And older cats are perfect for those people getting up in years who are 
concerned about who will care for their little friends when they are no longer 
able to do so.






                                                 If you have men who will 
exclude any of God's creatures
                                                 from the shelter of compassion 
and pity, you will have men who 
                                                 will deal likewise with their 
fellow man.
                                                                  St. Francis
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tad Burnett 
  To: [email protected] 
  Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2007 11:05 AM
  Subject: Re: OT - Phelix...and lessons learned.


  There was an 18 year old siamese is a county shelter that I was looking at
  last night.. Looking through the list of about 30 cats that they had I noticed
  that they also had 2 other siamese as well as all the cats seemed like they
  would make great pets...
  Then I noticed that about one in four were declawed !!!
  If you want a declawed cat there are plenty of great kitties just dying 
waiting
  to be adopted and already declawed...
  Tad

  Kelly L wrote:

    At 04:56 AM 6/10/2007, you wrote:


    I did not even get in to that issue but it is an important one. Many many 
elderly persons bleet with a touch as theri skin is so thin. Mine is like that 
now and i never heal . I try to wark long sleeves but I am very scared up. If a 
person is a diabetic it is  much worse as they infect so easily. they are all 
choices we make in this world and i would rather see a kitty declawed than 
allowed to live out doors.
    Kelly



      I have to support Kelly.  I will go to any possible lengths to avoid 
declawing but there are times it is in both the cat's and caregiver's best 
interest.  There is laser technology available that takes most of the pain out 
of it surgery.  I had my mother's cat declawed because every time she (the cat) 
even looked at Mom, Mom bled profusely and it took hours to stop the bleeding.  
Never mind the bruises.  Kitty did not mean to hurt Mom but just routine 
stretching produces nails.  Neither she nor the other cat seemed any worse for 
the experience and I am very sure that both, if asked, would have given up the 
first digits to their "fingers."  I know I would in exchange for a home, food, 
and all the love imaginable.  
       
      Dixie is not declawed and I am praying that the day never comes when I 
have to do that.  With a compromised immune system ........... well, I just 
pray.  She is wonderful about what she scratches and I have AC friends who talk 
to her when she "forgets."  Like most on this list, I have adjusted my taste in 
furniture and found that lacey throws on couches and other upholstered pieces 
stop a lot of damage.  And there is no carpet in the house (the floors are 
taking a beating from the constant running and turning but that is ok).  There 
will be no long, expensive drapes.    
       
      Beliefs are very strong on this issue and I understand how volatile it 
is.  I'm just throwing in my own thoughts.  And the thought that perhaps we 
need to ask the cats in question what they would prefer when death is a serious 
option.  
       
       
                                                       If you have men who will 
exclude any of God's creatures
                                                       from the shelter of 
compassion and pity, you will have men who 
                                                       will deal likewise with 
their fellow man.
                                                                        St. 
Francis

        ----- Original Message ----- 

        From: Kelly L 

        To: [email protected] 

        Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 11:59 PM

        Subject: Re: OT - Phelix...and lessons learned.


        At 09:34 PM 6/9/2007, you wrote:




        this is where I will disagree. does it hurt for a few weeks. Yes it 
does but a good vet gives good pain medication. Are there long term 
consequences, That is debatable, A close friend, fellow rescuer and Feline 
behaviorist plus RVT has had all 14 of her cats declawed, In the past when I 
actually had furniture and a dog that lost an eye just about  I chose to declay 
the front toes. Yes I know what is involved,

        the cat went on the live a happy and very healthy 15 more years.

        Now that I have given up drapes furniture and dogs that live in close 
proximity with my cats i would never do it, but I have adopted out cat to 
people I knew would, but I also knew what wonderful cat parents they are.

        Braces a cruel and frequently put on our kids for only cosmetic 
reasons, we subject our kids to years of discomfort,

        I would opt for a declaw rather than to have a cat tossed outside by 
one or the other care giver. 

        and to euthanize a cat instead makes me see red.

        Kelly



          Beth, it's not my "never declaw ideal" that made me say that, it is 
my genuine belief that declawing causes long term physical and psychological 
suffering, and I do not think putting a suffering cat through more things to 
make it suffer more is a correct course of action. Two wrongs don't make a 
right. Declawing is 100% cruel and inhumane, and euthanasia is 100% humane when 
done correctly. To me, there is no gray area there, it's black and white. To 
eliminate suffering, yes, I will euthanise an animal. I do not have those 
strong no-kill ideals others have these days. My son bites his fingernails 
until they bleed sometimes... would I ever THINK to even consider amputating 
his fingers to solve that problem? True, it WOULD completely eliminate the 
problem, and his self-mutilation, but at what cost? That's how I feel about it. 
That's just me, personally. I'd like to see a $1000 fine and mandatory 90 days 
in jail for felony animal cruelty for anyone that has a cat declawed - that and 
the revoking of veterinary licenses for any vet that does the surgery. But I 
admit, I'm totally way on one side of the fence on declawing - probably to the 
point of being impractical and even a bit of a lunatic.


          Phaewryn



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