Whatever you do, don't take my finger!

[Name]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

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.

:cringe: :cringe:

ouch.....

[Scrooge McSam]

GD, one thing I think you're missing is that sometimes indoor cats can suddenly become outdoor cats through someone's negligence. Say the dishwasher repairman shows up at the apartment, cat spooks around a stranger and bolts.

No claws? Suddenly outdoors? Bad news

[Nephythys]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

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

Oh, don't be so surprised.

[Tito's Kitten]

Hey don't get me wrong... the cat may have clawed the couch but we did not get her declawed. In fact I still had the couch until recently and the scratches were like little reminders of our cat.....

[wendybeth]

I had two cats declawed, and I will NEVER do it again. The vet made it sound like it was no big deal, but my poor kitties paws bled for days and I felt like an absolute **** for doing it. Never again. I hate getting them fixed, but it is necessary, for my sanity and theirs. The poor things yowl and pee all over the place if you don't, and our cats are indoor only, so fixed they get. Samwise started growling in his sleep last spring and I knew it was time, but I still felt terrible when I took him in. I felt even worse when he had to wear that stupid collar-thingy, at least until I realised the little weirdo actually liked it.

[sleepyjeff]

My kitty has an alternate scratching place...it's called the dog

[Prudence]

Both my cats are declawed (front). Boris did not appear the slightest bit concerned after his surgery. He didn't even have bandages on when I picked him up. He made one attempt to climb the couch, realized it didn't work any more, and jumped. Contrast that to the time I had to have his chin shaved (under anesthetic) for his kitty acne or the recent tooth extraction, where he was clearly miserable.

Now, in contrast, Sasha's didn't go as smoothly. Different vet, different manner of procedure, markedly different impact on cat immediately post-op.

In the future? I don't want to declaw an older cat and I made sure the people I got Boris and Sasha from didn't mind declawing. (I didn't want someone to regret having given me their cat.) Also, I left back claws in case of emergency tree climbing. And anyone who thinks Boris can't defend himself with back claws is welcome to examine the ginormous keloid scar on my right forearm.

I actually would prefer not to have a kitten ever again, so I'd prefer to adopt an already declawed cat. I would also be willing to try those things you glue on their claws. I did try for some time to train B and S not to scratch things. B scratched everything. Constantly. S is a great post user, but was also a climber because her withered back leg made it hard for her to jump. (Her leg has since strengthened and, while she can't hit the top of the fridge from a complete standstill, she jumps just fine now.) I understand why people are against declawing and it's no longer my first choice. But it does remain a choice.

Then again, there's already a special circle of hell for me because I plan to have any future male children circumcised. Stoke the fires!

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by Prudence

Then again, there's already a special circle of hell for me because I plan to have any future male children circumcised. Stoke the fires!

Come on down- we're having BBQ chicken!

[Not Afraid]

My first set of cats were declawed. I thought it was the thing to do. I'm just glad I know better now what happens and what the alternatives are.

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

A dog that can't bark will have some serious socialization issues. An indoor cat's claws do little for it.

I see these two more alike that different. I mean Basenjis don't bark and socialize allright - I guess (I'm not really a dog person). And if they're a house pet, what do they need to bark about anyway? Seems about the same annoyance level as clawed furniture - possibly a greater annoyance factor for the neighbors. Sure a house cat, doesn't need to be clawing anything.

But, I'd pass on either procedure as they both seem unneccessary to me.