Whatever you do, don't take my finger!

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

If you want to discuss the pros and cons of whether each surgery is good or bad for the cat, that's another thing. But to say that it's "inhumane" to do one surgery but the other is "humane" doesn't make sense. They're both surgeries.

So there's no such thing as an inhumane surgery? Lobotomy ethically equivalent to apendectomy?

[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

[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!

[Jazzman]

Originally Posted by Prudence

I would also be willing to try those things you glue on their claws.

I just saw those for the first time last week at Petsmart and couldn’t believe what I was seeing! Does anyone actually use those? I laughed all day long at the mental image of my cat clicking along on the linoleum with bright blue fake nails. It made me giggle to the point of snorting! Of course, that ended when I started thinking about what the process of applying them would entail. Short of a kitty proof chain mail suit, that wouldn’t work at all.

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.

Must..... not..... reeee... plyyyyyy..........

[Scrooge McSam]

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!

Sorry to hear that

[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.

[Prudence]

(technically that one's my husband's call, but I've got no problem going along with it. Circle of hell for two please! Oooh! Buffalo wings!)

[alphabassettgrrl]

I had heard something about a laser procedure to destroy the nail bed. Sounds like it'd be better than the usual chopping off her finger routine. I've never had a cat declawed, and I guess our furniture shows a little bit of wear. The cats don't scratch on the furniture (they loved scratching on the cat tower) but they dig in when they launch off the back of the sofa, or when they're playing psycho-kitty.

We're down to one indoor-outdoor kitty now and she's calm. No more damage to the furniture. She scratches on wood outdoors (my deck, my fence, and my trees) or on the cardboard boxes in the back room. Good kitty.

As far as spaying goes... yes, both female pets are spayed and my male dog is neutered. The cat handled her spay quite nicely, the dog was spayed when we got her, and the other dog handled his neuter with no problem as well. He even still humps the other dog when he gets feeling frisky. I'm sure he's not thrilled about being neutered, but I didn't want him running off when he smelled a female in her time.