row in a shelter?
That being said, I live in a city and have had 3 stray cats come to my house...all three were front paw declawed. One Mom took to the shelter to find her parents (she was adopted). The next, we posted all over town, at the shelter, and in the papers. No one claimed him so he is being permanently fostered by my mom's parents (lol). The problem is that he cries incessently to go outside The 3rd has a family because he is not dehydrated and is on the pudgy side. I think he lives in the house behind mine. He annoys the crap out of me because he comes on MY deck and Mom feeds him MY food! Aunt Leah even named him Max. Mom says she would bring him in if she didn't think he had a familyand actually when we move, she says he might just end up in one of the boxes anyway.
We just don't understand why someone would declaw a cat and then shuttle him outside?
Declawing cats does not "save" them from going to shelters for behavior problems. Look how many posters in this thread adopted a declawed cat who had been given up AFTER having such a horrid thing done to them. Many, but not all cats develop issues with urinating in inappropriate places because their cat litter hurts their paws. Many, but not all cats become fearful and bite rather than scratch because they know they do not have their "go-to" defense system in place. A cat bite is MUCH worse than a cat scratch, as it is far more likely to get infected. Some declawed cats, including one I knew when I was a child, become absolutely socially debilitated and insecure, and do not leave the safety of under-the-bed except to eat.
A declawed cat is just as likely to go to a shelter as a cat with claws if it has an owner who places furniture and carpets over the pet's well-being. An owner who can't deal with a few furniture scratches is certainly not going to tolerate cat pee all over the place. There is no way to tell how a cat will react until the declaw is already done, so the best policy for the cat's well-being is to either tolerate its claws or not have a cat.
The only possible justification for a declaw is if there is a very sick auto-immune-compromised person in a cat household, like Kayah and Shyloh's mom mentioned. However, the biting may become a worse issue than scratching, so soft paws (which I understand have only been around for a couple of years) are probably more effective at preventing infections.
I also agree with the posts about dogs' ears and overbreeding. I'd much rather see a Boxer or Doberman with his floppy ears or a nice round Siamese!
Sophia Marie I be a princess.- No touch! Just- admire
Purred: Mon May 19, '08 7:32am PST
Hemmingway,
I would never have my cats declawed unless there were a medical reason for it (and i do know of one or two examples, but they are extreme and rare).
However, "fear tactics" should be kept in check. My cat is declawed, adn she has a beautiful rounded shoulders, she uses her "claws" to mark things the same as her non-declawed brother; she climbs up on EVERYTHING and has a wonderful time doing it.
as for the psycholocial markers, i am dubious any of these exist. we do not say a cat who has lost an eye is psychologically scarred. we say that animals are wonderful adapters. Well, it's true, they are.
Please consider in having a very valid opinion, not to use scare tactics. It's a dishonest move to convince pet parents about the negative side of declawing.
The sound basis for my opinons on declawing includes cats I've personally observed, observations by shelter workers who have posted in other catster threads that address declawing, and www.declawing.com which was created by a veterinarian. These statements are not meant as fear tactics, but as serious consequences to consider, which as I said, many, but not all cats experience, and which cannot be foreseen by the most well-meaning owner or most experienced vet.
There is a thread in the behavior forums where the foster mom of Cleo, a declawed rescue, is having problems with Cleo urinating absolutely everywhere but her litterbox, and foster mom is worried she will have trouble re-homing her. Foster mom also believes the urination problems are likely the result of the declaw. It was posted just yesterday on catster.
The coutries in which declawing is illegal include the following:
England
Scotland
Wales
Italy
France
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Norway
Sweden
Netherlands
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Denmark
Finland
Slovenia
Portugal
Belgium
Brazil
Australia
New Zealand
Yugoslavia
Japan
The number of developed nations which have outlawed declawing is considerable, and indicates that there is a sound basis for the belief that it is inhumane.
Although my opinions are emphatic, I typically qualify them by saying that not all declawed cats experience serious behavioral or psychological problems. Your cat sounds like an example of one who did not have a bad post-op experience. That doesn't do anything to help the cats who do experience adverse effects, unfortunately. Different animals adjust to amputations differently. For example, dogs do much better than cats if they experience a whole leg amputation due to injury. A lost limb or eye or claw is not the same as an unnecessary amputation demanded by an owner. We should not demand such adjustments from our pets just for our own convenience.
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The 3rd has a family because he is not dehydrated and is on the pudgy side. I think he lives in the house behind mine. He annoys the crap out of me because he comes on MY deck and Mom feeds him MY food! Aunt Leah even named him Max. Mom says she would bring him in if she didn't think he had a familyand actually when we move, she says he might just end up in one of the boxes anyway.
