Declawing cats

[bob_summers]

and (i'm aware i'm asking people who've been gone 6 years) - what's wrong with peter singer's book?

[VeganLu]

My oldest brother has always said that most veterinarians are not animals lovers because you can take a completely healthy cat to a vet and tell them to euthanize the cat, and the vet will do it because he will charge a nice fee for doing it. The same goes for most vets that declaw cats. An ethical veterinarian should not declaw a cat. Cats use their claws not just to ruin our furniture , but they express a lot of emotions with them as well. I put on cooking gloves when I want to play rough with my cat so I don't get scratched up. My husband does not use gloves, but he laughs when one of our cats gets him good.

[VeganLu]

In case anybody is interested, the below website has a list of vets in the U.S. and Canada that DO NOT declaw cats.

www.declaw.com/list.asp

[BlueRose]

I can't comprehend why people would declaw a cat. The humane approach is to just keep their nails clipped. It's like cutting off a person's fingers; they use those claws to help grip things.

Ugh.

<-- kitty mama of two

[VeganLu]

can't comprehend why people would declaw a cat. The humane approach is to just keep their nails clipped. It's like cutting off a person's fingers; they use those claws to help grip things.

Ugh.

People who declaw their cat(s) do not really love them. They love their furniture better. Young children destroy furniture too, but do parents cut off their childrens' hands?

I rest my case.

[BlueRose]

People who declaw their cat(s) do not really love them. They love their furniture better. Young children destroy furniture too, but do parents cut off their childrens' hands?

I rest my case.

Yeah, my sentiments exactly.

[longdogs]

Hey can i defend vets! I'm a vegan vet, and i would agree that surprisingly few vets could in all conscience call themselves animal lovers, but it's rarely about money in my opinion. I think vets often just get numbed out and exhausted by being part of a horrible system, even if like me they went into it with an idealistic hope of doing something worthwhile for animal welfare.

I can't think of any reason for declawing a cat that is in the interests of the cat- even the one described earlier in this thread from years back. A cat with behavioural problems to that extent is an unhappy one- removing its claws makes it an unhappy cat which can damage its human companions slightly less. I wouldn't euthanise any healthy animal, and most vets wouldn't, at least here in the UK. Unfortunately, though, death isn't always the worst thing that can happen to them.

[VeganLu]

I can't think of any reason for declawing a cat that is in the interests of the cat- even the one described earlier in this thread from years back. A cat with behavioural problems to that extent is an unhappy one- removing its claws makes it an unhappy cat which can damage its human companions slightly less.

Wow! A vegan vet. So you do not declaw? Maybe it is not as common as it used to be because there is more awareness to bring your companion animal to an adoption agency instead of destroying him or her. Maybe there are less vets these days that euthanize a healthy animal at the drop of a hat, but as you said, some do, and in the U.S. probably much more. But let's not just blame the vets. The guardian who brings their companion animal to a vet to destroy him or her is even more worse than the vet that destroys it.

Do you know of the animals rights organization that consists of all vegan vets that do not declaw, or do all those other things that are done for the guardians pleasure, not the animal's pleasure? I was at my vet's office the other day and in comes this man with the most adorable Doberman puppy. He already had bandages covering his ears from the procedure that will make his ears stand up straight. My husband, who knows me very well, nudged me and told me not to open my big mouth, and I didn't. It was not too hard to keep my big mouth shut because that puppy was so cute and I was talking and playing with him.

[longdogs]

I'm not sure declawing is even legal here, i've certainly never done it and i don't know anyone who has, same goes for cosmetic stuff like the ears of the Doberman. If it was up to me, vets who did that would be instantly struck off. We just tightened up our tail docking laws, but to me it should have been banned altogether. There's now some unenforcable crappy paperwork. I refuse to do it point blank and anyone who doesn't like it can kiss my ass! It winds me up no end- to chop off a dogs tail so it can chase other animals out of bushes for some dickhead with a gun to shoot them- genius!

Got to say i don't know of any vegan vet organisation- in fact the only vegan vet i've met so far is myself . But it might be different in the US.

Re: euthanasia. In the UK last year over 9000 healthy dogs were killed because they were surplus to requirements, and this is only the official ones we know about. In Ireland it's reckoned to be 25-30 thousand every year. I'm not sure honestly if the ones who end up in long term animal shelter kennels are better off. Sorry if i'm ranting- it's just every day it seems i meet another moron breeding a litter of puppies for economic gain under the guise of being an 'animal-lover'.

[VeganLu]

I am so happy to meet you longdogs. You are the real deal. You not only talk the talk, but you walk the walk. I wish you were my vet, but I would have to get on a jet to get to your office. The vets here are mostly about the money. They are very good at their practice, I must say. They always hit the nail on the head when I bring in a sick companion animal, but he declaws, and obviously, does surgery on Doberman puppies' ears. Your country is a much more humane country than the U.S. if declawing is against the law.

I agree that euthanization might be better for an animal than to live a horrible or painful life. In the U.S., there are people who take pets from shelters and than sell them to laboratories, where the animals will be experimented on. These people are called 3rd Class Dealers. Some animals shelters know this and get money from these people. Plus, in the U.S., there are companies that raise animals for the sole purpose of selling them to laboratories for experimenation.

[VeganLu]

To Longdogs:

The vegan vet animal rights group I am searching for is located in the U.S. I forgot to mention that, but thanks for answering my question.

[VeganLu]

To BlueRose:

Yeah, my sentiments exactly.

I slap you five!

[longdogs]

Hey thanks i'm going to look that group up.

[VeganLu]

Let me know if you find the group, because I used to know it, but it was left on my computer at work and I don't work anymore. I am going to continue my search now.

[calico]

I'm not a fan of declawing. But sadly to some cats, if they're not declawed, they end up dropped off at the nearest shelter to be put down. So if it saves a cat's life or save him from being beaten to "teach him a lesson", I won't condemn everyone who has it done.

It's sad people cause their cats to be killed to protect an expensive sofa, but that's just how some people are.