Declawing

For those of you with cats or other pets, what are your thoughts on having them declawed? Some people have pets declawed to prevent scratching of furniture or children. Many people think it's cruel to the animal. What's your stance on it?

well both of my cats are declawed do its nothing big for me. my cat enjoys waking me up in the morning and slapping the crap out of me >.<

I think it's kind of cruel. I have two cats back at home and instead of declawing them, we just trim their claws every other week. It lets them keep their claws but prevents them from being painful for us, so I think both win.

I'm undecided on this. Our cats are not declawed, but sometimes I sure wish they were, especially when I am the recipient of one of those claws in my skin somewhere - ouch!

There are a few factors to think of before having a cat declawed, I think. One of them is whether the cat will be an inside or outside cat. If the cat will be inside all the time, then it may be okay to some extent. If the cat will be outside, then that's another matter as they may need their claws to climb, catch food, defend themselves, etc. Lots to think of and consider doing what is best for your own particular cat.

Silver_Surfer1 wrote:

If the cat will be inside all the time, then it may be okay to some extent. If the cat will be outside, then that's another matter as they may need their claws to climb, catch food, defend themselves, etc.

Our cats are indoor, but despite that, they are mousers as we frequently find rodent corpses around the house. It happens less and less as they get older (they're 13 now), but it still happens. They need their claws if they're going to catch mice.

Cats can be little monsters at times. I have the scars to prove it too. Declaw the little boogers, I say.

I wouldn't unless the cat is really bugging me with it. I like their claws, its interesting to see what they can do with them.