declaw or not to declaw?

On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:56:28 -0700 (PDT), Sherry wrote:

To email me, remove the triple-X from my user name. *^..^

And besides that, they *enjoy* their claws, no? At lleast judging from
the look of absolute nirvana on their face when they're s-t-r-e-t-c-h-
i-n-g and clawing on a scratching post!

I can't imagine my siamese buddy mongo without him being on my lap and
extending two pawfuls of enormous claws like baseball mitts around my
knee: "I own you!"

AZ Nomad wrote:

I can't imagine my siamese buddy mongo without him being on my lap and
extending two pawfuls of enormous claws like baseball mitts around my
knee: "I own you!"

When the kitty feels pleasure, the human feels pain...

--
Joyce

To email me, remove the triple-X from my user name. ^..^

On 16 Apr 2008 00:54:01 GMT, wrote:
AZ Nomad wrote:

I can't imagine my siamese buddy mongo without him being on my lap and
extending two pawfuls of enormous claws like baseball mitts around my
knee: "I own you!"

When the kitty feels pleasure, the human feels pain...

I wince but smile at the same time. I also prefer limiting his laptime
to when I'm wearing heavy jeans.

wrote in message:
,

Sherry wrote:

I know "declaw" is a taboo subject here, and I respect that. I
never bring it up, but I will usually put my.02 in there.

Actually, I was always under the impression that, except for the
occasional troll or possibly naive newbie, this group is generally
in agreement about the declawing issue. I've never seen any actual
in-fighting about it here - only arguments with people who stop by
temporarily, who often don't know a lot about cats, and say things
that are either intentionally or unintentionally offensive. But
those arguments don't seem to be *between* regular RPCA members.

For that reason, I don't understand why the subject is taboo.

No one has the authority to declare any subject taboo or to enforce any
taboo.

The only problem with having a discussion about declawing in RPCA is
that some people who are against it can't control themselves.

--
Billy Colburn

outsider wrote in message:
,

Sherry wrote in news:e9ddbc04-b250-4c12-ab7a-
:

On Apr 15, 4:42 pm, wrote:
Sherry wrote:

Over the
last nine years, I've seen many, many people change their minds
about

the surgery, once they learn it is NOT a simple, permanent
manicure. And after they read the literature the shelter provides.

I posted this recently, but nobody responded to it, so I'm going to
say it again: even if the procedure *were* a simple, painless,
permanent manicure, I would consider it inhumane. Cats *need* their
claws. Claws are their main defense. Unless you can guarantee that
the cat would never, ever get outside (and I don't see how anyone
can do that), claws are their primary means of survival.

--
Joyce

To email me, remove the triple-X from my user name. ^..^

And besides that, they *enjoy* their claws, no? At lleast judging
from the look of absolute nirvana on their face when they're
s-t-r-e-t-c-h- i-n-g and clawing on a scratching post!


well, this is my main argument. To be denied that feeling forever
would be very cruel.

But removing sex organs is OK?

--
Billy Colburn

Sherry wrote:

I'm not sure whether you're replying to Dan, or Lori, but I can't
believe you'd say that to either one of them, as well as you should
know them by now. You think the answer is more laws? The English,
AFAIK, don't have *specific* laws regarding declaw (I could be wrong
about this; you British friends correct me if so)

I'm not in England, but I think it's the same there as here in Finland,
that we don't have laws specifically banning declawing, but the practice
of declawing has never developed in our countries, so we don't need laws
against it. Our animal-protection legislation states something like 'you
may not cause any animal undue pain' and I think declawing would fall
under that category. There's also a clause about allowing animals to
live in a way that is natural for them (don't know how the fur industry
and battery-hen keepers work around this!).


Sorry for the ramble. I know the usenet "Die, thread" crucifix has
already been waved on this thread. I don't get "het up" real often,
just once in a while :-)

I think this is a subject that needs debating every now and then.

--
Marina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki.

"Sherry" wrote in message
...

And besides that, they *enjoy* their claws, no? At lleast judging from
the look of absolute nirvana on their face when they're s-t-r-e-t-c-h-
i-n-g and clawing on a scratching post!
Defense is a good argument on its own for keeping the claws, but I
think the biggest issue with me is the residual pain that some cats
have, for the rest of their lives, from declaw surgery. I've even
read that declawing a cat changes the way it walks on the paw pads,
causing orthopedic problems later. I believe that theory is still out
for argument, but it sure sounds reasonable to me.
I don't know why declaw is taboo, either. I've never seen the subject
cause a problem among regulars, or at least that I recall.

=================================

Maybe we should lobby the American Veterinary Association about it. If
enough people make a stink about it (sorry Catnippped) maybe the time will
come that the AVA will include it as a non practice.

Pam S. who bids 300 quatloons for the stinky truck

On 16 Apr 2008 00:54:01 GMT, wrote:

AZ Nomad wrote:

I can't imagine my siamese buddy mongo without him being on my lap and
extending two pawfuls of enormous claws like baseball mitts around my
knee: "I own you!"

When the kitty feels pleasure, the human feels pain...

One of Rocky's legacies is the blue rug which stay on my bed. When
Rocky decided to retire from life on the streets and move in with, he
had trouble learning not to use his claws when kneading - and he had
BIG SHARP claws. So I started keeping one for those bathroom floor
mats on the bed and another next to the recliner for when he decided
to hop into my lap. Now that Rocky has crossed the Bridge, his rug is
still the preferred spot to nap on the bed.
--
Steve Touchstone
Little Bit, Sammy, Spotty, Princess, Furby
and Rocky (RB)
Pix at http://tinyurl.com/22pfn8
Vids at http://tinyurl.com/4yb6nj

even if the procedure *were* a simple, painless, permanent
manicure, I would consider it inhumane. Cats *need* their claws. Claws
are their main defense.

And besides that, they *enjoy* their claws, no? At lleast judging from
the look of absolute nirvana on their face when they're s-t-r-e-t-c-h-
i-n-g and clawing on a scratching post!


Oh, I was going to say that, too. Forgot! Yes, they do seem to get a
lot of pleasure from their claws, don't they? (And they often use their
claws to *communicate* their pleasure, too. )

I can attest to how much pleasure they get from using them !!
Especially when they mistake my leg for a scratching post !!!

I'm not sure whether you're replying to Dan, or Lori, but I can't
believe you'd say that to either one of them, as well as you should
know them by now. You think the answer is more laws? The English,
AFAIK, don't have *specific* laws regarding declaw (I could be wrong
about this; you British friends correct me if so)


I'm not in England, but I think it's the same there as here in Finland,
that we don't have laws specifically banning declawing, but the practice
of declawing has never developed in our countries, so we don't need laws
against it. Our animal-protection legislation states something like 'you
may not cause any animal undue pain' and I think declawing would fall
under that category. There's also a clause about allowing animals to
live in a way that is natural for them (don't know how the fur industry
and battery-hen keepers work around this!).

First let me say that I am not for declawing. I have 6 furballs and
none are declawed and my furniture looks it even though I have
scratching post and pads. But on the other hand my ex rescued 2
furballs but the only way I could talk her into it was if they were
declawed. Otherwise they were in line to be put down. They are the
sweetest things you could ask for (Next to mine). We were going to be
remarried until the subject of declawing my babies came up and I said
no way so no marriage. If you saw a cat heading for the death chamber
but someone was willing to take it if it was declawed what would you
do? Especially if they were 2 heading there?!?!

The point is that some people are so radical when it comes to ANYTHING
that they can only see one side and would rather see an animal keep
its claws even if it meant it's life and do matter how much you talk
they are unwilling to see any other point to it!!!