I feel Sick (Kitten getting declawed)

shadowlark · 02-23-2005, 02:05 PM

Last night, my best friend (Ginnie) told me about a cute little kitten that needed a home. Ginz couldn't take it because she's allergic, and her fiance's mum didn't want it, so she asked me. Of course, Ed said no. Which I'm fine with...I wasn't looking to get another cat, so it's not like I'm disappointed or anything. Anyway, Ginz spent about half an hour describing the kitten to me, and I feel in love with her without seeing her (I'm like that LOL). But it still wasn't a big disappointment.

The problem is, Ginnie called me back later and told me her other friend (Kristy) was going to take the cat. Kristy lives with her uncle, and her uncle said that if she gets a cat, it has to be declawed. I felt so sick when Ginnie told me that. I get that people don't want their furniture destroyed...but HELLO!! There are other options, like, say, TRAINING the cat not to scratch. Or those SoftPaw things. Why would anyone immediately use declawing as their solution, without trying anything else first?

And if they're not willing to train the kitten out of one behavior (scratching) what happens if/when the declawing leads to other behavioral problems?

So, anyway, I'm absolutely heartbroken for this little kitten, and I don't thin there's anything I can do.

I tried telling Ginz about my feelings about declawing and what not, and her response was "Yeah, but you wouldn't like having your uterus removed and Ed wouldn't like his testicles being chopped off" so she seems to think declawing is no more of a big deal than spaying or neutering. So I needed to come here and talk to people who would understand why I'm so upset.

I'm just so sad. Ginz was telling me about how playful the kitten was and how it would stalk the piece of string they were playing with and pounce on it. And I just keep picturing it with it's little paws bandaged up in horrible amounts of pain.

Denise · 02-23-2005, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowlark

I tried telling Ginz about my feelings about declawing and what not, and her response was "Yeah, but you wouldn't like having your uterus removed and Ed wouldn't like his testicles being chopped off" so she seems to think declawing is no more of a big deal than spaying or neutering.

Wait a minute! There is a HUGE difference between controlling the pet population, not to mention the health benefits associated with spaying and neutering, and extracting a part of the animal's body for no good reason! I can see why you are so upset Nikki. Declawing a cat is the same thing as debarking a dog or reomving an animal's teeth. Let's face it, there are still many people who think it is easier taking a cat in to get declawed versus training a cat not to scratch the furniture.

chinluver · 02-23-2005, 02:18 PM

Poor kitten...Maybe it's not too late for someone on here to get the kitten instead?
My cats are declawed, but when we got them I was too young to realize that it's bad and I will never get a cat/kitten declawed again. My dad made the decision...I was 6 yrs. old when I got 1 out of the 2 cats we have and I think 10 when we got the other...So I have realized the bad things in declawing since then. And how painful it must be...
Tell your friend maybe someone wouldnt want to be neutered/spayed, but it's the price cats have to pay because they don;t know better to not breed, and they are becoming more and more over-populated and are just being euthanized because if they are not spayed/neutered too many will be born and not enough homes will be found. Humans know how to control themselves when it comes to having babies. lol.

chinluver · 02-23-2005, 02:19 PM

Denise--me and you must have been posting around the same time. lol. But there is a huge difference!! :nodhead:

shadowlark · 02-23-2005, 02:37 PM

Quote:

There is a HUGE difference between controlling the pet population, not to mention the health benefits associated with spaying and neutering, and extracting a part of the animal's body for no good reason!

I know

I asked her why she (Ginz) got her puppy (Dumbledore - cutest puppy ever!) neutered if she didn't like the idea, and she said the only reason she did was because his one testicle hadn't dropped so their was a health concern. I think she understands a bit more than Kristy how cruel delcawing is, but she even said that if she had been able to take the kitten she would have to have it declawed because she lives at her future mother-in-law's house and wouldn't want it to destroy the furniture. So I was like "So spend time training it" and she said she wouldn't have the time to train it. Well, if you don't have the time to train it, DON'T GET IT! I love Ginz to death, but this is really weighing heavily on me.

The other thing is, the kitten is really REALLY skittish and shy. When Ginz told Kristy that, her response was "All kittens are like that" Ummm....what? Maybe I've been around a whole different species of cat, but every kitten I've ever met has been curious and wants to explore, not run and hide at EVERYTHING. I can understand that, say Tonks, is skittish, because she was feral and never went through a socialization period and was 3 years old when we got her, but every KITTEN I've known has been the opposite. Even the stray kittens I used to feed when I was in university. They would run up to me as soon as they saw me because they were curious. Am I wrong about this? Because if I'm not, then I don't think Kristy knows enough about cats to get one, especially one that will need a lot of encouragement to come out of her shell. And if she's already to freaked out about everything...how the heck does she think declawing is going to help matters any???

I want to run off and save the kitten right now.

chinluver · 02-23-2005, 02:43 PM

If she doesn't have the time to train it to not scratch up the furniture then she doesn't have the time to make it friendly and un-scared. All the kittens I have been around have run up to me and started wacking at my shoe laces and everything else. lol. Because they were CURIOUS.

shadowlark · 02-23-2005, 02:49 PM

Quote:

All the kittens I have been around have run up to me and started wacking at my shoe laces

LOL Our cats STILL do that. I think Ed has bought 3 pairs of shoelaces since Christmas because the cats keep destroying his!

Kristy works too, so the kitten will be home alone a lot, which isn't good right away, especially when it's so skittish. Which is another reason I wish I could have her....I'm not working now so I could spend the time she needs getting her to open up. And I think she'd do really well with the other cats...especially if I just introduced her to Artemis first, because he wouldn't bug her and scare her more....he'd just lie on the bed and let her come to him, and then give her kisses (he's such a sweetie! LOL). Ginnie even said she'd prefer me to have her because I know A LOT more about cats than Kristy does and would know what steps to take to get her to open up.

Denise · 02-23-2005, 02:56 PM

Nikki, would ED be open to you fostering the kitten until you found a good home for her? The more you talk about the kitten, the sadder it gets.

shadowlark · 02-23-2005, 03:06 PM

I'd have to talk to Ed when he gets home. I would totally be open to fostering her (but would I be able to give her away? LOL)

The kitten (her name is Sweetums, BTW, but Ginnie renamed her McGonagall) was supposed to be a store cat. Ginnie's fiance Jeff works at a place and they decided that a cat would be a welcome addition to the store. Unfortunately, the kitten is too skittish so the store wants to do what's best for her and find her somewhere where she'll be happier. Jeff was supposed to ask his boss today about Kristy taking her, and if they say yes, Kristy is supposed to pick her up tomorrow. So if everything has already been finalized, there might not be anything I can do.

chinluver · 02-23-2005, 03:17 PM

Maybe Ed will let you foster her and then he might even fall in love with the kittne and let you keep her?