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Is it true that in America some cats are de-clawed?
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I was (front) declawed by my previous owners before I was adopted. However I never had any problems with it thankfully! I still could defend myself very well by very strong blows with my large front paws or by rolling over and clawing with my back feet-- I was still able to terrorize large dogs... I even still "sharpened my claws" on chairs and edges of things, even though the claws weren't there I still did it....
We find it interesting that Japan is on the list of countries that have outlawed declawing. Although things have improved in the past quarter century, Japan has a spotty record regarding cruelty to animals (this despite the fact that the Japanese will often tell non-Japanese that, as Buddhists, they are inclined to treat animals more kindly than people in Western nations). These are mere anecdotes, but I remember the time, around 15 years ago, when the local health office people came with metal baseball bats and got rid of a small colony of feral cats living in the park next to my apartment (I didn't witness the carnage, but I put two and two together when I saw the men with baseball bats, and then no cats thereafter; I don't think the health office guys were inviting the kitties out to a ball game). Or, in the world of science, there was a point when Japanese researchers were having trouble getting articles published in foreign scientific journals because the animals they "sacrificed" were not sedated beforehand (experimental rats were dispatched by holding the animal by the tail and thwacking the body against a desk as many times as necessary to kill it). Laws against animal cruelty are rarer here than in many countries; it was only around 5 years ago that some idiot who killed a cat live on the Internet was actually arrested for animal abuse and given a sentence. And euthanasia is not commonly practiced here, although personally I am rather on the fence regarding this issue (if we euthanize animals to spare them pain, then why don't we do it for humans?). I wonder why declawing is illegal here--it could just be because it never became customary, rather than because animal lovers and vets found it cruel. I don't usually criticize the Japanese, but I do get angry when they tell me that they are kinder to animals because they are Buddhists, when the truth is that in many ways they are behind the West regarding the prevention of cruelty to animals. That doesn't mean that there aren't a lot of animal lovers and environmentally-concerned people here as well, however. Japanese cat lovers love their cats as much as all cat lovers!!!
I'm front declawed and was that way when mama adopted me from
animal control. I have no joint problems and walk/run/climb fine.
I also "claw" on chairs and scratching posts just like my sisters. My
angel sister Tigger was a bit different. Her declawing (also done
before mama got her from a friend) wasn't done that well. The toe is
to be cut at the first joint to prevent the claw growing back. With
Tigger, hers weren't cut far enough back. She had partial claws, but
the couldn't grow... they were just nubs. She wasn't in major pain,
but mama realized it was uncomfortable for her. She never did the
clawing thing on anything and wouldn't tolerate her front feet
touched for very long.
Mama's against declawing. Not only for humane reasons. I know it's
not common to have an indoor ONLY cat in some other countries,
but here, it's very common. And if a cat were to get out and have no
claws to defend itself, the chance of survival drops dramatically.
Lilly is living proof mama won't get a cat declawed... so is what's
left of the front of the arms on her recliner... hehehe...
It's true- but, I think it's cruel.
I would NEVER do it because what if my cat got outside and let's say- a kid was picking on him and the only thing he could do to save himself was climb a tree? Without claws, he couldn't do that.
When I was a kid, I had a pet cat that my parents had declawed. I remember very clearly how bloody his little paws were after the procedure and how much they hurt. He wouldn't come out of his crate for a while. Now I have two cats of my own and will never do that no matter what!
Soft paws are synthetic claw covers. They come in different colors and make it look like the cat has its nails painted. They are glued onto the claw and the tips are soft so that the cat can "dig in" as they are wont to do, but not harm the surface of the furniture. They have to be reapplied every six weeks or so as they shed off when the claw sheds off. I have never tried them, but some people swear by them. Others say they have a hard time getting them glued on, or the cat chews them off.
You can google "soft paws" and learn more/see pictures of kitties with pretty feet.
We're purrsonally against declawing. All of us have our claws, thank goodness. Mom just has to do a bi-weekly trim session with us *giggles* We love our scratching post a little too much!
I still have my claws, but my big sis was declawed by a previous owner. She's never had any problems because of that. However, Mommy still thinks it's horribly cruel. As for my claws, or talons as Mommy calls them, I get mine trimmed every two weeks during my chemo. appointments. Mommy thinks it's hysterical to see them all squared off. I, on the other hand, do not.....which explains my fascination with the dining room table leg. MOL!
I just have to say that I have used the Soft Paws and they don't work. They fall off at differing times, damaged two of Riley's claws when they partially came off, and once left him glued to the rug because some glue seeped out the side. Riley and Thomas were both declawed on the front. Tom never seemed to have a problem putting the dog in her place or demolishing my furniture despite the missing claws. He climbed and got around fine until close to the end of his life.
Riley also has no issues with his declaw. Tom was declawed when I got him but I had Riley declawed after years of trying to correct his behavior issues which included clawing when in a panic-with Riley that could be at any moment. My vet supported the declaw since we had tried multiple other avenues and with a new baby we could not risk Riley getting startled and clawing. We tried behavior modification, baby prep training (he never has tried to hurt my little boy though), soft paws, anti-anxiety meds-no luck and I have the scars on my hands and arms to prove it. He never seems to mean it-just gets this sheer look of terror and starts hitting. The vet thinks he was actually a ferral kitten when he got to the shelter and to me and that he never will be totally "normal" and comfy with people. So for our family we had to decide what was the best outcome for all of us-Riley hurting someone (other than me) or hav
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