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I took in a kitten back in 1985. She was a big-time scratcher and ruined all my drapes, tore up two sofas, and a door jam. Nothing I did, no alternative scratching areas kept her from tearing up my furniture and climbing up my draperies. I was on the verge of giving her up. Instead, when she was about a year old, I had her declawed. I could tell that it was a different feeling for her, but she adjusted very quickly. She ended up living to the ripe old age of 20 in our house, doing no damage and very loved.
After she died, we took in another kitten from a rescue organization. This one is not declawed, but she has a totally different personality. She is very submissive, very sweet. She never puts out her claws for anything other than stretching briefly in sunspots on the floor. I keep her claws trimmed, and she is satisfied with that. Had she been an incorrigible scratcher like her predecessor, I would have had this cat declawed, too. I can offer a lifetime safe and loving home to cats, but I don't want my things torn up. So I really don't have any problem with declawing when necessary. |
I declawed one and not another. - sm
