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Readers Respond to Claws

Claws! • A Rebuttal •The AVMA's Position •Readers Respond •California Legislation

The "Claws" column by Annie Bruce got quite a few responses. Herewith some representative snarls and purrs.

Joe of Clarks Summit, PA (4/19/04):
I have had cats all of my life (60 plus years), some of which were declawed (front only). No doubt declawing is a painful procedure for the cat and not a decision to be taken without some serious thought. But many cats would not have been accepted into warm and loving homes had they not been declawed.

Having enjoyed the companionship of both clawed and declawed felines, some who lived to ripe old ages, I have observed no differences in their well being, temperament or longevity between the two. I have observed the declawed guys are equally good hunters, still can climb a tree, defend themselves, have no problem digging holes, using the litter box or getting into mischief. I watched in amazement when one of my declawed cats gutted a mouse he brought home with his rear nails in one simple stroke.

All things being equal, I would probably never have a cat declawed again. But I can surely understand there are situations where coexistence can only take place with declawing, such as apartment living, a home with small children and/or with cats who are predisposed to sharpening their nails on everything but a scratching post. Declawing doesn't automatically mean folks love them less, it just removes the stress that may result in their eviction or worse.

Greg of Rayne LA writes:
OUTRAGED at your article on declawed cats.

My child's face was horribly mangled by a CLAWED cat which we own, My daughter did not want to us to put the cat down so we opted for declawing. We have NEVER had a problem with our cat since, and yes it is a female that has been fixed as well. As far as urinating it goes in it's litter box not anywhere else, I suggest that before you print another article of nonsense such as that, that YOU do some investigating on your own to verify these facts.

Greg's child might have been even more horribly injured if the cat had been declawed, since cats can inflict severe biting injuries as well. Small children should never be left alone with an animal.

Greg II writes:
I must comment on the declawing message you presented in your otherwise fine newsletter. Did you research declawing before allowing this rubbish to be published? Or did you just take this self-proclaimed experts word for everything that was said? I did like that the 'facts' link was on the very same webpage for this so-called expert.

There are different types of declawing operations, such as laser assisted declawing, but that was not disclosed in your newsletter or the 'expert' site.

I wish you would screen the information better before you post it. I have been a longtime cat owner, from a family of cat owners, and have never had a problem with a cat after they are declawed.

I will admit that since this is a surgery we are talking about, there are sure to be some cases where cats have had to be put to sleep from complications. This kind of garbage I would expect to read in the National Enquirer!

I do not see how this is a comment or complaint about a company, but if you do review/report such things in the future, could you at back up the stated claims with another source? Keep up the (mostly) good work.

Sorry. We don't subscribe to the notion that animals were put on earth for our entertainment. We don't have the right to mutilate other species simply for our own convenience. And yes, we too have shared our home with many cats (and dogs), though we wouldn't say we had "owned" them.

Annie's complaint, by the way, was about the stance of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Millions of consumers have companion animals and we think the topic's fair game for discussion.

Donna writes:
I wish that I had read the column about declawing cats before I had mine declawed. I don't know why but never looked at declawing cats the way it was described. I feel awful now. I have three cats, only one is declawed (thank goodness). I love them all very much and they stay inside. I have been fortunate in not having any of these behaviors from my cat that has been declawed. thank you so much for your informative articles.

Donna shouldn't feel bad. Sounds like her cats have a happy home, claws or no.

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