Declawed cats still have their teeth

Declawed cats still have their teeth

by Maggie
(Tasmania, Australia)

A 'mouthful' of teeth

A 'mouthful' of teeth

I was watching some videos on YouTube of declawed cats. Watching declawed cats is a good way to understand some of their physical behaviour.

The title of the video below made me curious, there's nothing about declawing in the title, but there is in the description. How could a declawed cat 'beat up' a dog? Claws are the key instrument used when a cat is fighting. But there is also another instrument which is extremely similar to the claw, particularly in shape and effectiveness, the tooth!

Watch the video, (don't worry there's nothing horrendously disturbing or disgusting in it, the two are playing not fighting. The title is misleading.) and watch how the cat TRIES to use his claws, but when that fails he resorts to using his teeth.

Also notice how sometimes the cat struggles to balance, definitely due to being declawed. And how the dog too is using his claws through the 'fight', why isn't the dog declawed in that case? Although, it appears he's had his tail docked. What a lovely, kind, compassionate 'owner' these poor unfortunate animals must have...

But what worries me the most is that this dog is a puppy. I'm not sure what breed, but the puppy will probably grow to tower over the cat. What is the cat going to do when the puppy is a dog, and is more than double the cat's size, and still wants to play. The puppy was using his teeth too, and if the cat can't use his claws to warn off the dog, then it's highly likely that the dog could cause some serious damage to the cat.

If that dog happened to be a toddler then the cat's attitude would be a lot different. Toddlers don't understand animals like fellow animals (such as the dog) do, so the toddler could possibly recieve several nasty bites. And from my experience, bites are a LOT worse than scratches.

So, why declaw a cat? They can't defend themselves against larger opponents with just teeth, and smaller opponents could be damaged more by the teeth than by the claws.

If I were an American mother with a young child, I would much rather a clawed cat than a declawed cat. Simply because declawed cats can cause more damage with their teeth than a clawed cat can with their claws. And let's face it, with a set of claws it's not like a clawed cat is really going to use their teeth for much other than eating...

Maggie

From Declawed cats still have their teeth to Declawing Cats

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Declawed cats still have their teeth

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Sep 26, 2011 You are so ignorant !
by: Ruth

Thankfully no one takes much notice of a comment hidden behind cowardly anonymous. In fact I think your post is more ignorant than anything else I have read for a while !
Obviously your mom's precious dogs aren't subject to unnecessary surgery as they have their tails, yet her cats have had major surgery and you think it's OK.
We know full well that animals play rough and we know full well that to people like you and your mom, cats are second class citizens to dogs.
Those mutts probably pester the life out of the poor cats and they have no defence.
You are maybe totally ignorant that declawing is the amputation of the cat's last toe joint and can have many serious complications, the very least is the painful arhritis most declawed cats develop as they age.
Or maybe you do know and don't care, as long as the very important dogs are healthy it doesn't matter to you and your mom if the cats are disabled for life.
DO SOME RESEARCH like the highly respected writer of this article has and is trying to stop this abuse of cats by passing on her knowledge.


Sep 25, 2011 To wow Anoymous
by: jo Singer

While we all have the right to our opinions, anonymous, those of us who have both personally observed and heard about the horrendous results following feline declawing know enough to intelligently discuss this ttopic. The author is right on the money!

You may be one of the lucky one whose cat doesn't appear to be damaged after the surgery but the future may demonstrate profoundly how dearly cats need their claws.

Down the line- and I hope this doesn't happen to your cat- felines often develop arthritis from walking on paws tthat have been declawed from chaving to compensate for "unnatural" gait. If the didn't need those digits that wwere amputated they would not have been born with them. They aare needed for precise balance. Would you remove your Dachund's nails for scratching you accidently or jumping on your furniture? No!

Visit littlebigcat.com and read a highly skilled veterinarian's perspective on declaw surgery. Perhaps your opinion will change.


Sep 23, 2011 Wow
by: Anonymous

Actually, that dog looks like the same breed I have, which as an adult isn't much bigger then as a puppy. They're minature dauchunds. My mom has always declawed her cats, they aren't off balance because of it, the cat was 'off balance' because it was playing. Animals sometimes get too rough in their fights with or without claws.

Oh, and while the cat may have been declawed, you can't just assume the puppy's tail is docked, because, as I said, we have that kind of dog, and while our's tail LOOKS docked, it has never been so, her sister just got blessed with a longer tail.

Honestly I think your post is more ignorant then the owner.


Nov 19, 2010 RIGHT ON!!!!
by: Jo Singer

Great post!!

That is SO true about teeth. Cat bites are far more dangerous than scratches. Since so many cats that are declawed resort to biting, folks that declaw their cats are putting themselves at far greater risk of injury.

Why can't folks get that into their heads??

Thanks for sharing such excellent information.


Nov 19, 2010 Two mutilated animals
by: Barbara

Poor little owned souls! It looked as though it started off as a funfight and I think the pup was enjoying himself throughout but the cat's ears started to flatten and she really ended up giving the pup a good going over. No doubt whoever was filming it was smirking with self-justification of having declawed the cat, probably because of the pup! I agree that dog is going to grow a lot bigger and stronger than the cat though and I hope they remain good friends otherwise the poor cat is in danger, teeth or not, because to use the teeth the cat has to be right up there in the danger zone, if she had a set of claws then she could slash out with them to try to avert the danger. Declawing cats is so senseless and cruel.


Nov 14, 2010 Ignorant 'owner'
by: Ruth

That cat knows she has to get the upper hand while the dog is just a puppy because as you say Maggie the dog looks like a breed that will grow quite large. Cats are very intelligent and that one looks as if she is trying as kindly as she is able, to show the puppy who is boss. The puppy has probably chased the cat before and if the poor cat had her claws a quick swipe would have put the dog in his place. But instead she has to tackle the dog in his bed (it looks like a doggy toy in the bed rather than a cat toy)
Poor cat with no toe ends,the poor puppy with tail docked, both burdened with collars of 'ownership' even though indoors.
Some ignorant 'owner' that person is !!!!

Kattaddorra signature Ruth


Nov 14, 2010 Nice point
by: Michael

HI Maggie. This is a good point. Cats who have had their claws removed become more defensive too I feel and that means using their teeth more than usual on two levels. Firstly because they don't have claws and secondly because they are more vulnerable and therefore more defensive.

Thanks for posting this, Maggie.

Michael Avatar


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