From the mouths of babes…
This is not a typical Brave Humans post, but I’m all about information. It’s a small thing, but worth thinking about. I wanted to pass this along because I’d gone more than 40 years and didn’t know this…
I’m writing this with my 5-year-old daughter. She’s an animal lover, and we were recently looking up information about cats on-line.
In doing so, we were reminded about the procedure of de-clawing. Neither of our cats has been through this operation, and my child would like to tell all of you why:
We do not do that because when vets de-claw cats, they are taking part of the knuckles away. Since I am an animal lover, I think it is wrong; it’s like taking part of someone’s finger away. There are four countries in the world where it is against the law to de-claw cats. Some vets won’t de-claw cats because it’s not in their best interest.
Before we had cats, I had no idea what de-clawing meant; I seriously thought it just meant to remove the claws. We have one cat who is a real scratcher, and when we got him from the shelter and found out about his habit, I looked into having him de-clawed. Then I found out the reality…well, let’s just say we’ve all adjusted to the use of a scratching post.
All animals come with their own loveable advantages and annoying characteristics. Our cats are phenomenal purr-ers and are practically dogs in their affection. On the other hand, I have a running battle with the male to stay off my feet at night when I’m trying to sleep. (On the bed, off the bed, on the bed…) We suggest, if you are so inclined, you find an animal with traits you can live with. I never thought I’d be saying that; before we got our cats 2 years ago I really didn’t think about pets much. I do not count them as family members like my daughter does (she thinks there are 5 in our family; I say 3), but since we cared enough to bring them home, we have to consider their needs as well as ours. De-clawing is advantageous for people, not cats. (If you want a de-clawed cat, shelters sometimes have those adoptees available…)
We’ve got to go. The little cat just started to scratch the coffee table, and we need to re-direct her…
Be brave. Be kind to animals.
Susan
February 24th, 2007 11:56
I so hear you! And yet…
I never had any trouble training my first two cats who died at 18. I adopted two more. No trouble. But then the strays started showing up on my doorstep. Before I knew it, I was up to six cats. And the smartest of them all is most destructive. I now have enough experience to know that it isn’t always that clear cut.
I call my destructive girl Ms. Stiletto Toes because she has ruined my bedroom furniture (she knows how to open drawers by hanging from the lip of the drawer she wants to open, bracing her back legs against the face of the lower drawer and letting her weight, as she tugs on the drawer open it) and my cane occasional chairs.
As much as I hate declawing, if the choice comes down to declawing or abandoning the cat to a shelter, I say declaw. I would try learning to clip the cats nails first (it is much easier than clipping a dog’s because you can easily see the vein in a cat’s claws) but a lot of cats will not stand for it. Ms ST becames a satanic bundle of fury, if I so much as approach her with clippers. Not only that, she bloodied my vet and two of his assistants who tried to do it, when I realized that I would never be able to.
Oh dear, I am starting to laugh as I remember that day…
February 24th, 2007 13:01
Hi Lily!
Welcome to Brave Humans.
I agree, there’s just about nothing in life that’s black and white. (Notice I say “just about,” because saying “nothing is black and white” is a black and white statement. I may be a bit obsessive about this. I talk about such nuances in an earlier post, “Shades of Gray.”)
Ms ST seems like quite a fun character. Tell her that Luna and Jayne say “meow.”
I’d say you are doing stray cats a favor by giving them a home, and de-clawing was part of that deal for Ms ST. Going to a shelter would be a big gamble for her. I had friends that chose to de-claw because they were moving, and the adoptive parents rented from a landlord who would only allow de-clawed cats. There, too, the choice was between a home and a shelter.
The point my daughter and I were really trying to make was that de-clawing should not be done simply as a convenience for the owner… if it is done, it should be a well-considered process.
My daughter continues: “I’m glad you read my post. I’m glad you thought about it before you de-clawed the cat. That’s good information about clipping a cat’s nails. I didn’t know that.”
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you continue to visit BH.
Susan
February 24th, 2007 13:54
Oh, I misled you a bit, inadvertently, of course. Ms Stiletto Toes is not declawed and I have the wounds to prove it, as she aggressively jumps into my arms whenever she wants– whether I want her to or not; whether I see her coming or not.
No, I cannot declaw her. But I might have been able to had I known at the beginning what a little whirlwind of destruction she would turn out to be!
Life without pets may still be worth living but it sure wouldn’t be as… colorful.
February 24th, 2007 13:58
I did misunderstand, I’m sorry.
You have a tremendous amount of patience, tolerance, and love to deal with a smart, destructive cat. She’s lucky to have you.
Sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion.
I agree about life with pets. Two years ago I agreed to 2 cats because my husbaI thought I could tolerate it. Now I can’t believe how much I love our cats.
Susan
February 24th, 2007 16:27
Nice Post Brian. Carol from My view of it,sent me over to check out your site.I found another place to come hang out. I had to add your link to my blogroll as I think it will be a regular read for me. If you get a chance stop by and check out my blog at: http://www.blog.findurfuture.com
Have a great weekend!
Health and Prosperity,
Romain Levesque
February 24th, 2007 23:24
I agree - I think it is cruel to declaw cats. On one hand it is a slight inconvenience for humans, on the other it practically handicaps cats. So - the priority goes to the cats…
February 25th, 2007 08:42
Hi Stephanie-
Thanks for coming to Brave Humans. I read your post to my daughter…she’s now learned the word “priority.” She got a shocked looked on her face and said, “Yeah, people boss cats around. That’s mean and cruel” (except in limited circumstances, as were discussed in previous comments).
Choosing the right pet is essential for both owner and animal. My daughter would have preferred a dog, but I knew I didn’t want to deal with the work and time involved.
My mother-in-law recently adopted a dog; she favors dogs over other animals. Unfortunately, she’s in chronic bad health, and caring for the dog has proven too much for her. She had to give him away. Finding a new home for the dog was not easy (he’s extremely temperamental). Now’s she’s considering a lower-maintenance adult cat. (We’re encouraging adoption of one from a shelter that’s already been de-clawed. My daughter has already given her quite practical advice about how to select the right cat. Here’s hoping.)
Susan
February 25th, 2007 21:42
I had no idea that de-clawing cats meant more than the nails were removed, that’s terrible! I’ve heard that you can get tips for the claws for cats who still like to scratch furniture.
February 25th, 2007 22:31
Welcome, Cassie-
I know what you mean- “de-clawing” is a bit of a misnomer… de-knuckling, though, might be considered overkill. I had no idea of the process, either, until we were actively looking for cats and had decided they would be indoor kitties. At first it was, “Of course we’ll de-claw them”…then when I looked it up…
Susan