Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    	Re: .0
    
    	I have two declawed cats, and it didn't affect their personality
    	at all.  I would do it again if the situation warranted it (ie.
    	can't train them not to scratch).
    
    	Karen

    A SHOW KEY/FULL DECLAWING show that the following notes are
    already established for this discussion.  They are:
    
    38, 74, 223, 778, 821
    
    Donna

    Why do you have to get them declawed?
    

    
    
    I'm moving into a house with two other people.  This house has alot
    of wood in it.  Hand made wood cabinets, walls, inverted wood cabinets,
    etc.  At my last apt.  mummy kitty destroyed all wood she could
    find - and there wasn't much in there!  baby kitty only scratches
    my leggs, but as a guess she will follow mums example shortly.
    
    My new landlord will be making monthly inspections for damage. 
    Some of the cabinet work is irreparable.  Its not only my
    responsibility, but I have to think of my roomates getting kicked
    out because of *my* cats whims.
    
    I'm moving in three days.  
    
    F.

    We have two cats that we had declawed a few years ago.  It was a
    very hard decision to make and I did alot of reading on the subject
    and talking to vets before I made the decision to have it done.
    It didnt change their personalities at all, but there are other
    risks you should be aware of.  Declawing a cat is actually more
    than just removing the claws...on a person, it would be like removing
    the last joint of each finger.  It is a serious operation.  Choose
    your vet carefully, if he/she is inexperienced or makes a mistake,
    your cat could have a limp or be crippled for life.  This is very
    rare but still a possibility.
    
    Also, if you choose to declaw all 4 paws, you have to assume
    responsibility for that cat for the rest of its life...it can NEVER
    go outside because it cant protect itself.  If you declaw only the
    front paws, the cat still can use its back ones for protection.
    I chose to only declaw the front and it has worked out very well.
    Perhaps you should wait until the kitten is >6 months old, aske
    the vet for more info on that.  Also I would suggest having both
    cats done at once...In my case, if I would have had only one cat
    done first, I would have felt too sorry(guilty, miserable) to put
    the second one through the pain.
    
    As bad as this all sounds, it really was worth it for me.  We were
    moving from an apartment into a new house.  The apartment was old
    and rundown, so when the cats destoyed the carpet it was no problem.
    The managers intended on replacing the carpet as soon as we moved
    out anyway, so they didnt care.  The cats aslo clawed the furniture.
    We tried the scratching post, catnip, etc.  My cats run at the sight
    or smell of catnip.  Anyway, we had them declawed just before we
    moved into a new house, bought new furniture, and all lived happily
    ever after.
                 
    I hope this helps you make your decision.
    
    Paula

    
    
    Thanks alot for the info everyone.
    
    I trust my vets to the utmost and the woman there assured me several
    times that it was okay to get it done..  she's had cats herself
    that she declawed and they were fine.
    
    I think I'll go through with it, although if I find a loving home
    for the both of them, I might consider this option too....
    
    Baby kitty is three months old.  Do you think thats too young?
    
    She has a *huge* set of claws.
    
    F.

    
    
    
    Trim their nails every week.  Nails for 2 shouldn't take too
    long.

    
    I din't think you could trim them down enough to stop them from
    clawing..
    
    

    We tried trimming our cats claws but thet seemed to scratch alot
    more - trying to sharpen them up, I guess.

    Yes, you can.  There is more involved than just trimming nails.
    You must be willing to invest "time" and also purchase some
    furniture of their own that is high enough so they can stand
    on their hind legs and reach up with their front paws to
    stretch and scratch - just like they do on the side of your
    couch.   Time - to lead them to their own scratching furniture
    scented with catnip if necessary -  
    Yes, they do tend to scratch right after trimming - it seems
    they so that like we would use a nail file to smooth over
    rough edges after trimming.  Nails need to be trimmed at
    least every week or every other week - depending upon 
    how fast they grow - every other usually works well for most.
    
    I guess I believe that doing unnecessary surgery is wrong when
    there are other alternatives available that could be tried first
    especially on young cats.  It certainly is cheaper to buy a
    few pieces of cat furniture than surgery for two.  I think
    the cats will be a lot happier with new furniture than sore
    paws.
    
    If I can help you with trimming send mail - you get better at
    with time and lots of cats!!!  Nails for 16 cats is a real trip!!

    I've got to agree with E.T.; I've got 7 (of which 4 were feral) and
    none of them scratch the furniture; They all use the cat trees and
    slant posts and other assorted cat furniture religiously, including
    little Alex who is declawed (I found her that way).  
    
    Deb

    Cats do not scratch to sharpen their claws; they do it to strengthen
    the muscles that control the claws.  It's a normal, biological function
    for them, just like streching.
    
    When I first got Honey, I thought he'd drive me nuts with clawing. 
    I asked my vet about declawing and he said that he would do it only as
    a last resort and that he would only do it when he was being neutered
    as he felt that anesthesia was a serious undertaking and he'd only do
    it once.  In the meantime, I taught Honey to use the scratching posts
    that were all over the house and he's now very well trained to use
    them.  He even taught Chauncey how to use them (and he's working on
    Julie!).
    
    It takes patience, but believe me, it's worth it (and a heck of alot
    cheaper!!).
    
    Mary

    My fiance made the cats a really nice scratching post.  There are
    four pieces of wood completely wrapped with sisal rope which they
    go crazy scratching.  The even use the sisal wrapped posts to climb
    up to the top of the tree instead of jumping the distance (it isn't
    that far from the floor).  I concur with the majority of replies
    that advocate buying a cat tree.  Definitely a lot cheaper in the
    long run.  We have a cat tree on each floor and a cardboard scratching
    box (discussed in other notes about scratching) in each room.  If
    you're handy with wood and carpet, you can even make your own tree
    for less than half of what they cost in stores.  One of our trees
    is an Arubacat Tree and I agree with Nancy DC - they are a great
    investment and the cats love it.
    
    /Roberta
    

    There are many sides to the declawing issue, most of which have
    already been voiced, but here's my perspective:
    
    1) have you tried a scratching post/tree?  Have you tried to break
    the furniture clawing habit to the best of your ability?  (this
    does take longer than a few days)
    
    2) Is your cat (we hope) an indoor cat?  If it is an indoor cat
    and you feel the need to declaw as a measure of last resort, I would
    suggest you declaw the forefeet only.  Back feet don't cause any
    damage (except in roughhousing where they might scratch you by
    kicking), and they won't hurt your furniture or rug.
    
    If the cat is an outdoor cat (now there's a whole nuther arguement),
    I would think carefully about declawing at all.  My cat, who *is*
    declawed (forefeet only) had no trouble going up and down trees,
    fences or beating up other cats (or killing birds for that matter
    :/ ), however, she did spend most of her time indoors (now both
    she and my neutered Bonesy are strictly indoor apt. kitties).  If
    your cat spends a lot of time outdoors, again, and you MUST declaw,
    do the front feet only, so you cat may still use the hind to go
    up trees and fences, etc...
    
    As for psychological aspects of declawing, that is seemingly a purely
    human aspect.  My cat hasn't the foggiest idea she is declawed--she
    uses her front feet exactly as she did before (even to "toe" my
    hamper and wonder why I say nothing).  Bonsey is not declawed, but
    he is not destructive (as Ashley was...tore up rugs with a vengance).
     I don't think  my cat was harmed by declawing, however, if I had
    the choice, I would not declaw simply as a matter of course.  If
    you do go ahead, be sure you keep kitty indoors and substitute paper
    for litter until the stitches heal.
    
    Best of luck!
    
                                                            ---kim

    
    
    Well, here was the scoop with my kitties..
    
    The house that I'm moving into (should be living there already,
    but have been held up cause of the cats!!) has alot of beautiful,
    hand-done woodwork.  I certaintly don't mind taking the time out
    to train my cat (the more time I spend with them, the happier I
    is) but if by chance there is the teensiest stratch on the wood,
    me and two other petless roomates are OUT.
    
    On the other hand, I was thinking of giving them away, rather than
    declawing and leaving them defenseless, even inside the house, wheres
    the chance that company coming by with give them a hard time..
    
    My problems are solved though, as my da da offered to take mumma
    kitty. (this is real surprising!)  Even though I don't want to separate
    them, I am pretty sure I can find baby kitty a good home as she
    is three months and on the small side.
    
    Things worked out well!
    
    Thanks for all your input
    
    F.