Declawing!

[kitbassgirl]

My friend wants to get his cat declawed because she tears up the linoleum in the apartment he rents. I need help convincing him NOT to get her declawed! He says they have scratching posts but she doesn't use them >.<

[catloverami]

Some cats prefer to use a flat surface for scratching rather than a post. So I suggest getting one of flat cardboard scratchers, or buy a piece of carpet (most hardware stores carry them for door mats) and get one that has a twisted loop type rather than a cut pile. Regularly rub catnip into it, as well as the scratching post. He could place carpet over top of the lineoleum where the cat likes to scratch. The cat should not be declawed. This is very cruel and inhumane, and can result in other problems like continuous discomfort of the feet, adversion to litter box, and biting.

[catloverami]

Your friend should keep his cat's claws clipped about every 3 weeks. If she's not used to having them clipped, he should only do a few at a time, and always reward her with a treat afterwards. Just be careful not to cut too short into the "quick" (vein) or it will cause pain and cat will refuse to have claws clipped again.

[MowMow]

Has he SEEN the procedure and know what it involved? Show him a video.

As for a flat surface to scratch on, Shepherd Book *LOVES* my sisal welcome matt. I dropped it inside when I first moved in and he went NUTS scratching on it so I left it on the linoleum by the entryway for him.

[kitbassgirl]

I told him to trim her claws on a regular basis and recommended he put catnip on the scratching posts, and like you said I told him to get the cat some flat scratching surfaces. I tried everything I could to convince him but he already seems well informed about the cons of getting a cat declawed and he's sorta got a mind set that it almost has to be done. I also showed him some claw caps online that I thought might help. He said ok but I don't know if that means he's listening to me or just trying to make me stop talking about it.

[kitbassgirl]

Originally Posted by MowMow

Has he SEEN the procedure and know what it involved? Show him a video.

As for a flat surface to scratch on, Shepherd Book *LOVES* my sisal welcome matt. I dropped it inside when I first moved in and he went NUTS scratching on it so I left it on the linoleum by the entryway for him.

He does know how the procedure works, he has a friend who works in an animal hospital who told him about it and no matter what I said about cats becoming biters because of it and not using the litter box and how painful it was blah blah blah he still had the "it has to be done" attitude >.<

[MowMow]

To be perfectly honest, if it were a friend of mine.. I'd probably let them know we wouldn't be friends anymore.

I don't know that I could be friends with someone who 1) Has complete disregard for the safety and care of something they took responsibility for and 2) has so little regard for something I feel so strongly about.

[kitbassgirl]

Originally Posted by MowMow

To be perfectly honest, if it were a friend of mine.. I'd probably let them know we wouldn't be friends anymore.

I don't know that I could be friends with someone who 1) Has complete disregard for the safety and care of something they took responsibility for and 2) has so little regard for something I feel so strongly about.

Yeah thats about how I'm feeling right now. Really disappointed because he's one of my best friends and is so nonchalantly discarding my opinion all of a sudden.

[BotanyBlack]

Originally Posted by kitbassgirl

he still had the "it has to be done" attitude >.<

maybe try a different approach. Ask him why "It has to be done". Is this his first cat? has he only heard horror stories on cat scratches? Maybe his other friend is talking him into it.. Is his landlord pushing for it?

then be ready to show something for each answer(excuse) he comes up with.

He can probably redo the floors in the apartment cheaper then the problems he possibly will deal with later afterwards.

Does he realize it is not one simple surgery, but 10 separate amputations? You said he knows the consequences of the surgery(s). does he understand it can cause back problems and early onset of arthritis? That after the surgery the cat still has to use its feet to walk to eat and still scratch to use the litter regardless of pain. Its these things the Vets don't mention.

Just ask and see what he expects then go from there.

The US is one of the few areas that have not yet banned it for being inhumane. People just like their stuff to much to think about it.

[marie73]

Since your friend knows what's involved, this is simply going to turn into yet another rant thread about the subject.