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Cat Declawing Is Banned by New York State Lawmakers

nytimes.com

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Re: Cat Declawing Is Banned by New York State Lawmakers

#71

Post by bayesian_horse »

bayesian_horse wrote: post #46
purpleidea wrote: post #16

Not a cat owner, so actually curious: I have a friend cat who always scratches me, which is quite painful and leaves marks. Is there a way to trim the nails so this doesn't happen, or is the only solution to avoid the cat?

Normally cats only scratch when you go after them in some way. If that is the case, just don't go after the cat. If the cat goes after you, that's a whole different ball game!

I highly recommend "My Cat from Hell" on animal planet. It taught me tons of stuff about cat behavior and how to make the cat/guardian relationship work.

Problems in cat behavior are conquerable, with the right strategies. It seems to be more about changing the environment with cats, rather than training, as it is with dogs.

Re: Cat Declawing Is Banned by New York State Lawmakers

#72

Post by bjoli »

paganel wrote: post #55
newnewpdro wrote: post #33

My childhood cat was declawed on the front paws, and I've had multiple cats since then, all with claws intact. It's definitely a significant difference in the cat's existence to be clawless. I'm happy to see this attitude shifting, but as others have commented here, there will almost certainly be more cats returned to shelters (and killed) when they won't stop shredding the furniture and carpet. Even if you trim thei…

An owner who gives his/her cat to a shelter because of some scratched piece of furniture doesn’t deserve to be a cat owner after all. What he/she would have done had his/her kids destroy said furniture? Turn them in to an orphanage?

Exactly. As a cat owner it is your responsibility to let the cat have its natural behaviour. If your cat scratches your sofa, get a scratch station and work work work until the undesired behaviour stops.

A cat has the right to a happy life, and of you want a happy indoor cat that is a lot of work.

Re: Cat Declawing Is Banned by New York State Lawmakers

#73

Post by Buttons840 »

throwaway5752 wrote: post #25
purpleidea wrote: post #16

Not a cat owner, so actually curious: I have a friend cat who always scratches me, which is quite painful and leaves marks. Is there a way to trim the nails so this doesn't happen, or is the only solution to avoid the cat?

People would be disappointed to know how frequently this directly or indirectly (owner surrender to shelter) leads to euthanasia. It's going to be a sad side effect of this otherwise well-meaning legislation.

Yep. There are more cats than owners, one less owner for any reason means one more euthanized cat.

Re: Cat Declawing Is Banned by New York State Lawmakers

#74

Post by viraptor »

darkr wrote: post #69
taeric wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This feels awfully close to the argument that cats with claws cause damage. Specifically indoor cats, that will never have to defend themselves from anything.

Cats with claws absolutely do cause damage to furniture (mine is ruined). If you care about your furniture you shouldn’t have a cat. I believe the morality laws around surgery on pets are something like “It’s ok to perform surgery on pets as long as your intent is to inflict psychological damage; so as to break their will and make the animal more domesticated, but it’s not ok if it’s purely cosmetic”. Don’t question…

This is pretty similar to training, isn't it? As in, training a dog is really to break their natural behaviour and move from slave for food/fun to slave by default. Yet, it's also widely accepted. (Yes, I have a dog)

Re: Cat Declawing Is Banned by New York State Lawmakers

#75

Post by oeuviz »

viraptor wrote: post #74
darkr wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cats with claws absolutely do cause damage to furniture (mine is ruined). If you care about your furniture you shouldn’t have a cat. I believe the morality laws around surgery on pets are something like “It’s ok to perform surgery on pets as long as your intent is to inflict psychological damage; so as to break their will and make the animal more domesticated, but it’s not ok if it’s purely cosmetic”. Don’t question…

This is pretty similar to training, isn't it? As in, training a dog is really to break their natural behaviour and move from slave for food/fun to slave by default. Yet, it's also widely accepted. (Yes, I have a dog)

'pets' and 'natural behaviour' do not really play along. All domesticated animals are far from being 'natural' in almost any way.

That said, I consider declawing a form of assault to the animal, taking away from it the only tools it can use and the main weapon to defend itself.

Re: Cat Declawing Is Banned by New York State Lawmakers

#76

Post by mathw »

taeric wrote: post #48

I'm actually somewhat torn on this one. At face value, I fully agree. More, none of my cats have been declawed, as I just don't see the point. That said, I also don't buy the mutilation argument at face value. We literally castrated all of our male cats, and nobody bats an eye. Indeed, you seem to be frowned upon if you don't. Surely that is as mutilating to a male cat as losing a knuckle?

They can still climb, scratch, defend themselves and generally move around just the same if they're castrated. They cannot do these things if they're declawed.

Sure you could argue that we don't have a right to castrate them either, but it is not equivalently detrimental to their quality of life.

Re: Cat Declawing Is Banned by New York State Lawmakers

#78

Post by rurban »

purpleidea wrote: post #16

Not a cat owner, so actually curious: I have a friend cat who always scratches me, which is quite painful and leaves marks. Is there a way to trim the nails so this doesn't happen, or is the only solution to avoid the cat?

It's very simple once you know the trick. I got the trick by watching an experienced nail clipper in a shop, who did it for $5. Needs a few seconds only.

I trim them regularily to save the young birds on our trees, because with trimmed nails our cat cannot climb the tree anymore that well.

Re: Cat Declawing Is Banned by New York State Lawmakers

#79

Post by mathw »

purpleidea wrote: post #16

Not a cat owner, so actually curious: I have a friend cat who always scratches me, which is quite painful and leaves marks. Is there a way to trim the nails so this doesn't happen, or is the only solution to avoid the cat?

Trimming the sharp end of the claw is possible, but very temporary because the claw sheds its outer layer periodically to expose a new sharp one underneath (this is one of the reasons cats scratch - it pulls off the old ones when they're ready to go and thus keeps their claws nice and sharp).

For habitual scratchers it's possible to reduce it with training and familiarisation of both cat and human. But since this isn't your cat, you might find trying to avoid interaction when you're visiting your friend is the quickest way to less bleeding.

Does the cat scratch your friend as well? If not then you can probably build a better relationship with the cat with some effort and patience (and a few more scratches). Cats generally respond well to humans meeting them on their terms, but that takes some understanding of cat behaviour and psychology. Doesn't mean they'll necessarily be interested, but you can at least increase your chances of avoiding a scratch.

Re: Cat Declawing Is Banned by New York State Lawmakers

#80

Post by gingabriska »

mathw wrote: post #76
taeric wrote: post #48

I'm actually somewhat torn on this one. At face value, I fully agree. More, none of my cats have been declawed, as I just don't see the point. That said, I also don't buy the mutilation argument at face value. We literally castrated all of our male cats, and nobody bats an eye. Indeed, you seem to be frowned upon if you don't. Surely that is as mutilating to a male cat as losing a knuckle?

They can still climb, scratch, defend themselves and generally move around just the same if they're castrated. They cannot do these things if they're declawed. Sure you could argue that we don't have a right to castrate them either, but it is not equivalently detrimental to their quality of life.

what about sexual frustration and statisfaction of seeing your kids? Does that not impose the psychological limits with equal sufferings if not compared to those physical limits.
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