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- Apr 5, 2017
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I know this is a hot topic so let me first start out with saying: I have a 4.5 month old Scottish Fold kitten who I LOVE and adore and I do not want to hurt her by any means! I also wish to add that I'm not trying to be argumentative or trying to encourage declawing, I'm simply trying to understand.
I've done research on this subject to now find that many view this as inhumane and after an exhausting amount of research, I haven't found the answers to my questions so I'm hoping to ask them here.
From my research, I've found 2 main arguments why declawing is inhumane:
Argument 1: Declawing is similar to cutting off the tips of your fingers
My thoughts: I understand how this can be understood as inhumane but, what I don't understand is how spading/neutering a cat is considered to be perfectly humane (and encouraged) by animal activists. If I had a choice to chose between having my genitals removed or having the tips of my fingers cut off (surgically, of course) than I would have the tips of my fingers removed any day of this week!
Argument 2: Cat's need a way to defend themselves!
My thoughts: I couldn't agree more when it comes to an outdoor cat. However, my cat lives with my wife and I in a condo and she doesn't need to defend herself against my couch.
Argument 3: It hurts cats to use the litter box after
My thoughts: I hope this isn't true because I could understand the inhumanness if this as true. That being said, I grew up with 2 cats who were both declawed, one of them started to poo outside the litter box when he got older (HOWEVER he was an insanely grumpy cat who I would never give affection toward in fear of getting bit) and the other was the most loving cat who never missed the litter box. The articles never explained if this pain was for a period after the surgery (which I can understand) or for their lifetime (which I would doubt considering my experience).
Alternative 1: Use claw caps
My thoughts: After trying them for a while, my kitten still gets frustrated by them and tries to remove them. I feel that this constant annoyance isn't more humane.
Alternative 2: You need more scratching posts!!
My thoughts: Granted, I only have 2 in my 900 sq/ft condo but I just caught her using my carpet as a scratching post about 1ft away from the scratching post and is now lifting my carpet! UGH!
I'm sure I'm misunderstanding something so I'm hoping that someone can point me in the right direction.
PS: Here is the picture of my love
I've done research on this subject to now find that many view this as inhumane and after an exhausting amount of research, I haven't found the answers to my questions so I'm hoping to ask them here.
From my research, I've found 2 main arguments why declawing is inhumane:
Argument 1: Declawing is similar to cutting off the tips of your fingers
My thoughts: I understand how this can be understood as inhumane but, what I don't understand is how spading/neutering a cat is considered to be perfectly humane (and encouraged) by animal activists. If I had a choice to chose between having my genitals removed or having the tips of my fingers cut off (surgically, of course) than I would have the tips of my fingers removed any day of this week!
Argument 2: Cat's need a way to defend themselves!
My thoughts: I couldn't agree more when it comes to an outdoor cat. However, my cat lives with my wife and I in a condo and she doesn't need to defend herself against my couch.
Argument 3: It hurts cats to use the litter box after
My thoughts: I hope this isn't true because I could understand the inhumanness if this as true. That being said, I grew up with 2 cats who were both declawed, one of them started to poo outside the litter box when he got older (HOWEVER he was an insanely grumpy cat who I would never give affection toward in fear of getting bit) and the other was the most loving cat who never missed the litter box. The articles never explained if this pain was for a period after the surgery (which I can understand) or for their lifetime (which I would doubt considering my experience).
Alternative 1: Use claw caps
My thoughts: After trying them for a while, my kitten still gets frustrated by them and tries to remove them. I feel that this constant annoyance isn't more humane.
Alternative 2: You need more scratching posts!!
My thoughts: Granted, I only have 2 in my 900 sq/ft condo but I just caught her using my carpet as a scratching post about 1ft away from the scratching post and is now lifting my carpet! UGH!
I'm sure I'm misunderstanding something so I'm hoping that someone can point me in the right direction.
PS: Here is the picture of my love