[FEL-L] no preference

[George Gruhn]

While have no personal experience with large cats, I had my servals declawed
three years ago when they were kittens.  The furniture and my arms and legs
fare better since they have been declawed (they never deliberately tried to
scratch me, but they frequently did anyway).  My vet is experienced with
wild felines and says they do fine declawed if the tendons are reconnected
rather than simply being cut as is done my most vets who declaw domestic
cats.  On larger heavier cats if the tendons are not reconnected the foot
can become deformed as the cat grows larger and it may have problems.  My
servals seemed quite untroubled as soon as I brought them home.  Their feet
look normal and they run and play as vigorously as they ever did.  They are
very active and happy.  The surgery with reconnecting the tendons is at
least twice as expensive as a standard declawing, but well worth the
difference.

George Gruhn

-----Original Message-----
From: felines-l-bounces at catbox.com [mailto:felines-l-bounces at catbox.com] On
Behalf Of Brian Werner
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 3:06 PM
To: felines-l at catbox.com
Subject: [FEL-L] no preference

No offense meant but I am so tired of seeing big cats suffer for this.

Ask the big cats if it is a preference. If it is so light on them then 
why do they have to be put under during the entire procedure? Why does 
it harm them, cripple them and why, why, why, would anyone who loves big 
cats do this? It is by no means a preference. It is a selfish act for an 
untrained and under qualified person to attempt to work and mock a 
professional working relationship. Like I have said, it may be 
acceptable for little cats (?) but certainly not good by any means for 
cougars, leopards, lions, and tigers. What a new buzz word, Highly 
Dominate, as opposed to what?
B Werner
--------

Bigcats10 at aol.com Writes:

I diagree with your assessment of the whole picture, but we all have  
opinions and they do differ.
 
Declawing is a preference and could also be dependent on circumstances. The

reasonings for declaw may have nothing to do with fear concerning handling
as  
some sanctuary organizations don't handle animals at all. However, a  
consideration is made when bringing in a new adult animal and placing it
with  
another. I have seen death to animals that were placed together when one had
claws 
and the other didn't. It doesn't always happen, but the risks are greater  
especially if you have a highly dominant animal.
 
I have large felines some that are declawed and haven't had an ounce of a  
problem and throughout the years have seen others equally sound. I
attribute 
this to an experienced Vet.


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