having your cat spayed

I always swore that I would never get my cats declawed, but given the circumstance where my parents were moving and I was moving with them and the fact that the apartment wouldn't allow us unless the cats were declawed, I had no choice. To be honest with you, it really doesn't seem to bother the cats that they were declawed. They still kneed their paws, they probably just wonder why they don't hear the sound anymore. You make a very good comparison between being spayed/neutered and removing claws as being considered cruelty, they really aren't all that different. One could argue, though, that having your pet declawed doesn't have any health benefits, while being spayed/neutered does.

Great topic. As to the issue of spaying or nueturing I have to say that it is absolutely imperitive that this practice not only continue but expand as far and as wide as possible. The population of ferral cats in many areas is completely out of control. As far as whether it is cruelty, ABSOLUTELY NOT. First of all the domesticated cat is not a natural predator to this continent. Secondly I find it cruel that people get this animals and them turn them out when they become inconvenient to care for. Now we recently adopted a cat specifically with the purpose of rodent control. Our home is in between two cornfields and while during the growing season mice are not a problem during the winter they have to search further for food and end up in our homes. ( we all get them in this area ) And because we have small children we did not want to put out poison. So for me declawing was not a factor. I gotta tell ya though I am really on the fence whether or not would consider declawing abusive

I have adopted 2 cats when they were only 9weeks old. 1 thing I will never do is declaw my cats for fear of them getting out and not being able to defend themselves or be able to climb a tree. when it comes to getting y cats fixed there was no other option we have 1 female and 1 male, and honestly we realy cant afford to have any other cats so we had our cats fixed when they were 5months old. I Have to admit gettng them fixed has been the best thing I have done for them. Now I dont have to worry about the male spraying and marking his territory and stinking up my place. By getting him fixed early I dont have to worry about it.

First of all, cats breed as fast as rabbits, and if not controlled, it can get very out of hand. I know people who work with the ASPCA and they have told me many horror stories about un-spayed and un-neutered animals. Ever heard of horders? Those are people who have over 10 cats in their house. They are people who do not spay their cats and have cats all over the place. One female cat can have up to 36 kittens per year. Do not believe me! My friend did not have her cat spayed and she gave birth to seven kittens within two months. A female can get pregnant every two weeks, it takes her 2 months to give bith to a litter of six kittens, she can get pregnant again right after she has had those first kittens. She can get pregnant 6 times a year. Getting pregnant six times a year, times six kittens in a litter are 36 kittens born in one year. Hello! That is too many cats.

I think in many ways it comes down to motivation and health effects. I knew that by having my cat spayed, I was deceasing the chances that she would get ovarian cancer and urinary tract infections. Theoretically, it would calm her down and make her want to stay inside (not mine, she still tries to sneak out). And, the research says it helps them live longer. Having a cat declawed doesn't do anything good for the cat...it's all about making the people happy...so I couldn't do it. And, I guess I think of my cat too much like a person. Women can and do get "spayed" and although there is pain and trauma associated with, they can go on to lead/continue very happy lives. I will have my own tubes tied...I would not have my own fingertips cut off.

I did not have my cat declawed but the person that owned her before me did and she was fixed by the humane society. I do not see any difference in her as in my other cats except for the fact that she has no desire to go outside. I don't think it was abusive if it was then she handles it like any other cat that hasn't gone through either. She is a bit picky about who she likes on any given day but that is just her princess attitude that she owns the house. I don't think that either one is abusive. I mean hitting a cat for scratching up your furniture to me is much more abusive then having them declawed. I also think that ending a pregnency is more abusive then having them fixed.

I had all my cats neitered because there are so many unwanted kittens around as it is. Also, one of the worse days of my life was giving our mother cat's kittens away. Sh e has never been happy since. It is better to prevent them than to put a cat through that.

Animals don't miss the loss of their reproductive system the way they do their claws. It has no similar psychological effects. Claws are also necessary for defense. Giving birth actually shortens a cat's life.

Whew this is a tough one. I have a cat and she has been spayed. Do I think this is abusive? No, what I think is abusive is dropping off an expectant mother along the road with no food, shelter, or assistance with the delivery of her litter. That is how I got my cat to begin with - Indy's mother was starved, sick, and preganant when she was left by the road near my Mom's house. Mom took in "mother" and eventually litter of kittens. She paid medical bills and found homes for all when they were ready. I've not had Indy declawed but will. She is an indoor cat and has no need for claws that only cause problems for me and herself - she is not hunting and has nothing to protect herself from but she gets in trouble and I get annoyed when she scratches all the wood in the house. I would never declaw a cat that was outside.

I dont think getting "fixed" is an issue of abuse. You are preventing unwanted kittens that if not adopted will be put to sleep. Think of it that way! Plus you arent really "harming" the cat. As far as declaws they are kinda bad. They take away the cats ability to have balance plus they have no defense at all. I still dont get why my aunt & uncle declaw their cats then let them still go outside sometimes. Thats bad they cant get in fights and if they do they are in trouble with no front paws. Sometimes I wish my cat had no front claws since she smacks me and stuff. But I know it would hurt her more to take them out. So I'd leave them in no matter what and teach them to not claw certain stuff. Spaying is for their own good it truly is. Just like that with a dog. All our pets are spayed to protect themselves too. I hear spayed animals live longer btw.

We got our cat from the Shelter, and she was already spayed. I don't believe this is abusive. I think this is a necessary feature towards cutting down on the huge problem of cats that are turfed out of their homes when it's found out that they're expecting. There are so many cats on the streets forced to give birth out in the cold and the wet of winter because their owners can't be bothered to do the responsible thing. I think declawing is a terrible thing. A cats claws are a necessary part of your cats life. A cat's claw is not a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. So closely adhered that to remove the claw, the last bone of your the cat's claw has to be removed. Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat's "toes". When you envision that, it becomes clear why declawing is not a humane act. It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period. And remember that during the time of recuperation from the surgery your cat would still have to use its feet to walk, jump, and scratch in its litter box regardless of the pain it is experiencing. Wheelchairs and bedpans are not an option for a cat.

Hello Modestah, I always have our cats fixed when we get them.I don't feel it abusive. Our cats are all strays that we took in. If a female is left unspayed she will have 2 to 3 and sometimes more litters of kittens to go where?Who will take them.If a female can have an average of 10 kittens a year and can reproduce for at least 8 years and sometimes longer Thats 80 kittens.If she is your cat can you care for or find homes for 80 kittens? If your answer is no them is it not neglect to allow this poor cat to go through having all those babies. The un neutered male will spray all over your house,he will want to wander,he will get injured in fights because he will fight a lot.And he will aid in reproducing 100's of kittens that God only knows what will happen to. Answer to your question is no it's not abuse but it is neglect not to Hope that helps R

I think declawing is somewhat abuse yeah because i think there may be a better way for it to happen but just not figured out yet. As far as spaying goes i do think that that is necessary for animals. Just so that if you dont want your dog to go around making little pups and possibly having them follow you back home but thats just me. I think every animal should get spayed including cats. Good Discussion...