Disgusting Ad On The Radio

<cut de crap> Oui.

LOL.... OUCHY... that is sick...

Gosh.. both my cats have clawed and my6 house hasn't been ruined yet. Hell my parents who have really nice stuff (antiques and stuff) haven't had their house ruined and have had *three* cats with claws.

Oh, and after getting Gambit, the lazy cat who scratched whereever the hell he was at the time, to actually use a scratching post just by buying one he liked a lot (not even training him), I don't believe anyone who says they can't get their cat to scratch on some scratching post instead. He hasn't used anything but hte post since!

So why is declawing essential?

Declawing is only 'essential' for the ignorant or the lazy, although one could argue that getting a real cat tree (i.e. scratching post) is less work and less expensive than having the cat's toes removed. So maybe it is really only 'essential' for the

<I was listening to the radio this morning and was shocked to hear...the smug and happy statement the man...made...'I just had my cat declawed, so he won't be a problem this year!' Like it was some big joke. Ha ha...NOT.>

<<Having your house ruined by a cat is certainly no joke. Declawing is essential in my book, unless the cat is only allowed into the house to eat.>>

Believe it or not, it's not necessary to be anti declaw or pro saving the house furniture. Cats (pets) need supervision as do children. You wouldn't think of handcuffing the kids to the chairleg so they don't open closets and spill the pots & pans out. You buy kid proof locks, you put away the breakables, the medicines, etc. With pets, you do the same. You don't buy new leather furniture (and then get rid cats so there's no damage.), you buy a sofa w/fabric that's more resistance to cat scratches. A responsible pet owner would leave toys around for play (so the cat doesn't get bored and destroy the table). The responsible owner would obviously spend time w/kitty and look for ways to deter the bad behavior (a spray bottle of water, etc.) And those who wail about the horrors of declawing. Keep in mind that most cats DO come through just fine. It's not recommended, but it's not the crime of the century. Declawed cats don't hobble around crying for the rest of their lives. They do manage to live long, healthy and happy lives. Would I recommend declawing? Absolutely not. What would I suggest to someone who, for example, is pressured by a spouse who refuses to endanger their newborn baby and zealously believes either the cat must be declawed or given to a shelter? Declaw the cat - if you're going to continue to give him/her a loving home.

You know after all this, it makes me glad I have an Internet radio station cats because I'd never put an ad on the station or go on air and say declaw a cat. Yes watching a cat is like watching a child and you can solve problems easily with the cat without declawing.

I agree, that isn't even funny. I'm glad I didn't hear that ad because I would have been pissed!

There are other ways to save the furniture without mutilating a cat.

Everything from nail-trimming to plastic paste-ons.

The cat can be trained easily with water-guns, and the furniture could be initially protected by bubble wrap or aluminum foil.

AND NOT ALL CATS SCRATCH UP THE PLACE!!

I have a tough, feral cat who was a dominant, kind of 'bullyragging' kitten when she ran wild. But she doesn't scratch anything - OR ANYONE - execpt the rug and a strip on the couch that touches the floor. Even so, the damage was miniscule. I bought some cheap, temporary replacment furniture for her until I get around to teaching her indoor rules.

Underscore that part - until I get around to teaching her. I brought her in, it's MY repsonsibilty. Some might argue that a feral cat has a choice - a tough outdoor life or declawing. (I disagree!). But what happens to a declawed cat if it escapes, or, as sometimes happens, is abandoned by the owner?

My personal choice would be to not have a cat rather than declaw it.