From: wb9omc@dynamo.ecn.purdue.edu (Duane P Mantick)
Subject: Re: Defense
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: 30 Dec 92 20:10:10 GMT

spp@zabriskie.berkeley.edu (Steve Pope) writes:

>In article <1992Dec30.134445.1446@emr1.emr.ca> thiessen@emr1.emr.ca (Tracy Thiessen) writes:
>>And finally, while I've heard that some veterinarians
>>consider declawing "barbaric", I wonder how these same
>>vets feel about putting down a perfectly healthy, good
>>natured animal because it has destroyed thousands of 
>>dollars worth of furniture? 

>That's also completely barbaric.  Don't keep a pet unless
>you are willing to be responsible for its wellbeing,
>regardless of anything having to do with your furniture.

	In large, I agree with your statement in this sense:  there are far
too many people who become pet owners and are totally irresponsible.  They
let the animals run wild, breed indiscriminately and give the animal NO
companionship.  Having said that......


>> Doug's vet advocates declawing for this sole reason.

>Just because some vet can persuade people
>to declaw their cats with a phony reason like that
>does not make it any more justifiable.  

	I would not generally declaw a cat.  Notice, I said *I* wouldn't 
declaw a cat.  I generally would also NOT tell other people how to run their
lives or their households.  

	However - it strikes me that declawing ought to be an absolute
LAST resort.  ALL the cats I have had have learned how to use scratching
posts or poles and have NOT lost me one penny of furniture, drapes,
carpets, etc.  Yes, it requires a little time and a little cash invested
but isn't that better than declawing?  (which will also cost you money)

	OK, if you find that your cat simply will NOT respond to 
adequate attempts to train then perhaps you don't have much choice left,
and I'd see declawing as far better than either euthanizing the poor
thing or tossing it out on the street (where it could breed indiscriminately
or be run over by a car or....).

	It is too bad that more people do not think about the consequences
of acquiring a pet of X type BEFORE BEFORE BEFORE they do it!

	In the case of cats, a little knowledge of the creature could
save a lot of arguments and hassles over this declawing issue.  For
one thing, cats have claws.  Mother nature designed them this way - they
are meat-eating predators by design.  This means that they will USE
those claws in certain circumstances, and those who know cats also
know that they do their very best (instinctively) to care for those
claws.  

	If you can get them to use what you WANT them to use for claw-care,
isn't that better than ripping the claws out?

	Since you can't very well predict ahead of time if that nice cute
kitten you just acquired will be amenable to using a scratching post,
each of us can only do the best we can in training - with perhaps some
additional adivce from outside sources.

	I think there is room on both sides of the issue for understanding
of the other.  Some folks treat this thing like it is a black-and-white
discussion and I just don't think it is.

----diplomatic mode off----

	The one aspect of the issue that I agree with the "declawing is
totally barbaric" side is:

	I see an awful lot of folks who simply let the vet talk them into
declawing without even TRYING to introduce a scratching pole or one
single iota of training.  These are vets who ought to be ridden out of
the profession on a rail, and strike me as being more interested in
lining their pockets than in the welfare of the animal OR its owner.

	That is, to me, the height of irresponsibility.  It reinforces
several incorrect stereotypes of cats, namely two:

1) all cats WILL absolutely, guaranteed without a doubt wreck your furniture.
	
	This is total BULLSHIT.

2) it is totally impossible to train or otherwise influence a cat to do or
NOT to do anything.

	This is ALSO total BULLSHIT.

	

	People who seriously love and observe cats will recognize the
fallacy of these stereotypes immediately.  When the stereotypes of the animal
cause the declawing, then it IS barbaric because it may NOT have been needed.

	IMHO, un-neccessary surgery is no less wrong or unethical for
your pet than it is for you.

Duane

Xref: sparky rec.pets.cats:15559 news.answers:4773