My two cats were declawed as kittens. I was just a kid when we got them and my mom had them declawed. At the time I had no idea what it meant, I just assumed their claws were safely removed in some manner that they wouldn't grow back and it never occurred to me to think otherwise. That's not a good excuse, but it's the only explanation I've got.
Eventually I became closer to my cats and more interested in cats in general and began reading all I could about them when I came across the truth about declawing. It made me feel ill. I can just imagine the dreadful aftermath; sitting in a cage in severe pain and confusion. I know my cats probably don't remember that particular experience the same way a human would recall a memory, but they must in some way... I hate to see them scratching away at our scratching post, it must be like a stairwell to a person in a wheelchair.
I don't really know what my point is here, maybe just venting. Do you think they forgive me? Has my many years of love and cuddling and attention been enough to make them feel content, if nothing else, with their abused paws? Does anyone else have similar "experiences"?
Eventually I became closer to my cats and more interested in cats in general and began reading all I could about them when I came across the truth about declawing. It made me feel ill. I can just imagine the dreadful aftermath; sitting in a cage in severe pain and confusion. I know my cats probably don't remember that particular experience the same way a human would recall a memory, but they must in some way... I hate to see them scratching away at our scratching post, it must be like a stairwell to a person in a wheelchair.
I don't really know what my point is here, maybe just venting. Do you think they forgive me? Has my many years of love and cuddling and attention been enough to make them feel content, if nothing else, with their abused paws? Does anyone else have similar "experiences"?