From: s1mbm@isuvax.iastate.edu (michael bruce mcdonald)
Subject: Re: Defense
Reply-To: s1mbm@isuvax.iastate.edu
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 09:26:16 GMT

In article <C044FA.94M@news.iastate.edu>, bron@iastate.edu (bronwyn) writes:
>    Yes, I'm following up my own posting.  Email has made me notice I
>    really made no mention of the reason I was upset about the posting
>    made by Nancy Pilsch. Yes, I was really upset in my previous 
>    article.  I still believe that the article was inflammatory and
>    presumptuous.
>        
>[N.P]
>>>I must point out however, that IMHO declawing is cruel.  As my vet put it,
>>>"it is a barbaric operation".  I am getting truly sick and tired of people
>>>putting their not-alive furninture before their LIVE cats!  There are so
>>>many people on this topic looking for validation because they have declawed
>>>their cats or are planning to do so.  
>
>In reading this, it's easy to assume Nancy means that everyone who has a
>declawing process done is being cruel and inhumane to an animal, and putting
>their furniture above the comfort of their pets.
>
>Yes, I resent that.  I'm the proud owner of two cats.  One is declawed, the
>other will be soon.  I disagree with the practice of declawing by default.
>I disagree with owners who make the decision without trying other avenues.
>However, I disagree with people who say it's always wrong.
>
>I'm very glad that obviously N.P's cats are so trainable.  However, mine
>were not.  It might surprise you to know that this is indeed why I happen
>to have the cats I do.  They had been given up as untrainable, and I
>also found difficulty training them. 
>
>The reasons I can't train my cats? One of them is deaf, and doesn't respond
>to noise.  The other simply doesn't respond, although she is not deaf.
>Neither of them dislike water.  Neither of them like cat nip.  Spraying
>them with water simply results in a wet, happy cat.  Bathtime is easy. . .
>Loud, startling noises won't even be heard by Nermal, and Feeper simply
>doesn't care.  I *tried* training.  I *provided* other avenues for their
>scratching. I gave them *treats* when they used the scratching post instead
>of the furniture.  They ignored me like I was the plague.  I have concerns
>about my cats.  Until recently, I didn't own my furniture.  My lease
>stipulated declawed cats.  I lived in friend's houses for 6 months because
>I couldn't find an apartment that would allow Feeper (a claw-functional) and
>didn't want to give her up.
>
>There are reasons people may turn to declawing.  It's not always wrong, and
>we aren't necessarily putting our furniture before our cats.  We, and our
>cats, must live with the decisions we make.  I desperately hope that we
>make *informed* decisions.  Please don't assume that mine are not, simply
>because it's an outcome you don't like.
>
>--
>Bronwyn J Scrutton                                          bron@iastate.edu
>Project Vincent                                               (515) 294-4994
>                    If it's not one thing, it's Bronwyn. 


Bronwyn, thanks for writing so sensitively and passionately about what is
obviously a very painful and well-thought-out choice for you.

Are folks aware of a new method some vets are trying out as an alternative
to declawing?  It involves capping the claws with a plastic sheath.  The
problem of course, is that these sheaths deteriorate over time, making the
procedure one that has to be re-done with some frequency.

As much as I appreciate and respect Bronwyn's reasons for making the decision
to have cats declawed, I do hope that everyone is aware, by now, that declawing
is a *major* procedure, involving amputation of the first digits on each foot.
The seriousness of the procedure is reflected in the fact that it is strongly
advised against for older cats, who often cannot withstand the stressfulness of
such a procedure.

michael mcdonald
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats