The Paw Project (2013) - declawed cats

I just re-watched The Paw Project (2013), a documentary against declawing. The documentary is pretty good. I watched it on Amazon.

It is unfortunate that many cat owners do not realize the facts. Cat declawing is effectively cutting off the last bone of the cats "finger". And it is rarely effective, since subsequent behavior problems counteract the intent of the declaw procedure. Plus many cats (housecats and large cats like lions) have persistent pain the rest of their lives.

Well, I didn't mean to get on the soapbox. The last part of the documentary shows they were able to ban cat declawing in some major cities in California. Then some vet group got a law passed in the capital to "ban the bans". What does it say about our society that such inhumane practices still persist?

 

If cat declawing was a decent practice, then it would not be outlawed. However, the following countries (not including the U.S.) have outlawed the practice.
http://www.declawing.com/countries-that-outlaw-declawing

 

Declawing is cruel and inhumane, and should be banned worldwide. It makes me sick to think that many vets still offer this as a routine procedure with a spay or neuter!

If you're worried about possessions/self, family getting scratched, then don't get a cat! Duh.

 

I can’t imagine anyone ever wanting to harm a cat like this! Burns me up! Should be banned world wide! Don’t get a cat if you can’t handle their claws! Thanks for posting & never ever remove the toes!!! Aaarrrgh - soapbox yes!!

 

My first cats (back in the early 70s) were declawed and we never had any behavioral problems. None of our later cats were declawed, because of changes in opinion about this issue over time.

 

This makes my blood boil. Our furniture is all beat to Hell but Cynthia and I had cats long before we met so we had matching furniture when we moved in together. Our vet will not crop ears or chop off a perfectly good tail. My Mom had a screeching pee on your shoes tea-cup poodle and I'm sorry to say she made the dog that way. When my sister inherited the dog (no one wanted it) she was SCREAMING at me to find a vet that would cut the dogs vocal chords. It took one month for that little dog to completely calm down, Presto! This sounds nuts but it's true. Some people have managed to get a chimp for whatever reason and if it takes a nip at one of the kids you just get his canines ground down. Just stupid. I knew a guy in my past life who went to Montana and came back with a wolf hybrid puppy. One day the dog just shredded on of the kids (all under 10) snowsuits. Not like gnawing on shoes, this was aggression. His wife told him that day, it's you or the dog.
If you can stand to watch them here's a few others that might educate someone.
>Pedigree dogs exposed
>Blackfish
>The Cove
Yes you idiots, the Orca Free Willy was based on is dead because you turned him into a puppet. My parents lived in Victoria when Tilikum killed his first human.
At SeaWorld Dawn Brancheau wasn't just a rough play victim, he mutilated her.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_Brancheau
One reason we got a Border Collie is because at that time they were not in the American Kennel Club. They're working dogs not meant to sit nice.
A warning... The Cove is really disturbing.

 

Yeah, the Cove is pretty bad. I saw some of it before - the slaughter of dolphins in Japan for meat.

Theresa had a declawed cat when I met her. The cat was Delilah and she was adopted that way. She was a pretty good cat, but our other cat at the time pestered her a lot. Delilah always bit back at the other cat because she didn't have claws.

 

My first cat was declawed. I didn’t want to do it, but my mom said if I wanted her it had to be done. I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN!!! And in moms defense, when I got the second cat, she never said a word about getting her declawed. Lesson learned.

Yes The Cove was an eye opener

 

@Maggies Mom Debby That was not directed at you in some backward way.
Our Andrew maintained his nails on a 2X4 stud by the furnace. After a few years there was only a toothpick left, good thing it wasn't a supporting wall. The feral we've been feeding has now retracted his claws when I get too close, just gives me a hard swat.

 

I just have a problem with absolutes. A lot of life isn't black or white, good or evil. There is plenty of grey in the middle. Time makes a difference too. As we evolve, our views on things evolve as does society norms. What was once common is no longer acceptable.

So, I really didn't take offense. I was just stating a fact. My first three cats back in the early 70s had no behavioral problems at all, so not all cats who are declawed have problems. I rescued three wonderful cats who had long, happy lives even though they were declawed.

 

We all evolve and change our minds and you're right about being able to live a normal life. If human beings get an amputation that has to mean there is a correct way to do it. I'd bet most behavioral problems, like my mom's dog, have zip to do with being declawed. It's how we treat them afterwards. I'm getting sleepy, hope I'm making sense.

 

As an adoption counselor in a shelter, I have a LOT to say about this subject. What is encouraging is that almost all the adopters that come to us are anti-declawing already, or will listen to a (somewhat graphic) but accurate explanation of what it is and other ways to deal with kitty claws. I think the biggest problem we have is landlords that require declawing. We keep a list of our cats who are already declawed to steer adopter to, and some people come back to us month after month looking for their perfect declawed cat, rather than take an intact cat. I admit I live in a very progressive/liberal area, but I think this should give us hope.

 

@Maggies Mom Debby Sorry, I need a do-over, I think I sounded like Obi-Wan Kenobi last night. When you said "the early 70's" that was a time when a dog was normal but maybe only your odd-ball aunt had a cat. If my mom had said I could adopt a cat but had to have him declawed because she liked her furniture I would have just shrugged my shoulders and said okay. So yes, you are definitely right about evolving beliefs, changes in attitude and grey areas. When I moved away from home I didn't like or dislike cats but got one anyway and of course I let him outside. He disappeared as did my next cat. That was not very smart, kind of shameful but it's the truth. And of course when I lived alone in a clean apartment, had two cats and house plants I still had to convince people I wasn't gay. I hope things have gotten a little better for all of us. The next time I sound like "The giver of knowledge" just give me a little tap on the head.
@sofapup When I moved here it cost more to put my cats on the plane than me so when the shelter here asked me "What will you do if you move?" I thought it was a trick question. Yes there is hope.