(06-22-2012, 10:29 PM)laurasav Wrote: I'm sure neutering isn't the happiest, most comfortable thing for a cat to be put through either, but most of us do it to keep our homes from being sprayed with urine, right? The cat gets over it and he is provided with a good, loving home and is well taken care of. Would he prefer to live in the wild, doing all the "natural" cat activities, rather than having "unnecessary" & "unnatural" surgery to satisfy his human family? My cats run and jump just fine. They don't climb because they are kept indoors as I care for their health, safety and well being, more than I say others who let their cats roam the neighborhood care about their own cats. In my opinion, cats that are allowed to roam around outside are certainly going to be exposed to all kinds of dangers. There's plenty of articles to back up my point of view on this. I could say that people who let their cats roam the neighborhood shouldn't have a cat because they're not taking the cat's health and safety seriously, and must not love their pet enough to keep them indoors.
My cats have the best of everything. I've spent many thousands of dollars on a cat to keep it alive as long as possible during kidney failure. How many other cat owners would spend $7,000 on their cat for just an extra year of life? Mine want for nothing and are spoiled rotten and loved as dearly as children. So I'm a cat lover too. Whether I declaw a kitten or not, my cats are well loved and not "breathing stuffed toys."
Good to know that you love your cats that much. Actually a lot more than I love mine, if love is measured with money. The reason why I gave my view on the matter is because you asked. I do know my view is not exactly what some people would consider as a "nice" view which is why I prefaced my post the way I did.
So please feel free to love your cats your way. It's supposed to be a free world.
