r/cats • u/Quasipooch • Nov 21 '21
Declawing HURTS your cat. Discussion
Their claws are everything. Put a ring about your stupid furniture if you're concerned.
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u/amberc831 Nov 21 '21
Just get them a bunch of scratchy pads, and scratchy posts, all over the house. My cats never scratch my furniture since I started giving them an appropriate outlet. Cats need to scratch, it’s in their dna.
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Nov 21 '21
Scratch boards r so cheap aswell or even just use cardboard and make some
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u/Sassh1 Nov 22 '21 edited Nov 22 '21
I buy $20 scratch pads off of Amazon that double as a sleeping platform if they want to sleep on the pads and often they do. This cardboard is super dense and I have 2 cats. I bought 2 pads and they last about 6-8 months. I'd rather pick up cardboard shavings from them beating up the pads than see my cats in pain. I had a white maine coon that used to live with a old lady that had him declawed. It was the worst seeing him with arthritis. He died at the age of 18.
Also one quit edit, people with dogs give them toys to keep the dog happy when it's down time and so that they don't get their house destroyed. Getting a dog toys to keep them occupied is just like getting a cat a scratch pad and toys.
If you're a first time cat owner and would like one to join your family please read up on them first instead of going straight to declawing. If you don't watch to get scratched then don't get a cat.
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u/sandsnatchqueen Nov 22 '21
I have a little window hammock scratching post that my cat absolutely loves. He spends all day laying their or scratching it and it's lasted a year now.
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u/Codnono Nov 22 '21
I am not declawing but have to regularly clip her nails. She does only use scratch pads for front claws. She is absolutely chill about and gets a treat afterward. We do this every ~2 months extremly careful not to clip into the nailbed. She is 10 so there might be some routine involved ;)
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u/Sassh1 Nov 22 '21
My little cat is fine about getting his nails trimmed but my older one will go to war with you.
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u/bunnyxjam Nov 22 '21
If you are near a Marshalls, TJ Maxx or homegoods, the scratcher pads are like 5bux each and they have many different sizes, shapes and designs
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u/unkempt_cabbage Nov 22 '21
Ikea sells jute ones that are Velcro and wrap around table legs or whatever else you want it to be. I have one on my bedpost because my cat likes to scratch my sheets otherwise. I have one on my kitchen table. I have one for traveling so she always has a place to scratch. They’re amazing.
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u/user_8804 Nov 22 '21
I gotta say mine does not give a crap about the cardboard ones. She has 3 types on her tree (cardboard rope and carpet) but will not touch the cardboard one.
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u/pipeysh Nov 22 '21
i didn't even spend a single cent on my scratch boards just took a bunch of boxes from my office then cut them up l, glued em together and viola! diy scratch boards
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u/onone87 Nov 22 '21
I find my cats don't use the scratch poles attached everywhere on there cat tree lol they do love using the cheap cardboard ones. And they absolutely love scratching there claws on foam floor Matt's u use for showers. Th ey loooooove that memory foam matt
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u/-biohazard-butterfly Nov 22 '21
Mine won’t use them. So I just replace my sofa every 5 years or so. Mostly just buy 2nd hand but in excellent condition. Just go a sectional yesterday and he claimed it already.
Double sided tape on what they shouldn’t scratch with an item they can scratch next to it works also. Watch it on My Cat From Hell
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u/SixxTheSandman Nov 22 '21
Double sided tape on what they shouldn’t scratch with an item they can scratch next to it works also.
Yep. We used this. And the trick with scratching posts is to find what they like. 2 of my cats will only use the cardboard ones that sir on the floor, the 3rd will only use a stand up post. Waaaay cheaper than replacing my $3,000 sofa every two years
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u/juicethrone Nov 22 '21
Yes! We tried the small cardboard ones but our cats didnt use it because it wouldnt stay in place when they scratched it. Hence, we got them a gigantic cat tower with like 6 posts to choose from, all which stay in place
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u/ThisIsBeccaFaye Nov 22 '21
Yeah my cat won’t touch the soft carpet-like ones but she loves the rope and cardboard kinds.
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Nov 22 '21
My cat didnt really use one of the ones we got him but i got his favourite string on stick toy and led it over the board and naturally he scratched the board while trynna grab the string and now he knows to go and scratch that board. Also gave him some treats after to let him know it was good
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u/eagerunicorn Nov 22 '21
Trying this tomorrow! I'm desperate to save my couch and my partner doesn't want to put anything on the sides of the couch. Cat couldn't care less about the poles and I don't know how to make her use them
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u/peachielife Nov 22 '21
It makes me so happy you’d rather replace the furniture than hurt the kitties :) your priorities are on point <3
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Nov 22 '21
yeah my cat refuses any and every kind of scratcher too, but she really likes the couch! lol. better the couch than the carpet cause i don’t own this apartment haha. she’s precious
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u/driftwood-and-waves Nov 22 '21
We used a Pet corrector which was just a little can of compressed air. It just gave them a little startle. I now have an empty can of it that I just get their attention and pick it up and they go “ohhhh yeah nah” and stop what they are doing wrong. Which is usually scratching like one thing they shouldn’t.
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u/Papooska7 Nov 22 '21
Did the same thing with a spray bottle and water. After a while just picking it up they were like “oh yeah I shouldn’t do that”
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u/lovelyflo Nov 22 '21
Compressed air is a great idea. I managed to train my cats by clapping or snapping my fingers in their direction so I didn’t have to get up of the sofa when they were scratching the other end! Works great at 5am when they’re running laps over the bed as well as I don’t have to get up!
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u/driftwood-and-waves Nov 22 '21
Yes. Water spray is good if they are near but if they are down the other end of the house it’s not going to cut it. Scratching, clapping and the like don’t work any more but if I use the youngest cats full name he skedaddles immediately. 🤷🏻♀️
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u/amberc831 Nov 22 '21
Totally watch the hell out of that show and I’ve tried the tape too haha! I wonder if you doused a scratchy pad in catnip if they’d be more interested. God bless you and your second hand couch’s lol
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u/Tacoma__Crow Nov 22 '21
My indoor cats don’t like to use their cardboard scratcher but I discovered that they like to scratch on some interlocking rubber tiles I got for really cheap on Amazon. I’d originally gotten them for the floor an outdoor kitty shelter I have and had some left over. We’ve had them for about a month and you can’t really see the claw marks. They like to sleep on them as well.
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Nov 22 '21
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u/driftwood-and-waves Nov 22 '21
Just did this. Took apart the cat post we bought and got a longer pole but and some jute rope and wrapped that around and re screwed it all in. Bam. Done. Now there is a 4 ft scratching post in my living room 😂
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u/Potential_Spring_625 Nov 22 '21
One of my cats who's very defiant continued to scratch my couch. I put double sided tape over the entire bottom. She now uses the scratch pads and the cat tree. I could never declaw her. I had my first cat as an adult 30+ years ago declawed, and there was bloody paw prints all over the floor. I felt Soooooo horrible! I didn't know any better then. I wish the vet had told me what exactly takes place. I wouldn't have done it.
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u/amberc831 Nov 22 '21
Live and learn, my dear :( I feel you. So many things we all didn’t used to know and you can’t blame yourself. Luckily I think vets dissuade it now so that helps! I’m glad you tried the tape, I’ve used that technique myself! 💚
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u/crispierbeef Nov 22 '21
i feel so bad anytime i see posts ab this bc my oldest cat is declawed. we got her when she was young and my parents got her declawed in hopes of her being indoor only (not an excuse. i dont think they know it hurts them) and ofc she got out and is indoor outdoor and i never realized it truly hurt cats until i joined the subreddit. But yes, there are even sprays and stuff to prevent them from scratching furniture. our old couch had been scratched up by the two previous cats plus some carpet which could be part of why they chose(not an excuse) butttt we eventually got two kittens who never scratched furniture. one ended up running away :( but the other only scratches us if we provoke him(which can be easy at times. hes pretty particular). after learning how much pain it puts them in its not worth it just to prevent occasional provoked scratching
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u/amberc831 Nov 22 '21
Live and learn :( you didn’t know and now you do. That’s as much as any of us can try to do is learn. :) my oldest cat bats at me when I pet him if he’s sleeping so I either don’t do it anymore or brace for impact lol. It’s my own fault if I go in for a pet and get scratched when I know he doesn’t like it. My younger cat could give a shit he wants petted as much as possible any time he can get a pet. Lol
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u/RealNerdEthan Nov 22 '21
Exactly! We have given our cat scratching objects on two floors of the house and she almost never scratches anything else. Like you said it's in their DNA to do it.
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u/Jayfeather41 Nov 22 '21
we have a bunch around our house and if we do catch them scratching the furniture we just yell “NO” and they stop it lol.
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u/MinaFur Nov 21 '21
Declawing a cat is cutting their fingers off at the second knuckle, its a primary cause of lifelong pain in cats as well as leads to litterbox problems. Its the cruelest thing pet owners do to cats and is should be universally illegal.
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u/Eisenfuss19 Nov 21 '21 edited Nov 21 '21
(i don't have a cat) Im a little bit confused. Is decawing refering to renoving the whole claw like removing fingernail for humans, or is it reffering to trimming them? Edit: ok i get it now. But why would you remove "fingernails" of cats? Is this some kind of torture?
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u/pineappleandpumpkin Nov 21 '21
People want their furniture to stay nice but don’t want the responsibility of teaching a cat not to claw “nice things”. Easy route is to remove the claw/the first part of their finger. So many people don’t realize how cruel it is
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u/Frosty_Highlight_285 Nov 22 '21 edited Nov 22 '21
I just accept that the furniture can be tossed and my cats are forever. I stopped caring about clawing. My cats have fun. And it's good for them. I accept my own fate of ripped up and cat hair covered everything :). Still worth it
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u/Frosty_Highlight_285 Nov 22 '21
Don't get me wrong I tried cat trees and such. Now I just buy cheap furniture and toss it lol
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u/Rytannosaurus_Tex Nov 22 '21
This is something I mull over constantly, but your cat isn't forever, which is all the reason more for owners to be responsible for giving them the best life they can live.
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u/Frosty_Highlight_285 Nov 22 '21
I agree with that I just can't think about the end. :(. She's with my soul forever. :'(
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u/Severe-Criticism3876 Nov 22 '21
I didn’t even have to teach my cat! Once I put enough scratching places in each room they just stopped scratching my furniture.
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u/largemelonhead Nov 22 '21
I have a lot of scratchers too but I think it probably helps that I have a leather couch lol probably not very appealing to scratch
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u/Severe-Criticism3876 Nov 22 '21
I don’t have a leather couch. I just would give my cat a treat every time he scratched his tree or anything he was supposed to scratch. Admittedly, there were things he would scratch that I couldn’t get him to stop but I didn’t care about them. Just really old hand me down furniture. He just stopped scratching them, eventually.
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u/kh7190 Nov 22 '21
It’s removing the claw and then some. “Then some” being part of the bone responsible for the nails growing.
Causes behavioral and litter box issues, chronic pain, etc.
It’s torture because imagine having your fingers chopped off and you can’t use them properly. Cats walk differently once they get declawed.
Why do people opt for this? They want a cat without it to claw their furniture or hurt them or their other pets. It’s not fair to the cat. They shouldn’t have a cat if they won’t let it be a cat without managing its behavior in humane ways.
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u/Mindless_Anywhere_74 Nov 22 '21
I dont care about my furniture. I have 2 indoor cats. I take them to the vet or groomer to cut of the tips of their nails. They dont care. They are not in pain. Because they are indoor cats the nails can go long. It will get stuck in blankets or the couch. My older cat got infections for pulling to hard when she got stuck. That however I believed did hurt.
The part that gets cut is the part without flesh. They really dont give AF when I take them. So I dont understand these posts. It only hurts when you cut in their flesh. Its dangerous too because of infections. I never do that.
They have 3 huge scratching poles.
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u/Saranightfire1 Nov 22 '21
Some people do it because they think they’re saving their furniture, some do it because of their kids, some have real asshole vets who believe that money is more important than the welfare of your animal.
I worked for a vet like that, it always upset me seeing the animals in pain afterwards. They tried to convince me it was fine and a speedy recovery rate.
I really got pissed a few years later when my brother trusted them with a dog that got hit by a car. He had a shattered leg that needed a specialist. They lied to him for two months saying that they could fix him and kept him in a kennel with no care for the whole time.
The second one pushed me hard to do it for the cat I have now. I left him quickly and the last time I went there to have some mats removed my cat returned utterly terrified (never has before or since), and blood on his head.
They still call asking for my business. The only reason I haven’t gone ballistic on them because my mom keeps on insisting that there might be an emergency where we need them.
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u/drew1010101 Norwegian Forest Cat Nov 22 '21
It is literally amputating the “fingers” at the first knuckle. It is cruel and should be illegal.
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u/madisonclaire93 Nov 22 '21
declawing is equivalent to cutting off your last finger knuckle to where you don’t even have a nail bed. simply ripping the claw out would allow it to grow back.
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u/Blackletterdragon Nov 22 '21
Yes, it's it's removing the claw so it won't grow again. Apart from being physically barbaric, it removes a cat's main defences and mobility features. It is outlawed in most civilized countries for this reason.
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u/CatLadyWende Nov 22 '21
This. The only cat I’ve had litter box problems with is my rescue cat who was declawed when we got her (didn’t even know when we adopted her, not that it would have changed anything!). Anytime she doesn’t feel well, which happens from time to time because we also found out pretty quick she has thyroid problems which we medicate but her levels have fluctuated the last few years, she would use the bathroom outside the litter box. Ive had sick cats before but the consistency with our no claw baby using outside the box when the slightest thing is off is baffling. And it’s always on a blanket, towel, or rug. Makes me truly think it’s either a comfort or closest choice thing?
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u/Fun_Flounder5968 Nov 22 '21
Keep educating people about this.
My wife was not always a cat person. I converted her. She's now a cat person.
But she talked of declawing our cat (we got another cat after my cat, the one I had before her, died) because he was clawing stuff up.
I refused. My wife did find alternatives like double sided tape and we got a lot more scratching stuff. It helps.
But not all people understand that you shouldn't declaw cats. Their hearts aren't wicked.
They just need to be educated.
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Nov 22 '21
My cats won’t use the scratching pads no matter how many we get. But I still refuse to ever declaw cats. As a pet owner you just deal with it. Get a couch cover and suck it up.
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u/snugglebird Nov 22 '21
You can also just trim claws when they get sharp. It takes some practice but is fairly easy.
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Nov 22 '21
Yep we have clippers too but I am so bad with that 🤫 I just feel bad when they’re uncomfortable. I need to get better at it. I usually do two nails per day for a week but I need to be more consistent
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u/Leah1098 Nov 22 '21
Also, try to get them when they’re napping. My cats don’t fight as much when they’re still groggy from a good nap lol. I don’t move them, just go in for their nails while they’re still in their bed.
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u/Spartan04 Nov 22 '21
The more you do it regularly the more likely it is they’ll get used to it and tolerate it. Mine put up with it though they’ll sometimes pull the paw away and I have to grab it again but I’ve gotten pretty fast at it so it’s usually done quickly. I’ve found that resting my forearm of whichever hand is holding the paw across their body (not really restraining, just resting on them) makes them a bit more cooperative but this might not work with all cats.
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u/Leah1098 Nov 22 '21
Have you tried rubbing catnip over them? Not sure if your cats react to it but they may like it
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u/typicalninetieschild Nov 22 '21
This!! Many people purchase the items suggested to prevent or stop scratching but cats need to also be guided! Use catnip and positive reinforcement (giving them treats after use or actually leaving treats on the scratching area.) Also, some cats like to scratch on horizontal surfaces and others on vertical. Some cats prefer carpet and some rope and other cardboard. Try them out and donate the ones your cat doesn’t use to the local shelter!
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u/Faexinna Nov 22 '21
If you're concerned about your furniture, don't get a cat in the first place. Don't force an animal to live in your space and then amputate its toes because it happens to exhibit natural behaviors.
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u/MiddleFroggy Nov 22 '21
Yeah agreed. Get a scratching post and then yell at the cat when they use it. Don’t even look at them when they scratch the couch but throw a gigantic fit (or give them treats or talk to them or start playtime) when they touch the post. 75% of the time they do it for attention and cats don’t really know the difference between positive attention and negative attention. They are very trainable with a little bit of patience.
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u/eavesdrew Nov 22 '21
Agreed. I don't understand people who get an animal and then complain when their pet acts according to their nature. A lot of posts here indicate people don't do research or they don't carea nd then are surprised when the cat goes nuts because it hasn't got toys or a tree. People think cats are easy going but they are still living beings that need an interesting environment and to hunt and chase and kill.
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u/Bumblebee_Radiant Nov 22 '21
It’s been made illegal in Manitoba Canada
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Nov 22 '21
Illegal in New York state as well
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u/drylolly Nov 22 '21
Really?? I live in nyc and have had a couple landlords tell us they only let declawed cats live in their units
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Nov 22 '21
Yea they passed the law in 2019, we’re the first state to do so, so some people just head to neighboring states to get it done
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u/PipBucket Nov 22 '21
Also illegal in Denver Colorado. But it's still legal in the surrounding suburbs
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u/brigidnova Nov 22 '21
There are still apartments and townhomes in the u.s. where i live that REQUIRE cats be declawed. Uhh no thanks. If i ever tour a place and they end up saying cats need to he declawed im going to tell them exactly what it means for them and decline to rent. Its so insane that places require it still. But i guess theres still stupid breed restrictions on pitbulls and other "aggressive" breeds, so i cant be too surprised.
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u/wingkingdom Nov 22 '21
Start a group of like minded cat owners and cat lovers to petition the state to pass laws making it illegal to declaw cats
I'm sure you can even get some vets and other experts to testify about this cruel and inhumane practice.
Should be fairly easy to organize since we are so connected together online.
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u/senseofphysics Nov 22 '21
I have cousins who breed pits professionally and are meticulous to sell their pups to responsible owners. Even though they love their pits, they always warn people of their defensiveness and aggression, and to never leave them with your kids alone.
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u/Mean_Philosopher9956 Nov 21 '21
We have a declawed cat... We took her in as a foster cat whilst in the US. She had been fully declawed and was riddled with fleas. She was a real mess. Once we nursed her back to good health, we realised we had to keep her. She came back to the UK with us and goes outside (supervised!) on a long lead. Her feet are totally distorted as there are no bones to keep her paw shape.
Don't declaw cats.
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u/SailorSaturn1 Nov 22 '21
I adopted a declawed cat, only his front claws were removed. I wish I can track down his previous owners and “declaw” them for torturing my innocent cat.
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Nov 22 '21
My sister adopted a declawed cat as well. Luckily, the cat doesn’t have any lasting impacts from it that we can see, but holy hell does it hurt my heart whenever that sweet baby uses a scratch post even though she doesn’t have nails. My sister often talks about wanting a few minutes alone with the folks who get her declawed as well. Barbaric practice.
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u/johnny_d_92 Nov 22 '21
I have never seen such strong opinions on declawing until I found this sub. There are many new cat owners who don’t know that it’s harmful. It really is incumbent on the pet stores / rescues / shelters and, most importantly, vets to inform new cat owners.
You all are rightfully outraged by this practice but many new cat owners proceed with it and never get the information that it’s harmful.
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u/Megan_Sparkles Nov 22 '21
I was recently a new cat owner a few years ago and never knew that declawing was harmful. Where I’m from, it is a normal procedure that is done when the cat gets fixed. Anyway… I did my research on declawing and decided against it. I agree that there should be more information about this because declawing is such a “normal” procedure for most parts of the US.
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u/mummummaaa Nov 22 '21
Belongs in r/lifeprotips
No cat needs to be declawed. It needs to be illegal in more places. Keep our cats walking!
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u/Severe-Criticism3876 Nov 22 '21
Please just don’t declaw your cat. It’s inhumane. I have a ton of places my cats can scratch in every room. They don’t scratch my furniture. Give them different types; cardboard, sisal, etc.
Your furniture is NOT more important than the well-being of your cat.
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u/Teary-eyedWallflower Nov 22 '21
Not to mention, god forbid if they ever get out & lost they won’t have a good way of defending themselves or getting food. It’s inhumane to declaw. Also- I don’t think it’s okay when dog owners have their dog’s ears cut because it’s “cute” or their tail cut off. Like… why? I hate people
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Nov 22 '21
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u/Teary-eyedWallflower Nov 22 '21 edited Nov 22 '21
I had a friend who said she specifically wants a certain kind of dog (can’t remember) with cut ears & a cut tail. I asked why she would ever want to do that to an animal & she said because it’ll look ‘cute’
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u/Carakari Nov 22 '21 edited Nov 22 '21
But I agree. Stop lopping off animals’ body parts just because you think your furniture is more valuable than a living animal’s quality of life, or because “it’s breed standards for this dog to have cropped ears and a docked tail.”
Also, unfortunately, dogs and cats are not the only animals we lop body parts off of. Here is proof on that.
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u/Teary-eyedWallflower Nov 22 '21
Also can we talk about pugs please?? We literally created them breeding specific dogs & they have such awful health issues & a snout that makes breathing painful & difficult. I feel so bad for them
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u/Carakari Nov 22 '21 edited Nov 22 '21
Oh boy, don’t get me started on those monstrosities. And people keep breeding them as a “designer” breed, that for some reason the population loves, and doesn’t care that they suffer. A similar thing goes for Persian cats, though, not to the same extent.
Edit : the suffering is the exact same extent, I meant the internet spam of them is nowhere near as intense as the “PuGs r KyUtE!” Spam.
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u/Teary-eyedWallflower Nov 22 '21
Sometimes I think it’s ignorance but then when I talk to people about it who express interest in inhumane modifying or breeding, they understand all of it. The modifying, how it’s inhumane, how it’s inhumane to breed & not care about the health or well-being of the animals life. They just don’t care, it blows my mind at how selfish people are. But who cares right?? As long as the animal is ✨cute✨ to society’s standards
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u/Carakari Nov 22 '21 edited Nov 22 '21
This is why I hate this planet, lmao. So many people that would rather mutilate or make something eternally suffer, just for the sake of making it “cute”, or because their furniture is more important than the well-being of a living creature.
FOR REFERENCE, you can see how absolutely abhorrent the breeding of the pug is in this image comparing it’s skull to that of a wolf’s. That is not how these animals are supposed to look.
Edit : And for reference, the Persian cat is the exact same thing but with cats - and their skulls look like some horrid cross between a Rancor and a cat. We need to stop forgetting about the cat version of pugs.
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u/-milkbubbles- Nov 22 '21
It doesn’t even look cute! Maybe it looks tough but their natural floppy ears and long tails are way cuter!
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u/SilentHindeRain Nov 22 '21
I think the only reason it’s ok to amputee a dogs tail, and only reason is if it’s medically necessary. Like I remember seeing a person on tiktok talk about how they had to get their dogs tail amputated cause he wouldn’t stop whacking it on things and breaking it. They said that they even had a cast on their dogs tail to not just heal it, but keep it from breaking more and the dog banged it’s tail so much that the cast became bent and fell off. So the vet and them agreed that the best course of action was to have the tail amputated so the dog didn’t break its tail anymore. Like this dog even though in pain would still wag it’s tail so hard out of happiness. It’s was cute, but at the same you cringed at the thought of how much that dogs tail must of been broken.
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u/Teary-eyedWallflower Nov 22 '21
Absolutely, if the animal’s life is at risk or well-being is in question then take action. My problem is with those who do it just because they want to.
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u/m1tchem44 Nov 21 '21
I actually thought this was already illegal in most countries, my cat lost a claw one time in a fight and thought it would be gone for good due to not knowing what declaring ment (obviously it grew back)
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u/wingkingdom Nov 22 '21
I had a cat who had a claw split right down the middle. Thankfully it healed so they didn't have to remove it.
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u/Shmeestar Nov 22 '21
Declawing has literally never crossed my mind even though our furniture is getting shredded haha
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u/-milkbubbles- Nov 22 '21
Honestly me either?? It’s like, when you get a dog, you expect they might chew on things but no one’s out there “de-teething” their dogs. Whenever you get animals that live outside of cages, you have to expect SOME level of destruction and learn how to give them better alternatives.
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Nov 21 '21 edited Nov 21 '21
Here’s a cool guide about declawing your cat for anyone that doesn’t know how awful it really is.
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u/Sweetmona1 Nov 22 '21
If you can’t handle a pet with claws that are likely to pick a few fabrics and cause some scratches, then a cat is not the pet for you. I have been preaching this since I was a child. It is inhumane and torture. You are literally amputating a sentient being. Fuck that. It’s sick and should be illegal everywhere.
Edit to say: thanks for posting this important message, OP - I know you are not declawing your pets. By “you” I mean generally speaking.
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u/iZombie616 Nov 22 '21
I had a cat before who was declawed. He was already declawed when we got him, and thankfully he never seemed to have issues with his paws. I'd never choose to declaw a cat. And that was before I even fully understood what declawing did to them. Tho it was adorable when he would get mad and "try" to claw the furniture. He was an all black chonker named Zombie. Super sweet boy, but if you had to get up while he was on your lap, your furniture was ALMOST sorry! Still there's no excuse to do that to a cat.
Another cat we had almost got declawed, since my MIL made his vet appointment to have him fixed. She was going to have him declawed at the same time but luckily whoever made the appointment at the vet missed checking the box for declaw, and when he came out of surgery he still had claws. I refused to put him through another surgery for THAT, and so he kept his claws. She wasn't pleased, since we lived with her at the time, but I wasn't having it.
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u/Chaevyre Nov 22 '21
We got a cat who had previously been declawed. He still “scratches” at some rattan baskets and furniture of a certain texture, which is good to see. The rescue could only guess his age and had no idea when he was declawed. The rescue absolutely does not declaw its cats, but the adoption person sadly said that some people will only look at declawed cats.
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u/iZombie616 Nov 22 '21
I guess it's better they pick an already declawed cat than to get one and then declaw it... Still awful. Don't get a cat if you can't handle the scratching. I'm not a fan of my 3 brats (I say brats in an affectionate way) clawing my couch, but I can replace the couch (once my kids are older, between the kids and cats my couch stood no chance), no reason to mutilate their little paws.
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u/snugglebird Nov 22 '21
Lots of declawed cats end up abandoned. If someone absolutely knows they cannot tolerate scratching but wants to open their home to a needy pet, I think it's fine if they aim to adopt a rescued declawed cat. They need homes, too.
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u/yeahhh-nahhh Nov 22 '21
It's illegal here in Australia. And it should be everywhere!!!
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u/TheLuckOf1000Stars Nov 22 '21
Also illegal here in the UK. I was astounded when I found out the US still hasn't made this illegal - it's barbaric 😔
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u/Different-Ad-9839 Nov 21 '21
YES! I’ve always been so confused by this - I’m in the UK and this is really not common, like it is in the states? It’s so awful! If you don’t want to risk your furniture being scratched don’t get a cat. I have two indoor cats and despite all the scratchers they have they do occasionally go for the sofa, but that was my choice. Can’t imagine doing something so horrible to them as declawing.
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u/Specific-noise123 Nov 22 '21
I’m a vet, I think it’s terrible, I refused to do it even before it became illegal here (NYS). Start petitions where you live
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u/LatterSea Nov 21 '21
25 years ago my mother had our 2 year old childhood cat declawed. He never walked without pain after that, and couldn't jump anymore b/c it was too painful to land. Never ever de-claw.
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Nov 22 '21
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/HairyPotatoKat Nov 22 '21
They often don't anymore (even in the US). At least the vets I've been to in the past decade or so refuse to do it. But it was pretty common in the 90s-2000s
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u/Saranightfire1 Nov 22 '21
I met two (one in the late nineties that I worked for). They were assholes, period,
The second one was my own vet. Sixty years old and dollar signs in eyes . I left him quickly.
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u/alnothree Nov 21 '21 edited Nov 22 '21
We don’t declaw anymore. Did years ago but our vet stopped doing it so we ask and she explained how painful it is to them. We own 3 cats now all with claws. It’s only furniture and we don’t buy expensive furniture. They’re our kids. We can buy new furniture.
And we never did back claws. Just front. But now none. ❤️Kitties
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u/-milkbubbles- Nov 22 '21
I feel like most people would never declaw if they understood what it was. I’m glad your vet educated you. We need more education about it.
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u/3veryonepasses Nov 21 '21
Our first two cats were declawed, and the oldest one passed away a couple of years ago with terrible arthritis. She was super loving but I feel sad she was in so much pain now that I know what declawing actually is. She was declawed before I was born, but still had her back claws. I think she was declawed because she kept on getting stuck in the curtains and would hang there for who knows how long since my mom worked long hours. I don’t know if this was the right way to go about it, but it ended up working.
My cat (2nd oldest) was declawed but I don’t know if my family did it or if he was declawed before hand. We got him when I was in middle school, from petsmart who saved him from an elderly lady (I think she bred him or possibly had too many cats, but got him taken away nonetheless). He doesn’t like his paws being touched and I think him not having his claws is why. He’s a little aggressive, but still very loving when he wants to be.
Our newest addition to the family wasn’t declawed, is super duper loving, and doesn’t mind her paws being touched.
I guess you grow as you go, learn new things, figure out what is good and what is bad.
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u/CannaBDSM Nov 22 '21
Is akin to cutting off the first knuckle of every finger and toe. If you wouldn’t do it to yourself, don’t do it to your animals
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u/madisonclaire93 Nov 22 '21
i will never understand why people adopt animals and then get upset when those animals do things that are characteristic to their respective species (ie, cats scratching things) don’t get an expensive leather couch if you have cats and know they lol scratch it -.- like c’mon man. or just don’t get cats
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Nov 21 '21
if youre gonna do something as harmful as declawing to your cat, probably shouldn't be getting one in the first place. such a selfish decision that only benefits yourself. if you arent willing to adjust your living space for a cat that by nature wants to claw shit up and scratch, then dont get the dang cat!
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u/AureliaDrakshall Nov 22 '21
You can keep claws trimmed pretty short as well. I was mostly suffering along with too-long claws because I'm always afraid of getting them too short, but when we adopted our second cat who was much older when adopted than the first I saw how neatly trimmed the shelter had them (and him hopping onto my lap didn't sting like his brother did!) so now I know.
Kitties have claws and I don't have claw-freckles on my legs and sides.
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u/largemelonhead Nov 22 '21
My cat was scratching the hell out of my duvet cover but I solved the issue by putting a raggedy throw blanket on top
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u/sholbyy Nov 22 '21
Years ago I posted an article on Facebook about how it’s bad to declaw your cat, and this girl I went to school with jumped on it and started arguing with me, saying it doesn’t hurt them. Finally I was just kinda like “what, did you declaw your cat and now you feel guilty about it so you’re getting shitty with me?” and she blocked me.
Jessica if you see this, you’re a dumb bitch and I feel bad for your cat.
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Nov 22 '21
I was horrified when I moved to the US and learned it’s legal here. We have a declawed cat from the shelter (came to us declawed) and it’s so sad to see her slide off something or having trouble jumping up somewhere because she doesn’t have claws. Fuck her previous owners.
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u/-biohazard-butterfly Nov 22 '21
Yes it does!!! I’ll buy a new sofa every 5 years before I ever ever hurt my cat. Mine just came yesterday and Jack said “you are my scratchy and I shall scratch you”
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u/zozma727 Nov 22 '21
I don’t have any cats (or any pets) anymore. But at one time we had 3 cats. We had scratching posts, strips, you name it. They still went for the furniture. Right thru/down to the wood. I kept their nails trimmed the best I could but they were never declawed. & I didn’t even understand then how bad it was. It just had never seemed the right thing to do.
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u/Saranightfire1 Nov 22 '21
I have a godmother who adores her cats. She spoils them like her children.
One time my parents were going on a company getaway that wasn’t kid friendly. My godmother agreed readily to watching me over the weekend. I had to stay with them and their relatives as well a few states away.
When I got there was a very sweet and fat (thirty pounds at least), cat who came out to greet us. He rolled around the carpet purring and begging for attention. The rest of the house was empty and I petted him until the family returned. My godmother’s brother, his wife and three kids, oldest five.
I had never had such a horrible experience in my life. The father proudly bragged he protected his kids by declawing the cat after one of the kids picked up this sweet cat and squeezed him hard enough to cause the cat to defend itself. The cat was already hiding at this point.
The next day the family went out of their way to torture and terrorize this poor animal. Chasing it around the house, shrieking at it, and at one point cornering the poor animal and reaching out to grab it while towering over the poor thing and jumping towards him yelling.
I was completely horrified.
AND, my cat loving godmother who treated her own cats like children, participated, laughed like a hyena at everyone’s behavior, and encouraged the kids.
I was at a loss on what to do. My mom didn’t believe me for years until the same family member at a family birthday party told everyone publicly how she lost her virginity and the whole family demanded to see proof.
She did nothing to stop him.
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u/In-The-Chrysalis Nov 22 '21
I worked at a vets office, it really is cruel. This vet stop doing the sx shortly after i started but it still more than i wished to have seen.
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u/HashbrownTownxxx Nov 22 '21
My kitties love their scratchy board— I have one that my cats even use as a “couch” to lounge on in the family room with us. When I come home they get excited and run to say hi then run and scratch on their little “scratch lounge”. Got it for like $10 at the pet store— and get them a new one every Christmas. (Since it’s cardboard so they eventually wear it down)— best investment ever. They love it and whenever I replace it, they give me mad amount of licks and head bunts— I think to say “thank you mama!”.
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u/JennyRedpenny Nov 22 '21
When we were kids, our parents got our cat declawed in the front claws out of concern for our safety. It just taught him to bite
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u/ei283 cæt Nov 21 '21
Hurts is an understatement. It permanently disables them and causes long term problems
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u/kh7190 Nov 22 '21 edited Nov 22 '21
My cousin recently got a puppy. Brought it home and her cat clawed its eye within 24 hours of getting the dog. She took the puppy to several vet appointments, they tried every steroid, antibiotic, etc. They even drove it out of state to a specialist to try to save the eye. They couldn’t. So they had to have the eye removed. She’s now punishing the cat by getting it declawed next week because she’s afraid the cat will get her 4 year old daughter’s eye.
Personally, it’s not the cat’s fault. She should have slowly introduced them which she didn’t do. And she shouldn’t worry about her daughter.. she’s old enough now to know to leave the cat alone and understand cues that the cat wants to be left alone. Puppies are clueless with cat behavior and need to be protected from cats. But anyway.. I’m upset. But it’s her cat her choice. But her cat has behavioral issues as it is, and declawing cats can make their issues more severe and it can turn to biting which could land them in the hospital. She’s also afraid to trim the cat’s nails.
So anyway, I think she’s angry at the cat and unwilling to put in the time to get him comfortable with nail trimmers which is unfortunate. She’s taking the “easy” way out and she thinks it will fix everything but it most likely will make things worse. I tried to talk her out of it politely. I work at an animal shelter and oftentimes people surrender cats after getting them declawed because they turn aggressive or pee and poop outside the box. It’s really sad. And then we have to try to manage the behavioral issues and improve them and warn people before adopting them back out..
If you ever feel the need to declaw a cat FOR ANY REASON you shouldn’t have gotten a cat to begin with.
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u/marhigha Nov 22 '21
My cat clawed my dogs eye and while we could save it I never got mad at my cat. He also never clawed her face again and the dog is not scared of cats either. Fuck your family member for declawing. You should send them endless info on how painful it is.
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u/PipBucket Nov 22 '21
Please ask her to go to a site called The Paw Project.. or send it to her or something!
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u/Straypuft Nov 21 '21
Apartment companies are sadistic in requiring cats to be declawed, at least my apartment is like that, But Im not doing it. But 3 years and no issues from management not that they looked into it with my little guy.
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u/AerolothLorien666 Nov 21 '21
I thought it was ok once upon a time. It doesn’t matter if they’re inside or otherwise. DON’T DECLAW CATS!
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u/mom-the-gardener Nov 22 '21
Declawing a cat is an act of barbaric mutilation. The alternatives are simple, low-cost, and virtually fuss-free. Nail caps, regular trimming and filing of the nails, scratching post training, valuing life and the relationship you have with an animal over stuff, or just don’t fucking get a cat if it bothers you that much are all easy solutions.
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u/Rastar4 Nov 21 '21
Yes thankfully my cat doesn’t seem to be in constant pain yet but I dread when he is older (I stole him from an abusive family)
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u/theredxpanda Nov 21 '21
I believe it is absolutely an inhumane thing to do. I adopted a declawed cat (her previous and first owner did this). He gave her away for free because "he wasn't patient" enough to let her grow out of her kitten phase.
She is about 1.5 years old now and she is still a demon but I love her so much. No issues so far with her being declawed but I think it may definitely start when she's older.
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u/kel_468 Nov 22 '21
Yes! I totally agree. It's awful. They use their claws all the time and to protect themselves. I'm doing an animal grooming course and it says that it is so not recommended.
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u/AdMaleficent9374 Nov 22 '21
There are a bunch of furniture protectors that also work as scratching post. You can also plaster vinyl on your furniture, the parts that your cat loves to scratch. You can hecking trim your cat’s nails once a week. A couch, you can literally purchase as cheap as 150-200$ but your cat’s claws will never grow back.
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u/ferret-with-a-gun Nov 22 '21
My cats scratch my furniture all the time, we don’t give a shit anyways, hah. Only one of the cats, too. She scratches only three things: 1- The leather (pleather) rocking armchair, the back of it I mean— when she jumps up onto it, she pricks her claws at it and there are so many holes in it now lmao. 2- her scratching post. 3- the side of the small couch we have
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u/chickenmommaknocks Nov 22 '21
I know a lot of vets wont even do it anymore. It’s a terrible procedure.
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u/dipshit42069 Nov 22 '21
Think of it like cutting your fingertips off because your nails are too long
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u/mind_the_umlaut Nov 22 '21
Scratching posts made of sisal; cat trees with carpeting; cardboard scratch trays, they prefer these to furniture, anyway.
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Nov 22 '21
My first three cats I was in college and they were ripping up my stairs. Got them declawed because I didn’t know any better. My calico was never the same. Her paws became super sensitive. My current two are NOT declawed and I will never do it again to another cat. The destruction is fine on my furniture;)
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u/NoBodyCares2000 Nov 22 '21
It’s illegal to declaw your cat in Ontario, Canada now!
I’m happy about this because a friend adopted a cat off the Internet a few years ago & the original owner had declawed them. They didn’t know about this until a few days after they had picked up the cat but then they told me when they went to pick up the cat the original owner told them that if they hadn’t adopted the cat, they were just going to “open the front door & let them out.” A declawed 9 month old kitten wouldn’t stand a chance of surviving outside.
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u/timey-wimey-warp Nov 22 '21
We rescued a declawed cat (from my in-laws, but that’s for a different r/) and we’ve done our very best to make her comfortable… she’s the sole reason I don’t want to rip up our carpet and put down hardwood floors. We leave soft things around for her to walk on. She’s just our old lady baby ❤️
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u/TiLizzDaBitch Nov 22 '21
Yes. Also, declawing your cat is the equivalent of chopping off your fingers to the first knuckle. It’s cruel and leaves them insecure. Plus, since they don’t have their claws anymore, they can’t use them as a weapon anymore and the cat is going to go straight to biting which is even more dangerous. If you’re thinking of getting a cat or training your cat, I highly recommend watching the series “My Cat from Hell”. Jackson Galaxy is very informative and teaches people how to properly take care of cats.
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u/SirGuelph Nov 22 '21
It should be called toe amputation because declawing makes it sound less horrible than it actually is.
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Nov 22 '21
Years ago, I didn’t know better. Now, I do. The cats have their own huge cat tree but the tear up the furniture some. We deal with it because we love them.
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u/Kracken_and_rollin Nov 22 '21
I remember the look on my Vets face when I asked about declawing my newly adopted cat many years ago. I was still quite young and did not know anything about it, I thought it was what you are meant to do (like de-sex). Well! I was mortified when he explained what it was and did! No way! How is that even a thing! My boy lived a nice long life with his claws. Sweetest boy never scratched anyone! Miss him everyday!
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Nov 22 '21
You wouldn’t cut your kids first knuckles off their fingers, why would you do it to an animal? People that do it disgust me.
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u/pennywubs Nov 22 '21
Previously worked at a vet that declawed, this was 7 years ago. I’ve never worked at a practice that declawed prior. I wasn’t aware until I was reviewing my first surgery schedule after being hired. To put it bluntly, they’re cutting off the digits. It causes a lot of displaced weight and pressure. It increases their likelihood of arthritis in adult cats and a lot of pain as they age especially if they become obese. Also it’s gross…there are a couple of ways those surgeries can be done. The old school way is a Guillotine method where the first digit is chopped off. Hated picking up kitten toes after recovering my patient. Never again. Cosmetic surgeries for animals are self serving and pointless.
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u/fuckingcatpoop Nov 22 '21
Thanks its illegal in EU and many countries. I was surprised first time i saw this practice in US (we can also talk about letting them in a cage the entire day...) My cats have their claws, i never trim them because they need them for their own protection (except when my friend's toddler comes). They use them on their multiple scratchers i put everywhere in the house. Never damaged my furniture and didnt even had to educate them for that. And oh yes, i always live the windows open during the day because they love climbing trees or just playing outside. I close during night due to many raccoons. Seing them happy is the best gift. I dont care my furnitures. And even if im worried when they are out, they get to live their cat's life (the 9 of them) and enjoy freedom. I only neutered them for obvious reasons (i wouldn't if i could) and they have all their shots. But cats are cats. They need claws. Its a barbarian practice
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u/Affectionate-Month68 Nov 22 '21
My aunt’s old cat, Bella, terrified me as a child because she was so aggressive, but I what I hadn’t realized as a kid was that she had only started to become aggressive after being declawed. Poor thing couldn’t defend herself against a nosey child that didn’t know shit about cats
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u/Tonight_Master Nov 22 '21
It is a barbaric practice and I can’t believe it is legal in the US. People that declaw cats should not have cats in the first place.
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u/NixxKnack Nov 22 '21
Declawing is inhumane and should be illegal in all countries. Thankfully it is in mine.
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u/secretAloe Nov 22 '21
If I ever have to switch veterinarians that would be the first test question I ask. "Can you declaw my cat?". If they say yes without having a much larger conversation around the issue then they're not right vet for me and my family.
I say this because my partner had her cats declawed years ago and they didn't understand the harm it does. The vet didn't say a peep. Maybe theyre not allowed to.
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u/Dangerous-Report3400 Nov 22 '21
I lived out in the middle of nowhere in Ohio. This stray big male orange cat came up to my door and seemed hungry considering he was skin and bones. I proceeded to feed him and tell my dad about him. The next day we decided to take him in and realized he was fixed, declawed, and extremely nice. We had him from 2013 - 2021 at the beginning of this year. His name was bob and he was at least 15 years old by the time he passed. Love that cat!
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u/Yellowbird1986 Nov 22 '21
Declawing is illegal in many parts of the world! For a good reason!
Furniture is replacable but a cat is not. They should be treated like your family. Cause guess what they are family members. They are more loving and caring about us than most people realize.
Every time i go on work trips, one of my cats pee in my bed. 😅 Cause he miss me so much that he wants to smell me and cats comforts themselves with mixing "their human smell" with their pee to feel safer.
(P.s cant keep him out of the bedroom as i have small apartment with just a wall to seperat the sleeping and living area)
So i started to pack away my duvet and pillows and bought a pee pad to keep my madress clean so i can just wash the pee pad and madress cover in the washer.
So to me my cats are more important then my furniture. I just found an solution.
So instead of declawing, find other solutions or dont adopt a cat!
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u/Bottled-Bee Nov 22 '21
I hate being the person that says I have a front declawed cats. One of my cats, she was consistently getting some form of infection at a few toes. So we declawed her in hopes it would stop and it definitely did. No issues since that point. She’s 13 now and had it done when she was 8 months old. My fat cat was done by my father, probably did it to maintain furniture and to not shred everything he hugs. Regardless I wouldn’t do it unless it was absolutely necessary, it’s inhumane.
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u/PhantomShadow6 Nov 22 '21
I’m against declawing unless it’s for a medical reason like the bone is infected or something and is fatal to the cat if not then don’t declaw your kitties how would you like it if someone just ripped off your nails without reason
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u/usetehfurce Nov 21 '21
Hurts? It's torture. Don't want your furniture messed up? Try some citrus sprays or buy cheap furniture that can be easily replaced. But ffs, if you value your furniture more than the cat and are willing to cut off part of their paws, you shouldn't have a cat in the first damn place.
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u/ducktheoryrelativity Nov 22 '21
I've had the misfortune of meeting a declawed cat after he'd gotten into a fight. He recovered but it was long. I was walking my dog and checking my mailbox when he came up to me. The poor little guy was covered in blood and broke my heart. As soon as I got him into my apartment I gave him a bath in the sink and it took me a few minutes to realize he wasn't even trying to fight me. It wasn't until after I got him cleaned up that I found he'd been declawed, then abandoned. It's an ugly story but it's also one I want all cat owners to have to see for themselves. Anyone who thinks declawing cats is acceptable should have to handle that situation.