[cat crazy]

I am also against declawing,but sadly I had to have my baby declawed yesterday. Before you think I'm a bad person,no I didn't do it to protect the furniture as I don't care about that. I had to do it because my kitty,Oliver, was attacking my dog who is very very sick. She has a thyroid problem,spinal problems,teeth problems and the vet thinks she might have cancer. Plus I have another dog who,if he scratched her, would probably hurt him. So it was really just to keep everyone safe. He is keeping his back claws though and he is an indoor only kitty.

[Ninelivesrescue]

Absolutely 100% against declawing. Personally I feel it would be better for a home to relinquish ownership of their cat to a reputable rescue (not a shelter) rather then have their cat's toes cut off.

To be considered, there are sadly still a ton of people out there have their pet's toes amputated and surrendering/abandoning their pets afterwards. So there are a lot of cats out there that have already been mutilated (sorry there is just no other word for it IMO) that are available for adoption for the people that insist on having declawed cats.

I have two older declawed cats, and 4 fully armed kids too (in addition to any fosters that come and go). With not one piece of ruined furniture after all these years. My oldest declawed girl has an altered gait and is a biter, a common side effect to declawing, and the other one has a persistant limp. And any time she sits, and always holds one front paw up. I'm ashamed of myself still after 11 years for allowing them to be mutilated b/c I followed the train of thought that it was "just what you did to have a cat"... I'm fortunate that they do not have litter box issues as so many other declawed cats have gotten.

[jerome]

Besides all the destruction with her claws, she pees on anything left in the floor.

Sounds like it's not only a claw problem but more like a behavior problem. Here are a few links that can help you with your cat problems:
Tally's Cat Behavior Links
Cat Behavior: Cat Training & Understanding Behaviors | Purina.com
Howstuffworks "How to Solve Cat Behavior Problems: Tips and Guidelines"
Cat Training - Stop Bad Cat Behavior - Solve Cat Problems - Expert Shows How - Kitten Training

Good luck!

[kotarache]

Declawing will bring problems few years later. The cutted bone will hurt and will make inflammations. You know, they are cutting some of the toe, not only the nails.

[Hanziejanelovescats]

I am totally against declawing. It is horrible operation to go through for the cat and it's not needed at all. Most cats do not like the vets and so it is very stressful for the cat. How would you like it if you woke up in a strange unfamilar place, you had half your fingers ripped off and you were in great pain with strange people an animals walking around when you have no way of defending yourself, not only that but your parents- the people you love and trust have put you through this and they cannot understand you when you say it hurts.
People here are trying to defend themselves saying " I did it for the furniture" or "I did it for the kids" It is sad to see people place their furniture higher then their cats. Train methods and claw caps are avaliable, also try 'booby trapping' the area where your cat scratches, with something that will fall and make a lot of noise or put some smelling thing that your cat doesn't like.

[Zayenah]

I'm 100% against declawing, it's illegal here anyway.

My cats nails are clipped on a regular basis and they are trained to only scratch their many posts and cat trees. My furnature is all perfect and really I couldn't care less if it wasn't, I have cats and cats have claws that's just the way it goes.

[buttercup]

Both my cat's are declawed although the younger one has back claw's. I grew up with declawed cats and because mine don't go outside I felt it was okay. Now I would probably not do it and keep them trimmed and provide them with a place just for them to do their natural thing. My female tries to scratch when she first wakes up in the morning and will stretch to reach the top of anything that she can use her phantom claws on.

[krzekmaya]

Totally against it!!!!

[catlover83]

I am personally against the declawing of cats. That's unnatural and eventually will pose a lot of problems to your cat's health. There are other ways to solve your cat's behavioral problems. Maybe she's just stressed out. Make her wear cat socks or nail caps or something to cover her claws.

[CrazyCatLady1980]

I am personally totally against declawing.....it's an awful thing to do to a cat. My parents (whom I'm estranged from btw for other reasons), declaw every cat they get no matter what.

I just don't think it's natural...I wouldn't want someone to cut off the tips of my fingers where my nails are.