[Jessica.]

I was speaking to a friend from the USA recently and she said her cat's front paws have been declawed in order to save the furniture in her house and prevent scratches. I was baffled so I did some research and I found out that it's extremely popular in the USA and Canada. I think it's barbaric, but what do YOU think?

Cat declawing is also known as onychectomy and is a much more complex operation than simply removing your cat’s nails or claws. The declawing operation is in fact the amputation of each of the cat’s toes at the first joint. It involves cutting of the front part of a cat’s toes and means cutting through nerves and muscles and removing bone. This operation is extremely painful (it has been proven to be much more painful than sterilizing or spaying your cat) and it will take a long time to heal. Even after the wounds have healed, the cat may suffer from a series of after-effects.

[GypsyGoth]

I think it is cruel. Maybe cats aren't for people who want to do that to them.

[Josy]

Cruel

[Jack_]

Unacceptable.

[Jake.]

It's disgusting. If you care more about your furntiture than pets, don't get a cat.

Just cruel.

[Saph]

Do cats need their claws? (I've never had one)

sounds cruel though

[Jessica.]

Originally Posted by Saph

Do cats need their claws? (I've never had one)

sounds cruel though

Well, I think my cats need their claws, without them, they don't evenm have the natural ability to climb..

[Drew.]

very cruel, the little ****s love putting their claws in the carpets but id never get them declawed

[Jake.]

Originally Posted by Drew.

very cruel, the little ****s love putting their claws in the carpets but id never get them declawed

Exactly

[King Gizzard]

Well that paragraph in the OP speaks for itself..otherwise hadn't heard of it until now

[joeysteele]

Shocking, unnecessary and cruel.

[Niall]

If you have to have the poor creature's claws removed, then I don't really think you have the capacity to care for it in the first place really.

[Apple202]

wtf?????

extremely cruel

[Ninastar]

hate it. they dont stand a chance if they get into a fight outside

although saying this, we've had to have our cats claws cut both visits to the vet recently... he likes to attack the people in white coats.

[Suze]

It is cruel, as is tail docking in dogs, imo. If they are so worried about furniture, then why have cats in the first place? I think if they want their cat/s declawed then they should have their own toe/fingernails removed. See how they like it.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Suze

It is cruel, as is tail docking in dogs, imo. If they are so worried about furniture, then why have cats in the first place? I think if they want their cat/s declawed then they should have their own toe/fingernails removed. See how they like it.

This. I've never heard of it being done here though

[Livia]

Anyone who has their cats declawed should have their fingernails pulled out as a quid pro quo.

Crazy Americans.

*Taps fingers on desk waiting for Alex to turn up*

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Jesus.H.Christ

Crazy Americans.

*Taps fingers on desk waiting for Alex to turn up*

Our resident Crazy American.

Wouldn't have him any other way. My enemies enemy and all that!

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Jesus.H.Christ

Wouldn't have him any other way. My enemies enemy and all that!

Oh yeah... I used the term "Crazy American" very much as a term of endearment.

[AnnieK]

It's cruel. I have heard it done here when cats have been kept as house cats but I would never have it done. Cats are built to climb. If you can't handle a bit of plucking don't get one.