Anyone ever declaw their cat?

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Ausm

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,213
14
81
I have in the past but don't think it is the right thing to do now.


Sysadmin
 

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
17,254
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91
Alright, imagine this. Your parents decide to have you "declawed" at a young age. They bring you to a hospital and remove down to your first knuckle. It hurts, but you can complain about it because you're weak and you get painkillers. Cats are not weak, they dont complain because if they do, it's a sign of weakness and they might get jumped while they're out chasing the muff around. Secondly, could you function the same way if you didnt have the ends of your fingers? Forget typing like you do for starters...

People get "fixed" all the time so they can still have sex and not have kids, they just keep their balls.

And Pliable, your cat is goofy looking.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
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Originally posted by: Modeps
And Pliable, your cat is goofy looking.

That's it, how dare you call my cat goofy looking? That's all the sh1t I'm gonna take off you;)

He can't help that he was born in the reactor chamber of a nuclear power plant, he's cool, like Spiderman or the Hulk:D (cept for that whole cold naked cat thing.) He's currently squirmed under daughter # 2's blankets.

 

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
17,254
44
91
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: Modeps
And Pliable, your cat is goofy looking.

That's it, how dare you call my cat goofy looking? That's all the sh1t I'm gonna take off you;)

He can't help that he was born in the reactor chamber of a nuclear power plant, he's cool, like Spiderman or the Hulk:D (cept for that whole cold naked cat thing.) He's currently squirmed under daughter # 2's blankets.

you should knit him a sweater, maybe something clever written on it like "I was born in a nuclear reactor and all I got was this lousy sweater (and my super powers)"
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
Originally posted by: Modeps
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: Modeps
And Pliable, your cat is goofy looking.

That's it, how dare you call my cat goofy looking? That's all the sh1t I'm gonna take off you;)

He can't help that he was born in the reactor chamber of a nuclear power plant, he's cool, like Spiderman or the Hulk:D (cept for that whole cold naked cat thing.) He's currently squirmed under daughter # 2's blankets.

you should knit him a sweater, maybe something clever written on it like "I was born in a nuclear reactor and all I got was this lousy sweater (and my super powers)"

I want to have him knocked out & tattooed, but my wife thinks it'd be cruel

 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
We have two indoor cats. Neither have front claws. Both were nice cats before, and are nice cats now. Call it mutilation all you like, but with their front claws still on them we'd not have kept them. Furniture, SKIN would both be destroyed. So, it was either have a great home (they get love, food, rest time), minus claws that they don't need, or they could have gone elsewhere.

One of our cats, 6 years later, still sharpens her front claws - except they don't exist. It's kind of sad/funny at the same time, but it's just instinct I guess.
Your parents decide to have you "declawed" at a young age. They bring you to a hospital and remove down to your first knuckle. It hurts, but you can complain about it because you're weak and you get painkillers. Cats are not weak, they dont complain because if they do, it's a sign of weakness and they might get jumped while they're out chasing the muff around. Secondly, could you function the same way if you didnt have the ends of your fingers? Forget typing like you do for starters...
I need my fingers. My cats don't, and why would they? All they do is eat, sleep, crap, and snuggle, and play with each other.
 

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,756
600
126
Our cat scratches stuff up...but how am I suppose to take her claws off? I mean...thats part of what makes her a cat. And it would cripple her hunting ability I would think. Sure, she's indoor only...but I don't want to take her claws from her.

I used to have a lot of outdoor cats, most of them died because I lived out in the country and they had to be smart to survive. Me got them fixed and gave them thier shots and everything, but there's a lot of other animals out there. The ones that did well were great hunters, and caught all kinds of crazy things. I remember looking out on the deck, my burly but small tomcat was sitting quietly while two large racoons ate his catfoot. He didn't seem to pay them any mind. But when one came to close to him, he sprang up and laid its face open. Man I loved that cat, he was a total badass...and a big pet too. He lived a remarkable 14 years. Outside, that was a lot.

So, based on my childhood, a cats claws are an important part of a cat I guess.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
Originally posted by: Skoorb
We have two indoor cats. Neither have front claws. Both were nice cats before, and are nice cats now. Call it mutilation all you like, but with their front claws still on them we'd not have kept them. Furniture, SKIN would both be destroyed. So, it was either have a great home (they get love, food, rest time), minus claws that they don't need, or they could have gone elsewhere.

One of our cats, 6 years later, still sharpens her front claws - except they don't exist. It's kind of sad/funny at the same time, but it's just instinct I guess.

Our cats seem to prefer some textiles over others, they really like denim, coudura & suede. Anyone else's declawed cats have preferences about what they sharpen their imaginary claws on?

 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Our cats seem to prefer some textiles over others, they really like denim, coudura & suede. Anyone else's declawed cats have preferences about what they sharpen their imaginary claws on?
Yep that is a favored material. One of our cats never sharpens, but the one who does will do it on that sort of material, hardly ever doing more than one or two on the leather couch.

And your cat IS silly looking!!

Oh god clair looks almost as silly!
 

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,756
600
126
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: Skoorb
We have two indoor cats. Neither have front claws. Both were nice cats before, and are nice cats now. Call it mutilation all you like, but with their front claws still on them we'd not have kept them. Furniture, SKIN would both be destroyed. So, it was either have a great home (they get love, food, rest time), minus claws that they don't need, or they could have gone elsewhere.

One of our cats, 6 years later, still sharpens her front claws - except they don't exist. It's kind of sad/funny at the same time, but it's just instinct I guess.

Our cats seem to prefer some textiles over others, they really like denim, coudura & suede. Anyone else's declawed cats have preferences about what they sharpen their imaginary claws on?

When cats sharpen their claws on something, they release pheromones from their paws. Its a way of marking territory. So even without claws, this still serves a purpose.

Our cat likes the carpet, and my office chair the best.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
Originally posted by: PingSpike
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: Skoorb
We have two indoor cats. Neither have front claws. Both were nice cats before, and are nice cats now. Call it mutilation all you like, but with their front claws still on them we'd not have kept them. Furniture, SKIN would both be destroyed. So, it was either have a great home (they get love, food, rest time), minus claws that they don't need, or they could have gone elsewhere.

One of our cats, 6 years later, still sharpens her front claws - except they don't exist. It's kind of sad/funny at the same time, but it's just instinct I guess.

Our cats seem to prefer some textiles over others, they really like denim, coudura & suede. Anyone else's declawed cats have preferences about what they sharpen their imaginary claws on?

When cats sharpen their claws on something, they release pheromones from their paws. Its a way of marking territory. So even without claws, this still serves a purpose.

Our cat likes the carpet, and my office chair the best.

I just learned something, thanks:D I thought the phermone marking was limited to their smearing their spit all over me:D

 

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,756
600
126
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: PingSpike
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: Skoorb
We have two indoor cats. Neither have front claws. Both were nice cats before, and are nice cats now. Call it mutilation all you like, but with their front claws still on them we'd not have kept them. Furniture, SKIN would both be destroyed. So, it was either have a great home (they get love, food, rest time), minus claws that they don't need, or they could have gone elsewhere.

One of our cats, 6 years later, still sharpens her front claws - except they don't exist. It's kind of sad/funny at the same time, but it's just instinct I guess.

Our cats seem to prefer some textiles over others, they really like denim, coudura & suede. Anyone else's declawed cats have preferences about what they sharpen their imaginary claws on?

When cats sharpen their claws on something, they release pheromones from their paws. Its a way of marking territory. So even without claws, this still serves a purpose.

Our cat likes the carpet, and my office chair the best.

I just learned something, thanks:D I thought the phermone marking was limited to their smearing their spit all over me:D

They do it in a lot of different ways actually. The scratching in one way. There's also glands on their face I believe, thats why they rub on everything. And of course the infamous pissing on everything male cats sometimes do. :)

Licking I think is the only true form of affection...I think everything else is basically marking territory. In other words...they are saying "I pwn j00!"
 

ATLien247

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2000
4,597
0
0
My wife has two cats, both of which have been spayed/neutered and have had their front paws declawed. They are primarily indoor cats, but they also go outside. Even with no front claws, both of them hold their own very well against cats that have not been declawed. I don't see what the big deal is...
 

jteef

Golden Member
Feb 20, 2001
1,355
0
76
my mom had her kitty spayed & declawed in the front since they had just purchased 2 expensive leather couches. I will say that the experience definitely affected the cat. She used to be highly entertaining, free spirited, and had a cool personality(for a cat) all the time. Now maybe those moods only strike her once every couple of days. She still likes to get away outside and eat grass even though she is strictly a house cat, which is unfortunate, since my other cat who was much larger/stronger/and a much better fighter got his ass kicked on couple occasions by the racoons, foxes, & other wild cats in the area.
 

Spamela

Diamond Member
Oct 30, 2000
3,859
0
76
we have 2 indoor-only cats, both spayed/neutered & both declawed.

it hasn't caused any problems; no personality changes, no
physical or psychological trauma, nada. they're both as
happy as an animal can be, considering that they don't have to work
for their food, sleep in a nice, warm, comfortable place,
and have someone else take out their litterbox.

OTOH, if we'd not had them declawed, then the first time they
went at the furniture i would've tossed them out the front door
permanently.
 

Ninjja

Golden Member
Sep 4, 2003
1,552
0
0
Originally posted by: KingNothing
Originally posted by: Feldenak
Both of my fiance's cats are declawed...they are two of the best tempered cats I've ever seen.

If you didn't have a sword in feudal Japan you'd be nice to everyone too.

hahahha. very good.
 

Kelemvor

Lifer
May 23, 2002
16,928
8
81
As long as you have scratching post type things in your house, you do't hwave to worry about the cats clawing at thigns they shouldn't. We have 3 cats, none of which are declawed. We have some rope wound scratcting things that you hang from a doorknob or screw to the wall and they use them all the time. Only furniture they scratch is an old seat for a desk because the material it's made out of appeals to them.

They never scratch any of our other furniture though.

If you do declaw, you should NEVER declaw the back paws. Just in case the cat gets outside, they need some way to escape from danger which they usually do by climbing a tree or something. They can't do this with no claws...
 

PowerMacG5

Diamond Member
Apr 14, 2002
7,701
0
0
I have three cats, and all were neutered and had the front claws declawed. All of them were happy and fine beforehand, and they are still lovable after it happened. THey still have there rear claws. Even with no front claws, you piss them off, and they scratch you pretty good.
 

azazyel

Diamond Member
Oct 6, 2000
5,872
1
81
My roommate took ownership of his g/f's cat when she moved into an apartment. He had no front claws and was the nicest cat I have ever been around. He was a sweet little furball but during the summer we got he a lion cut. I am not sure if you have seen this but it is funnier than hell.


Kinda like this except he was white and puffier. He looked like Valcor from The Never Ending Story.
 

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,756
600
126
Originally posted by: azazyel
My roommate took ownership of his g/f's cat when she moved into an apartment. He had no front claws and was the nicest cat I have ever been around. He was a sweet little furball but during the summer we got he a lion cut. I am not sure if you have seen this but it is funnier than hell.


Kinda like this except he was white and puffier. He looked like Valcor from The Never Ending Story.

You should not be allowed near animals.
 

jinduy

Diamond Member
Jan 24, 2002
4,781
1
81
Originally posted by: azazyel
My roommate took ownership of his g/f's cat when she moved into an apartment. He had no front claws and was the nicest cat I have ever been around. He was a sweet little furball but during the summer we got he a lion cut. I am not sure if you have seen this but it is funnier than hell.


Kinda like this except he was white and puffier. He looked like Valcor from The Never Ending Story.

LOL! can you pay a groomer to do this? would be a cute thing to do for halloween :)
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
Spot got outside once wearing a sweater & got beat up by a neighborhood cat, it was right outside our back door & we rescued him immediately. He didn't even get scratched, thankfully. We still laugh about it...

"Spot, did that cat think you were a sissy in your sweater?"

 

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,756
600
126
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Spot got outside once wearing a sweater & got beat up by a neighborhood cat, it was right outside our back door & we rescued him immediately. He didn't even get scratched, thankfully. We still laugh about it...

"Spot, did that cat think you were a sissy in your sweater?"

LOL, a sweater. Those hairless cats look weird to begin with...then you put a sweater on him?