Whatever you do, don't take my finger!

Ghoulish Delight · 09-29-2005, 03:30 PM

Get Fuzzy. Great comic by Darby Conley. I often quote it in my sigs. This week he's been doing a humorous/informational "cat facts" series. This one struck me as kinda odd...a bit of activist ideology conflict if you ask me.

Go ahead an cut it's nuts off, but for heavens sake, don't hurt those little fingers!

I'm all about not de-clawing outdoor cats. That's just cruel and begging for them to get mauled. But an indoor cat? When your argument involves appealing to the "it's mutilation" thing, that doesn't really work when you've got "slice it's balls off" two bullet points up. If it allows a cat a comfortable home and isn't going to adversely affect it, so be it. It's a perfectly safe procedure, just like spaying and neutering.

It just doesn't jive for me.

Tito's Kitten · 09-29-2005, 03:41 PM

I wonder if he has had his leather couch ripped to shreds by the family cat.....Just wondering....

Not Afraid · 09-29-2005, 03:45 PM

For a short period of time, declawing was thought to be humane. And, yes, it was much more "convenient" for us to protect the dear furniture rather than care about the cat. But, thankfully, there is a lot of information about this mis-treatment and there are many vets that will not do this proceedure any longer.

If your furniture is that important to you, don't get a cat. If you do get a cat, provide alternate places where your cat can scratch and keep it claws trimmed. If you cannot handle the responsability of either one of these alternatives, then there is a proceedure that is much less painful that severes the tendon that causes the claws to move in and out.

Quote:

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". 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. Wheelchairs and bedpans are not an option for a cat.

We seem to do a lot of inhume things when we don't know better. China thought is was OK to bind the feet of women. Well, it's not ok. And people need to stop declawing their cats.

Ghoulish Delight · 09-29-2005, 03:50 PM

But how is that more inhumane than spaying and neutering?

Nephythys · 09-29-2005, 03:50 PM

yah-

Sera was my brothers cat- and he was declawed because my bro and his ex-wfe lived in an apt that required it. I had one cat who was totally declawed for the same reason-

On the fip side- Tumbles, my newest baby, has all his claws- and he has caused some havoc but not much. I would never do that to him- or another cat, and my cats are all indoors.

They are also both neutered-

About as cruel as the surgery that makes it so a dog can't bark!

lizziebith · 09-29-2005, 03:52 PM

Plus humans "spay and neuter" themselves too, for equally important reasons. I don't think it's inhumane, even if it involves major surgery, because it's for a genuinely good purpose. <----- spaying and neutering, I mean, not de-clawing.

Ghoulish Delight · 09-29-2005, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nephythys

About as cruel as the surgery that makes it so a dog can't bark!

A dog that can't bark will have some serious socialization issues. An indoor cat's claws do little for it. So the only argument I've seen comes back to the "cruel" surgery which I still haven't figured how it's worse than cutting its nuts off.

For the record, I'm not advocating that everyone should get their cats declawed. I just don't follow the activism against it when there's so much accepted activism for fixing.

Nephythys · 09-29-2005, 03:58 PM

I don't agree with Conley in this case- I think that any surgery is a risk to a pet. Just like humans they can react badly to anesthesia- there can be infections, complications and they can die- just like we can, even from minor surgeries.

I would not personally declaw my cats anymore- because I do not find it necessary- but I do not think it worse than neutering-

I don't think I'm being clear am I? LOL- bamboozled sort of day! Sorry!

I do think cutting a dogs vocal cords so it can't bark IS cruel-

Ghoulish Delight · 09-29-2005, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nephythys

I don't think I'm being clear am I? LOL- bamboozled sort of day! Sorry!

You must not be, because it sounds like you're........agreeing with me!

Not Afraid · 09-29-2005, 04:09 PM

For males, neutring is very minor surgery. It could easily be done at home without anathesia. You basically just name a small slit in the sac, squeez out the little marble-sized thingie inside and it heals on its own. Easy as pie and not at all disruptive to the cat - but it sure makes him a nicer boy.

Spaying is major surgery and really doesn't need to be done if a cat is indoors. However, your cat will have a mensus about 2x a year and all of the local boys will want to visit her. Having litters will shorten a cat's life plus the cat population does not need to be increased, therefore, spaying and neutering is for the good of cats as a whole species.

I could probably neuter men too if they wanted it. Can't be MUCH more difficult.

09-29-2005, 03:30 PM	#1
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Whatever you do, don't take my finger! Get Fuzzy. Great comic by Darby Conley. I often quote it in my sigs. This week he's been doing a humorous/informational "cat facts" series. This one struck me as kinda odd...a bit of activist ideology conflict if you ask me. Go ahead an cut it's nuts off, but for heavens sake, don't hurt those little fingers! I'm all about not de-clawing outdoor cats. That's just cruel and begging for them to get mauled. But an indoor cat? When your argument involves appealing to the "it's mutilation" thing, that doesn't really work when you've got "slice it's balls off" two bullet points up. If it allows a cat a comfortable home and isn't going to adversely affect it, so be it. It's a perfectly safe procedure, just like spaying and neutering. It just doesn't jive for me. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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09-29-2005, 03:41 PM	#2
Tito's Kitten Still in love with Ben Gibbard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: where soul meets body Posts: 180	I wonder if he has had his leather couch ripped to shreds by the family cat.....Just wondering.... __________________ Who the hell needs a damn signature anyway?
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09-29-2005, 03:50 PM	#4
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	But how is that more inhumane than spaying and neutering? __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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09-29-2005, 03:50 PM	#5
Nephythys Yeah, that's about it- Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In a state of constant crap to get done Posts: 2,688	yah- Sera was my brothers cat- and he was declawed because my bro and his ex-wfe lived in an apt that required it. I had one cat who was totally declawed for the same reason- On the fip side- Tumbles, my newest baby, has all his claws- and he has caused some havoc but not much. I would never do that to him- or another cat, and my cats are all indoors. They are also both neutered- About as cruel as the surgery that makes it so a dog can't bark!
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09-29-2005, 03:52 PM	#6
lizziebith Wishing these titles could be longe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pearblossom CA Posts: 984	Plus humans "spay and neuter" themselves too, for equally important reasons. I don't think it's inhumane, even if it involves major surgery, because it's for a genuinely good purpose. <----- spaying and neutering, I mean, not de-clawing. __________________ $ DO \|\| !$ DO ; TRY TRY: COMMAND NOT FOUND
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09-29-2005, 03:58 PM	#8
Nephythys Yeah, that's about it- Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In a state of constant crap to get done Posts: 2,688	I don't agree with Conley in this case- I think that any surgery is a risk to a pet. Just like humans they can react badly to anesthesia- there can be infections, complications and they can die- just like we can, even from minor surgeries. I would not personally declaw my cats anymore- because I do not find it necessary- but I do not think it worse than neutering- I don't think I'm being clear am I? LOL- bamboozled sort of day! Sorry! I do think cutting a dogs vocal cords so it can't bark IS cruel-
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09-29-2005, 04:09 PM	#10
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	For males, neutring is very minor surgery. It could easily be done at home without anathesia. You basically just name a small slit in the sac, squeez out the little marble-sized thingie inside and it heals on its own. Easy as pie and not at all disruptive to the cat - but it sure makes him a nicer boy. Spaying is major surgery and really doesn't need to be done if a cat is indoors. However, your cat will have a mensus about 2x a year and all of the local boys will want to visit her. Having litters will shorten a cat's life plus the cat population does not need to be increased, therefore, spaying and neutering is for the good of cats as a whole species. I could probably neuter men too if they wanted it. Can't be MUCH more difficult.
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