"I'm bringing this back up because I feel quite strongly about this. If the cat's behavior could kill or maim it and the only way to stop that behavior is to declaw the cat, then declaw the cat."

Obviously, I feel extremely strongly too. I just feel we're crossing signals on this, and no one is going to agree or even acknowledge that we're all trying to do what we think right, so this is largely unproductive. See, for me declawing is just a non-option. Not in the spectrum, not on the radar. For me, I emphasize. I don't care if I had to build the equivilant of a padded kitty-cell, or whatever. I'd do it because I won't declaw. If it were that necessary, if I had a true nut-case kitty on my hands, I would find a way to protect the cat from itself without extreme body changes just as I would a child if they had severe behavior problems. (No, not equivocating that a cat has to equal a child, but I do feel the same sense of responsibility toward any creature in my care.) This is how I feel.

"Teaching, training, whatever you want to call it, is worthless if the cat is permanently disabled. "

But see, I see declawing as just that. Disabling the cat permenantly. Teaching and training is just part, I'm all about changing the environment to accomodate the cat if necessary. Again, this is not necessary for most cats, the cases you're addressing would be fairly unusual.

" However, you have to weigh the options and choose the method which will keep the cat safest."

Certainly so, I could never disagree with keeping the cat safe. I wish this topic had turned out to be more educational for all involved, and less emotional. As always, my only intention was to throw other ideas and options out there that perhaps don't usually occur to people who feel they are at their wit's end, and nothing more. I can certainly see where everyone who has posted is coming from....I can't always agree, but I can say I understand. I hope others can say the same of me. All we can hope for, really, with so many differing views, but still, I think it's a quite nice conclusion. Time to go get covered in kitty fur...

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