Do you actually think declawing a cat DOESN'T hurt?

I am totally against it. We always had cats throughout the years growing up. I got a cat in 1994.

A little black kitty and I vowed to never declaw. I made the horrible mistake on doing just that to her as she became older. I am so ashamed of myself and the guilt is overwelming at times.

She now is 15 going to be 16 in September and suffers from arthritis. From my experience it is awful. I help her as much as I can.

I help her up and help her down. She limps as she walks. I have been so educated lately.

I have converted my ways of thinking and I will never do it again. A cats claws is their sole exsistance. It is for defence, for forging for food/hunting, for excersize and for balance.

When we step off balance we catch ourselves. When cats step off balance, all they do is extend their digits and nails and they catch themselves. Declawing is a removal of the first digit.

Which in turn causes a cat to not have the proper balance. That is like us, get our first digit removed on each finger we can not properly grip. So due to this, my cat jumping up and down has caused stress and pain to her shoulders and hind legs, and this is why my cat now limps around and has arthritis.

This will never be a ending battle of opinions. It is only my experience and now being educated I know it is wrong and I know first hand. I am so very lucky to have a cat who does not have behavioral issues due to declawing.

Many cats do and they are just thrown out to the streets because now the owner no longer has the patience to keep up the proper training. It is sad. I also worked at a Vet office in Reception, and I noticed such horrors first hand.

They do feel the paiin and the cries echo through my head. I could only work there 3 days and had to quit. I was not perpared for such a job.

So as I have stated, these are my experiences. I have made a choice and promise to never ever declaw any other cat of mine. To take from her was so wrong and unfair.

I love her with all my heart and I know she loves me. She is truely a good girl and my best friend, my Roxy. Thank you Liisa stellahasnotfeet.com http://declaw.

Lisaviolet/declawstory.htm... http://www.declawhallofshame.com/wrt_pag... P.S. I want to add that ones that try to sugar coat declawing for reasons which are so obvious when owning a cat first place is unfair and selfish. It is natural for a cat to claw and scratch. It comes along with having a cat, such a beautiful breed.

It is all about training and having your family all take on the responsibility to continue the training daily. You need to teach your children to not grab or yank or pull your pet...a cat. Cats know no better.

It is all about defending itself when being pulled, yanked, grabbed or jumped at. It is normal. It is the owners responsibility to educate all the family members upon getting a feline friend and companion.

So these excuses that come later on while owning your cat, is just that.....excuses and laziness on ones part to not educate or train your pet or teach your family training techniques. Sure a baby does not know better, but it is your responsibility as a parent to keep gaurd and watch when you have a pet. I also want to add the pet knows no better either.

It just sees something coming at it and does not know how to react except for defending itself. Normal behavior. I have no children, so my cat does not know how to act when a child is running or coming up to her.

She will bite and has. I warn all who have children who come to my home. Respect my pet as I respect your child.

Keep a eye on your child because she will bite and I sit right next to Roxy. I keep a good eye on her and keep her right next to me. Again, my opinion.

One I have always had. I still wonder why I was so foolish myself. I have no excuses for what I have done.

But I know one thing, I love my cat dearly and she is a good girl and did not deserve or ask to be declawed. A big lesson learned on my part.

I would never have agreed to it. The old standard of declawing is equivalent to removing your finger's last digit (the joint which has the nail on it). Recently, I've seen that many vets are adopting a much better technique, where they simply push back the cuticle of the claw and amend the nerves so that they no longer grow.

I would absolutely NEVER advise declawing, but this is the perhaps least painful method that will leave the cat feeling the most normal. I would much rather people went that method, but some are just more concerned with their furniture.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.