This.
I FULLY understand what's going on when they declaw them. They're chopping off their toes from the front knuckle up. You know what? That's the price to live a damn good life in my house. I won't have cats with claws in my house, and they don't seem to mind getting fed and sleeping all day in a predator-less home with soft couches and beds to sleep on.
They don't go outside, so no worries about them defending themselves. I've also never had issues with them not being able to jump or use their feet after declawing. They act like normal cats. Although they do walk on their feet slightly different since they don't have the tips of their toes anymore.
That said.....I'll never declaw a full grown cat again. We did that once, and it was pretty crappy. He weighed too much and kept opening up his toes and bleeding all over the place because he'd put too much weight on his feet before he healed up. Kittens, though.....not problem.
And we've done the laser one before as well. I don't think it was much different. But I've heard it's supposed to be better. The cat wouldn't tell me his opinion one way or the other, either. Just kept meowing at me for more food
I FULLY understand what's going on when they declaw them. They're chopping off their toes from the front knuckle up. You know what? That's the price to live a damn good life in my house. I won't have cats with claws in my house, and they don't seem to mind getting fed and sleeping all day in a predator-less home with soft couches and beds to sleep on.
They don't go outside, so no worries about them defending themselves. I've also never had issues with them not being able to jump or use their feet after declawing. They act like normal cats. Although they do walk on their feet slightly different since they don't have the tips of their toes anymore.
That said.....I'll never declaw a full grown cat again. We did that once, and it was pretty crappy. He weighed too much and kept opening up his toes and bleeding all over the place because he'd put too much weight on his feet before he healed up. Kittens, though.....not problem.
And we've done the laser one before as well. I don't think it was much different. But I've heard it's supposed to be better. The cat wouldn't tell me his opinion one way or the other, either. Just kept meowing at me for more food
Had strictly indoor house cats all my life. All of them front declaw only. None of them ever changed behavior after the surgery, nor did it seem to effect their abilities. 1/2 Bengal could go from the floor to the top of the fridge and down no problem.
I've had cats that I suppose "trained" better than others, but in general I have never really tried to train a cat to do anything. I don't run a circus. Call me lazy - fine. If I get a cat I expect a furry arrogant sometimes affectionate meow machine that annoys me when i'm trying to sleep or read the paper and wants my ice cream during the 10 o'clock news. Other than using the box, that's it. Yeah, I've had cat's that would fetch and do come cool stuff, but more by luck than anything. You are not going to change anyone's opinion that is anti-declaw but it's your decision. I don't expect anymore cats ever in my house unless my wife wants one. She took the last one passing pretty hard. But if I do - it's getting front declawed.