considering declawing my cats -- Montgomery County

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually had to take some courses in cat behavior, and declawing is way, way, WAY preferable to rehoming or trimming nails, especially for already-skiddish cats. Studies have found it takes cats up to a year to adjust to a new home, so that’s a year of stress, elevated cortisol levels, etc. Taking them in 1-2x a month to get their claws trimmed is also awful and will lead to chronic stress, and will likely make their behavior problems worse. Declawing, however, has been shown to cause no increase in cortisol levels or aggression long-term.

Plus, all that meat you eat? Those animals had it much, much worse than a declawed cat. Doesn’t make sense condemn some animal suffering while endorsing other suffering. Just sayin’.

An already skittish cat which has its primary means of defense removed experiences no additional stress? Not sure who taught that class, but that makes no sense. I suppose they told you that surgery doesn't cause pain or stress either.

DP. It makes sense to me. Surgery is a one-time stressor, not a chronic or repeated one. And animals and people adapt to changed physical characteristics. It may take time, but it happens.

The surgery we are discussing is one of multiple amputations. Amputating the first digits of all of a cat's front toes changes the way the cat bears weight on its paws, which leads to health issues and most likely pain. SOME surgery is a one-time stressor, but not multiple amputations. Surely you can see that?

Having had cats with claw and cats that have been declawed, having known friends' cats with claws and that have been declawed, no, I don't see that. There may be complications, yes, because it is surgery. But just because it involves ten toes instead of one doesn't somehow make it a repeated stressor, such as monthly claw tipping.

Cats with claws and without claws walk, jump, use the litter box, catch birds. But even well-trained friendly cats with claws occasionally scratch you, and cat scratches are dirty.

[Anonymous]

We declawed and its way preferable to getting rid of the cat that *might* get adopted. If a cat is a known personality problem (scratching up surfaces, furniture, etc), I'm sure it's hard to rehome them.

I had cats live well into their teens... declawed.

[Anonymous]

Someone please spay OP with a pair of dull scissors. And take away her spouse, children, animals, plants and electronics, as she's unable to be trusted with any of these things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone please spay OP with a pair of dull scissors. And take away her spouse, children, animals, plants and electronics, as she's unable to be trusted with any of these things.

Not helping your anti-declawing cause, dear.

[Anonymous]

What kind of idiot needs to take their car to get nails trimmed?! I trim my cats’ nails on the couch watching TV. Particularly important for my polydactyl. It takes one minute per month! If you keep up they don’t care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of idiot needs to take their car to get nails trimmed?! I trim my cats’ nails on the couch watching TV. Particularly important for my polydactyl. It takes one minute per month! If you keep up they don’t care.

I've never had a cat that I couldn't do myself, but, I can see why some people might prefer to have a vet or groomer do it. Doesn't make anyone an idiot, especially since it only costs about $5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of idiot needs to take their car to get nails trimmed?! I trim my cats’ nails on the couch watching TV. Particularly important for my polydactyl. It takes one minute per month! If you keep up they don’t care.

Unless your cat turns into a buzzsaw. I've had cats that could care less if I trim their nails and cats that it takes two vet assistants to get it done. Maybe broaden your experience before you make jerky statements.

[Anonymous]

So why do we condemn declawing but promote spaying/neutering? Both remove a body part. Both are painful and invasive. The cat’s body and physiology are affected by both. Everyone I know who’s had a hysterectomy felt huge changes, and I’m guess most men would feel different if their balls were removed. I’d assume cats feel the same way. But one is seen as inhumane and one is seen as responsible. Why is that?

If the answer is so that there aren’t more unwanted cats, why not just keep all cats inside, or give them some sort of birth control? Why aren’t you criticizing people for fixing their pets and instead giving them (expensive, time-intensive) alternatives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So why do we condemn declawing but promote spaying/neutering? Both remove a body part. Both are painful and invasive. The cat’s body and physiology are affected by both. Everyone I know who’s had a hysterectomy felt huge changes, and I’m guess most men would feel different if their balls were removed. I’d assume cats feel the same way. But one is seen as inhumane and one is seen as responsible. Why is that?

If the answer is so that there aren’t more unwanted cats, why not just keep all cats inside, or give them some sort of birth control? Why aren’t you criticizing people for fixing their pets and instead giving them (expensive, time-intensive) alternatives?

Vegans can only take logical arguments so far. Then they default to convenience. But when the rest of us for drawing our line somewhere else.

I agree that spaying and neutering is much more invasive than many care to think about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So why do we condemn declawing but promote spaying/neutering? Both remove a body part. Both are painful and invasive. The cat’s body and physiology are affected by both. Everyone I know who’s had a hysterectomy felt huge changes, and I’m guess most men would feel different if their balls were removed. I’d assume cats feel the same way. But one is seen as inhumane and one is seen as responsible. Why is that?

If the answer is so that there aren’t more unwanted cats, why not just keep all cats inside, or give them some sort of birth control? Why aren’t you criticizing people for fixing their pets and instead giving them (expensive, time-intensive) alternatives?

You are anthropomorphizing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why do we condemn declawing but promote spaying/neutering? Both remove a body part. Both are painful and invasive. The cat’s body and physiology are affected by both. Everyone I know who’s had a hkysterectomy felt huge changes, and I’m guess most men would feel different if their balls were removed. I’d assume cats feel the same way. But one is seen as inhumane and one is seen as responsible. Why is that?

If the answer is so that there aren’t more unwanted cats, why not just keep all cats inside, or give them some sort of birth control? Why aren’t you criticizing people for fixing their pets and instead giving them (expensive, time-intensive) alternatives?

You are anthropomorphizing.

There's a reason you're supposed to wait until after the first heat to spay your dog, and also wait to neuter him. Generally, for other animals, there are significant differences, physical and behavioral, between neutered and entire animals. Anecdotally, I've heard it's true of cats, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why do we condemn declawing but promote spaying/neutering? Both remove a body part. Both are painful and invasive. The cat’s body and physiology are affected by both. Everyone I know who’s had a hkysterectomy felt huge changes, and I’m guess most men would feel different if their balls were removed. I’d assume cats feel the same way. But one is seen as inhumane and one is seen as responsible. Why is that?

If the answer is so that there aren’t more unwanted cats, why not just keep all cats inside, or give them some sort of birth control? Why aren’t you criticizing people for fixing their pets and instead giving them (expensive, time-intensive) alternatives?

You are anthropomorphizing.

There's a reason you're supposed to wait until after the first heat to spay your dog, and also wait to neuter him. Generally, for other animals, there are significant differences, physical and behavioral, between neutered and entire animals. Anecdotally, I've heard it's true of cats, too.

Yeah, my spayed / neutered cats did not yowl fight and piss on the walls. Every whole cat I have ever seen does all of those things
Behavioral differences for sure.