A cat's claws are used to capture prey, for climbing, and are used in self defense. Claws are an integral part of a cats life. But their use can also be a problem for cats' human co-habitants. Declawing, however is a painful, and permanently crippling procedure that should not be practiced. There are effective, and humane alternatives to declawing, that can reduce or eliminate clawing damage.
Cats claw to maintain the proper condition of the nails, for fun and exercise, and to mark territory visually, as well as with scent. (1) They stretch by digging their claws into something and pulling back against their own clawhold. A cat's natural instinct to scratch serves both physiological and psychological needs, Before domestication, cats satisfied these needs by clawing tree trunks. Domesticated cats can be trained to satisfy their desire to claw without damaging valuable property.
Declawing involves 10 separate, painful amputations. It is serious surgery, not simply a "manicure"
The British Veterinary Association calls declawing "an unnecessary mutilation" (2). Indeed it is illegal in Germany (3) and other parts of Europe (4)
Declawing a cat involves general anesthesia and amputation of the last joint of each toe, including the bones, not just the nail. Possible complications of this surgery include:- reaction to anesthetic, (5) hemorrhage, bone chips, which prevent healing, recurrent infections and damage to the radial nerve, pain, and possible abnormal regrowth of the nails (6) the nails may grow back inside the paw, causing pain, but remaining invisible to the eye. Declawed cats will need regular xrays to monitor this problem. Declawing results in a gradual weakening of leg, shoulder and back muscles, and, because of impaired balance, declawed cats have to relearn to walk, much as would a person who has lost their toes. Without claws, cats are virtually defenseless, and this often leads to neurosis and even skin and bladder problems.
Animal protection groups, including the American Humane Association and the Humane Society OF the United States, as well as many other veterinarians have spoken out against declawing. Many vets refuse to perform the surgery, calling the operation cruel, and in most cases unnecessary. Veterinarian Florence Barton says, "I won't perform this operation. The cat is missing (his or her) most important means of defense and...feels very insecure" (7). In "The Cat Care Question and Answer Book" veterinarian Barry Bush concurs: "veterinary removal of the claws (onychectomy) is a painful mutilation which cannot be recommended under any circumstances" (8) Dr. Louis J. Comuti, a practicing vet for more than 58 years sums up his objections this way "I wouldn't declaw a cat if you paid me $ 1000 per nail!" (9)
Without claws to mark their territory, even house-trained cats will often urinate and defecate outside the litter box, in a desperate attempt to ward off intruders (10)
There are several misconceptions about declawing. It does not make cats more "mellow". Declawed cats may be morose, reclusive or withdrawn, or they may be irritable, aggressive and unpredictable. Many people think that declawing makes a cat safer around babies, but this is far from true, as the lack of claws turns many cats into biters. Declawed cats feel so insecure, lacking their first line of defense that they tend to bite more often as a means of self protection (11).
People who have their cats declawed simply do not understand how important claws are to a cat, and do not know how else to deal with the problem. With a little effort and commitment to your cat's welfare, you can eliminate the excuse to declaw your cat, and make you and them better companions as well.To train a kitten or to retrain an adult cat, the following measures are suggested:Regular nail trimmings. When the cat is relaxed and unafraid, gently press on the toes until the claws extend. Use a pair of animal nail trimmers and cut only the tip of the nail, taking care not to damage the vein or "quick". The nail hook is what tears up the upholstery, so when it is removed, damage is greatly reduced |
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