Missy, surrendered to a shelter after problems
with a declaw
Many new cat parents ask me about declawing as a way to prevent kitties from damaging their furniture or scratching their owners. I strongly discourage this procedure! When talking about declawing, the United States is far behind much of the civilized world. Declawing has been illegal in England for several years. Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Wales, Finland and Brazil are among the many countries that consider declawing illegal or inhumane, and allow it only under extreme circumstances, such as a medical issue with the owner. Fortunately, more and more veterinarians and feline experts in the United States are advising against declawing, going so far as to call this practice inhumane and unnecessary, and realizing that declawing is actually mutilation.
Declawing is not merely the trimming of the claws. It is the surgical removal of the claws, which are adhered to the bone. To remove the claw and prevent its regrowth (which can result from incomplete removal and cause another painful surgery), the entire first joint of each of the cat's toes is amputated. This procedure is often likened to amputation of a human's finger to the first knuckle. Ouch!
Long-term physical, physiological, and behavioral problems can result from declawing. Issues can include:
• Litter box avoidance - The litter or the act of scratching the litter causes pain in the cat’s feet.
• Biting - The cat feels it has no way to defend itself and becomes aggressive.
• Arthritis - The pain results in difficulty walking, jumping, and using the litter pan.
Fortunately, alternatives to declawing do exist. To save furniture and avoid being scratched, cat owners can:
• Trim the nails - Cheap drugstore fingernail trimmers work well. If you’re unsure how to trim your cat’s claws, ask your vet to show you.
• Invest in scratching posts - Sisal-covered posts are favored by many cats, and most cats can be easily trained to use the post rather than your furniture. Be sure to get a post that’s tall enough to allow your kitty to stretch.
• Use nail covers, such as Soft Paws - These rubber or vinyl claw covers glue directly on to a cat's claws. They come in clear or colors, and grow out with the natural growth of your cats nails; four to six weeks, on average.
With so many different alternatives, there is no reason today to even remotely consider declawing as a solution for destructive scratching.
Comments
please do not head this article . . i have a Siamese cat that i had de-clawed front and back as a kitten. . though it seems traumatic and some call it cruel it is the best thing i could have done for my family, household, and her. If a cat is not gong to ever go outside (which no cat realistically should) their is not reason for them to have claws. The procedure is relatively simple and for those side effects she stated are EXTREMELY RARE . .with a good vet preforming the operation and a little extra love and affection the days after they are just fine. With out claws they are happier because they can have a greater place in the family without constantly being scalded for scratching a child or on the leather couch, and you will have a greater sense of security. De-clawing is a GOOD thing please do not let this article keep you from considering it for you cat
I agree. Declawing is essential for certain households and I personally have not witnessed any of the side effects explained in this article or others I've read. Our cat has been declawed for months and has been absolutely fine. She is just as sweet and loving as she's always been and we still give her the same gentle affection with no fear of biting. It nearly astonishes me when I read articles like this from those I like to call "Cat-Nazi's" who paint this act as some sort of animal torture and blaspheme anyone who dares even consider it. House cats that never go outside have absolutely no reason to walk around with razors on their paws, capable of slashing open flesh or ruining not only rugs, couches , or other expensive furniture and decor. But, $2,500.00 LCD televisions. As soon as I saw that my cat had been jumping around on my TV at night I quickly had her declawed. This has also helped greatly with grooming the cat and applying medicine when needed. Also, I don't come away with scratches or open wounds when she and I play like I used to. Declawing is a GOOD thing and my cat has never acted any different.
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