Originally Posted By wonderingalice Our Vicky was already declawed (front only - I've never seen a cat with its hind claws removed) when I adopted her from Animal Foundation (the organization that works with PetSmart here in LV). She was five years old at the time and is 11 now. From what I can tell she doesn't miss them at all. She "claws" the cushion on Mr. Alice's piano bench... Just goes to town and loves every minute of it. *L* She's recently been introduced face-to-face to our two dogs as well. Eddie, the Brittany Spaniel, is fairly disinterested. She hisses and he walks away. Cosmo, our Pointer-mix, wants to be friends. He'll go right up to her to sniff; she hisses and gives him four or five rapid-fire BOPS to the nose and then he leaves her alone for a little while. It's pretty funny, but it wouldn't be if she was scratching up the poor guy's nose. ;-) My previous kitty, Mandy, was declawed as a kitten - my ex and I had it done. We got the same story from the vet about her having to be careful for a couple of days. No way. This tiny thing was jumping up and down off the bed almost immediately after coming home. Running around and playing like a crazy cat - happy as can be. Perhaps once we're retired I'd consider not declawing a future kitty because we'd have the time to properly train her. Otherwise, I can't be sure what we'd do. Like some others here, I'd rather see them declawed than dumped off at a shelter.
Originally Posted By hopemax Dogs and cats can be fun. We had the dog first, and the first cat quickly learned how to navigate the rooms while walking on furniture, to avoid the dog, otherwise the cat would end up drenched in spit. The next two cats decided that the dog did a much better job of cleaning behind the ears than they ever could. They would wake up the dog just to get their heads washed.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Awwwwww! Love it, hopemax! Our boys had never seen a cat before Vicky, so there's nothing that makes them want to eat her or anything. *L* They'll all hang out in the family room together, but the boys really aren't in the house enough for Vicky to get used to them and playful. Eventually, I'd love to adopt a kitten and puppy at the same time, so they'd be instant pals.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 Nicia and Sammy, our Boxer are great friends. When they play Nicia hangs by all fours on Sammy jowels. I swear to god it turns my stomach as I imagine the pain. Sammy could care less. She shakes her head, play growls and toss Nicia around as Nicia takes her hind legs and bunny humps her head. Aye yi yi! Nicia also has the art of walking on the furniture mastered. She also likes to LEAP from the dining room table to the couch. <sigh> I have juvenile delinquinets for pets. My mom says Lisa it's probably best you don't have kids - they'd be complete brats.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ LOL! Nipper used to bop our dog on the nose, too. It would make this hollow 'thunk' sound. Jake just blinked his eyes at each pound.
Originally Posted By Dznygrl I would NEVER. EVER. Do that to either of my babies. A cat's body is very geniously designed and basically what you're doing is mutilating their paws and disrupting their entire system of balance. And for what? To save a couch? (which is what I would say MOST people who decide to declaw do it for) In my opinion if you're afraid to get a little scratch now and then and if your furniture is more important than the well-being of a living creature, you should consider a different pet than a cat. I have an eight month old little boy cat who can get VERY frisky and he IS a challenge, but patience is key. He gets his nails trimmed and will be squirted with a water bottle if he scratches where he is not supposed to. If he starts being destructive it usually means he's bored and I make the additional effort to spend time playing with him. Sometimes he gets over-excited and accidentally scratches me in the process, but it's all a part of owning a cat.
Originally Posted By Dznygrl Here's a picture of my little Jazz taken in June: <a href="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e94/Dznygrl99/4b558148.jpg" target="_blank">http://i37.photobucket.com/alb ums/e94/Dznygrl99/4b558148.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By avromark With my cat, sometimes I think she think's I'm stupid. Sometimes she has this what is that silly human doing look on her. Then to appease my manliness I let her chase a laser pointer. J/K. Although I have a friend that does that to her cat.
Originally Posted By Dznygrl <<Aww, what a cute kitty! A Tigger fan, huh? >> LOL, he was very attatched to that Tigger during his early baby days. Attacked it with great vigor by day, cuddled with it by night.
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m <<I have heard a theory that because the dewclaw is higher up the paw the dog can supposedly catch it on something and rip it...... Never has happened to my boys and they are very boisterous with each other and play all the time!>> That's exactly what the vet at the SPCA said, that the dew claw could get caught on something and tear. Well, now I know for the future.
Originally Posted By avromark I think in North America doctors/vets like needless surgery it's good for their bank accounts.
Originally Posted By jdub Wasn't there a big media story today that declawing has been proven to reduce feline leukemia in Africa??
