I heard from a friend that if I get a ragdoll kitten I can't declaw it because it can kill it. Is that true?
Never heard that one, but just about any breeder has a "no declaw" policy right in the contract. I think mostly because it is so cruel and it can alter the wonderful temperament they're known for.
Anyone else correct me if I'm wrong, since I'm no expert on Ragdolls.
-Sheri
New York
You will hear a lot of opinions about declawing here.. and I doubt that one person would support having it done. It is incredibly inhumane. They actually remove a bone in the cat's foot, and not just the claw itself. Ragdolls are very intelligent and take to scratching pads/trees very easily. There is a lot of info on the forum on that specific topic.
You are great to ask, and you are most welcome to stay and ask all the questions you like! I hope that you will post lots of pics once your kitten adopts you!
(05-24-2010 09:03 PM)KittyGlitter Wrote: [ -> ]You will hear a lot of opinions about declawing here.. and I doubt that one person would support having it done. It is incredibly inhumane. They actually remove a bone in the cat's foot, and not just the claw itself. Ragdolls are very intelligent and take to scratching pads/trees very easily. There is a lot of info on the forum on that specific topic.
You are great to ask, and you are most welcome to stay and ask all the questions you like! I hope that you will post lots of pics once your kitten adopts you!
I would like to thank you for your replys. I disagree with declawing also. But my husband is insistant. We have not purchased a kitten yet, but hoping to very soon.
DO NOT DECLAW YOUR CAT.
Imagine having your fingers cut off at the last knuckle, that is the human equivalent of declawing a cat.
There is many painfree alternatives. The first option is to train your cat not to scratch things! Purchase a high quality cat tree and it will last you a lifetime. Praise him for scratching the tree, and if he is scratching your furniture a stern NO and bringing him to his pole will mean he has soon learned to scratch his tree only. Trimming the tips of his claws is also painfree and as long as he is indoors only (as he should be) he will be fine. Just make sure not to cut past the red line or it will be very painful for him. Softpaws is another option, see
http://www.softpaws.com. Softpaws are small vinyl covers that are glued over a cat's front claws. They are a great solution if you have been unsuccessful at training him to use his scratching post. The nail caps are lightweight and most cats can wear them comfortably without realizing they are wearing them.
Inform your husband that a declawed cat may be more likely to bite and not use the litterbox. Some people are better off without cats. If the furniture is more important than the cat, then enjoy the furniture in a cat free environment. Some areas of the house may be off limits to the cat and some furniture may be so attractive to a particular cat that it needs to be moved, but most of us manage very well to control scratching by providing scratching devices and keeping claws clipped. Some use and the cats tolerate soft paws, which are caps that are glued onto the claws every few weeks. Do not get a cat if you cannot manage to avoid declawing. It is like wanting a cat, but not wanting to deal with cat feces and urine or shed fur. Get a stuffed toy.
Quote:But my husband is insistant. We have not purchased a kitten yet, but hoping to very soon.
Ragdolls are not known to be problematic scratchers although some will need to have more training and attention then others. All of our cats use the posts, trees, and cardboard scratchers. None use the furniture.
We prohibit declawing in our contract (as most breeders do). We even take it step further and define damages if the cat is ever found to have been declawed. Your husband needs to be informed about the consequences of declawing. Seems he has made up his mind before there is a problem.
I once had a friend who's cat lost it's foot from an infection that set in after the declaw surgery.
Isn't it illegal in some countries?
Declawing a cat is NOT an acceptable thing to do. It destroys their ability to play like cats do, even with their little mice and balls. They lose their ability to grip/grab things and can even fall off of things with the loss of their claws.....not able to grab onto something without them. They can no longer enjoy their scratching posts....not able to climb.
They do become biters and their litter box habits are affected.
Ragdolls are very docile, sweet cats and there is NO need to ever do this to them, or any other cat either.
Hopefully I wasn't too direct here, but this is a passionate subject. It was very nice of you to ask the question though....and brave too knowing how against most people are of declawing a cat. Hopefully, very soon, it will become illegal to declaw kittens and cats all across the world.