I need your sagely advice and wisdom again, people. Declaw or not declaw, that is my question.

After talking with my friend at the animal hospital for the
thousandth time today, they started mentioning some other things that
I should have done before officially calling Gabby "good to go."

1. Get her spayed - of course, this is already planned.
2. "ridder of critters" they said. Done.
3. Tons more general how to take care of a cat tips. Done.
...
19. Maybe not 19th, but the last thing they said was, "And make sure
to get her declawed." Not so sure about...

Forgive my ignorance on this one, and cat lovers please don't bounce
something off of my head, but I thought as long as you were...

1. Not in fear of your life.
2. Your other animals got along fine with kitty.
3. Kitty uses her abundance of play things and scratching posts,
walls, climbs, and other assorted cat approved claw-holders.
4. Kitty eventually stops chasing you down and attacking you from
behind.

....that you did not have to get a cat declawed. My friend made it
out like it is a must along with spaying an animal.

What's the word cat people?

--
-Lost
Remove the extra words to reply by e-mail. Don't e-mail me. I am
kidding. No I am not.

"-Lost" wrote in message
...
After talking with my friend at the animal hospital for the
thousandth time today, they started mentioning some other things that
I should have done before officially calling Gabby "good to go."


Your friend is no friend. Do not mutilate your cat.

On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:10:37 -0500, "-Lost"
wrote:

After talking with my friend at the animal hospital for the
thousandth time today, they started mentioning some other things that
I should have done before officially calling Gabby "good to go."

1. Get her spayed - of course, this is already planned.
2. "ridder of critters" they said. Done.
3. Tons more general how to take care of a cat tips. Done.
..
19. Maybe not 19th, but the last thing they said was, "And make sure
to get her declawed." Not so sure about...

Forgive my ignorance on this one, and cat lovers please don't bounce
something off of my head, but I thought as long as you were...

1. Not in fear of your life.
2. Your other animals got along fine with kitty.
3. Kitty uses her abundance of play things and scratching posts,
walls, climbs, and other assorted cat approved claw-holders.
4. Kitty eventually stops chasing you down and attacking you from
behind.

...that you did not have to get a cat declawed. My friend made it
out like it is a must along with spaying an animal.

What's the word cat people?


Your friend is an idiot. Declawing actually takes off the last section
of the toe, is painful, and also removes their ability to do
instinctual behaviors. All you need is a godo cat tree, some patience,
and some clippers.

Response from "cybercat" :

"-Lost" wrote in message
...
After talking with my friend at the animal hospital for the
thousandth time today, they started mentioning some other things
that I should have done before officially calling Gabby "good to
go."


Your friend is no friend. Do not mutilate your cat.

I figured that would be the general response. I wonder why it is
recommended at all?

The only animal refuge center we have recommended it as well, but I
would imagine it was to minimize the damage they might do to each
other at the center.

--
-Lost
Remove the extra words to reply by e-mail. Don't e-mail me. I am
kidding. No I am not.

Response from Meghan Noecker :

Your friend is an idiot. Declawing actually takes off the last
section of the toe, is painful, and also removes their ability to
do instinctual behaviors. All you need is a godo cat tree, some
patience, and some clippers.

Well, in their defense, I doubt they would recommend something that
the doctor themselves did not recommend.

I could be wrong though. And I am actually going to ask them today
to be sure. If they are giving me misinformation or suggestions the
doctor would not recommend then I will seriously reevaluate my
sources.

Now, for the rest of your response... um... you have to clip kitty
claws? Where in the world am I getting MY information?

I was told by many not to worry about cutting their nails. That in
fact a good scratching area (which I have provided three of) was
sufficient enough to help them shed their claws.

Assuming this is incorrect, I will explain "shed their claws" to
avoid further confusion. I was told that cats claws were similar to
dogs in that they eventually flake or grow like exoskeletons, whereby
the newer nail underneath pushes the older one off. Or in the case
of a scratching post, helps remove it.

Is that correct?

Thanks for the feedback, Meghan.

--
-Lost
Remove the extra words to reply by e-mail. Don't e-mail me. I am
kidding. No I am not.

"-Lost" wrote

Your friend is no friend. Do not mutilate your cat.

I figured that would be the general response. I wonder why it is
recommended at all?

It is recommended for human convenience because many people
cannot be bothered to provide things cats like to scratch better
than furniture and rugs, and so that vets can make money. Ignorance
or pure cruelty can be the only reasons anyone would recommend it.

I was a kid (maybe 23) when I took my first cat in to be
spayed, and they said, "Do you want her declawed too?"
She was a hellion, and I was thinking, just the claws themselves
taken out--I never thought surgical hacking off of the bones in
her toes. I said yes. They ruined her beautiful little feet, she
became anxious, stopped covering her poo, and became a
biter as well. It is horrible, one of the worst things I have been
responsible for in my life. I have two cats now, and provide
scratchers and trim claws--just the tips--monthly. That is all
you need to do.

Did you understand the procedure when you asked this
question?

And will you voice your opinion about it to the shelters?

"-Lost" wrote in message
...
Response from Meghan Noecker :

Your friend is an idiot. Declawing actually takes off the last
section of the toe, is painful, and also removes their ability to
do instinctual behaviors. All you need is a godo cat tree, some
patience, and some clippers.

Well, in their defense, I doubt they would recommend something that
the doctor themselves did not recommend.

Then the doctor is cruel and disgusting.

I could be wrong though. And I am actually going to ask them today
to be sure. If they are giving me misinformation or suggestions the
doctor would not recommend then I will seriously reevaluate my
sources.

Now, for the rest of your response... um... you have to clip kitty
claws? Where in the world am I getting MY information?

I was told by many not to worry about cutting their nails. That in
fact a good scratching area (which I have provided three of) was
sufficient enough to help them shed their claws.

No. They actually sharpen them on scratchers, which is fine, because
they are also working their muscles and stretching.

Assuming this is incorrect, I will explain "shed their claws" to
avoid further confusion. I was told that cats claws were similar to
dogs in that they eventually flake or grow like exoskeletons, whereby
the newer nail underneath pushes the older one off. Or in the case
of a scratching post, helps remove it.

Is that correct?


Just the sheath comes off. You want to get clippers and clip just the sharp
tip so that when you play with your cat, or he/she walks on carpet etc. the
claws don't catch you or it. It is easy and simple--if your cat does not
like
it, get a friend to help you. We used to roll Boo up in a beach towel, I
would hold her with just one foot at a time sticking out, and soothe her
while my husband clipped. Now she just lets us do it--because she gets
a treat afterward.

"-Lost" wrote in
:


Well, in their defense, I doubt they would recommend something that
the doctor themselves did not recommend.


Not all vets are in it solely for the health of the animal. Some are in
it mainly for the money.


I could be wrong though. And I am actually going to ask them today
to be sure. If they are giving me misinformation or suggestions the
doctor would not recommend then I will seriously reevaluate my
sources.

Now, for the rest of your response... um... you have to clip kitty
claws? Where in the world am I getting MY information?

With a claw trimmer, just clip the tip of each claw, before the pink
part. Get kitty used to it asap my touching her paws gently every day
so she gets used to her paws being handled. Praise and talk sweetly the
whole time so it becomes a nice experience. If you don't clip the
claws, they can become very long and very sharp and will hook into
everything as they walk and play. Even our outdoor cat needs to be
clipped because walking on grass doesn't stop them from growing too
long.


I was told by many not to worry about cutting their nails. That in
fact a good scratching area (which I have provided three of) was
sufficient enough to help them shed their claws.

They shed the outer layer, but the claws still grow and grow.

Assuming this is incorrect, I will explain "shed their claws" to
avoid further confusion. I was told that cats claws were similar to
dogs in that they eventually flake or grow like exoskeletons, whereby
the newer nail underneath pushes the older one off. Or in the case
of a scratching post, helps remove it.

Is that correct?

Thanks for the feedback, Meghan.

PLEASE DO NOT DECLAW YOUR CAT. They suffer horribly, even with pain
medication.

Bobble

Do not declaw. As many have said already---it is mutilation,
involving not just the nail but the toe as well. None of our vets
around here will even do it anymore. In the event that kittie turns
out to be a furniture or people scratcher, and it seems to be getting
out of hand, have your vet apply a set of soft tips.

Grace

On 28 Sep, 06:10, "-Lost" wrote:
After talking with my friend at the animal hospital for the
thousandth time today, they started mentioning some other things that
I should have done before officially calling Gabby "good to go."

1. Get her spayed - of course, this is already planned.
2. "ridder of critters" they said. Done.
3. Tons more general how to take care of a cat tips. Done.
..
19. Maybe not 19th, but the last thing they said was, "And make sure
to get her declawed." Not so sure about...

Forgive my ignorance on this one, and cat lovers please don't bounce
something off of my head, but I thought as long as you were...

1. Not in fear of your life.
2. Your other animals got along fine with kitty.
3. Kitty uses her abundance of play things and scratching posts,
walls, climbs, and other assorted cat approved claw-holders.
4. Kitty eventually stops chasing you down and attacking you from
behind.

...that you did not have to get a cat declawed. My friend made it
out like it is a must along with spaying an animal.

What's the word cat people?

--
-Lost
Remove the extra words to reply by e-mail. Don't e-mail me. I am
kidding. No I am not.

De-clawing a cat is like chopping each digit off @ the first knuckle.
Whoever told you it is a must, is either ignorant, or cruel, yet
handing out advice on something they are not fully informed about. We
have endless questions about declawing, & it is always a passionate
subject!

It also causes behavioural problems, & it is very painful for the cat.
Can you possibly imagine what it must be like to have the ends of your
fingers chopped off? It is almost unheard of in the UK, & rightly so
too.

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet, but if you are worride
about clawing, there are two products that will help your cat.
1: Lots of scratching posts to stretch out their full body length,
2: & also there is a new product on the market, that evades me right
now ( It will come to me @ 4 am no doubt!!), but it is like a rubber
substance that you can paint on all claws, that will stop the effect
of side swiped by your cat who might be waiting to play pounce with
you. You just paint it on like nail polish. I hear it is very
effective. Perhaps someone else could provide a link to the product I
am referring to if they can remember the name of it?
I hope this helps,
Sheelagh "o"