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From: tookman@endot.UUCP (Kathy Tookmanian)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: declawing cats
Message-ID: <126@endot.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 15-Aug-85 10:18:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: endot.126
Posted: Thu Aug 15 10:18:55 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 03:42:18 EDT
Organization: ENDOT Inc., Cleveland, Ohio
Lines: 29


   Larry has a good point:  there are thousands of homeless cats.
If someone is willing to give a cat a home, I don't think  they
are going to be insensitive and do something they personally feel
will be detrimental to the cat.

   I have one cat who is completely declawed (front & back).
(She is an indoor cat--the only way she's allowed outside is on a 
leash and supervised.)  Sure, my furniture and drapes are intact.
However, the main reason I chose to declaw Liebe is because I have
found that cats without claws get alot more attention from both me
and other people.  Some friends who claimed not to like cats at all,
love Liebe because they can pet her, hold her, etc without the threat of 
being scratched.  She gets so much attention--and she loves it!!
She plays with the dog without hurting him (although when she's
finished playing she whacks him a couple times and he gets the message
without getting scratched)!!  She's very playful and affectionate
and I can return the affection without worrying much (however, her
little teeth seemed to get sharper!! but she doesn't use them as much).
I realize that cats don't mean to hurt when they play but 
sometimes they get a little carried away.  When she sits on my lap for
a petting session and kneads her paws, I don't jump through the ceiling.

   I guess what I'm saying is, I don't believe it's wrong or harmful
to declaw your INDOOR cat.  Mine has a good life and hasn't encountered
any horrible after effects of 'amputation'.  If you honestly believe
it's bad, then don't do it to YOUR cat(s).  I have NO regrets!

-kathy