cats, declawing and terriers

Hi there,

I would just like to know if any of you have cats you've gotten declawed in the UK?  I grew up in a family that always had a cat and at least one dog.  The cats have been declawed, spayed and indoor pets.

I am thinking lately of how much I would love to have a cat.  My husband has informed me many times that is unheard of to have a cat (it would be a wee kitten in our case) declawed in this country.  I have to say that he's been a bit too easy with the can'ts, don'ts and won'ts since I've been here and a lot of times it's because he doesn't know the whole story.  Is he wrong here or will my vet ban me from the practice if I ask to have a kitten declawed?

Also, we have a two year old cairn terrier.  He's my first terrier and, as much as I love him, he can be, let's say, unpredictable in nature.  Will he injure a wee kitten?  My husband has also placed that thought in my mind.  I dread the thought of coming home to some Carlisle dogbite massacre.  My dogs and cats have always managed to get along fine as the cat is boss and the dog knows it.  I have always had golden retrievers or other mellow or older dogs.

Thanks for reading and any help you can offer.  Jennifer

It is illegal in Great Britain to have a cat declawed as far as I know.

As for the dog and kitten together the only advice I can give is to put them together with you in the same room watching VERY closely in case he does attack the kitten. I wouldn't leave them alone together until I was sure they were going to get along ok. If it's possible to keep them in separate rooms at first when you're not home I would do that just to be safe.

We just recently gave a kitten to my son's girlfriend and they were worried whether her dog would be ok with the kitten or not. That kitten is crazy and attacks the dog constantly....jumping on her and biting her....but the dog just walks away and doesn't seemed too bothered by it.

I don't believe it is even allowed.  At least not in Scotland from my understanding.

Thanks for the replies.

It would be possible for us to separate a kitten from Eddie, our dog.  He might go nuts knowing that there was a cat in the house he couldn't get to.  He sits in our garden and peers at our neighbour's indoor cat sunbathing in the window. 

If cats cannot be declawed, I read in another post that someone was successfull in training cats not to claw furniture and the like.  Does anyone have any advice on this?  If so, would it work with inside cats?   

Maybe we should just get another dog!   Maybe a golden retriever!

Thanks again.

A couple things I do to keep the cats from clawing furniature and walls, is to supply them with a scratching post...or some area that is allowed.  To encourage scratching in certain places, rub cat-nip on the surface of 'whatever'.

To discourage scratching other places, I use citrus...you can by citrus sprays or use the peal from an orange and rub it on the arms of the couch.  Sounds bee-czar, but it works!

You can definitely train a cat to stay off of furniture and drapes, but you have to be completely consistent with it - like training any animal to do anything, really. Try a spray bottle and give it a little spritz along with a firm "no" and take them off of the offending furniture and NEVER use the spray bottle for anything else (keeping them off counters, etc.) - the key is total consistency so they learn exactly what they're being told not to do. There are also little covers that you can buy to cover their claws, but I personally think they're not necessary and sort of weird.

And just my two cents - I think declawing is totally horrible. Absolutely no judgement on you, jenfen, 'cause I know it was acceptable at one time in the US and there's not been a lot of negative publicity about it, though that's starting to change. I volunteered for a long time at the SPCA and the policy was to not allow adoptions to anyone who was considering it. Basically a cat's claw is the equivilent of the first digit of our fingers - so imagine having your fingers cut off to the knuckle - it would really limit how you could use your hands and it does the same to a cat. It takes away their ability to climb, to defend themselves, etc. and even if they're strictly indoors, you can NEVER absolutely guarantee that they won't one day escape or that some day they won't end up living with someone who let's them outside. And sure, they get used to it, but I believe it's cruel. Again - no judgements intended - purely my two cents on a subject I feel quite strongly about....

water bottle- check
scratching post- check
orange peel- check
screaming- check

Tried it all....nothing has worked. Help!!!! He's destroyed a sofa, a recliner, the carpet, pulled the tile off the bathroom floor and scratched paint off the walls. I'm losing my mind. And to make matters worse he loves to chew so even if he was to be declawed he'd just chew things. He's eaten the entire strap off a leather purse before. He's like some horrible combination between a scratch happy cat and a chew happy puppy. Arrrrrgggggghhh!! Oh and he's 3.5 years so I don't think he's growing out of it.

I love him but there are times I'd love to strangle him.

Have you talked to your vet? I know they give cats who pee on the carpets valium therapy. Maybe they can suggest something? Chewing could be a sign of a vitamin or mineral deficiency perhaps?

Just thinking off the top of my head here...

You can definitely train a cat to stay off of furniture and drapes, but you have to be completely consistent with it - like training any animal to do anything, really...

And just my two cents - I think declawing is totally horrible. Absolutely no judgement on you, jenfen, 'cause I know it was acceptable at one time in the US and there's not been a lot of negative publicity about it, though that's starting to change. I volunteered for a long time at the SPCA and the policy was to not allow adoptions to anyone who was considering it. Basically a cat's claw is the equivilent of the first digit of our fingers - so imagine having your fingers cut off to the knuckle - it would really limit how you could use your hands and it does the same to a cat. It takes away their ability to climb, to defend themselves, etc. and even if they're strictly indoors, you can NEVER absolutely guarantee that they won't one day escape or that some day they won't end up living with someone who let's them outside. And sure, they get used to it, but I believe it's cruel. Again - no judgements intended - purely my two cents on a subject I feel quite strongly about....

Ditto, and DITTO.

I have found a strong tone of voice combined with a water pistol (not spray bottle), used consistently, does the trick.  To the point where she would see the water pistol just being raised, and she'd think twice.

I don't know about the declawing, but I have a terrier and wouldn't trust her around a kitten,,,and the only cat that stands up to her is a siamese around the corner,,,when we come across it my poor baby jumps into my arms!!!

The ONLY things my husband and I ever fight about are money, and declawing. 
Two different countries, two different families, to VERY different ways of thinking about it...
I never knew declawing would be as sensitive a subject as circumcision - but holy moly it is!

I absoloutely disagree with declawing. It is mutilation. I also was very disappointed that new animal protection laws don't outlaw dog tail docking in the UK. Just as bad as declawing IMO.
I think circumcision is different because it doesn't stop a man doing anything. Whereas declawing and tail docking do. Does that make sense?

I think circumcision is different because it doesn't stop a man doing anything.

Circumcision stops a man enjoying having a foreskin!

Let cats keep their claws, let baby boys keep their corndogs. Mmm...I could run for office with a slogan like that. 

It is illegal in Great Britain to have a cat declawed as far as I know.

That's really great!

Is it also less common for people to have indoor cats in the UK?  Seems people more often let their cats out there.  I have 2 indoor cats; I live in Baltimore City and can't imagine letting my cats out to negotiate all the traffic and alley rats here.  Plus, it's illegal to let any pet out if it's not under your control here.  Unless I were in the country (and we don't plan to be) or I were sure they couldn't get out of our own garden, I can't imagine letting my cats out.  Would I be seen as a freak in the UK?

You do have to be careful about dogs and kittens.  I had a kitten for about two weeks until it was killed by our dog.   :\\\'(

I never knew declawing would be as sensitive a subject as circumcision - but holy moly it is!

uh-oh! let's not get back onto that topic