Anonymous wrote:This is the only way to have a cat. Don’t feel bad op, do it!

Troll.

We had a cat a long time ago and ended up declawing her because no matter how many scratch towers/pads/cat furniture/enticing spray/deterring spray/etc. we bought, she still destroyed the furniture. The plastic tips would come off in a hot second and it was torture to try to put them on her.

It didn't change her personality, and she was hopping up and down off the furniture the day we brought her home from the procedure with no pain. It's really not as barbaric (if done correctly) as the animal rights contingent wants to make out.

Our current cats have also destroyed our furniture, but it's too late to bother declawing them with as much damage as they've done. We will wait until they die and then we are never, ever having cats again. Ever. I'm sticking to dogs from now on.

The current AVMA policy is described here and it's more nuanced than "never do it" -- it discourages declawing as an elective procedure and insists on pain management, but ultimately leaves it up to the professional judgment of the vet:

https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2020-03-01/avma-revises-declawing-policy

One reason that vets will still do it is sometimes it's in the best interests of the cat if otherwise it will be euthanized or put up for adoption (and then potentially euthanized because there are far more cats than there are homes for them). It's not as simple as "rehome your cat!" given the cat overpopulation we have.

I would be surprised if you found a vet who would do it.

I had declawed cats growing up, but it was always done as very young kittens. Not only is it illegal now, but it's radically different to do it to an adult cat. Like others have said, you need to trim their nails weekly, have lots of scratching posts, and replace your couch with a material they don't like. My cats avoid microfiber, and try to scratch our rugs, but they are low pile and aren't damaged by trimmed cat nails. You can also get plastic tips that cover their nails and go on with glue like fake nails.

So no, you can't declaw your cat. Replace the furnishings that they scratch and change your lifestyle slightly, or rehome the cat. Disagree with PP that said you can train a cat. Lol, good luck with that one.

Anonymous wrote:He has destroyed the sofa and now turned his attention to the rug.

Declawing is inhumane. It is like removing your finger up to your knuckle. Let's do that to you and then you can see how it feels. I get it nobody likes a scratched up sofa but, there are other ways to deal.

Sorry, we had a cat when I was young and I am pretty sure she was declawed. Interesting. In place where there are so many cats and strays (I am overseas now, but from DC) isn't it better to have a home than claws?

You need to trim your cats nails and strategically put scratching posts in places.

If you don't want to trim them yourself, take your cat to a groomer.

Declawing is the equivalent of cutting off the entire top of your fingers at the knuckle. That's cruel for animals, and frequently results in other behavioral outlets (peeing, spraying, etc).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had to change couches (in addition to putting up scratching posts) bc of persistent scratching-it was find snd worth it!

Having said that we once had a cat (separated from its mom too early bc of illness then adopted very young by us) that we did do the laser declaw at rec of vet bc he apparently didn’t learn at the critical period abt scratching etiquette (for example, he consistently tried to scratch people’s eyelashes including the vet.)

I know, I know, you all think I’m a monster who should never be allowed the privilege of a pet but I didn’t take it lightly, the vet is the one who raised it, and he was a wonderful happy cat with no subsequent behavioral issues/peeing everywhere.

Yes. You are a terrible person.

I hope you’re a vegan! (I am.)

This is the only way to have a cat. Don’t feel bad op, do it!

Anonymous wrote:We had to change couches (in addition to putting up scratching posts) bc of persistent scratching-it was find snd worth it!

Having said that we once had a cat (separated from its mom too early bc of illness then adopted very young by us) that we did do the laser declaw at rec of vet bc he apparently didn’t learn at the critical period abt scratching etiquette (for example, he consistently tried to scratch people’s eyelashes including the vet.)

I know, I know, you all think I’m a monster who should never be allowed the privilege of a pet but I didn’t take it lightly, the vet is the one who raised it, and he was a wonderful happy cat with no subsequent behavioral issues/peeing everywhere.

Yes. You are a terrible person.

Anonymous wrote:If it's cruel, why do so many end up living happily ever after? Why would vets continuously push it? Surely they would stop after personal experience if one or two initial procedures had negative results. Even on this thread there are posts of success. I don't own a cat but I do like cats so it sounds like a good thing if the owners and cat can continue to live together with less stress and mess. Why is it the goal to rehome a destructive cat and continue the misery?

I once went to school with a friend who had both his legs amputated from the knees down due to vascular reasons. However, losing both your should pretty much be your last option. Just because the operation was a success for him doesn't make it a good idea for everyone.

Cutting off cat parts to just save your furniture is a terrible idea.

Please give the cat away rather than declaw him. Your sofa is not a reason to inflict cruelty at that level.

Anonymous wrote:If it's cruel, why do so many end up living happily ever after? Why would vets continuously push it? Surely they would stop after personal experience if one or two initial procedures had negative results. Even on this thread there are posts of success. I don't own a cat but I do like cats so it sounds like a good thing if the owners and cat can continue to live together with less stress and mess. Why is it the goal to rehome a destructive cat and continue the misery?

They don't. The vast majority of vets in the developed world who are not senile and on the verge of retirement agree that it is cruel and inhumane.

https://www.aaha.org/about-aaha/aaha-position-statements/declawing/ The American Animal Hospital Association has had a policy opposing it since 2003. Plenty of jurisdictions have banned it.

If it's cruel, why do so many end up living happily ever after? Why would vets continuously push it? Surely they would stop after personal experience if one or two initial procedures had negative results. Even on this thread there are posts of success. I don't own a cat but I do like cats so it sounds like a good thing if the owners and cat can continue to live together with less stress and mess. Why is it the goal to rehome a destructive cat and continue the misery?

It's cruel and inhumane and illegal in other developed countries.

Rehome the cat if that's what you need to do, but do not have it mutilated. It's painful surgery, similar to what it would be for us to have our fingers removed at the knuckles.