
15 year old Nimue--can't jump_ twisted spine

Aslan (deceased) crippled and chronic arthritis

13 year old Gypsy Rose--anti-social

14 year old Lyonesse--litterbox issues

MacGrumpy--aggression

Taliesin (deceased)--Litterbox Issues

FooFoo--litterbox and aggression issues
leaton310
Oh my does this article resonate with me. I had two cats declawed many years ago. Because they were scratching my drapes and furniture...Good grief. How stupid was I. I have felt guilt for years about that after I learned what a horrifying thing I had done to my cats. Flash forward a decade later I bought my first rag. I had to sign a paper with the breeder that I would not have her declawed. Which I happily signed. Purchased another Raggie a year later and basically let them both claw the crap out of everything they wanted. Furniture, carpet, you name it. WELL, I moved 6 months ago into a rental whereby the landlord was very hesitant about renting to me with cats because they might screw up her perfect white carpet (I know..what was I thinking). Long story short, I'm here to say that you can absolutely train a 10 and 1l year old cat to not destroy your home. #1: Buy a scratching post for every single room/area; especially where they eat and poop. #2 Have several spray water bottles (eeek bad bad mom) and spray them every time they scratch somewhere inappropriate. #3. When they are done eating, sit down next to a scratching post and scratch it yourself. It works it works it works. I only used the spray bottle on them maybe 4 times. I felt horrible doing that to them, but it did the trick. I have every variety of scratching post made, but in our world the cheap ones with carpet work the best. They get it.
Patricia McDermott
what a horribly sad story. and i agree with melinda, it should be illegal. don't get a cat if you can't live with their nature. get a stuffed toy. makes me sick when i hear about people declawing a cat. i've known several that have lost their lives because they got outside and then couldn't defend themselves. it's the same as us having our first bend in our fingers cut off. if you can't deal with claws, don't get a cat.. it's pretty simple when you think about it. we have no right to mutilate animals because what they inherently have doesn't suit us.
Patti Johnson
Jenny & Melinda: Thank you for sharing such a wonderful article filled with very useful information!
Melinda, thank you so much for being so very honest about your experiences and bless you for your rescue efforts! I learned so much from reading your information!
Big hugs!
Patti & Pink Sugar 🙂
MeLinda Hughes
Thank all of you so much for the support. You cannot imagine how many angry potential adopters the rescue has because we decline them when they insist on declawing. Most of them have declawed for years and "have never had any problems." The problem with that is that once they do, what will they do with the cat? Many veterinarians recommend euthanasia or expensive medical procedures, so many of those poor cats end up in shelters and/or then dead. As I said, I know about the problems; I am guilty, and I accept my punishment (litterbox and social issues) as I should, but not everyone is going to put up with a cat that pees regularly on a bed or one that hides (and has been hiding for 12 years). The only answer is to make declawing illegal.
Jennifer
Excellent article from MeLinda Hughes. I cannot understand why the USA still allows it when so many other countries of the world have banned the practice. Three words: DO NOT DECLAW.
Erica
I completely agree that no cat should be declawed. I do think that cats will scratch furniture no matter what, though. It's not just for their claws, they do it to communicate as well. When they're frustrated or excited, they'll scratch the nearest suitable object which may be your couch even if they have a scratching post. A slipcover or even an old sheet over furniture they won't leave alone will help protect it from damage, and scratching posts will help them want to scratch your furniture less. The cover or sheet keeps hair off the furniture too. I look at it this way. a couple of scratching posts and a slipcover are a lot less expensive than surgery, and less work than having to take special care of a cat recovering from surgery and driving to and from the vet unnecessarily.
Rebecca
Great article