Opinions on Declaws: You are an #$%^&* for telling people that it is ok

Opinions on Declaws: You are an #$%^&* for telling people that it is ok

By: Dr. Jon Rappaport

Our question this week was:

You are an #$%
&* for telling people that it is ok to declaw their cats!!!!!!! You should @#$%
&&


Anonymous

Answer

Hi – thanks for your email. I read your email and contemplated weather or not I should answer it and publish it. I think that most opinions should be heard so I'll address your point.

First, I'm sorry you feel that way. I want to make a point. I don't necessarily advocate declawing. What I do advocate is that if a pet owner is going to declaw their cat, that they do it responsibly. Cat owners that declaw their cats should understand there are alternatives to this procedure and that they are need to take the responsibility that this cat can only be an indoor cat.

Pet owners are going to do it and if they do, I want them to do it right. I've actually seen cats "kicked" because they were clawing the furniture, banished, or put outside.

As opposed to those possibilities, I think declawing can be okay if done early, correctly and the cat is kept as an indoor only cat. Declawing is necessary to some cat owners to have a happy household.

As I mentioned, there are options to declawing that should also be considered by all cat owners considering declawing. These options include training cats to use scratching posts, frequent nail trimmings and nail caps.

What do the rest of you think about this comment? I'm curious. Email me!



Dr. Jon




To read most recent questions Click here!

Click here to see the full list of Ask Dr. Jon Questions and Answers!



 
Printable Version
 
Have a Pet Question?
Review the Most Frequent Questions
Answered by Dr. Jon and His Staff of Veterinarians
Ask Dr. Jon
Dr. Jon's Newsletter
Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...
 
 

Related Articles

Related Articles
 

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

Dogs & Puppies
Cats
Related Articles


Local Pet Information Guide
 Alabama
 Alaska
 Arizona
 Arkansas
 California
 Colorado
 Connecticut
 DC
 Delaware
 Florida
 Georgia
 Hawaii
 Idaho
 Illinois
 Indiana
 Iowa
 Kansas
 Kentucky
 Louisiana
 Maine
 Maryland
 Massachusetts
 Michigan
 Minnesota
 Mississippi
 Missouri
 Montana
 Nebraska
 Nevada
 New Hampshire
 New Jersey
 New Mexico
 New York
 North Carolina
 North Dakota
 Ohio
 Oklahoma
 Oregon
 Pennsylvania
 Rhode Island
 South Carolina
 South Dakota
 Tennessee
 Texas
 Utah
 Vermont
 Virginia
 Washington
 West Virginia
 Wisconsin
 Wyoming