Do You Ever Keep Quiet When You Feel Like You Should Say Something?

I was in that kind of situation this morning at the vet's office when I brought my cat in for an appointment. A lady brought her cat in who was a new patient at the clinic. The two of us had a pleasant conversation (mostly talking about each other's cats) while we were in the waiting room. Later though, when she was about to leave, she told the receptionist that she wanted to go ahead and schedule surgery to get her cat's back claws removed. She is a two year old cat who had already had her front claws removed some time ago. The receptionist just said "Sure! We'll go ahead and get that set up." I know it is entirely none of my business, and she probably wouldn't have changed her mind because a complete stranger asked her to, but I just keep wondering if I should have said something instead of remaining quiet. The lady did tell the receptionist that she was having it done because she has arthritis and fibromyalgia and it hurts when the cat jumps on her, so maybe she does have a valid reason. I just don't know.

Yes, to answer your title question, I do.

tabbysia said:

The lady did tell the receptionist that she was having it done because she has arthritis and fibromyalgia and it hurts when the cat jumps on her, so maybe she does have a valid reason.

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However, in this situation, it sounds as though there were reasons above and beyond.

I would have kept my mouth shut simply because I don't have all the information. However, I would have asked the receptionist if it was common for them to declaw a cat. If she had said something like "yes, if the client requests it", then I would be finding a new vet.

Yes, I do.

I sure do.....and sometimes I'm absolutely biting my tongue and gritting my teeth.I keep hearing my Mom say..."Zip it!"

There is NEVER a good enough reason to declaw a cat! Speak up and be the poor animal's advocate.

Mother Dragon said:

There is NEVER a good enough reason to declaw a cat! Speak up and be the poor animal's advocate.

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Unfortunately, veterinary clinics are still doing this nonsense. Almost every single clinic in my area does it and they do it for pretty cheap imo (under $300, sometimes more) so people probably think to themselves, "Why not?"

Honestly, not sure what I would do in your situation. I might have a talk with the receptionist at the front desk and ask them if the clinic educates people before having them sign off on such a procedure. I feel like such a thing is absolutely necessary. Even a brochure, something, anything to tell them why it's not a good option and that they should exhaust all over methods before booking the appointment.

Mother Dragon said:

There is NEVER a good enough reason to declaw a cat! Speak up and be the poor animal's advocate.

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Although I agree that declawing a cat is cruel, there may be medical reasons for doing it. A tumor in the claw area or irreversible damage to a claw. I'm not sure arthritis falls under this, but I'm not a vet and haven't seen the x-rays.

Thankfully in New York declawing is illegal unless medically necessary.

I want to post this so that everyone including other readers/lurkers know the specifics regarding declawing;
Why Cats Should Not Be Declawed

kashmir64 said:

Although I agree that declawing a cat is cruel, there may be medical reasons for doing it. A tumor in the claw area or irreversible damage to a claw. I'm not sure arthritis falls under this, but I'm not a vet and haven't seen the x-rays.

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To be clear, it was the woman, not the cat that had arthritis.

Graceful-Lily said:

Unfortunately, veterinary clinics are still doing this nonsense. Almost every single clinic in my area does it and they do it for pretty cheap imo (under $300, sometimes more) so people probably think to themselves, "Why not?"

Honestly, not sure what I would do in your situation. I might have a talk with the receptionist at the front desk and ask them if the clinic educates people before having them sign off on such a procedure. I feel like such a thing is absolutely necessary. Even a brochure, something, anything to tell them why it's not a good option and that they should exhaust all over methods before booking the appointment.

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I was able to hear the entire conversation while I was in the waiting room. The only education that was given was pre and post-op instructions--no food the night before surgery, the use of paper instead of clay for litter afterwards, the necessity of antibiotics and pain meds after surgery, etc. I really think this clinic does any procedure on a pet that the owner requests, as long as it doesn't kill the pet. It's all about money these days.

This is a very timely post for me.

The other week, I called my vet to inquire about the price of spaying as we are going to be bringing home a female kitten of 16 weeks beginning of September. I've never had to be the one to pay to have a cat spayed/neutered before - they all came to me already fixed but this is a purebred Mainecoon and it was suggested to wait longer than normal since they grow slower than other cat breeds.

Anyway, the receptionist, who was new there, gave me the price and then says "oh and if you want to declaw her at the same time it's $xxx extra".

To say I was horrified by being offered this additional information is putting it mildly and I told her so.

Yesterday, I had an appointment with Cocoabean for her bi-annual and brought this up with the doctor who is the one that we use most and knows me best too. I told her about this conversation and she was surprised to hear that the person at the front desk brought this up with me and asked if I knew who it was, which I didn't because they were a new person.

In New Jersey, declawing sadly is still not banned. The vet explained to me that while they very very rarely do this surgery, almost nobody requests it any longer, they do occassionally have people come in that ask for it usually due to human health issues (similar to the story above). She told me that the last time she heard about it happening at their practice was for a cat that belonged to a 5 year old cancer patient. The cat had already been in the family for a while when the child became ill. The cat, was an important part of her treatment as far as being part of her support system - she was extremely bonded to her and the cat helped her enormously get through chemo appointments. However, the parents feared that if she would be scratched - that it would be extremely detrimental to her delicate immune system and because of that, they chose to have the cat declawed so that their daughter could continue to have the cat in her life.

While I can understand the parents reasoning, I still don't believe this was the way to handle it. Nor did the vet personally and the family was coached about other means available to deal with the issue prior to surgery but, again, being that declawing is NOT banned in NJ, the practice could not decline to perform it. So they went ahead with the parents wishes.

Sadly, the child passed away in spite of being treated and, the cat now was declawed. Just and awful story on both ends.

It's very difficult to impose your personal views upon others especially if in a state where the practice is still allowed to be performed. The only option, would be to find another vet that absolutely does not perform declawing - I'm sure there are some. For me personally, there are few good vets nearby - I've been through several of them already and none come close to the practice I'm currently with. However, I voiced my opinion very strongly and will be writing a letter to the practice to make sure that the Owner sees it for certain and express my deep disappointment that they are still permitting this to happen at their facility. I hope, that they will reconsider if not now, eventually.

tabbysia said:

To be clear, it was the woman, not the cat that had arthritis.

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Well that's different. When you said 'she' I thought you meant the cat.
That being said, confronting the woman may have led to a hostile environment. People don't like to be told they are wrong. Education is the key here and the vets office should inform and even show pictures of what the process entails. I understand your anger, but a confrontation would not have ended well.

tabbysia said:

To be clear, it was the woman, not the cat that had arthritis.

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So, it hurts when the cat jumps on her owner. How would removing her claws help with that? I don't understand. If it's the pressure of the jump or the nails themselves... I guess, we just don't know. A conversation with that woman and more detail would be helpful.

I've kept quiet when I spend the rest of my days thinking I should have spoke up. But I've spoke up when I've spent the rest of my days wishing I'd kept my fool mouth shut.
The only thing to remember is that approaching someone with reasons as to why they're dumbasses isn't going to work. People immediately go on the defense (wouldn't you?) and sometimes just offering some help or ideas is best.
It's sweet you feel like you should have spoke up though, for the good of her cat. It's a shame vets don't explain the possible litter box and biting problem declawed cats can experience. That's criminal to me, and not your fault one bit.

tabbysia said:

I was able to hear the entire conversation while I was in the waiting room. The only education that was given was pre and post-op instructions--no food the night before surgery, the use of paper instead of clay for litter afterwards, the necessity of antibiotics and pain meds after surgery, etc. I really think this clinic does any procedure on a pet that the owner requests, as long as it doesn't kill the pet. It's all about money these days.

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You $ure $aid it.
Just curious, is this clinic independently owned or is it a corporation (VCA, Banfield, etc.)? Sometimes corporations set the rules, and vets, technicians, receptionists follow them or they're canned. Double criminal IMO.

Maybe you could suggest Soft Paws. They're like nail covers with blunt ends. Most cats tolerate them.

About Soft Paws for Cats

1 bruce 1 said:

You $ure $aid it.
Just curious, is this clinic independently owned or is it a corporation (VCA, Banfield, etc.)? Sometimes corporations set the rules, and vets, technicians, receptionists follow them or they're canned. Double criminal IMO.

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It's a small, privately owned clinic in a very small town. There has always been just two vets on staff there. The head vet has been in practice there for about 25-30 years, if not longer. Other vets have come and gone.