Quote:
Originally Posted by WT Sharpe
I don't think about those things because I'm not one for de-clawing cats. That's their first line of defense, and de-clawing means never letting them outside. I'd rather put up with a few scratches on the furniture and a bit of torn fabric.
The truth is, KK, I'm not a cat person. I think cats are cruel, self-centered, and dumb. The only reason I have Christian is that the former owner was going to drop him off at the pound and I figured no one would adopt an adult cat when so many kittens were available. So in a moment of weakness I offered her $25 just to keep him out of the clink. He's 17 now and getting old and a complete bother. He's staring at my left hand even now from about an inch away as I type. Always snuggling up to me in bed and crap and demanding to be petted and stroked. So I give in just to satisfy him, but I don't like it.
Now he's sitting in my lap. Dumb cat.
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I despise declawing with a passion, but I suppose I would prefer that to euthanization
. the one time that claws were a bit of an issue with kindlekittten when we were living the bohemian life in California, I got "softclaws" (rubber tips for the claws) for her. if there was a claw issue with Strider or Arwen for whatever reason I would risk the bodily mutilation and do the same with them.
anyway!!!... the point is.... that my brain simply made the leap of "no one would put their child at risk of being clawed, that is certainly a declawed cat! (or possibly this is a regular routine and they are confident in the safety of the child). then again, I am amazed at parents who argue with me at the puppy park when I tell them that their children CANNOT run out there. "why not!?" they scowl and demand of me. "this is the PUPPY park! the dogs are free to run and play out here. they think it is fair game to run after, tackle and wrestle anything that runs! and there is the occasional exuberant scratching and biting, even though fights do not ensue." I try to tell them. "it's a damn fool PARK! my kid oughta be able to run with his dog!" they argue back. I do a lot of face/palming and provide a copy of the park rules which state "no running". see.... it just does not immediately occur to me that people do not have the best interest of their children and pets as the highest priority (except in understandable errors)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stitchawl
In the 8 years that we've lived with Felicity, she's never once scratched us on purpose, even when we wrestle or fight. Not even a single claw mark when we are trying (usually in vain) to stuff her into the carry-box to take her to the vet, and THAT really is a Battle Royal! We often play 'Attack the Finger' but she never uses her claws. When she uses her mouth, we can 'feel' her teeth, but she never actually chomps down with them.
This was the same with Felicity #1, the cat I had when my son was a baby. Both the cat and the dog seemed to understand that a crawler was not to be damaged, and both put up with unimaginable baby abuse without so much as a bark or meow. If it got to bad, they would vacate the premises rather than fight back.
I'd like to believe that this is true with most animals vs babies, but I realize that it just ain't so!
Stitchawl
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I had a LOT of shreds with both kindlekitten and these two, but none of them have been attack shreds. with kk, it was mostly her climbing me, she got over that at about 3 months. with these two almost all of them are them sitting or lying on me and launching off of me and the claws come into play as traction.