Should I declaw my cats?

First of all, I commend you for your careful consideration about declawing. Too many people have it done to their cats without being educated about the procedure. If you make a comparison to human beings, it would be like cutting off our fingers at our first knuckle. It is an amputation - most people don't realize this. That being said, I think that if someone is educated about the procedure and then considers it as a last resort (ie. training methods have failed), then they need to consider the consequences of a declaw. There may be medical complications, which may depend on the experience of the veterinarian performing the procedure. If these are outdoor cats, you need to realize that by declawing them you are taking away a primary form of defense. (So keep declawed cats indoors!)

The surgery you are referring to is a tendonectomy - and it comes with its own set of risks. Talk to your veterinarian - make sure that they tell you all the risks involved with the declaw surgery and I would explore other methods of integration of the two sets of cats before I would resort to declawing. Good luck!

First off, this is a ridiculous assumption on your bf's part that his kitties will get hurt. Cats do not claw one another unless seriously threatened (like a neighbor's cat wandering into another neighbor cat's territoty). Declawing is a very inhumane surgery to do to your cats. Before you make the decision to declaw your cat, there are some important facts you should know. Declawing is not like a manicure. It is serious surgery. Your cat's claw is not a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. So closely adhered that to remove the claw, the last bone of your the cat's claw has to be removed. Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat's "toes". Picture the end digit of your fingers being cut off-that's the equivalent to declawing. When you envision that, it becomes clear why declawing is not a humane act. It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period. And remember that during the time of recuperation from the surgery your cat would still have to use its feet to walk, jump, and scratch in its litter box regardless of the pain it is experiencing. And would you believe that declawing has been outlawed in some countries due the the inhumaneness of it? Another risk of declawing to consider is that I have seen where cats' personalities have changed for the worse after being declawed-not a good thing. Please check out the web site http://www.catscratching.com/ for other alternatives to declawing and for more info on it. Thanks!

We didnt decalw our cats until it was either they get declawed or we had to get rid of them. Our oldest was fine at my b/f's 1st apartment. As soon as we moved into another, he loved the carpet and kept picking at the seems. Had him declawed and his behavior has not changed at all. He is the same cat as before.

Our 2 year old cat was fine at the apartment, but now that we bought a house she was clawing up the carpet there. So we just had her declawed. She has had no personality changes either.

Its a choice, we waited to see if they had a problem and then decided. We have an 11 week old and he is pretty good so far at not clawing - and unless he starts we will not be declawing him.

ouch to cutting the tendon. this would be very dangerous for your cat. my main suggestion is this. keep your cats claws trimmed short. if they don't claw up anything then the short dull claws shouldn't hurt the boys. if you start letting your bf dictate how your pets are, what else does he dictate? also how old are your cats, that's another issue, the older the cats get and the more weight they have on them causes more complications with declawing. i am not against declawing, just you should try cutting their claws and see how the do before putting them through surgery. if you do decide to declaw then you need to find a vet that uses a laser to declaw them. the laser is safer and better for your kitty as it seals and cauterizes the neves and blood vessels instead of cutting and tearing them as a scapel blade will do. also you need to realise that declawing is the same as cutting off your top setction of your finger. keep that in mind

softpaws can be a real pain for you and your cat. they permantly keep the claws out and can irritate your cat.

and to put off what others are going to say. it may not be the most humane thing, but it's better than cats being dumped or given up just because they claw. also declawing does not automatically render them defenseless. cats have 5 lines of attack. 2 front paws, 2 back and their teeth. cats without claws in their front 2 paws can still attack very successfully something and climb a tree. but also realise if you declaw them on the front they will also still use the back claws and bite. as might your boyfriend's cats to your cats. good luck. my only problem with your question is that you seem to be doing this only because of your boyfriend's request.

absolutely not ! most of what these people here(the ones against declawing even that vet tech) have said is true with the exception of the soft paws solution being "humane" it is not.it is so unnatural that it can cause numerous neurosis(psychological problems)if u are a responsible pet owner (as you seem to be) then introduce the new cats slowly or if time is an issue you can put them in separate rooms i.e. pantry/bed or bathrooms and let one set out at a time. they will smell each other under the doors and after about a week u can start supervised visits at the same time. after one more week(usually less) they will get along as best as they ever will. usually just fine. what people tend to forget is that when cats are feral(wild or stray) they form"colonies to help each other survive. they are very "social" animals who have been miss labeled "aloof" or "distant" when what they really are is just "independent" that (look it up) just means capable of caring for themselves not unaffectionate or cold hearted like a lot of people believe. trust your own instincts in this matter and use common sense and all should be well in no time flat . it is always best to let nature take its course as much as possible and interfere only to prevent harm. you and your cats(all of them) will do fine.

i'm a veterinary student, so I see the two facets of this. one in each and every of my cats is declawed (it replaced into performed years in the past I have been given him) and the different isn't. Declawing is banned in different international locations (at the same time with Australia) and it style of provides the U. S. veterinarians a foul rep. in case you declaw cats in the past a definite age, frequently there are not any ill outcomes as long through fact the cat in no way is going outdoors! After approximately eleven months, i does not propose it in any respect, and actually i does not even permit it pass that far. i do no longer plan to make it a prepare, yet nevertheless, i'm going to in no way see a cat in prepare through fact i opt to do food inspection. Veterinarians that prescribe declawing are catering to lazy proprietors who do no longer opt to coach their cats. I understand that regularly there is basically no longer something to be performed, and each now and then it quite is the two declaw the cat or it gets euthanized. i wouldn't in any respect prescribe it, and can do something i ought to to end the scratching habit. My declawed cat nonetheless thinks he has them, and so likes to "scratch" the corners. He hasn't had any ill outcomes from it yet i understand of many cats that finally end up with huge behavioral subjects. I actually have a feeling that new training of destiny veterinarians are being discouraged from the prepare frequently, and that i do no longer think of we are scheduled to earnings it throughout our medical rotation. Declawing is maximum truthfully no longer mandatory for a satisfied healthful puppy, and so those that propose it freely quite are not good veterinarians. I do wish this prepare is discouraged greater interior the destiny, and we are able to get greater practise obtainable for what you're able to do for scratching kitties.

If you are worried about them hurting each other, they are more likely to do that with teeth. Cats play rough, and if they love each other they lick each other's wounds afterwards. This is simply a fact of life. Furniture is another issue. My personal opinion (Being a veterinary technician) is that declawing is an un-necessary evil. It is extremely painful for the animal. They swell and hurt for weeks. If the cat gets outside, it can't defend itself or climb. If you decide kitty is no longer welcome in your home, it can be a big negative for its survival as well.

Soft paws as a permanent solution is, in my opinion, worse than a declaw. Declawed cats do not live in disconfort after the recover. Softpaws however are very unconfortable. The plastic sheeth that goes over the claw is glued on and does not come off until the claw out grows it, They also are too large for the cat to retract, so they force your cat to walk with claws out all of the time.

Under the circumstances, I would declaw the cats. Those already declawed will be at a distinct disadvantage in the presence of cats with claws. Of course, this means that ALL the cats must be indoor cats - declawed cats are pretty much defenseless outdoors. I've talked to my own vet about the type of surgery that you mention, and she feels a full de-clawing is actually better, as there is less tendency for infection.

I will have to say no. I just think its wrong, like when you clip a dogs ears. Just plain wrong.

And another bit to hopefully stir you and you're boyfriend away from the idea of declawing, its illegal in many European countries.

But their is something you can do. Ever heard of Nail Caps? Its a safe, soft cap you put over you're cat's claws. Supposively it fits so well they don't even know they are wearing it. It serves the purpose that declawing does and its a very humane alternative.

If you are interested, check this out. http://www.softpaws.com/

Hope I was of some help.

i have heard of declawing youre cats. most vets will only take the front claws. they say they leave the back ones in case the cat, may get out they can defend themselves. have also been told of a procedure where the vet will sever the tendon that x- tends the claw but, was told the risk of nerve dam. can be high for youre cat. i recommend a dewclaw its safer and the vets have done this millions of times. besides its much cheaper, and the do not have a reason to put youre cat under anesthesia