7 Things You Should Know Before You Declaw Your Cat

Photo © steheap – Fotolia.com

(Note – this post is somewhat graphic in its description of a surgical procedure, please don’t read if you are very sensitive.)

Imagine cutting your fingers off at the first knuckle because your “parent” just wants to stop your scratching habit and protect the household furniture! If you can’t bear the thought of that, it’s very likely that your cat finds it stressful too. Such is the one of contentions of those who stand firmly against declawing, a surgery that deliberately removes your cat’s claws through amputation of the end bones of the toes. Since it is an operation, declawing entails pain and other complications, including hemorrhage, and it can be crippling. In other words, getting a manicure doesn’t even come close in comparison, as most would assume. A cat’s claw is not like our fingernails. It is in fact closely adhered to the bone, and in order for the claws to be completely removed, the last bone where the claw is attached should be removed as well.

Declawing is a controversial issue that has expectedly aroused a heated debate among cat owners, veterinarians, animal welfare groups, and the like. In some specific medical circumstances such as tumors and persistent infection, declawing is indicated. However, most declawing procedures are done to “resolve” the destructive unwanted scratching of cats, to which anti-declawing groups protest. Cats scratch to mark their territory, to stretch their bodies and flex the feet, and to maintain the condition of their nails. Simply put, it’s a natural and healthy behavior. For those who are against it, declawing is hence unnecessary and provides no medical benefit to a cat. Anti-declawing movements instead promote keeping the claws trimmed and providing stable scratching posts or boards to address the issue of scratching.

If you are considering declawing for your cat, try knowing the facts first and weigh carefully the pros and cons. After all, what’s involved here is none other than your beloved feline pal.

For an fuller overview of what you might let your cat go through, have a read of this article: http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-declawing-7-things-you-should-know

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Graphic – lovable-cats.com. Image © steheap – fotolia.com (under license), Pixabay (PD)

1 Comment

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  By Ketutar, November 8, 2016 @ 6:23 pm

  Exactly. Any vet who performs this should loose their license and go to jail for animal abuse. I’m sure there are very, very, very few tumors that require this procedure, and then not in all paws, or even all digits, and I’m sure there are other options to take care of infections.

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