Save Our Paws

The other day I told my pastor why I need Sunday, July 17th off from playing the organ. I figured I'd get the rolled eyes, and the talk about how stupid I am to go protest declawing, because it's no big deal. That might have been the case, had a vet not refused to declaw his own cats many years ago. Pastor told me that he had just gotten to the point in his life where he had nice furniture, but when he asked his vet to declaw his cats, she refused. She said she would never, ever do that to any cat. She didn't give a lot of reasons or explanations as to why declawing is bad. She didn't need to. As soon as a vet refused to do it, Pastor changed his mind and has never declawed any cat. He says he trims their claws once in awhile, and they have a scratching post.

Sometimes I feel like it's a losing battle because all the best arguments won't convince people when vets act like it's no big deal to declaw; like it's minor surgery and some even recommend it. Even though I have an A.A.S. degree in physical therapist assisting, friends still don't listen to me. All my best thought out arguments are for nothing. My understanding of anatomy, form and function is worthless. I'm not a vet. The vet says it's o.k. so it must be.

Yet, I just talked to someone who didn't need any explanation or reason to be pro claw when his own vet refused to declaw cats. That one vet saved a lot of cat's toes over the years. That one vet stopped someone from becoming a person who would declaw every cat (because it's what adults do when they get nice furniture)-- changing him instead into a person who will never declaw a cat and needs no convincing that it would be very wrong to do so.

What drives me nuts is that people declaw cats to "save the furniture".If your couch is more important to you than a living, breathing creature that gives unconditional love , please don't get a cat. Or really, any pet Just sit on your couch.The cat is better off without you mutilating its paws, and any other pet is better off not getting screamed at.

Kathy I can tell by the way you write that what you must have seen will stay with you for the rest of your life and that you will never make sense of it. The anger and disgust jumps from your words for all to see.

I don't know how you coped to be honest but thank God that you are here now along with Ruth, Barbara and all the others to educate. Having read your comment I still can't believe how this goes on as if its such a normal thing to do to a cat! With dog clippers for heavens sake! And when I read adverts like 'its the kindest thing you can do for your cat' WHAT!

Thanks AA. I'm sending this link to everyone I know as I do with all declawing articles. We need to get the word out there I just wish more vet techs would come on and tell the horrible truth.

What a wonderfully educational and informative article. Thanks for all the information, especially from Kathy. I never dreamed anyone would feel pain while under anesthesia. That is so horrible. Hope declawing is wiped out!

THANK YOU for the education, we can never have too much of it since 14 million cats are still being butchered by vets & uneducated caretakers every year here in America. Thank You too to Kathy W - - education from the inside is the best there is. We need as many vets, vet techs, and vet staff speaking up & telling the TRUTH about de-clawing to protect more cats from having their walking bone digits chopped off. The public listens to vets thinking they have the best interest of the animal in mind (which most do not since they can't make money that way), so it is vital that the humane vets & staff against de-clawing speak out more about this savage atrocity.

I totally agree with all that this article states, there is never any excuse to maim an animal for human convenience, declawing doesn't have any pros but it has a hell of a lot of cons. I think there should be legislation to stop cat owners (yes owners because anyone who chooses to pay to have their cat's body altered in that way thinks they OWN that cat)from declawing, if people will go on and on avialing themselves of this horrendous procedure offered by vets with no decency then they must be legally stopped.

A wonderful write up thank you AA.
Kathy your description is so horrible that surely anyone reading it can imagine what the cat goes through. It had me in tears. HOW can anyone think it is OK to do that terrible cruel surgery??????????????

Thank you for supporting the fight for common sense and decency. You contribution is very welcome and you are amongst friends here.

A very good and informative article !
There is never ever any justification to have a cat declawed, it is cruel and it is uneccessary and it should be banned worldwide.
I have heard it described exactly as Kathy says, that even under deep anesthetic the cat feels the pain of the amputation of bone, tendons, ligaments and the claws which are firmly attached and were never meant to be removed.
Declaw vets will argue that laser declawing is less painful and quicker healing, but less painful is still TOO painful and the outcome exactly the same as by any other method, the cat is disabled for life.
They will argue that it keeps cats in their homes
IT DOES NOT
Anyone believing that only has to look on Petfinder.com and see the declawed kittens and cats in Shelters and the numbers don't include the cats killed or caged for life because of being unadoptable.
Open your eyes anyone reading this and still thinking declawing is acceptable, it is simply pre-meditated abuse carried out by people who are supposedly so fond of animals that they trained to care for them.

Having witnessed this operation first hand let me ass to the horrors. You may think this operation is painless because your cat is asleep. Think again. the cat screams out when each claw is ripped out of its foot. Dont tell me they dont feel anything!!! It was the cruelest thing I ever witnessed in real life. It doesnt matter if its a little kitten or adult cat Im telling you they scream out loud when each claw is yanked from its foot by a dog toe nail cutter, thats right a dog nail cutter!!! One of the old fashioned kind with the blade that goes back and forth. Then the bone is pushed out of the bloody paw and cut with the same instrument. The bleeding and raw paw is them bandaged and the poor cat thrown in a cage to recover and wake up. When they do wake up you can see the trauma on the poor cats face. I refused to remain in the office when the vet did this procedure and believe it or not he acted like he understood and told me he didnt like doing it. Then why did he???MONEY THATS WHY!!!!! All you cat declawers need to be arrested for animal cruelty. Those are just my thoughts!!

This is a great article! There is NO acceptable reason to declaw!

Declawing is illegal in my country (Australia). So I know for a fact that if the whole of Australia can tollerate cats with their claws, the USA can too!

My furniture is in prime condition due to having a scratching post. Cats will always prefer to scratch their own furniture, if you provide that furniture, they will leave yours alone.

declawing a cat is inumaine to me i am a cat lover and i own a main coon that weights 22 lb and i wouldnt declaw him for the world and anbody that does should be declawed them selfs