Who has had their cats declawed and do you regret it?
I recentlly asked a question and found out that declawing is a very bad nad painful surgery for cats..so please dont tell me cuz i have had enough people tell me that its mean.
Also my mom had got our cat declawed and my mom said that after she recovered she was fine….and that cat was a good cat and it had no health problems and lived to be 16 years old….and now i want to get myself a cat and my mom said that if she lets me get a cat declawed it MUST be declawed cuz she doesnt want all the furniture ruined..and i showed her all my other answers and now she said that she feels bad for doing it to our old cat but still thinks that it must be declawed…so can u please tell me if u have had ur cat declawed and if u regret it and maybe some alternatives instead of having to get it declawed cuz i realize it is really cruel and mean.
BTW.i am asking you for your help….and i want facts but please dont call me or my mom rude, ignorant,mean,animal abusers or anything like that cuz trust me we arent and we dont want the cat to b in pain so please HELP.
thanks.
Entries (RSS)
November 6th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
I alrready answered your question about adopting from Petsmart and gave you a link to how to train a cat to use a scratching post:http://clawsforever.ning.com/group/annie…
Now I’ll give you a link to TRUE horror stories about what has happened to cats being declawed or after declawing:http://clawsforever.ning.com/group/theho…
Please get your mom to read them, these things can and DO happen often.
You can’t guarantee a cat won’t ever get out, supposing you got burgled when no one was home ? A cat would naturally escape if possible,God help it if not, because if you knew some of the things house breakers do to cats, you’d have nightmares, a cat without claws would have no chance !
You must convince your mom a cat is born with claws because it needs them. Declawed cats are called ‘disabled’ If your mom wants a disabled cat, please ask her to get one from a rescue shelter, don’t let her disable another cat.
I don’t know how some people can say its OK as the cat is under aneasthetic for the operation , yes , but they don’t say the cat has to wake up, in agony.On that horror story page is one bit from a person who works at a vets, she hears the cats scream !!!
I do know what I’m talking about,I worked for vets all my working life and learned a lot about cats ! No vet I worked for would declaw, even when it was legal in our country, because they are trained to help animals, not to mutilate them.
I know you are in an awkward position, trying to make your mom listen, but please try and try again as you obviously aren’t happy about the procedure yourself otherwise you wouldn’t keep coming back on here with questions.You say you don’t want the cat to be in pain, but she will if she’s cripped by declawing !
November 6th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
I have a declawed cat, and 3 cats with claws. The declawed cat came to us as an adult, and was never accepted into the “family” of other cats. She now lives in my office at work. She is an outside cat, 15 years of age and still going strong. I’ve seen her draw blood from dogs, claws or not. She does bite more, but seems to have no problems with defending herself. It is not something I would ever choose for my other cats.
November 6th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
would you like to know how painful and unnecessary de-clawing is? ok, the top of your finger to that first little line about an inch down, cut that off, and you will know how painful it is for an animal.
don’t get a cat if you plan on carrying out this horribly cruel act.
i suppose your mother also supported docking animals?
November 6th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
First of all, cats can be trained not to destroy furniture. As well, having an exciting scratching post helps. My cat was declawed by her previous owners (we would never do that to a cat) and she bites us a lot more then another cat would, because she has no claws to use as self defence.
November 6th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
I don’t like the ideal of declawing cats. You never know when they might get out. And will need their claws for protection. But if you feel you need to, just remove their front claws. That away they can still climb some to get out of reach of predators. You can train cats to use a cat scratching post. I hope you try training before declawing.
November 7th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Declawing is cruel and inhumane, end of story. Your mother ought to be ashamed of herself. Typical American, happy to destroy and maim the planet and its animals just to live a comfortable and convenient life.
November 7th, 2009 at 5:51 am
if cats run away and they are declawed it wouldn’t survive. A good thing to get is a scratching post or what I do is Put some off cuts of carpet on a wall so they won’t scratch the furniture
November 7th, 2009 at 7:57 am
I have never had a cat declawed and never would, I would rather walk in front of a moving express train than subject a cat to this horrible mutilation, therefore I have no personal experience but here you go http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declawstory… read the stories on here and be prepared to feel ill!!!!!
I can’t believe you mother knows the pain and trauma that declawing causes to cats and yet still insists on it, please just forget about wanting a cat if it comes down to either mutilating a cat or not having one.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:14 am
I had a cat declawed, and I have regretted every minute for the past 15 years.
At the time, I did not understand what the procedure was and the vet never explained it. I had seen other de-clawed cats that didn’t seem to have too many problems and Everyone made it sound like it was the be-all and end-all . It sure was that, alright. I have had a very angry cat for a long time.
The first were the litter issues. It took a long time before I could get him back to using the litter box and he still refuses to use it sometimes when he is angry at me. Then was the transferred aggression. What went from scratching furniture and me went to biting, and hard. He would literally rip the fabrics off furnishings and beds with his mouth. I ended up having to have every tooth in his head removed for everyone’s safety. A friend came over with her dog, and for some reason the dog went after the cat and ended up mauling his back leg. If the cat had had claws — or even teeth at that point — he could have defended himself, but the leg was hurt so badly it had to be amputated. He is virtually a cripple. His front legs are deformed and he is in pain from not being able to stretch and exercise the ligaments, and has a great deal of trouble getting around.
If you want a de-clawed cat, there is a very simple solution — go to a shelter. There are many, many declawed cats available at the shelters. Bear in mind that these cats are there for a reason — probably because of some behavior problem as a result of de-clawing. However, often a cat will be better with a new owner as the cat doesn’t associate the new owner with his mutilation. If a kitten is done young enough it is less likely to suffer the traumas, but the older a kitten/cat becomes, the more likely that issues will arise. I adopted a de-clawed cat from the shelter and my other cat evidently didn’t recognize him as a threat and they get on well, and I haven’t had any major personality problems with the declawed cat, although he does have his evil moments. I have since adopted a cat with claws, and while it took time, a cat can be “encouraged” to claw in the correct spots, and I’ve found a kitty condo jungle gym type thing to be the solution. Do a little research on training your cat not to claw or scratch.
Good luck.http://www.squidoo.com/anti-declawhttp://maxshouse.com/Truth%20About%20Dec…http://groups.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuse…
November 7th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
I know that there are declawed cats at the shelter that you can adopt.
If I were you, I’d get one of those if you MUST have a cat with no claws.
My cats have claws and i trim them once every 2-3 weeks or so. They like it (cuz i pet them a lot and do it well!) They don’t do anything to our furniture, but we do have 3 scratching posts strategically placed next to the bed, sofa and dining room rug.
I love my pets like they are little beings with their own feelings and lives. My stuff comes second to them. If they ruin a sofa- does it really matter? also, you can try things like taping foil to sofa arms and stuff like that to make them stop doing it.
My friend declawed her cat, but she cares about her sofa more than her cat. She’s nice to her cat, but ultimately her new sofa is what she loves more.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
I would NEVER declaw my cats but here are several HORROR stories from people who did.
Stanley’s Story
A friend rushed over here with her cat in his carrier, along with his litter box and food one day, saying “PLEASE take our cat. My husband thinks it’s possessed by the devil and wants to drown him.”
Inside the carrier was this absolutely beautiful pure white cat that was about one year old. He was with me for 10 years and was the sweetest most intelligent and loving cat I’ve ever had. As my friend dashed back to her car, she said over her shoulder, “BTW, he’s declawed, so you won’t have to worry about him scratching your furniture.”
In those days, all my cats were outdoor cats, and I worried that Stanley wouldn’t be able to defend himself against the neighbor cats. He was accepted by my cats instantly. And he turned out to be able to defend himself against neighbor cats.
When he was about 9 years old, he started having heart attacks! Between the vet, homeopathy and changing him to raw food, he lived another 6 or so months. Then his lungs began to fill up… congestive heart failure.
The vet said it was CAUSED BY HIS HAVING BEEN DECLAWED…… BECAUSE the muscles that run across his chest, from his right paw to his left one ALSO stimulate the heart muscle when a cat kneads his scratching post, a tree, etc. Without claws, he will still knead, but there are no claws to snag on the tree and give that “pull” or resistance that is needed to fully exercise the heart muscle.
He was a very active cat….. climbing trees, jumping over fences, etc. but that did not give his heart the kind of exercise he would have gotten had he still had his claws.
Nature made cats perfect…. they need all their body parts in order for everything to work like it’s supposed to.
It absolutely killed me when I was told he would need to be PTS, because of his lungs constantly filling up with fluids. I took a home video of his last day so I could remind myself years later how much agony he was in. I felt so guilty that I had not found a vet who could CURE him, and I needed proof of how bad it had gotten, because having my best friend PTS was a devastating choice, and I felt like a murderer.
He could no longer lay down to sleep, because the pressure of anything on his lungs was too painful. In the video, he would try to lay down, but he immediately got up again. He kept falling asleep while standing up, but shortly after falling asleep that way, he would fall over with exhaustion and that would put pressure on his lungs again, and then he would sleepily try to stand up again.
Nina and Nala’s Story
My husband and I were newlyweds when we decided to get a cat of our own. We got Nala when she was six weeks old. We watched her grow from day one and were already attached to her when we picked her up. A couple of weeks later we decided to get her a playmate who we named Nina. They quickly became best friends. They slept together, ate together, bathed each other, watched birds out the window together….they were inseperable.
Nala was very playful and scratched everything in our house. We decided to get her and Nina declawed since they were strictly indoor cats. We dropped them off at the vet’s office for the surgery. About three hours later we found a message on our answering machine from the doctor for us to call her. My husband quickly returned her call and I could tell by his voice that something was wrong. He got off the phone and told me the heartbreaking news…Nala had had a reaction to the pain medication they used in the declawing procedure and had died. They had kept her and Nina together the whole time while trying to restart her heart.
As soon as I saw Nina they following day, I knew we had made a terrible decision. She was in pain and her paws looked horrible. Even worse, she was so disoriented and sick that she could not keep down her pain medication. She had to recover without it. Nina quickly became aware that Nala was no longer around. She went through ‘pet loss anxiety’ and the vet had to order special medicine for her. She became withdrawn and had a decreased appetite. She finally came through the ordeal, but it took 3 months. Even today, her whole personality is different. She is not the outgoing, playful cat she used to be. She hardly ever plays and she is very timid with strangers. She is also very clingy to me.
In the last couple of months, she has also developed a very painful back condition which the vet cannot seem to cure. And she is only a year old…. The bottom line is that if I had known all that can happen during a declaw surgery, I could have saved my husband and I a lot of heartache. Not a week goes by that I not think of Nala. I am sure not a week goes by that Nina doesn’t think of her either….
Meow’s Story
Hi my name is Ruth, our story begins 9 1/2 yrs ago when my 15 yr old son brought home this 6 week old kitten he got from another kid at school, so of course I said we would keep him, he is all black and very sweet.
My son named him ‘MEOW’. We knew nothing about cats really, we always had dogs. We had him about 1 year when we had to move and the new landlord said we had to get him declawed so he wouldn’t destroy his house or we could not move in. So we did, what a big mistake!!
His paws hurt forever, he was so sore and was limping, took him back to the vet and they said this would go away with time. Well, it did not go away he still can’t jump up on things without severe pain, his feet hurt him all the time, and he will not let anyone touch his feet, he still limps and bites at us because he’s almost always grouchy and we have to buy shredded paper to put in the kitty box or he won’t, I mean can’t, use it because his paws hurt so much. And now that hes getting older 9 1/2 years, the vet says he thinks hes getting arthritis in his toes because of the declawing, he is in a lot of pain most of the time.
It breaks my heart to see him so inactive and sore. But we will love him forever, thank God cats are so forgiving, if someone did that to me I would never forgive them. We now have 4 more cats and they all have their wonderful claws. NEVER again will I get a cat declawed for any reason!!
Dusty and Smokey’s story
I adopted Dusty and Smokey when they were a year old from the local shelter. They were neutered, UTD on shots and to my husband’s joy Declawed…(We had only been married 3 days). I didn’t let the fact that they were declawed turn me away from them…they are big (15 and 20lbs respectively) and beautiful and in danger of being put down…Okay I’m a sucker for a hard luck story.
If I had only known what was to come! About a year after I adopted them I noticed Dusty was limping…I put him a cage and called the vet…I about died when we got to the vet and he told me that I would have to leave him because he had a nail regrowing! OH MY GOD! I had never heard of this. It was explained to me that what most likely happened is that when they ’snipped’ his nails they did it at an angle and part of the bone was left in and it tried to regrow. My poor boy! He was left for a ‘re-declaw’ on that toe and to make sure none others were doing the same…I hated doing it…I left with tears in my eyes and returned the next day with tears in my eyes to get him. Thankfully Dusty was glad to be rid of the extra pain.
I notice a BIG difference in my cats…there are 5 that are declawed (all adopted that way!) and 2 that are not (not to mention the non declawed fosters) and the difference! My clawed cats run and play more.
I guess while I’m at this I should also mention the problems of one of my fosters turned personal cat who was turned in for not using a litter box and who was adopted and returned for the same reason…I have a litter box of play box sand just for him! He won’t use anything else…his poor feet hurt him so…especially on cold damp days.
Then there are the two girls…They are fosters…one is an 8 year old front declaw victim…her owner was put in a nursing home…but boy did she BITE like the devil when she first came here…you couldn’t walk into the bathroom with out getting your leg bitten! She has calmed down now that she has her own bedroom and feels safe…but let one little thing threaten her and you are in for blood loss.
If after reading all of the information that has been provided your mother still cares more about her couch then a living breathing animal then she sickens me. Declawing is an AMPUTATION of the cats toes and its excruciating, if she doesn’t get that then I’d honestly wait until you have your own place and bring a cat into an environment where it won’t be mutilated.
My cats NEVER scratch me, the furniture or anyone else, they don’t wear soft paws, I TRIM their claws and they have THREE large cat trees that is all they scratch.
You mother doesn’t even know if your future cat will have a scratching problem and she’s already condemning it.
PLEASE either adopt an already declawed cat or don’t adopt one at all
November 8th, 2009 at 3:40 am
Before you decide to have your cat declawed, there are many things you should know before you make your decision. The surgery is basically an American trend, and is considered inhumane and is illegal in many countries, (England, Scotland, Wales, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Portugal, Belgium, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Yugoslavia and Japan). If that doesn’t impact your opinion about declawing, maybe this website will help you decide: http://community-2.webtv.net/stopdeclaw/…
I believe that most people who have their cats declawed are uneducated. It is not very difficult to train your cat to use a scratching post. The surgery is not simply a trimming of the claws, it’s an amputation of the distal phalanx, including bones, ligaments, and tendons! To remove the claw, the bone, nerve, joint capsule, collateral ligaments, and the extensor and flexor tendons must all be amputated. If you were to make a comparison, it would be like having the last joint of each of our fingers chopped off. So of course it is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery. There are often many complications in the healing process, including infection often from litter box use, resulting in a life-long aversion to the litter box. Other declawed cats that can no longer mark with their claws, will mark with urine instead, resulting in inappropriate elimination problems.
Many cats that have been declawed are traumatized and become withdrawn, nervous, fearful and/or aggressive. Cats that went through the painful surgery are more prone to resort to biting when they feel threatened. Since cats have emotional feelings, (just like we do) they can resent you if you decided to get them declawed. All of these things can cause depression and ultimately lead to an overweight cat.
If a cat that has been declawed accidentally escapes, he/she would be in great danger. A cat needs its claws to defend itself, as well as to escape by climbing. The constant state of stress, caused by a feeling of defenselessness may make some declawed cats more prone to disease. Also they cannot stretch their back and shoulder muscles like they do naturally when they dig their claws into a scratching post.
One popular alternative is Soft Paws. They are lightweight vinyl nail caps that you glue on the cat’s front claws. They’re great for households with small children and are extremely useful for people who are away from home all day and can’t exercise the watchfulness necessary to train a cat to use a scratching post. Soft Paws are easy to apply and last about four to six weeks. They come in clear or colors–which are really fun.
Q: So, how do I get my cat to stop scratching the furniture?
A: The idea isn’t to make your cat stop scratching, but to give her a place she can scratch. Cats need to scratch to keep their claws in good shape, to mark their territory with scent glands in their feet, and to stretch their muscles. It is natural behavior that shouldn’t be punished at all! If you give her a nice tall (at least two feet high) scratching post she will most likely use it, happily. Posts covered in sisal rope are great, but my cats like the kind covered in carpet. A tall cat tree near a window would be even better.
You can try sprinkling it with catnip to attract her to it. If that doesn’t work, use your own nails to scratch at the post while your cat is watching. It may sound silly, but it works. Any time you catch her scratching the “wrong” thing, don’t get mad and yell, just gently carry her to the post. If she still doesn’t seem to catch on, you can gently pick up her paws and rub them along the post. You should not force her; the point is to show her. Doing so will deposit her scent on the post, which should make her want to scratch it later on.
Cats that have been yelled at each time they are caught scratching will be more reluctant to use the post in front of you, at first. This is why it’s important to praise her immediately. You could also try spraying a cat repellant, (you can find at just about any pet store) on the furniture or carpet where she scratches. When you observe her using the post, give her lots of verbal praise and attention. Speak in a tone of voice that you would use to praise a child; she will understand. If she still refuses to use the scratching post you have provided, then you need to try a different kind. Try something taller, like a cat tree. The kinds with several different textures are great because each cat is different.
Q: How do I trim my cat’s claws?
A: Trimming your cat’s claws can benefit both of you. If your cat ever snuggles up to you and starts kneading on your leg, then you probably know that this can actually be a painful experience! A regular trimming will end your pain. Cats with sharp claws can also accidentally hurt you while playing. So, learning how to trim your cat’s claws can be very helpful.
If your cat has never had a “pedicure,” then you’re going to need to get her used to having her feet touched, first. Many cats dislike having their toes messed with, but if you start when your cat is young it will be easier on both of you. While petting your cat, casually glide your hand down her legs and feet. Once she is tolerant of that, use your fingers to gently squeeze her paw until the claws are exposed. When she will let you do this without struggling, then you’re ready! Be sure that each step of the way you are reassuring and praising her for being such a good kitty.
I’ve heard people say that wrapping their cat in a towel is helpful to maintain control and avoid getting scratched. It’s a good idea if you are a first-time-trimmer, and your cat’s claws are razor sharp. When preparing your cat, try to be as calm as possible. Feeding your cat a nice hearty meal beforehand should help. Kitties with full bellies are a lot less likely to put up a fight.
Be aware that if you are nervous, your cat will most certainly pick up on that, and become nervous, herself. Take it slow, and realize that even if you only manage clipping one nail, you have made progress! Don’t be discouraged if it takes a few days to get to all of them. Always reward her with treats and lots of affection.
Use cat claw trimmers and only take off a tiny bit at the end of the nail. Some people say to do it every other week. I think it‘s safer to cut off less than you are told, and to do it more often, (like once a week). Never use trimmers that are made for humans or dogs, because you are more likely to hurt her that way. You can ask your vet or groomer to show you the proper way to do it. Here’s a website that shows you how: http://www.catscratching.com/htmls/artic…
Q: How do I make my cat stop scratching and biting me?
A: Don’t assume automatically that cats that bite are vicious creatures. You must distinct between play and real aggressive biting. Kittens for example like to play, and sometimes pretty rough. They use their claws and teeth to wrestle with each other. This is how they learn to hunt and catch prey, so that’s normal. They usually go unharmed because their fur protects them from serious wounds. However, human skin is a different story, but kittens don’t know that.
Make sure you never encourage your cat to play with your hands. Use a toy, instead that she can bite and claw at. Never, ever punish or yell at her. Cats don’t understand punishment, and the only thing they learn from it is to fear you. Also keep in mind that kittens between the ages of 3 weeks old and 8 months old will be teething off and on, and will have very strong needs to bite. It is important to know that you shouldn’t prevent her from biting, but instead give her something that she can chew on, like a stuffed animal.
Any time she bites or scratches you, (whether she’s playing or she’s mad) say “OUCH!” really loud, then walk away from her. If you’ve ever heard a cat howl when you accidentally stepped on its tail, mimicking that noise will work well too. Walking away from her helps her understand that when she hurts you, that makes you not want to pet or play with her any more.
I hope that helps. Good luck.
November 8th, 2009 at 5:22 am
I have 4 adult cats. They have their furniture, I have mine. They haven’t destroyed my furniture since I trained.
My cat BeBe uses his scratching posts and cat tree. BeBe is leashed trained.
BeBe knows:
Sit
lay down
touch it
no
leave it
paw
Shut up
And he’s learning much more. Cats CAN be trained.
That being said I have 3 rescue cats that are front declawed. 2 of them were found as strays this one, one was rescued from an abusive home.
All three of htese cats bite hard. None of them can go to homes with young children due to this. They’ve broken the skin before.
All three of these cats hate having their paws touched.
Soft paws is a great aternative. I trim my cats claws. I do this because I don’t want to be hurt. I allow my cats to hang on my shoulder and one likes to climb up my leg lol So I trim them in order to save my skin some damage. I could teach them not to but I honestly don’t mind it.
November 8th, 2009 at 7:16 am
I’ve never had a cat declawed. In my life (22 years) I’ve had a total of 7 cats. ALL indoor and ALL have/had their claws. Cats can be trained not to do stuff just like dogs do.
People who say their cat was ‘fine’ after surgery forget the fact that cats inherintly don’t show pain unless they are near death’s door. Your cat could be in huge amounts of pain from the surgery and you would have no idea because it’s ingrained for them to hide it. It’s a survival tactic.
The argument against declawing isn’t that it ends cats lives shorter, many declawed cats live to be 16, 17 even 20. The argument is that it is inhumane and can result in WORSE behaviors than you’re dealing with currently. Namely peeing outside the litter box and biting.
If you really have to have a declawed cat, you should check out your local humane society to adopt an adult cat who is already declawed. Believe it or not there are loads of them out there, and then you can have the declawed cat you want, but not be the one responsible for mutilating them.
Good luck and I hope you make the right choice.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I got my cats declawed. I don’t fill bad because they are in door cats and don’t go out side at all. There is alot of points out there but the most point is how you fill about it. When you play with your cat you don’t get all cut up from the claws an your furniture dose not get ruined. But there is also the fact the not all cats all in door cats and the need there claws. I hope this helps.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I have 2 rescue cats…both de-clawed and neutered.
They are indoor cats.
Both recovered from the surgery very well.
I have no regrets.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
If you keep them in the house and not in a pet room I recommend it. But outside cats need to keep their claws.
November 8th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
We got our cat declawed and i do not feel bad about it and she is doing just fine. Like with ANY type of surgery that you put an animal through they are going to be in pain for a while just like a human would be. Once they heal they are fine. My cat is still a loving, cuddly playful cat like she was before, she doesnt bite any more then she did before. We also have a dog that she loves to play with and does just fine with no claws playing with her. They do have different options for declawing cats now so just look into the different options and see which one seems best to you. ALso keep in mind if you are going to get them fixed to do it at the same time, most vets (at least in my area) charge more to get each procedure done seperately but do a discount deal when done together cause then they only have to put the animal under one time verses 2 seperate times which is better for them.
November 8th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
As far as self defense, my cat is not declawed, and always bites…never scratches. So don’t use that as your only reason not to. I had a cat that was declawed many years ago. She was fine. She never went outside, so we figured why lose the furniture, same as you. The vet had us use newspaper for litter for a while, but nothing ever happened.
If you are looking for an alternative, I know they have these awful little caps you can glue to their claws. You have to extend the claw and make them sit still until it dries. It will eventually either fall or rip off, at which time you will have to do it again. If you want inhumane, there it is.
I wouldn’t worry about it. It may seem cruel, but so do a lot of things people do to ourselves and other people. Kind of like having teeth pulled. It may hurt for a while, but pain is not permanent. It is just a choice you will have to make. But I urge you, if this cat will ever go outside, don’t do it.
November 8th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
I have had my cat declawed. Of course I LOVE my cat and I didn’t want her to be in pain..but guess what? She had to be spayed! I find it strange that people think getting a cat spayed or neutered isn’t painful! IT IS!!! So why do we get it done? I have an inside cat who couldn’t get pregant. But I still had it done! Because if I didn’t she would spray everywhere (and she did before I was able to get her fixed)!! Just like cats will destroy furniture! (Not all of them do!!! MINE did!…tried scratching post..squirting water .. special sprays..everything!)
What made me decide to do it finally was that she began scratching the carpet. I live in an apartment and I would lose a lot of money if the carpet was ruined! So while she was under I had them do the declaw because I tried everything and couldn’t get her to stop scratching the furniture. She recovered wonderfully! And she loves me just as much as she always did. And she doesn’t bite me. I guess it really depends on the cat. But you have to do what you think is best. I’m not telling anyone to do it or not to do it. That’s your choice. I will answer your question with I did it and I don’t regret it!!