[SkyDancer]

Introduced our cat to a scratchy post and a scratchy cardboard claw sharpener and she’s never tried to do the furniture. Training. Declawing is barbaric.

[Daffynition]

I agree.

[thoughtomator]

> Introduced our cat to a scratchy post and a scratchy cardboard claw sharpener and she’s never tried to do the furniture.

It really IS that simple.

People who can’t do this much for a cat have no business owning one.

[Catsrus]

I’ve heard that declawing is equivalent to cutting one’s finger off at the knuckle. I agree - it is barbaric.

[EinNYC]

I agree. Declawing causes all sorts of phantom pain, foot arthritis, etc. It's equivalent to taking off your finger up to the first joint. I keep my cats' claws trimmed, they have several choices of scratching post (which they really use) and they long ago were trained not to scratch furniture. It also helps if your upholstery is tightly woven and not loosely woven, which seem to be a cat scratching magnet. Never had any noticeable cat scratch damage in my home, nor anything shredded.

BTW FReepers----My kitten Zizu just got re-tested for FeLV/FIV and bartonella, and she is NEGATIVE!!! Now she can gradually leave her quarantine ward (AKA, my kitchen). AND, she is now a whopping 6 whole lbs., up from the bony 4.2 lbs. when I first got her a month ago. Gone are the hip bones and sparse rough coat--now she is muscular, sleek, and shiny. And full of devilment, fueled by kitten energy.