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From: smithson@calma.uucp (Brian Smithson)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: cat claws
Message-ID: <191@calma.uucp>
Date: Wed, 17-Jul-85 18:23:42 EDT
Article-I.D.: calma.191
Posted: Wed Jul 17 18:23:42 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Jul-85 14:20:30 EDT
References: <3247@drutx.UUCP>
Organization: GE/Calma Co., R&D Systems Engineering, Milpitas, CA
Lines: 34

> How old must a cat be befor it can be declawed?
> 
> Thanks
> Larry Roybal
> ihnp4!drutx!ljr

About as old, in cat years, as people need to be to have their
fingernails removed (sorry about that...).

Actually, I have two strictly-indoor cats and one strictly-outdoor cat
and here's what I do:

I leave the outdoor cat's claws alone, since they are her front line
of defense out there.

The indoor cats, however, tend to shred everything they can, and refuse to
use a scratching post, so I trim their front claws every couple of weeks
using a large fingernail cutter (the type which looks somewhat like diagonal
wire cutters with a curved cutting edge).  The hind claws never do any
damage, and the trimmed front claws keep them from snagging or ripping
anything, yet they can still use them for traction on the carpet.

I really can't see any need to have them declawed.
-- 

		-Brian Smithson
		 Calma Company 
		 ucbvax!calma!smithson
		 calma!smithson@ucbvax.ARPA

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