[Pippin]

I have never had any of the cats I owned declawed. I know some owners do though as a matter of routine.

What are your thoughts on this, is it something you should do or not?

[Daniel7]

Idk if you should do it, or not, but I don't want to try it. I just feel like it may hurt the cat.

[*susan*]

It would depend on if the cat is strictly an indoor cat or not. If it goes outside, then you definitely don't want to have them declawed because that is their only means of defense. Personally, I don't think I would ever declaw a cat. Here is a link to an interesting article I found on the humane society's website about declawing them:

Declawing Cats: More Than Just a Manicure | The Humane Society of the United States

[Lee]

Great article Susan thanks for posting it. I had no idea declawing a cat was such an involved procedure or it,s effects on the cats! Sounds like there are many more less painful options available.
I,ve always thought it was very cruel to surgically alter a dogs vocal cords so they cant bark also.

[Pippin]

Originally Posted by *susan*

It would depend on if the cat is strictly an indoor cat or not. If it goes outside, then you definitely don't want to have them declawed because that is their only means of defense. Personally, I don't think I would ever declaw a cat. Here is a link to an interesting article I found on the humane society's website about declawing them:

Declawing Cats: More Than Just a Manicure | The Humane Society of the United States

I agree, it leaves them at the mercy of others if you do. Most of my cats were inside cats but I still didn't feel it necessary to get it done. That was a great article, thanks! I didn't realize it was such a complex surgery either.

[Pippin]

Originally Posted by Lee

Great article Susan thanks for posting it. I had no idea declawing a cat was such an involved procedure or it,s effects on the cats! Sounds like there are many more less painful options available.
I,ve always thought it was very cruel to surgically alter a dogs vocal cords so they cant bark also.

Are you serious? They don't really do that, do they?! That's outrageous. I don't want to take this thread off topic, so if you can elaborate on that I'd like to hear more on that subject in the Dogs section please.

I was just reading there that San Francisco wants to ban vets from de-clawing in cities entirely, unless there was medical grounds for the procedure.

Updated: 07/11/2009 10:49:07 AM PDT

An animal welfare advisory board to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is recommending the city ban the veterinary practice of de-clawing cats, except in cases of medical necessity.

The San Francisco Commission of Animal Control and Welfare voted 5-1 Thursday in support of a ban, arguing the practice is cruel and often done simply for cosmetic purposes or to prevent pets from clawing furniture, Commission Chair Sally Stephens said.

Stephens said the procedure involves amputating the last bone in a cat's paw and, though doctors use anesthetic, some cats can suffer long-term pain and behavioral changes, such as refusing to use a litter box.

"So basically it's kind of barbaric," Stephens said.

A proposed ordinance in San Francisco would be modeled on a ban already in effect in West Hollywood, the first city in the country to ban de-clawing. The practice has also been banned in several European countries.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12817036