>From: Dee Gage <[log in to unmask]> >My friend, June, has 4 ferrets, a cat(Niblet) and a dog(Christmas). No >problem. Nib is an elderly declawed male. June has adopted a new 1 year >old female cat who is still nameless and who still has her claws. She >called & asked if I would ask if it would be best to have her new cat >declawed because of the ferrets. Yes? No? NO!!!!!!! PLEASE, I IMPLORE you to discourage declawing of the cat!!!! The declawing of cats is mutilation! People don't understand that it's not just the claw that is removed... it is the entire first knuckle joint. Recovery from surgery is very painful and distressful for the cat as they have to learn to walk again since the ends of their toes are amputated. Cats that are declawed often turn to BITING. They KNOW they don't have claws as a means of self defense so they often become biters. Cats use their claws not only as a means of self defense but also to help them scale trees and fences to get out of harms way. What if that cat got outside??? What if circumstances force her to find a new home for this cat in the future? What is the guarantee that another person would keep this cat INDOORS where it was relatively safe? Cats and ferrets can and DO live peacefully together. I have NINE cats and five ferrets. One of my cats actually plays with the ferrets. They roll on the floor, tumbling about, chasing one another. All of my cats have their claws. It's all play. The other eight cats just jump up out of the way of the ferrets. I worry more about the ferrets antagonizing the cats than the cats antagonizing the ferrets! There is no reason in the world that your friend can't simply trim the cats nails with a pair of nail clippers.... being sure not to cut into the quick. And, (I'm sorry but this topic really winds me up), WHY do people feel they need to remove part of an animal to make it "acceptable"? They cut off cats toes, hack off the ends of puppy tails, trim off puppy ears,.... who are we trying to please here?? Some people even have the vocal cords of dogs so that they can't bark! Then we have the clipping of ferret teeth.... Mother Nature must surely be crying! I don't care what clean sounding surgical name we have for these procedures... animals don't need to be improved upon! Please, check out these websites, show them to your friend, print them... do whatever it takes to help abolish this practice! I guarantee you, if you read these articles, you will gain a whole new insight into declawing! http://www.declawing.com/ A Veterinarians View http://www.felinefuture.com/catcare/declawing.html http://www.cfainc.org/health/declawing.html http://amby.com/cat_site/declaw.html DECLAWING CATS: Issues & Alternatives http://www.maxshouse.com/Truth%20About%20Declawing.htm The Facts About Declawing) (Feline Digital Amputation - Onychectomy) I really hope that your friend makes the decision that best serves the cat! Renee [Posted in FML issue 3237]