<p>I mentioned in a previous post that our vet recommended declawing the two kittens we planned to keep inside. He declawed the kittens: we noticed no personality change at all. The vet does not declaw cats after a certain age, though I no longer remember the age.</p>
<p>Our two cats are now eight years old and as content as can be. Both sharpen their nonexistent claws on various pieces of furniture around the house without fearing censure.</p>
<p>I understand the declawing controversy and admit to worrying over the decision. On the other hand, my two cats live a contented, happy life inside. My neighbor’s inside cat clawed furniture, despite that neighbor trying almost everything suggested in the above posts over a period of a couple years. Eventually her inside cat became an outside cat, which did not end well. I doubt that she’ll ever get another cat. I think this kind of scenario is why my vet (who owns six cats) recommended declawing. Since our cats are now over eight, maybe he’s changed his recommendation over the years - though I doubt it. He tends to be a pragmatist. I’ll ask at the upcoming yearly exams.</p>
<p>I also have an outside cat. We rescued a stray in bad condition (mentioned in my previous post). He rules the cul-de-sac during the day and sleeps inside our garage at night - again at our vet’s suggestion. Yes being a house cat would be safer: but no way could I turn this particular cat into an indoor kitty, so he happily explores outside during the day. No one wanted this beat-up kitten - except me. My vet split the high cost of fixing him up, since he was a rescue kitty. Each day since has been a day it didn’t look likely he’d have four years ago. (Cat’s name: Ignatius)</p>
<p>Instead of declawing, you can try the “soft claws” option, which uses little rubber fittings over the cats’ claws to prevent them from damaging the furniture. </p>
<p>Also, please consider adopting the cat from a local animal shelter. Most of the cats at the shelters are perfectly adoptable, indoor cats that were surrendered because of family circumstances like their caretaker having to move into a nursing home or someone bringing a cat home without realizing that a family member is allergic, and the cat ends up with the bad end of deal by getting dumped at the shelter. There are also lots of kittens available around this time of year.</p>
<p>My sister is a veterinarian, and she will never declaw any cat over 2. She usually discusses the procedure with the cat owners in great details and interviews them to get a better idea what drives their decision to even consider declawing, and in many cases people change their mind.</p>
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<p>Absolutely second that. I furminate my kitties regularly, and I have yet to see a hairball. Or if you do not want to brush your cat, get a Sphynx. They are very cuddly and affectionate, but they need to be bathed regularly to remove body oil bulidup, and contarary to some beliefs, they are not hypoallergenic.</p>
<p>Yes, cats should be declawed very young. I think my vet used to do it when they were 12 weeks old. Our cat has never acted like anything happened to him. He still whacks are dog across the nose and scratches at the woodwork and the furniture. I know a lot people don’t like the concept but as my vet said, " many cats wouldn’t have a home if they had claws." And yes, I know you can trim their claws and use soft claws but most people aren’t going to bother; just as most people are not going to pick up after their dogs.</p>
<p>I love the furminator too but I have to be careful- we almost made our cat bald in one area. The cat loves to be brushed with this thing.</p>
<p>Sorry, but I just don’t think this is a valid excuse. People who would rather declaw their cat than spend ten minutes a month applying Soft Claws or trimming the claws should really not have a pet. That’s a pretty low bar, and I wonder what else they “won’t do” for their pet. </p>
<p>When we adopted our cat a few years ago, I did lots of research about the procedure, because I did not want the cat to ruin my furniture, or scratch young children. I soon found out that it is barbaric and cruel. I also remembered the constant infections endured by a cat I had growing up who came to us declawed. For most cats, it means a potential lifetime of problems. </p>
<p>I’m not aware of any vets in my area who will even do the procedure anymore.</p>
<p>I don’t think I’ve ever been without at least one cat in my entire life. (I have dogs, too) Cats can be wonderful pets. My three pieces of advice before you make this decision would be:
Make sure you’re willing to make a 20 year commitment to owning this cat.
<p>Xr, our cat is a rescue from a shelter. She was scheduled to be put down the day after we saw her. She was a kitten about 10 weeks old. Very aggressive, if you even went near her paws you would be shredded. She had destroyed everything soft in her cage. </p>
<p>We quickly talked to our vet who agreed to declaw her using a less invasive laser procedure. Her personality did not change for the worse. Over time she has become less aggressive and very loving. </p>
<p>If we had not adopted her she would be dead. She would have destroyed our house if she was not declawed. Very much an alpha cat. The shelter people agreed that softclaws / training was not an option. This cat laughs at being squirted with water for chewing. </p>
<p>Are you suggesting she would have been better off dead than declawed?</p>
<p>Hopefully the debate over declawing hasn’t obfuscated the fact that each poster loves their cats. </p>
<p>I’ve owned outside only cats, outside/inside cats, inside only cats. I’ve had cats with claws and declawed cats. I’ve loved them all (though one in particular took a piece of my heart when she passed away at age 19).</p>
<p>Inside only cats are easy. Food, water, litterbox keep you from having to rush home to let the cat out. Overnight trips - definitely no problem. Longer trips - someone to check food, water, litterbox, or boarding, whatever works best for you.</p>
<p>Declawing obviously generates strong opinions: this is CC after all. Those opposed feel strongly. For me, I read “For most cats, it means a lifetime of potential problems” with a bit of skepticism. No difference whatsoever between my clawed cats and declawed cats in terms of problems. (Actually I can’t say that - one of clawed cats managed to rip a claw out and needed antibiotics while it healed.) I have friends with only inside declawed cats - again, no lifetime of problems. Talk to your vet - and make a decision that works for you. If you find you’re opposed to declawing your cat, then plan on making it work for you and your kitty - with some cats, you’ll find it easy, others not so much.</p>
<p>I do think we all agree that spaying/neutering should be done - and that cats make great pets.</p>
<p>(Someone mentioned getting two kitties. I’d second that - they keep each other company and their antics make any additional trouble well worth the while.)</p>
<p>When we find ourselves catless, we always get 2 kittens. Many shelters will run a buy-one-get-one free promotion during the summer (also known as “the kitten months.”)</p>
<p>I haven’t read the entire thread, so please forgive me if this has been recommended already.</p>
<p>If you’ve never had a cat before, adopt an older one. Kittens are adorable but a lot of work. We’ve adopted 4, all of whom were between 1 and 4 years old at the time of adoption. We were able to consider their personalities, have them spayed/neutered immediately, and see how they reacted to each of us. I don’t think I’ll ever be without a pair of cats again.</p>
<p>Why was Soft Claws not an option? Did you try them? My male cat is extremely aggressive, and a scratcher, that’s why we first investigated declawing, then decided to try Soft Claws. It is a simple, yet effective solution for cats who scratch people or damage furniture. I urge everyone to try it before assuming it “won’t work.” Actually, there is no reason why it won’t work. Once the covers are on the claws, the cat cannot cause damage when it scratches. Yet, the cat is not even aware it is wearing Soft Claws. It’s difficult to understand why someone would choose to declaw their cat without at least trying this product first. I don’t rave about much, but this is one of the best pet products on the market - cheap, simple, and it does the job.</p>
<p>You obviously do not know our cat. No way it would work. She would not allow it. And yes, I have experience with the product. She would not rest until she had pulled them off no matter what adhesive is used. </p>
<p>Trust me on this. It was either we took her and had her declawed or she was being put down. She was so aggressive no one wanted her She’s quite happy without claws. I preferred not to do it but in this case it was needed.</p>
<p>I’m one of those who would not have a cat with claws. I had my previous cat declawed and he lived to his 20’s hale and happy. With my new guys I was fortunate that the shelter had liter mates that were declawed by someone else. My guys are all black, and because people don’t want all black cats they were on sale 2 for one!</p>
(I have dogs, too) Cats can be wonderful pets. My three pieces of advice before you make this decision would be:![http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sphinx2_July_2006.jpg]Am](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sphinx2_July_2006.jpg%5DAm){kind=link}
